I started a new job last week in a hospice. My job description grows by the minute. I am in charge of admitting all patients and continued care of them, HR, QI, Intake, all on call, all weekend, holiday and night visits, the team conferences, all inservices and orientation and also covering call from a parent agency which is 2 hours away. My boss says I am supposed to pay for all Universal Precautions equipment and they will pay me back later, I also am to go to several conferences, they will pay me for my work day but I am to pay for the two conferences, (over 700) and the UP equipment is 350. Oh yes I also do all the scheduling.......yeah right....................................
I am considering flipping burgers or waiting tables in a nice place......maybe working in a store........I just think nursing stinks sometimes,,,,,I know I am looking at a 60 to 70 hour week easy-of course you know I am salaried.......no overtime, no extra holiday pay and no pay for being on call 24/7 or when I have to work all day then work all night if a patient needs me then turn around and work another 8 hours during the day,,,,,
of course no one told me that when I was interviewing,
renerian
Sep 21, '02
That sounds absolutely horrible. Does that happen a lot with nursing jobs? Please tell me this is not normal. I haven't finished school yet. That is not normal-----Is it??
Sep 21, '02
How in the world did you walk into this one? Sounds like they really blindsided you. If I were you I would run, not walk, away from this one!
Sep 21, '02
"My boss says I am supposed to pay for all Universal Precautions equipment and they will pay me back later"
Do they even have a license for satelite office they seem to be trying to set up?? Suspect for-profit operation here. Please report these BOZO's to state health department.
Sep 21, '02
If you don't make at least 100K, run, don't walk to the nearest door!!!
Sep 21, '02
Why would you leave nursing? You know from experience it is not ALWAYS like this EVERYWHERE. I would get the heck out of Dodge on this one. you don't need this. And Karen is right; report them as you go.
Sep 21, '02
If you are crazy enough to take/stay at this job, then I guess I have to be brave enough to say.........YOU DESERVE IT!!
Please tell us your NOT staying with this company!! OMG, I agree with the others, sounds like someone is doing some 'illegal' nursing business here.....Report them and RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN............
Sep 21, '02
It looks as though you didn't negotiate a clear contract with these people, so they now think you have no boundaries or limits. And why wouldn't they? Obviously your workplace is not going to try to guess what you want or what your limits are, and then conform to them. They will bleed you dry if you let them.
First of all, if you are required by your workplace to attend conferences, THEY have to pay for them.
All this other stuff (and from all indications there will be plenty more in the future if you don't get this situation under your control)--looks like a clear message that if you want to stay YOU NEED TO RENEGOTIATE all your working conditions, responsibilities, schedule, salary, you name it) from square one. Now that you have a better idea of what is involved, you will know better what to require in order to stay, (so in that way, they have done you a favor).
Organize yourself and determine what YOUR bottom line is in all these matters and then schedule a meeting to renegotiate. (Of course, it may turn into a meeting where you give them notice, but you might as well give them a chance to give you what you want first.)
Good luck.
Last edit by sjoe on Sep 21, '02
Sep 22, '02
I really hate it when somebody gets scr*wed!
Give them a big CYA
Sep 22, '02
there's a nursing shortage, so to speak. plenty of jobs, get another one. you don't need this!
Sep 22, '02
Thanks everyone...........I like some of the people and GOD knows they need a leader.........I like joes idea of renegotiating.......
This is not the first time I have run into a for profit home health or hospice that is run like that...........several times before.
NO for the question who asked me. Not all places are run like that. Non profits usually are better.........not to for profits can't be.........
renerian
Sep 22, '02
Go to VNA. I work there and they are good to their staff. At least better than what you describe. They have a hospice at most VNA's, I'm sure. They give you all your equipment and supply you with the stock you need to do your job. We do weekends once every 8 to 10 weeks. And two holidays per year. I work 830 to 430 monday through friday and have to do 4 to 5 patients per day. My job keeps me busy for 8 hours per day but much of it is done in the comfort of my own house with management and paperwork type stuff. I love my job. And, most of the supervisors are great as long as they know you are doing your job. Try to find a homecare job where they are union. I know where I work is unionized and am sure that is part of the reason it is such a good job.
Sep 22, '02
Thanks Cheryl for responding. There is no union home health here. ONly one union hospital but there home health is not and is run like crap as I worked there. No VNA here only the health dept and the RN pay is 18 per hour.
renerian
Sep 21, '02Occupation: RN Specialty: med/surg & geriatrics ; Joined: Sep '02; Posts: 208That sounds absolutely horrible. Does that happen a lot with nursing jobs? Please tell me this is not normal. I haven't finished school yet. That is not normal-----Is it??
Sep 21, '02Joined: Aug '02; Posts: 38,000; Likes: 37,188How in the world did you walk into this one? Sounds like they really blindsided you. If I were you I would run, not walk, away from this one!
Sep 21, '02Occupation: Utilization Review, prior Intake Mgr Home Care Specialty: 40 year(s) of experience in Home Care, Vents, Telemetry, Home infusion ; From: PA, US ; Joined: Oct '00; Posts: 27,549; Likes: 13,755"My boss says I am supposed to pay for all Universal Precautions equipment and they will pay me back later"
Sep 21, '02Occupation: allnurses Asst Community Manager, APRN Specialty: 25 year(s) of experience in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU ; From: US ; Joined: Apr '00; Posts: 53,374; Likes: 26,208If you don't make at least 100K, run, don't walk to the nearest door!!!
Sep 21, '02Joined: Apr '02; Posts: 38,756; Likes: 16,291Why would you leave nursing? You know from experience it is not ALWAYS like this EVERYWHERE. I would get the heck out of Dodge on this one. you don't need this. And Karen is right; report them as you go.
Sep 21, '02Occupation: Acute Rehab Nurse Joined: Apr '02; Posts: 311; Likes: 1If you are crazy enough to take/stay at this job, then I guess I have to be brave enough to say.........YOU DESERVE IT!!
Sep 21, '02Occupation: Retired Specialty: 15 year(s) of experience in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg ; From: US ; Joined: Aug '02; Posts: 2,246; Likes: 48It looks as though you didn't negotiate a clear contract with these people, so they now think you have no boundaries or limits. And why wouldn't they? Obviously your workplace is not going to try to guess what you want or what your limits are, and then conform to them. They will bleed you dry if you let them.
Sep 22, '02Joined: Mar '02; Posts: 1,843; Likes: 1,237there's a nursing shortage, so to speak. plenty of jobs, get another one. you don't need this!
Sep 22, '02Occupation: RN, CHPN Specialty: inpatient hospice house ; From: US ; Joined: Jul '02; Posts: 143; Likes: 18Go to VNA. I work there and they are good to their staff. At least better than what you describe. They have a hospice at most VNA's, I'm sure. They give you all your equipment and supply you with the stock you need to do your job. We do weekends once every 8 to 10 weeks. And two holidays per year. I work 830 to 430 monday through friday and have to do 4 to 5 patients per day. My job keeps me busy for 8 hours per day but much of it is done in the comfort of my own house with management and paperwork type stuff. I love my job. And, most of the supervisors are great as long as they know you are doing your job. Try to find a homecare job where they are union. I know where I work is unionized and am sure that is part of the reason it is such a good job.
