Help with "Bait & Switch" tactics at new job

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Specializes in ER!.

I am in dire need of some perspective here, y'all. This may get wordy, so I apologize in advance. Please bear with me.

Three months ago I interviewed for a wonderful-sounding job. The staff was friendly and seemed very professional, the manager spends lots of time on the floor and is involved with her staff, and the full-time requirements were 3 days one week, four days the next. I was promised 12 weeks of preceptorship (it's a new area of practice for me) and quoted a rate of pay that's competitve for my area. During my staff interview, one person mentioned that "most" of the nurses list one day per pay period that "we're available if they need us, in which case they call us in". HR said there was a dress code, but when I asked the manager about it, she shrugged it off and said that we shouldn't wear sleeveless shirts, opened-toed shoes, the usual stuff, not to worry about it.

Surprise #1: My second week there, my preceptor mentioned to me that my manager had told her to tell me not to wear my denim scrubs again- I might "get in trouble" since denim is not allowed. I'd worn these scrubs to general hospital orientation twice and had no reason to think they weren't allowed on the floor. I wasn't concerned, just said, thanks, I didn't know, I won't wear them again. "NO DENIM!" was specified in a note on my 30-day-evaluation. I would have commented, had the paper not been shoved under my nose as I was going into a patient's room and my manager said hurriedly, "Here, sign this quick, Joint Commision is coming, and I need to have these all done." I thought the mark-down was unfair, since she hadn't seen fit to say anything to me herself, and I didn't have any way at the time of knowing I'd done anything wrong.

Surprise #2: My manger announced that my preceptorship would be ending after 6 weeks since she needed the staff, and as an orientee, I "didn't count" as staff.

Surprise #3: Orientation was over, and I was making about $1.50/hour less than what I'd been quoted.

Surprise #4: Those days we "needed to be available" were actually mandatory overtime. I'd asked for Mondays off for a previous commitment to volunteer work, and was immediately granted the schedule I'd "asked for": Tuesday-Friday, 12-hour days, every week. The reason only "most" of us are required to do this is that the part-time staff is not required to. The following month I requested Wednesdays off for church. I got one Wednesday off; otherwise, my schedule remained the same.

Surprise #5: Our unit secretary began treating me rudely, not finishing orders on my charts, ignoring me when I asked for charts I needed immediately for emergent situations. Charts she's worked on are put back in the rack with the metal rings open, and when I pick them up, everything falls out. She'll say she paged me when she hadn't, then tell my manger I'd left the floor and no one could find me. She'll also page me 5 or 6 times over 2 minutes and tell my manager how many times she "had" to page me before I responded. Patient care is constantly interrupted, and my patients have noticed and commented on how often I'm called out of the room. Small tasks then take forever to finish, which she will announce to everyone present in the main nurse's station. When I've attempted to discuss this with her, she turns her head and refuses to speak to me, which is blown off by my manager. "She just needs time to sort of work through conflicts", I was told. She is acting like a two-year-old, I think, and my patients are paying for it. Several other employees have noticed her behavior also.

Surprise #6: 60-day evuluation, I was marked down for calling in sick twice. I'd never called in sick, although once I was sent home by the charge nurse in the middle of the day for constant vomiting and diarrhea.

Surprise #7: I was assigned a patient in critical condition with which I had no experience. I'd stated in my interview that I was interested in training for this type of patient, but none was received before I was assigned this patient alone. When I protested, and cited my shortened orientation period, my manager disagreed, stating that I had started work ONE MONTH BEFORE I ACTUALLY HAD. It took me several minutes to convince her that I'd started when I did.

Surprise #8: 90-day evalutation, I was written up for two separate incidents. One, a patient I'd started IVF on had gotten too much NS, because it hadn't been stopped at the appropriate time. The time at which it was to be stopped was at 2130- two hours after I'd reported off and left. Secondly, I was told that I'd left at night before report was over. I didn't think I had, so I asked when this supposedly happened. Neither supervisor at this meeting could specify a date or person who'd made the accusation. After I questioned it several times, the story changed to "a few charge nurses" who'd complained of this. Still, no dates were fresh in anyone's memory. I was offered "another chance", a prolonged probation, with the threat of termination if things did not improve. I wrote a long comment stating my position, and when I expressed concern that the actions and/or words of others, over which I have no control, seem to have a heavy impact on my job security, my senior supervisor looked me in the eye and said, "I never take any action based on hearsay". :eek: Well......

