I am a newly licensed RN in New York and I am having a dilema. I was recently hired at a nursing home and rehab but things seem strange. they have asked me to volunteer one or two weeks of my orientation! During the interview I kept being told "I hope you are long term". Then as I left the interview other employees, as I was introduced, made similar remarks along the lines of are you the one that is going to stay.
Because I am a new nurse, and single mother who NEEDS to work, I accepted but now I regret it. I was told by my instructor that this is not common practice and they must have a high turn over rate. What if this place is not safe for me as a new nurse and then I worked for them for free! Another nurse 8 years in the field told me I should not have accepted that.
Yesterday was my first day and I went in at 7 am, I basically sat around for 3 hours because 2 RN's and 2 CNA's had called out. the night nurse was there until 930am, 2.5 hours past her shift trying to figure things out. Also there is no union and they have not even given a salary or benefit package.
what should I do? Is there any organization I can call to find out if this is right? Also you should know I attained this interview from a family friend that is also an RN supervisor in this nursing home, I do not want to let her down but I think she was not truthful or straight forward about the situation.
Any advice is greatly appreciated!