WDYT? Sticking up for myself or...

[bluemorningglory]

I am a CNA with over five years of hospital experience as a float. I have been on all floors except OB/PEDS. I currently work in an OR but am looking to change my hours and get back into a more clinical setting.

I applied for a position on OB (same facility) and was asked to shadow. I accepted and understood the reasoning. After all, I had never worked in labor and delivery. So I went over there. Unpaid. For two and a half hours. While I spent most of the time truly shadowing, I did help out here and there as requested.

It took several calls and emails (within professional limits, mind you) to find out I did not get the job. I was a little frustrated but, hey, that's life. So then the HR rep and I start talking about alternate ideas.

She mentions more interviews and shadowing. That is when I spoke up. In a nice way, I explained that as OB was a new area to me, I was happy to shadow unpaid. However, as an experienced hospital aide, I did not see the benefit of shadowing in areas with which I was already aware. After all, I am a current employee of the hospital with a history of excellent reviews and plenty of experience. I am not some brand new CNA who has never held a position.

I mean, let's say I spend 6 hours shadowing. You can't tell me that I will stand there, arms folded, and never help out. Of course I will. For free. And that doesn't sit right with me

What is the consensus?

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Shadowing is observing not working for free, imho.

[bluemorningglory]

Shadowing is observing not working for free, imho.

Ok...but consider this scenario. I was present during a csection during my last shadow. Great, get to learn something new. After the patient was on the table, I was asked to help push the bed out of the room.

My preceptor knew I was a CNA and nodded to me, giving me indication that I should take the bed out. Now, I don't mind helping there. I am blessed to be witnessing a csection and moving the bed is a small price to pay.

Let's take this situation to me shadowing on a med-surg floor. Let's say that they are shortstaffed and someone needs help repositioning a patient. I am shadowing..supposedly. I am pretty confident helping is going to be the rule and not the exception.

I am trying to understand why experienced staff are expected to shadow at all.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Ok...but consider this scenario. I was present during a csection during my last shadow. Great, get to learn something new. After the patient was on the table, I was asked to help push the bed out of the room.

My preceptor knew I was a CNA and nodded to me, giving me indication that I should take the bed out. Now, I don't mind helping there. I am blessed to be witnessing a csection and moving the bed is a small price to pay.

Let's take this situation to me shadowing on a med-surg floor. Let's say that they are shortstaffed and someone needs help repositioning a patient. I am shadowing..supposedly. I am pretty confident helping is going to be the rule and not the exception.

I am trying to understand why experienced staff are expected to shadow at all.

That's my point. Shadow in an unfamiliar area like you did with LDRP. It's ridiculous to have an experienced person already on facility staff shadow in an area they already have worked before.

[Jules A, MSN]

I hear what you are saying and also make it a habit never to work for free or even reduced wages however a shadow experience imo is very valuable. It is sort of a test drive. You can get first hand about the culture and vibe of this new team so you can make an educated decision as to whether you will be a good fit there. I'm all for checking things out before making a change. Good luck.

[Oceanpacific]

Sometimes you have to suck it up and this is one of those times. I'm willing to bet that HR and your first "shadow" have made note of your less than enthusiastic response to interviewing and shadowing in the manner they choose. You may be justified in your feelings, but this just gets even further away from your goal. Good luck.

[bluemorningglory]

Now wait a minute..I was happy to shadow and was very motivated to be in OB that day. Again, I was completely new to OB. I was not miffed at all that they asked me to help move the bed. In fact, I was a bit surprised as I had been asked to stand quietly in the corner and out of the way. No matter, I was happy to help as I was there observing a procedure that was completely new to me.

What I am hesitant to do is to shadow on units where I have experience (granted, not at that facility, but really, med surg is med surg is med surg) and at a facility where I have already received good reviews for my work.

[NurseIndependa]

What I am hesitant to do is to shadow on units where I have experience (granted, not at that facility, but really, med surg is med surg is med surg) and at a facility where I have already received good reviews for my work.

I am a little confused. Are you being asked to shadow at your facility or not?

When I was a CNA (and even as a new nurse applying for jobs) some hospitals had these shadowing experience and called them "share days". Although there were presented to me as getting to know the culture of the unit, they were more for the staff to see how I interacted on the unit. Was I eager to learn or ready to help? The CNA or nurse I was with could then provide feedback to the manager. This could possibly be occurring at your facility with these shadow experiences.

[Mulan]

So what happens if you are "shadowing" and injure yourself (while "helping out") and you are not on the clock?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I totally get your reluctance but I think that Jules had a great point. Shadowing is only minimally about learning the job requirements. Primarily, it's about you and the unit observing each other. You can learn a great deal about the"feel" of a unit by just spending a few hours there.

Which CNA's/nursing staff are always "too busy" to help a co-worker out? Are there many of those types on the unit? Do folks in general seem happy or at least not unhappy? What's the pace compared to other med/surg units where you've worked? How many folks are glued to their phones or hiding out in the break room?

I think it would be worth it to you to spend some time shadowing, even if you don't get paid.

[Oh'Ello, BSN, RN]

I'd Shadow.... just dress yourself so that you're not in a position to help with anything. Think: Business casual. No heels or skirts or anything but definitely don't wear scrubs and work shoes. That way you're pretty much in a position to shadow only.

Example: as a nurse, If I had someone shadowing me, I'd be really uncomfortable asking someone not in a uniform without a badge to help me with patient care. As a patient, i'd be really weirded out if some person in khakis came in to wipe my backside. If you're wearing your work uniform or any kind of scrubs really when you shadow, it makes it easier to disguise what you're actually there to do. Ballet flats? Not so much.

Also, I don't know about your hospital but we never have people shadow for like 6 hours. It's usually an hour or two just so you can see the flow of the unit.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I'd Shadow.... just dress yourself so that you're not in a position to help with anything. Think: Business casual. No heels or skirts or anything but definitely don't wear scrubs and work shoes. That way you're pretty much in a position to shadow only.

Example: as a nurse, If I had someone shadowing me, I'd be really uncomfortable asking someone not in a uniform without a badge to help me with patient care. As a patient, i'd be really weirded out if some person in khakis came in to wipe my backside. If you're wearing your work uniform or any kind of scrubs really when you shadow, it makes it easier to disguise what you're actually there to do. Ballet flats? Not so much.

Also, I don't know about your hospital but we never have people shadow for like 6 hours. It's usually an hour or two just so you can see the flow of the unit.

What great advice!