I am totally at a loss as to how best to deal with this. Even if I knew who else to go to, I'm always at work and don't want to ask permission from my manager for time off the floor to go complain about her and her boss. Three other people who started the same time I did have had similar experiences, and one told me, "My interview was a complete fabrication." I've learned (surprise, surprise) that this floor has long had an extremely high turnover rate. While I'd ideally like to honor my contract (anything else will cost me my bonus), certainly no statements made to me have been honored. I started out liking this job, and feel more miserable, exhausted, stressed, frustrated, and paranoid every day. I realize I've been lucky to have previously worked with honest and fair employers, and I have no reference for this kind of treatment. I enjoy working with most of my co-workers. My patients have filled out several comment cards on the excellent care they've gotten from me, and when I'm allowed to take care of them the way I learned to, I'm happy.

I ask all battle-wise nurses present for your input.

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i am in dire need of some perspective here, y'all. this may get wordy, so i apologize in advance. please bear with me.

three months ago i interviewed for a wonderful-sounding job. the staff was friendly and seemed very professional, the manager spends lots of time on the floor and is involved with her staff, and the full-time requirements were 3 days one week, four days the next. i was promised 12 weeks of preceptorship (it's a new area of practice for me) and quoted a rate of pay that's competitve for my area. during my staff interview, one person mentioned that "most" of the nurses list one day per pay period that "we're available if they need us, in which case they call us in". hr said there was a dress code, but when i asked the manager about it, she shrugged it off and said that we shouldn't wear sleeveless shirts, opened-toed shoes, the usual stuff, not to worry about it.

surprise #1: my second week there, my preceptor mentioned to me that my manager had told her to tell me not to wear my denim scrubs again- i might "get in trouble" since denim is not allowed. i'd worn these scrubs to general hospital orientation twice and had no reason to think they weren't allowed on the floor. i wasn't concerned, just said, thanks, i didn't know, i won't wear them again. "no denim!" was specified in a note on my 30-day-evaluation. i would have commented, had the paper not been shoved under my nose as i was going into a patient's room and my manager said hurriedly, "here, sign this quick, joint commision is coming, and i need to have these all done." i thought the mark-down was unfair, since she hadn't seen fit to say anything to me herself, and i didn't have any way at the time of knowing i'd done anything wrong.

surprise #2: my manger announced that my preceptorship would be ending after 6 weeks since she needed the staff, and as an orientee, i "didn't count" as staff.

surprise #3: orientation was over, and i was making about $1.50/hour less than what i'd been quoted.

surprise #4: those days we "needed to be available" were actually mandatory overtime. i'd asked for mondays off for a previous commitment to volunteer work, and was immediately granted the schedule i'd "asked for": tuesday-friday, 12-hour days, every week. the reason only "most" of us are required to do this is that the part-time staff is not required to. the following month i requested wednesdays off for church. i got one wednesday off; otherwise, my schedule remained the same.

surprise #5: our unit secretary began treating me rudely, not finishing orders on my charts, ignoring me when i asked for charts i needed immediately for emergent situations. charts she's worked on are put back in the rack with the metal rings open, and when i pick them up, everything falls out. she'll say she paged me when she hadn't, then tell my manger i'd left the floor and no one could find me. she'll also page me 5 or 6 times over 2 minutes and tell my manager how many times she "had" to page me before i responded. patient care is constantly interrupted, and my patients have noticed and commented on how often i'm called out of the room. small tasks then take forever to finish, which she will announce to everyone present in the main nurse's station. when i've attempted to discuss this with her, she turns her head and refuses to speak to me, which is blown off by my manager. "she just needs time to sort of work through conflicts", i was told. she is acting like a two-year-old, i think, and my patients are paying for it. several other employees have noticed her behavior also.

surprise #6: 60-day evuluation, i was marked down for calling in sick twice. i'd never called in sick, although once i was sent home by the charge nurse in the middle of the day for constant vomiting and diarrhea.

