How would you feel?

[stashiaj]

Hello :)

Opinions please. I have been an ob nurse for 4 years now. I don't officially have an ob position though, so I still have to go work medical floor if they are busy. I never used to mind, but its getting so few and far between that I don't feel like I am as good as I should be when working medical, its hard to keep up on the skills. A few months ago there were ob positions posted as 12 hour shifts, I can not do 12 hour shifts because I do not have daycare for overnights so several nurses with less seniority received the positions. I blew it off, but the other day more positions were posted. I applied and was called back. Since I am not available for night shifts they would not offer me the position. Instead a young cocky nurse with 1.5 years experience received the position. She refuses to work dayshifts, pm shifts and also refuses to attend c-sections because she is "not comfortable" with them. I have much more seniority and experience, but now she has an actual position just because I am not available for night shift. They knew I wasn't available when they originally hired me. I'm really upset. This position means she can work charge nurse and I still can't. This means I still have to work medical.....which probably isnt fair to the patients (don't get me wrong, I try my hardest!!). One of our doctors even told me that she was upset that I didn't get the position and asked if I minded if she talk to someone about this. How should I handle the situation without making things worse?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

What "situation" are you needing to handle?

As you described it, the OB positions are all 12-hour shifts so you aren't able to take them at this point in your life. You can't expect the manager to completely rearrange everything to accommodate your needs. It doesn't help to pour out sour grapes on nurses who are able to meet the requirements of those jobs despite the fact that they have less 'senority' than you. (forgive me, I'm used to a non-union environment where clinical expertise always trumps seniority)

FYI, having a physician try to exert influence on the nurse manager on your behalf will not win you any friends - and is likely to alienate the manager in question. What exactly do you expect the manager to do?

[leslie :-D]

opportunities will come your way when you are able to work 12 hr shifts.

until then, others are taking the very same opportunities that you are unable to...

and you seem to resent it.

unfortunately, this is no one else's problem but your own.

feeling disappointed is ok.

but if you're feeling angry, i'd work on changing your perspective of events.

leslie

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

Let's recap:

You won't work 12 hour shifts.

You won't work overnights.

You want to work OB permanently and not be floated to med/surg.

Permanent OB positions open for 12 hour shifts, overnights.

Other nurses get those permanent OB positions that are 12-hour overnight shifts--the very shifts you won't work.

You didn't get a position for a shift that you didn't want anyway.

What is the problem?

[GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

undoubtedly, opportunities come when you least expect them, there's a reason why you didn't get the position and you stated it yourself; you can't do 12hr. overnight-shift on account of not having a baby-sitter. unquestionably, your child should be your priority, therefore, the time will come when you're able to handle any shift, and you'll be to apply and be considered ...wishing you the very best always.....aloha~

[loriangel14, RN]

What is it that you want? You can't work nights and the positions involve working nights so you can't apply for them.For now you are staying where you are.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

"just because" you are not able to work when they need you is the reason you were not hired. The employer is not there to suit your schedule. It is the other way around. There are babysitting options. You can even get someone to stay it the house overnight.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I came back in this thread because this part irritates me.

Instead a young cocky nurse with 1.5 years experience received the position. She refuses to work dayshifts, pm shifts and also refuses to attend c-sections because she is "not comfortable" with them.

Instead of taking note of the reality of the situation, you choose to make snide remarks about the nurse who got the position you didn't want.

She refuses to work day shifts. She refuses to work PM shifts. Remember, you refuse to work night shifts.

She refuses to attend c-sections? I find it hard to believe that she refuses. Maybe she's verbalized being uncomfortable, but outright refusal? Nah, not buying it.

[Seas]

I have trouble seeing the OP's point too. What's the purpose here?

If you aren't available on the shifts that have openings, then you don't get the job. Period. Poo-pooing others who are hired, and complaining are immature. When you see an opening that exactly meet your schedule, you can may be get hired too.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

We see this all the time where I work...you can't work the hours so you are mad about it?! What is it that you actually want? The manager can't just create a position for you, she has to hire into what is available, and you can't work nights due to child care. I think that pretty much about sums it up. There is no way to handle this...if you can't work what is needed for the posted job, then you just kind of have to suck it up and deal with it.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

How would I feel?Like I may have to find better childcare options, and then I might be able to take advantage of those opportunities that others are getting and that I am having to pass up at this time of my life. And that I should be glad to have a steady job with such limited hours of availability.

How do YOU feel is the big question?

[stashiaj]

the last shifts posted were not 12 hour, guess i should have specified