Finally got a job, but I got tickets for a two-day concert...

smn2010, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2009

most facility unit managers are understanding of these types of situations. although i would not inform my nurse manager that i had previously purchased concert tickets, i would simply indicate that i have a previous "commitment" and will not be able to work on "x" days. i would then request that he/she not schedule me to work on these dates. hopefully, you have not divulged too much information to the recruiter--or any one else regarding what your true intentions (the concert) are.

as a new hire, most hr orientations for nurses only last 1 week; followed by various skills training classes. these training classes are usually sporatically scattered/scheduled throughout your orientation time (the 12 weeks, 20 weeks, etc.). they are usually organized to allow for a sufficient number of new employees/new grad rns to attend each class (most require a minimum of 5 employees).

as a new employee, if you are not able to attend a class in august, i am sure your unit manager can schedule you for the same class in september--or even in october. most facility education departments are even willing to schedule one-on-one skills training if it involves an important aspect of your work (how to operate equipment, etc.) also, since you are on orientation, you are not counted as full-time staff yet (referred to as a full time equivalent (fte)) so your presence--or absence is not counted into the unit's statistics towards staffing.

again, i am not sure how you may have described your "situation" to anyone; but keep this in mind...as an employee you are obligated to inform management, in a reasonably amount of time, about issues that may affect your work schedule. however, whatever you do outside of work that may interfere with your work schedule should never be fully divulged unless it is a family death, accident, etc.. ...not even to your new coworkers (jealousy and envy are rampant every where!). always refer to your personal/family needs as "commitments." this way you avoid the scrutiny of others (management, co-workers, etc.). you are the only one that needs to know what you do outside of work.

you are lucky that you are in orientation and will be working with a preceptor who will be responsible for the patient load that you both have.

enjoy your concert!!!....oops!!! :bugeyes: :uhoh3: .....your previous commitments!!!

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 16, 2009

I would not tell my new manager that I was not able to work those days. I would ASK her if my previous committment needed to be cancelled. I would demonstrate a willingness to change my personal/social plans to fulfill my job responsibilities.

In time when jobs are plentiful and nurses are scarce, it's OK to say "I cannot work on such-and-such" day. You will probably get away with it as the manager is so happy to have found someone for the job. However, in today's economy, the situation is reversed. If you present yourself to your new boss as someone who is willing to risk making a bad impression for a concert, you will be starting off on the wrong foot. Even if your work schedule is able to accommodate the concert, the request will make you look bad. It will cause the manager to question your committment to your career. She will wonder you are going to have similar limitations on your schedule repeatedly in the future. She will "keep an eye on you" a little more than usual to be sure you are the right person for the job. That's not the kind of attention you want.

1. So ... simply tell her you have a social committment and ask if will conflict with your work schedule. Suggest that you are willing to modify your social committment if necessary, but need some advanced notice to change your arrangements.

2. With any luck, your work schedule will not interfer significantly with your social plans.

3. If there is going to be a schedule conflict ... see if you can find a reasonable compromise. After all, it is a 2-day event. Do you really NEED to be there for the entire 2 days to enjoy it? I had an employee in a similar situation a few years ago. She wanted released from orientation to attend a 2 - day event (Friday & Saturday). We negotiated that she could leave work a little early on Friday. She missed some of the Friday activities, but was there for the big dinner on Friday and all the Saturday activities.

That may not be the answer you want to hear ... but it might save your job. Don't draw a target on your back before you even start work. Don't send a message to your boss that you are going to make schedule demands every time you have a social event, a holiday dinner, etc. That is not how you perceive the situation: this may only be a 1-time issue for you. But your new boss doesn't know that. She doesn't know you well enough to know whether this request is going to be a rare exception or a regular thorn in her side. So, if you don't seem willing to at least compromise now, she will be on "high alert" for any other "questionable" behavior on your part. And as I said earlier, that is not the kind of attention you want to be drawing on yourself now.

ARRR10 · Jul 16, 2009

Oh... ok... Then what if she asks what this social commitment is? If everything begins to look bad, I'll just give my tickets to someone else and wait for how many xx years. This job is most important than a concert.

elenasalh · Jul 16, 2009

Thanks everyone for the replies. Due to the economic crisis new nursing grads are facing, I am very lucky to even have this job. I'll try calling the nurse manager to see what my schedule is like and if my preceptor's schedule does conflict with the event. Besides, this job does outweigh the event. I'm just going to give my tickets to someone else. I don't want to give off the wrong impression as a new nurse. Sacrifices have to be made during these tough times:uhoh3:

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Jul 16, 2009

Thanks everyone for the replies. Due to the economic crisis new nursing grads are facing, I am very lucky to even have this job. I'll try calling the nurse manager to see what my schedule is like and if my preceptor's schedule does conflict with the event. Besides, this job does outweigh the event. I'm just going to give my tickets to someone else. I don't want to give off the wrong impression as a new nurse. Sacrifices have to be made during these tough times:uhoh3:

Right choice - good job!

NeoPediRN · Jul 16, 2009

I would just be honest. I just obtained a new position and start Monday, but have had a vacation planned in October for months. I talked to HR and the RN manager and they just put me in now for an unpaid vacation. PTO can't be used for the first six months of employment at this hospital.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 17, 2009

As I said in my post, there is no reason not to ASK nicely about your schedule. There is no need to assume the worst. Your manager might tell you that there is no schedule problems ... or she might say that it will be easy to change your schedule, etc. Give her a chance to give you good news before you assume the worse. You just want to be sure to ASK her about the schedule rather than TELLING her that you will definitely not working on those days.

If she asks what the event is, be honest. Say that it is a special concert that you have been looking forward to for a long time ... had to buy tickets back in whenever ... etc. Emphasize that you are willing to change your plans if necessary, but that you needed some advanced warning on that so that the expensive tickets could be given to someone else so that they would not be wasted.

There is no need to lie or anything. You just want to be sure to ask nicely ... rather than try to dictate what your schedule will be by telling her that you will not work.

Good luck. I hope you enjoy your new job ... AND ... get to go to the concert.