Disappointed LPN

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

I'm a new nurse at a LTC. It is my first job as an lpn. All of the nurses are kept at their station and only moved if someone else is on vacation, absent in another unit, etc. I have been the nurse on the same unit for 17 days and have been on my own 14 of those...then today I go in for my shift 3-11 and I find out that I've been moved to another unit. The night nurse told me last Thursday she would be working D unit (I'm on A unit). Guess where I'm at? I'm on D unit instead of her. The DON and scheduler said I have done nothing wrong but that it was due to schedule changes. The nurse on my unit (A) is drama and no one like her because she's a back stabber...yet I'm the one moved and I feel betrayed because I had gotten used to my unit/my rsds. I don't know how to feel. I feel as if, A: the other nurse wanted my unit because she's used to it and didn't want to start at another new unit, or B: I did something but DON is not telling me... however, she said I didn't do anything and that I'm a good nurse/haven't had any complaints, etc. I feel so disappointed, especially because all the other nurses are at their usual unit yet I get to start all over again just like I did when I started on A unit 17 days ago.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

The more mobile you learn to be, the happier you will be in your job and the more valuable you will be to your employer. Don't tell yourself things about this move. Ask yourself "What do I know? Not suspect, but actually KNOW" and go forward ONLY with that in mind. There is no betrayal here. You are paid to work where you are needed. It doesn't mean you are less valued or thought poorly of. Not sure why or where you got that impression but its false.

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Apparently I'm not the only done that way and I'm actually happy in the new unit. You're right, it's a better deal knowing all the areas of the facility

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Specializes in LTC, SCI/TBI Rehab,RX Research, Psych.

Being floated can definitely freak you out; however, we all have to take a deep breath and remember that we work for the company...not the unit/ hallway/wing, whatever. I agree that being floated away from your team is unsettling, but it broadens your skill set....and being flexible and cooperative are assets ❤️

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Specializes in retired LTC.

This ^^^^^

I always explained it that you work for XYZ Facility. That's the entity that signs your paycheck.

XYZ Facility. Not Unicorn Unit, not Rainbow Unit, not Sunshine Unit.

At least you'll become familiar with other unit's residents (new to you). If you have to float again for a shift, you'll have the advantage of already knowing a bit about the other unit.

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Specializes in ER OR LTC Code Blue Trauma Dog.

For a while I floated all over the place.

Highly recommended.

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Specializes in ER OR LTC Code Blue Trauma Dog.
On 7/15/2019 at 10:41 PM, Dee0123 said:

The DON and scheduler said I have done nothing wrong but that it was due to schedule changes.

If you want to advance in your career you need to embrace change, not fight it.

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I have been a float nurse for 9 years at a facility. I enjoy this position it allows you to expand your knowledge of nursing and put you one up on the rest. Relax and enjoy you will get the hang of it. Get yourself a routine and stick to it. You will be able to use it on whatever unit you are needed on.

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I agree with all the comments here. Its not unusual for the LTC facility nurses to float to the other unit.. it aways happen to us every single day when someone calls off.. Buts sometimes its also unfair cause the senior LvNs doesnt wanna float, saying “im a regular nurse here. This is my station” ? sometimes its unfair but life goes on..

what i really dont like in our facility is the schedule ? like for this month, one of the employee has always have an off during weekend(sat and sun) for entire month while I always have work during weekend (they just put my off to weekdays) without asking me.. i feel like its unfair cause why only that employee has that good schedule.. the weekend off should be a rotational. I dont want to make a big deal on it or think that im a cry baby, but i think its really unfair lol when the fact is im also a full time employee like the employee who had a good schedule. ?

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9 hours ago, Samantha O5 said:

i feel like its unfair cause why only that employee has that good schedule.. the weekend off should be a rotational. I dont want to make a big deal on it or think that im a cry baby, but i think its really unfair lol when the fact is im also a full time employee like the employee who had a good schedule.

They can do what they want. I would think that in the end they would have less turnover and increased satisfaction and loyalty if they generally didn't do stuff like this, but ??‍♀️...they will do what they feel like doing. OTOH, you have the option of seeking a position where the employer is clear about specifics like weekend requirements and then honors their agreements.

They are free to disregard basic ideas of fairness, and in theory you are free to work somewhere that they don't generally act that way.

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First job I had at a hospital, I floated from floor to floor. I felt it gave me alot of experience. I only go to work there for a year , because my husband decided to move us out of state. So that was the end of that . I,liked working there.

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