Mandatory meetings

Nurses General Nursing

Published

The facility I currently work at schedules mandatory meetings or education for only one day. I only work weekends and these things get posted during the week. Sometimes I am able to see the posting ahead of time because they are posted early, other times I miss it because they are posted that week and the meeting takes place within that week. Very rarely do I get a call about a scheduled meeting and if I do it's the day before. I go to school during the week so that usually conflicts with whatever time the meeting is scheduled. I feel like my job expects you to drop everything you're doing to come to a meeting on days you're not scheduled to be there. There is no way that all employees will be available on the same day at the same time. I try my best to make it to all meetings but its really hard considering I'm only there on weekends. I called the clinical educator about a mandatory meeting that I would not be available for and he said "I'm only going to teach this once." Pretty much saying if I miss it that's on me type of thing. I don't know if I will get penalized for this in the long run, but generally speaking I don't think that would be very fair. Is this how all facilities go about it ?

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Specializes in Psych, Hosp, and LTC.

I worked night shift for many years and mandatory meetings were always a source of irritation for me too. It is hard when you are off and unaware to be able to meet the requirements. I don't know how hard it would be for you, or even if it would help, but I used to go in ever so often and ask for the minutes of the meeting or a short meeting with my managers to " make-up " anything I missed.

That issue was important to me when I recently accepted an ADON/SDC position with a new company. Since I will be doing the staff in services and education, I will be coming in on night shift/ weekends when needed to provide for those that have odd hours.

I do hope they see your concern and effort in obtaining the information. Make sure to let the clinical educator and your managers know you are trying so it's not simply ignored by the CE. I wish you the best!

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Discuss with your fellow nurses and see if everyone else has conflicts. If they do, go together to your manager. Meetings should be offered at least twice and different times of the day or taped and watched when the staff member has time (come in early or stay after).

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Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.

There are many types of meetings but it sounds like you are describing two - there is the mandatory -where everyone is expected to attend and there is "no exception". Roll call is taken and a post assessment is done to assure everyone has the knowledge.

And then there is the mandatory meeting where the Manager tries to get as many folks as possible to teach. The rest will be expected to learn the info on their own via email, print outs or emails.

It sounds like the latter is in play for you.

If the meeting was truly "mandatory" It would be scheduled at different times and on different days so everyone could attend. This is not to say you should not try to connect with the other staff for the information...you should...

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There are many types of meetings but it sounds like you are describing two - there is the mandatory -where everyone is expected to attend and there is "no exception". Roll call is taken and a post assessment is done to assure everyone has the knowledge.

And then there is the mandatory meeting where the Manager tries to get as many folks as possible to teach. The rest will be expected to learn the info on their own via email, print outs or emails.

It sounds like the latter is in play for you.

If the meeting was truly "mandatory" It would be scheduled at different times and on different days so everyone could attend. This is not to say you should not try to connect with the other staff for the information...you should...

All meetings are referred to as mandatory at my job. Sometimes they sate if you do not attend you will be taken off the schedule. I don't know it that always applies....if that's something we should just "know". But I do reach out to the CE but he doesn't try to compromise. His attitude is "it's your fault that you can't be here, not my problem." I'll try to find out if I can get the info in another format as you suggested.

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Discuss with your fellow nurses and see if everyone else has conflicts. If they do go together to your manager. Meetings should be offered at least twice and different times of the day or taped and watched when the staff member has time (come in early or stay after).[/quote']

I ask around and see if anyone else has the same issues.

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I worked night shift for many years and mandatory meetings were always a source of irritation for me too. It is hard when you are off and unaware to be able to meet the requirements. I don't know how hard it would be for you, or even if it would help, but I used to go in ever so often and ask for the minutes of the meeting or a short meeting with my managers to " make-up " anything I missed.

That issue was important to me when I recently accepted an ADON/SDC position with a new company. Since I will be doing the staff in services and education, I will be coming in on night shift/ weekends when needed to provide for those that have odd hours.

I do hope they see your concern and effort in obtaining the information. Make sure to let the clinical educator and your managers know you are trying so it's not simply ignored by the CE. I wish you the best!

Thank you. I think your that's a good idea and makes more sense than what my job is doing. You'll have a better turnout and the staff will appreciate it.

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Specializes in hospice.

I don't go to mandatory meetings. I work the weekend and they don't pay me to show up during the week, so I don't go. No pay, no play. If it is that important, they will give me a print out on friday afternoon when I show up for report. Even If I did get paid, I would have a real problem going in on my day off, unless I just happen to be in the area of the office (an hour away from my house), which never happens.

It might not be such an issue if I didn't live so far away, and if they paid me for it.

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Specializes in NICU, Peds, Med-Surg.

It INFURIATES me that some places have that "BE HERE.... ORELSE!!" :madface:attitude when Nursing is 24/ 7....hellloooo!!!

At my previous facility, it was great....they offered at least 3 different meeting

*times* on 3 *different* days to try and cover as MANY of us as they could......But even then, my boss understood that some people can't make it to those 3 choices, either.

The alternative was a notebook that contained ALL meeting info---you read it, then signed it to show that you were aware of any changes/ issues/ etc. PERFECT! :)

My current job....so unorganized....ONE meeting offered only....notes from meeting can never be found...(I suggested a notebook to keep them organized and easy to refer back to).....boss says "TRY to be here".....stupid signs posted with the word "MANDADATORY" :yeah: (lol, yes---usually it's misspelled!!!) in bold print.....yeaaa, right----night shift people can get to a 2 pm meeting! (the ONE meeting they offer is ALWAYS in the afternoon!!!) :no:

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Specializes in NICU, Peds, Med-Surg.

jeannepaul....wow, if you could make it, they don't pay you? That doesn't sound legal at all. The places I've worked ALWAYS pay you if they require you to come in for a *mandatory* anything...meeting, inservice, etc.

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Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.

Nothing makes me twitch more than when the MANDATORY bomb is dropped.

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