Co-workers mad that you're going to school

[futurearmynurse25]

I just wanted to know if someone has experienced this. On Monday I found out that I was accepted into Galen's bridge program. Yesterday I put in my 2 weeks notice at my job because I will not be able to do both. My DON, ADON, HR were like "I won't accept this, why are you giving this to us now, this is not a good Christmas present, we need you here." I'm thinking to myself I'm trying to go to school to better myself and have more opportunities. I've worked at my job for 2 and a half years too long. This job was never my stopping point. I told some of my co-workers I'm leaving, and their reaction was also similar. For example, "We need you here, this won't work for me, I know you're going to school but maybe we can work out something so that you can still work here a couple days." I mean I know that I'm a hard worker and all, but I have to further my education and that's that. As long as my family is behind me and supportive that's all that matters. It just seemed very funny to me that I didn't get 1 single congratulations from my co-workers. Thanks for reading just had to vent. I feel better now lol.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

First impression- funny, on further thought- sad and pathetic (them not you). Fly!!! Good luck.

[OldGrayNurse]

I have experienced this same thing. Paradoxically, it was my DON who suggested I go back to school because it "would look better for our facility if all our administrative nurses had BSNs." Basically, I was given a two year time frame to acquire my ADN, and another three for my BSN. This was during my annual review.

Mind you, they asked me if I would be interested in distance learning through Excelsior College and "highly recommended" I pursue it this way so that "my hours of employment could be maximized".

Now, every single time I ask for hours off for an exam, or because an exam coming up is super hard and I feel need extra study time, I get a "look" and a sharp intake of breath and a "I'll see what I can do" attitude.

I wouldn't be so critical if I had decided to return to school on my own. I was pretty much pressured into it, and now feel as if I have ZERO support where my Admin and DON are concerned.

And my fellow nurses? They think the time I spend at work behind a desk (I'm a Medicare Reimbursement Specialist at an LTC) is play time and that I should be spending my time out on the floor helping them do their job. Because my job isn't important, and because it isn't fair that I don't have to work holidays and weekends. (Because I am considered administrative personnel). Never mind that I have to cover the floor when we are short (which puts MY work behind), that when I am in a crunch due to a large number or part A admissions I DO work nights, weekends, and holidays, and that while I can cover the floor when they are short of staff nurses, no staff nurses here can do MY job when I get behind, nor does admin offer me the help of extra nurses when I am in a bind.

Basically, I feel I got bullied into going back to school because, while no one said outright I could lose my job if I didn't, it was very much implied. And now, along with being forced to go back, I feel I have no suppport when I need it the most.

I should also add, I was offered tuition reimbursement ONLY if I signed a five-year contract to work for them exclusively after my degree, which started after I passed state boards and became an RN, not while I was in school. Hell to the no. I'm paying my own way, on top of feeling as if I have no support and no choice.

[BricMSN]

Tell them to bug off! They don't own you or life choices. (And congratulations on going back to school.)