Change in Job Descriptions

[shodobe]

Just a quick question for those out there. If you have worked for many years on the Job description you were originally hired on and your employer makes changes little by little to make your job more than it was originally, how do you deal with it? Cert5ain requirements are added on at the whim of the empoyer but not necessarily a requirement to continue your employment. We all have to have BLS but not all of us need ACLS or even PALS to continue to work. Every area of expertise has it's needs and if you were hired without needing any of these but over the years "new" empoyees were required to have this to work then how do you deal with it? I work in the OR and I know more places are requiring ACLS and most of the RNs have theirs but if you have an employee that has been in the same department for 20 years could that employee be let go just because they don't have the cert that was added to the job description many years after being hired? Same goes with having PALS. Just because you come into contact periodically with peds patients, is it really necessary for all? Just curious how others handle this.

[brithoover]

Acuity of patients are increasing so requirements of the job will too. If an employee refuses to get ACLS/PALS then yes I believe they should be let go as they no longer fit the job criteria (they have to however be given a reasonable timeframe to get these classes)

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

I would think personnel could certainly be fired for not meeting updated requirements. A staff member cannot expect a facility to remain the same for 20 years or more. I am an RN, and sometimes my state board of nursing changes things. I can go with the flow and adapt, or quit.

[shodobe]

So neither one of you work in the OR? The acuity of my patients today is no worse than the ones I took care of 35 years ago, so your comments really have no point. In some areas of nursing these certs are essential, but I have an anesthesiologist, not CRNA at all times with my patient so mute point. A lot of the ORs I have looked into do not require these certs, and these are large facilities so no backwood facilty. Most of the RNs that work at these places tell me it is not required for them to work there. ACLS will be a necessity and will be required, but PALS, why? I guess I should have posted this in the OR section where it matters. Thanks anyway. CLOSE SUBJECT!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Moved thread to OR nursing.

As home health manager, health system devised new employee eval system requiring updated job descriptions which I emailed to staff in March and presented at staff meeting. Last week informed by HR needed signature page acknowledging receipt and understanding changed expectations as best business practice. BSN now required for all new nursing employees, MSN for management.

Dermabond to close incisions....Robots in the OR unimaginable in 1977 when I started yet reality today. As healthcare continues to evolve and grow in complexity, RN's need to constantly adapt to keep current in practice and remain employees in good standing.