surprise #7: i was assigned a patient in critical condition with which i had no experience. i'd stated in my interview that i was interested in training for this type of patient, but none was received before i was assigned this patient alone. when i protested, and cited my shortened orientation period, my manager disagreed, stating that i had started work one month before i actually had. it took me several minutes to convince her that i'd started when i did.

surprise #8: 90-day evalutation, i was written up for two separate incidents. one, a patient i'd started ivf on had gotten too much ns, because it hadn't been stopped at the appropriate time. the time at which it was to be stopped was at 2130- two hours after i'd reported off and left. secondly, i was told that i'd left at night before report was over. i didn't think i had, so i asked when this supposedly happened. neither supervisor at this meeting could specify a date or person who'd made the accusation. after i questioned it several times, the story changed to "a few charge nurses" who'd complained of this. still, no dates were fresh in anyone's memory. i was offered "another chance", a prolonged probation, with the threat of termination if things did not improve. i wrote a long comment stating my position, and when i expressed concern that the actions and/or words of others, over which i have no control, seem to have a heavy impact on my job security, my senior supervisor looked me in the eye and said, "i never take any action based on hearsay". :eek: well......

i am totally at a loss as to how best to deal with this. even if i knew who else to go to, i'm always at work and don't want to ask permission from my manager for time off the floor to go complain about her and her boss. three other people who started the same time i did have had similar experiences, and one told me, "my interview was a complete fabrication." i've learned (surprise, surprise) that this floor has long had an extremely high turnover rate. while i'd ideally like to honor my contract (anything else will cost me my bonus), certainly no statements made to me have been honored. i started out liking this job, and feel more miserable, exhausted, stressed, frustrated, and paranoid every day. i realize i've been lucky to have previously worked with honest and fair employers, and i have no reference for this kind of treatment. i enjoy working with most of my co-workers. my patients have filled out several comment cards on the excellent care they've gotten from me, and when i'm allowed to take care of them the way i learned to, i'm happy.

i ask all battle-wise nurses present for your input.

you might consider talking to the labor board.

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Specializes in cardiac ICU.

If I were you, I would RUN. It will cost you your bonus, but it just may cost you more to stay at this place.

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Your manager is incompetent. Her behavior is unacceptable. She apparently allows the secretary to act out. You were lied to. From what you said about the manager being incorrect about the date you started your employment and having to convince her you were right, plus your being ou sick when you weren't, it sounds as if the manager is stupid, too. I would have left after the first paycheck where they got it wrong and would not fix it. I'm not surprised about what you say about the turnover rate there. Good luck. Life is too short.

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Specializes in Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.
If I were you, I would RUN. It will cost you your bonus, but it just may cost you more to stay at this place.

ITA. From the sounds of things, surprise #9 would be putting in the time and they sleaze out of the bonus anyway...

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Why, I wouldn't let no grass grow under my feet, bonus or no bonus.They already took away $84.00 per pay period away from you, when you got the surprise of $1.50 less than original quote. And You're really not getting full time to start with. 80 hours per pay period has always been standard full time. So you're getting cheated big time.

It might have sounded wonderful in the interview, but it's sure not adding up to wonderful is it?

I'd quit in a heartbeat.

Might ought to have another job lined up first tho.

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Wow! What a crappy situation! I would definitely go above the manager and talk to her boss to see if your problems can be solved that way. I know that you don't have a lot of time to do this, but you may have to try and find time. I think your manager is putting you in a dangerous position to try and give you a critically ill patient you're not equipped to take care of yet. Cutting short your preceptoship was a stupid move. I'm assuming you work in the ICU, CCU, PACU? I personally think that all nurses going into the critical care area should get 6 months preceptorship; but that'll probably never happen. I would most definitely keep a journal and document every little thing that occurs. I think that if we have to sign contracts to work at the hospitals, then the managers should also sign a contract and honor everything they promised during the interview. Good luck with your situation and please keep us updated. :)

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

They suck. You need to leave.

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Wow does this sound WAY to familiar! I will cut my experience down to my current job (I have another that was hospital too!).

