I'm not an orientee anymore? Um, when did this happen?

[RNdaze]

Greetings to all!

I need advice, please! I'll try to be brief, but will probably be long. Here is the situation:

I've just finished up about a month of orientation as a new nurse, first job. (3rd career, I've been a restaurant manager and a graphic designer, I'm 38) Last Thursday, as I was handed the key to the med rooms, the nrs educator asked me if I was ready to go out on my own. Also asked what schedule I needed.

I replied with a nervous chuckle that I felt I need a "few days" to get used to using the accudose and the med passing process (in a psych facility), as well as pointing out a couple areas in which I still felt like I needed some additional experience.

I informed the nrs educator that I wanted to keep the schedule I'd been working since I was hired (2nd shift, Friday - Tuesday) but if possible I would like to change that to Fri-Tue and then Fri-Mon alternating for 72 hrs ppp, -or- work 2/ 12 hr and 1/ 8 hr q weekend if possible. I've told everyone I can think to tell that this is my preferred schedule, including the Director of Nursing. You'd think they'd be jumping up and down with glee for a person that wants to work weekends (without a Baylor program). I also expressed some interest in 3rd shift, but wasn't sure.

The next day, (unfortunately - after 5pm) I discover I am scheduled to go off orientation the following Monday. And, I was scheduled for the next month - shifts that are not remotely close to what I need. Of course, the nrs educator is gone for the week, and as of Monday, I am under new management so to speak.

I am fine with going off orientation, but I feel like I simply wasn't informed. I suppose that I took the conversation with the nrs educator to be the beginning of the process, not a "dumping". I wasn't informed that I would be officially off orientation in 4 days, nor that I would be scheduled for the next month regardless of my shift needs.

There is also the issue of where I will be "core" in the hospital. I actually like the unit that most run from screaming (women's acute thought disorder) but I wasn't hired for that unit. I was hired "core" on another unit that's supposed to be men/womens thought disorder, but is pretty much a mixed bag of mood disorders, A&D detox, and an occassionally psychotic pt. It's OK, I like working there as well.

HOWEVER, I was recenty told that they don't "really" hire for core positions anymore, and I have to work where the need is greatest. Also that a month orientation is standard, unless there are problems that need to be addressed. When I replied that I wasn't informed of this, the manager said that it's just an "unspoken" policy. What??!

I'm a psych nurse, not a psychic nurse.

In my quest for information about the availability of positions on different shifts and different units, everything has gotten convoluted. Over the past couple weeks, I've been pointed to one person only to be pointed to another, and so on and so forth, in a maze of supervisors and managers and schedulers.

There is almost zero communication between these people. My "core" (but not core) manager said I should have come to her with all my questions, but I was told when I began working that my scheduling and questions etc. were the responsibility of the nrs educator during my orientation. I've only seen my "core" manager a few times since I started the job!

All I've ever wanted was a straight answer. Apparently thats an oxymoron in nursing.

My first "real" shift was, of course, on the detox unit .... on a Monday. (I need to add that that day we had to put MY 17yo beloved dog to sleep, and I left for work with the whole family crying and upset.) The last time I'd worked that unit on a Monday, they had 17 discharges and 6-7 admissions on 2nd shift, with 2 nurses for close to 30 pt's.

I refused the assignment. I'm not ready for THAT! It's dangerous even for a seasoned nurse! I was prepared to quit, in tears, but they moved me to another unit. I felt awful about it, but I know my limits and my capabilities, as well as recognizing my personal distress over the loss of a "family member" as a factor. Now I'm pretty sure I've been labeled a trouble-maker.

I'm trying to work out the scheduling problems (I have 2 children with various activities, and babysitting lined up for the dates I "thought" I'd be working). They accomodated me for this coming Thursday, stating that they would just be short staffed but they recognize my children are important to me. (No guilt there.) As for the rest of the month, I'm expected to work their schedule.

I informed my manager today that I WILL be writing a letter of complaint. Sorry, I just think this is a bunch of bull. I'm not even sure to whom I should send such a letter, as ALL levels of management within the hospital are involved.

Should I start looking for another job? I want to be a psych nurse, I love it, and I'm good at it. There aren't that many other options in psych here at this time.

THANK YOU if you've waded through all this. I could really use some objective advice.

Warmest regards ~ Daze

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

Wow. Incredible.

I'd definitely nod and smile.....and have your letters ready when you have your exit interview. After you land another job. Asap.

[BradleyRN]

This whole core thing is a racket! You should be hired for a particular unit, but in this day and age, where they "pull" nurses so frequently to other units, now they act like it is the norm since so many nurses have complained over the years about being pulled. It is not fair to show up everyday at your unit where you know your patients and their meds only to be pulled to another where you know none of the patients or meds, especially when it is due to the same people that always call in sick and yet somehow keep their jobs. This example is from a LTC facility (as to why nurses hate being pulled). Anyway, so now they pretend they dont hire for a regular unit and just send you where you are needed? Well that is what we call a "float" nurse and should come with an extra few dollars per hour. If you have to constantly work on different units while someone else is always on the same unit, then it makes perfect sense that you should be compensated for that extra headache.

"A month is standard unless there are PROBLEMS that need to be addressed". That sounds like a guilt trip to make you feel that if you need more training, then there must be something wrong with you. It is a bullying technique so they can increase their bottom line. Always stand up for yourself (just like you are doing). You have the right to refuse any assignment you feel to be unsafe and you should exercise that right as often as you need. The fact is, a facility will be glad to give you too many patients or situations you are not trained enough to handle, but if you accept them and something goes wrong, they will blame you. It is good to be a trouble maker. Now they know you wont be the one to take advantage of. The more you refuse situations you know to be unsafe, the easier it will get. You can already see that they dont care about you or the patients. You will see that a lot in psych and LTC. Profit is all they see. Tell them you want more money if you are to be a float nurse. Tell them you want more training if you need it. Tell them you can only work the days you agreed to. Find another job if they dont seem to be playing ball. The fact is, a nurse can get a new job tomorrow, but it may take months for a facility to find another nurse. If they act like they dont need you, it is a bluff. Know this!

Their underhanded "unspoken", manipulative way, trying to make you feel guilty for wanting more orientation, leaves me no choice but to say find a new job. Now you know what to ask at your next interview. It has always been my opinion that an interview is as much us for us as it is them. Good luck! ( And you thought your post ran long )

[barbyann]

I'm a psych nurse, not a psychic nurse.

Ain't that the truth.

Boy, would I love to see you send this posting to a member of the Board of Directors at this facility. You come across as strong, professional and genuine. I have faith that you will handle this situation to your satisfaction.

[oramar]

This is the first of many dirty tricks you will experience as a nurse. It is the norm. BradleyRN did a good job of talking about how to go about advocating for yourself. Good luck.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I'm a psych nurse, not a psychic nurse.

Boy, do I love this line.

Good luck to you, RNdaze.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

you did not mention policies. What are the HR policies regarding orientation, scheduling, etc. ?

There is someone in charge of all the nursing staff: chief nursing officer or some such. Make an appt. to talk to that person. At the very least this person ought to have an understanding as to what indicators are serving as dis-satisfiers with the staff. Communication for instance can be fixed. If you do this and still meet resistence then go elsewhere. Someone will appreciate your ability and will have a better system thought out to support your practice.