first job concerns

[newgal11]

I am starting my first job. I was very excited through the interview process, choosing places I would like to work and selecting my best options. The problem is that the hospital I chose described details of the job and during the acceptance part changed a lot of the things. For example, during the interview I was given the opportunity of choosing between 36 to 40 hours of work, they later cut me to the 36 hours option only. They mentioned a sign in bonus, also nothing. Pay is considerably less than discussed during the interview process, due to no overtime after 8 hours for 12 hour shifts. And finally, I am having to fight them for any relocation money they promised to help with. I was excited about the job, but am increasingly disappointed with all these empty promises. I feel that they wheeled me in for the job and cheated me. Can they do that? I have not signed any papers yet, and am starting to have second thoughts. Am I wrong? Should I have stood up for myself more? What happened? Please reply if you can enlighten me about this situation.

[jenrninmi, MSN, RN]

Hi Newgal,

If you haven't signed any paperwork and they have not fulfilled their promises I would not work for them. Talk to them about your concerns before signing anything and get it straightened out.

FYI, I work 12-hour shifts - 36 hours a week but ALWAYS have overtime on my checks. Never have I gotten out on time. We receive OT for anything over 12 hours in 1 shift.

[KatieBell]

Sounds a bit like a sucker punch. If you have not signed, I would just tell them that you are looking somewhere else, and do so. See if they will budge, and if not, do look elsewhere. Its not good to start out feeling like someone has railroaded you.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Kiddo, this was done to me first as a new grad, and then a second time just 5 years ago by a huge hospital. I got out of both places. My view on this is that when they do these kinds of things they are treating you as a body, not as a person. Who needs that? I got cheated out of a $5,000 sign on bonus at one hospital as well. They offered me a position as an assistant manager after I had been there three months and then later told me that it voided out the sign on bonus. I can't abide places that do these kinds of shenanigans. I don't think that standing up for yourself is going to help. They will just blow you off and give you a run around. That's what both places did to me when I started asking questions. This is how they work. Sad. If you can, look for somewhere else because this place will find other ways to screw you over down the road. It's their way.