When I went for my interview at my current position there were so many things I enjoyed about the facility! It was close to home, easy drive, part-time, weekends off, day shift 8-4 three to four days a week, no uniforms, shift differential, 401K, cost of living increases yearly, health with dental (I didn't qualify since I was part time), and we could have all the coffee or beverages you need. It was a relaxed happy place..and I had wished to work there, even though it was geriatrics (I was more geared for acute adult) for two years! I was to get a 6 week orientation, and was to be an administrative nurse helping the DON with QA, MAR's, and other paperwork...oh I was so happy!!!!!!

Okay that lasted about 6 months...something happened with upper management and things changed..and I am not kidding when I say OVERNIGHT! I went to work one day and there was mandatory meetings for all staff. Everything was taken away! Uniforms (at staff expense) to be purchased in one week and you can't come to work without them (okay finding a white vest was a bearcat in once week, I found one and we nurses shared it till everyone got theirs!). No more drinks. No personal items till they got lockers, and our cars were being broken into daily (I kept my stuff in my trunk..whew!). Shift differental cancled. 401K and cost of living increase cancled. Annual raises canceled (I don't know how they do it on merit as they say...so far no raises have been done in over a year!!!!!).

They established a policy that if something is found wrong, and it wasn't reported and they found evidence you should have known, you are as guilty as the one that did it. Oh this one really raised spirits..we still walk on egghshells and teamwork is NO MORE! No one trusts eachother, and you have to write everyone up all the time..even people you are close to to save your job! NICE huh? (we are talking nit picky items like caregivers not taking out the garbages per client room each shift...oh yes..this is a duty of theirs now..GRRRRRR!!!!!!).

The moral died...and it has never come back. You can feel the sadness still today in the halls of that day. And the meeting where some lady was yelling YELLING at all the staff about how horrible we were, lazy, no good, and couldn't be trusted. We had to sign a confidentialty agreement that was worded so badly I wasn't sure what I was signing...and you were instantly fired if you didn't sign it on your way out the door from that meeting. We all felt like criminals without trial...oh yeah...it was the WEEK before Christmas!!!!

I should have run, but it took me 6 months to get this job...now I am stuck! I have a house loan pending and can't quit, and since I have been working with geriatrics I am now labeled as "a rest home nurse" (even though it is assisted living and I am adminstration and floor nurse doing almost everything a hospital nurse does..but for 160 patients a shift!) and am instantly denied any job! I should have run!!!!!!!

My suggestion...at interviews or when you start signing papers..get EVERYTHING in writing BEFORE You sign on! If they breach the contract later you can pursue legal action if you wish. It is the only way to save your hide! You are a profesional, time to MAKE them realize it and get everything in contract...a piece of paper saying what you expect from them when you are signing papers about what they expect from you is fair!!!!!

Good luck..and please don't get stuck like I did...they keep taking, month by month they keep taking (they just took spouses and children off the insurance, and you must submit all appointment times/who to the administation or insurance won't pay..we are fighting that because that is breach of patient/MD confidentiality...AND some people stupidly signed a letter stating that our facility can ACCESS your medical records..it was hidden in a notice about health insurance...I caught it and begged folks not to sign...but I was too late for some!). Don't let it wait so long that your personal situation changes and you can't leave....

Once my loan goes through...I will look for another job (but I have two years at this place so I could get my home! I need that home because ours is about to fall apart...once I get it, I can have my options back!).

Good luck..sorry this was so long!

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:chair: RUN! Sounds like you will end up losing the bonus with these dishonest unethical people anyway. You are at risk of being blamed and possibly losing your license for something you didn't do. You don't think they are going to accept the responsibility, do you?

Pat

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I agree with above posts, I'd quit that job if I were you. Sounds like a pretty nasty place to be.

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Triage RN 34, RUN, RUN, RUN as soon as you can. You are in jeopardy. It sounds as if you practice in a gulag. All is set up to place blame for anything perceived as a negative situation on the staff. Report the place to your BON and the Labor Board. Seek out a labor attorney. Someone there is running rampant over you rights. If you all left, you would have management all writing one another up. And if the staff disappeared, so would that new management "team". You are in a no-win situation. It is really upsetting for me to hear about situations such as this. That employer is working from a 1930's mindset.

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