Would this make you angry? Any words of wisdom?

Nurses General Nursing

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OK...I just started my new job two months ago. I was promised full time...I was also assured that there was plenty of overtime and if I wanted to work 60-80 hours a week I could. I was promised night shift. So...they started me out on nights...after two weeks they bumped me to days. Then I worked two nights and one day a week (12 hour shifts)...another nurse resigned, so I wrote a note to the DON and told her I would like to do full time nights since there were plenty of nights available. So...I've been doing full time nights. I was scheduled to work 5a-5p on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of this week. The nurse who was scheduled for day shift on Saturday wants to go see her son's stuff at the fair, so she is not going to work. :rolleyes: OK..so, the DON took me off the night shift on Friday and put me on the day shift on Saturday. Not only am I losing 12 hours, but I have a night shift then a day shift with only a day in between...if sucks to try to sleep enough to function on Friday, but not so much that I can't sleep Friday night so I can be up at the butt crack of dawn to work Saturday. And...the DON didn't even have the decency to call me and tell me about the change...I found out when one of the other nurses saw me in the grocery store!

Not really sure what to do here...I am going to call the DON in the morning and talk to her about it...I would really like to know how she expects me to pay my bills and buy crazy things like food and gas when my check is 12 hours short (I won't ask her that, but still!). I'm just not sure how to approach this one...

no words of wisdom but i feel for you....i worked parttime when i first started here and bounced between days and nights until i had no clue what time it was.

sorry about the typing, bundle is sick and in my arm.

I love you Tazzi! Give Bundle a hug from her Aunty Mac! Hope she starts feeling better soon. I might e-mail you tomorrow night...have to update you on my world.

:icon_hug: :kiss :icon_hug:

It's not professional or appropriate for a supervisor to change your schedule after it's been finalized, without asking (and that does mean ask) you first. You have a right to your life, too. She needs to leave you alone. You're not her private float pool. Somehow you have to tell her this (nicely, of course).

I love you Tazzi! Give Bundle a hug from her Aunty Mac! Hope she starts feeling better soon. I might e-mail you tomorrow night...have to update you on my world.

:icon_hug: :kiss :icon_hug:

Bundle is now snowed on phenergan and is in deep slumber. I gotta wake her up enough to get some motrin down her, she's hot again. Waiting for your email, I've wondered how you are!

Love you back!

if you do not speak up it will be a signal for this to repeat itself

there are too many places crying and begging for night people to take this

the key to working nights is getting sufficient sleep this won't cut it

Specializes in Photolab technician.

Bring up the point about lack of sleep when you speak with the DON. Ask her if she really wants nurses running around not at their best of abilities due to not catching enough z's. Firstly, it's a care issue, because you need to be on your A-game when working. Secondly, it's just not professional to modify the schedule without asking you if it fits your needs once it's been written.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I, personally, would look for another job. After all, there are plenty of facilities that are desperate for night shift nurses. It is not a good start if the DON is modifying the schedule without your knowledge and breaking promises that were made when you were originally hired.

Specializes in ER, Med-Surg, DON.

As a previous DON, I never treated my employees that way. It sounds like she is trying to fill the open slots anyway she can and not taking anyone into consideration. You need to sit down and speak with her and let her know how this makes you feel. Make sure everything you do is documented. Keep a journal. Note the days that you had previously spoken with her regarding your schedule and your wishes. Always be professional and respectfull. Trust me! You will come out smelling like a rose. Always remember your chain of command. Nurses are in high demand. There's another job out there.

My motto: Treat people the way you want to be treated!!!

Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
It's not professional or appropriate for a supervisor to change your schedule after it's been finalized, without asking (and that does mean ask) you first. You have a right to your life, too. She needs to leave you alone. You're not her private float pool. Somehow you have to tell her this (nicely, of course).

:yeahthat:

This happens all too often at my facility...nurses and the rest of us have our schedules "shifted" to fill gaps, balance numbers...instead of bouncing it back and allowing us to figure it out ourselves. We're all adults, and we all realize that we have a job to do and a responsibility to the kiddos. In the past we've just about always been able to get things covered with adequate numbers...because the nurse who did the schedule was easily approachable and flexible. Now, however, that's not the case. And this particular membe of management (who now does our schedule) is routinely "on vacation" and unable to change her schedule to accomodate the needs of the unit...but she expects to be able to change others' schedules on a whim...and without notice:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire.

vamedic4

Doesn't like ignorant people

Specializes in A myriad of specialties.
if you do not speak up it will be a signal for this to repeat itself

there are too many places crying and begging for night people to take this

the key to working nights is getting sufficient sleep this won't cut it

:yeahthat: Additionally, assuming the OP would work without suffiecient sleep creates a safety issue for OP and for the patients!

I talked to my DON and told her that I would do the shift changes, but in the future, I would really like to asked or at least told about the change by the appropriate person. She said shoe would schedule me for an extra shift next week to make up for the day I lost this week. Not really an acceptable compromise to me, but it appears that there is no other choice...time to update the resume again.

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