i'm a new grad and since august i have been working in a ltc facility, this is my first nursing job. i have found the staff very friendly and supportive, and the education department is very approachable and always wants to get my feed back about the job and help me develop my skills. i feel that i am very lucky to be working and i’m happy i have not encountered “nurses eating their young”.
the only draw back is that when i was hired i was told that i could only be hired for part-time, i could pick up hours, but i would not be eligible for benefits until i was scheduled for full-time hours, which they would try to get me as soon as possible. i need benefits, but at the time i need work more. i also suspect that they did not want to give me benefits right away because they have had many new grads in the past that take a job and leave as soon as a better offer comes along, i think they wanted to make sure i was not doing the same. when i had my interview they asked that i stay for one year of employment. i have every intention of staying for that year.
the problem that i’m having now is that for the past month and a half they constantly ask me to pick up 2 to 3 8 hour shifts a week, which gives me more than full-time hours; but i’m not scheduled for it so i don’t get benefits. i help out when i can and i have asked if they see a full time schedule being available soon, they usually say they’re trying but they have nothing yet.
the long and short of my question is should i keep picking up the hours if they say i can’t schedule me for full time, and if i don’t pick up the hours does it make me look like a bad employee?
I've heard this complaint a lot in LTC facilities. They are using you for their own benefits, & will call you in and work u into the ground if they can. I won't do LTC work anymore - it's backbreaking and it's a nightmare having 65 patients to care for. If ur happy stay there, but you would be better off looking around in 2011 for a new, permanent position (as I am). Do the extra hours if you need the money, but if ur not getting benefits tell them ur not doing it. It's really ur choice.
And they won't care about you if they needed to get rid of you, trust me, there is no loyalty from organisations now. Be smart and start looking into other permanent positions once u have enough experience. I would never, ever stay in LTC, had too many bad experiences, & the nurse managers are never around, RNs have to organise everything.
I would say get out as soon as you can, they will just keep using u for their own needs and they won't stay sweet, trust me.
I know EXACTLY how you feel. I am in the exact same position (just not a nursing job, a job at a hospital.) Now, I know there will be 2 open positions that come with benefits in May and June, and if they do not offer me one of those (by that time I will have been at this place for 10 months) then I will be looking for a new job. I've offered to help plenty of times, but will refuse to help out if they deny me a benefited position. And I will leave as soon as I find a new job.
i'm a new grad and since august i have been working in a ltc facility, this is my first nursing job. i have found the staff very friendly and supportive, and the education department is very approachable and always wants to get my feed back about the job and help me develop my skills. i feel that i am very lucky to be working and i'm happy i have not encountered "nurses eating their young".
the only draw back is that when i was hired i was told that i could only be hired for part-time, i could pick up hours, but i would not be eligible for benefits until i was scheduled for full-time hours, which they would try to get me as soon as possible. i need benefits, but at the time i need work more. i also suspect that they did not want to give me benefits right away because they have had many new grads in the past that take a job and leave as soon as a better offer comes along, i think they wanted to make sure i was not doing the same. when i had my interview they asked that i stay for one year of employment. i have every intention of staying for that year.
the problem that i'm having now is that for the past month and a half they constantly ask me to pick up 2 to 3 8 hour shifts a week, which gives me more than full-time hours; but i'm not scheduled for it so i don't get benefits. i help out when i can and i have asked if they see a full time schedule being available soon, they usually say they're trying but they have nothing yet.
the long and short of my question is should i keep picking up the hours if they say i can't schedule me for full time, and if i don't pick up the hours does it make me look like a bad employee?
this is becoming more and more common. it happened to me in a prn job. i was supposed to work 1 to 2 shifts per week - prn - and i ended up being scheduled full time. and was put on the call rotation with the full timers as well. of course there were no benefits even though they wanted me to work full time. i told them either give me benefits or give me just the 1 to 2 shifts per week. they could accommodate neither request - i quit.
for you - since this is your first job as a nurse, i would stay working there - but only pick up extra shifts if you want to. otherwise, they are taking advantage of you. employers love to avoid paying benefits.
carolmaccas66, BSN, RN
2,212 Posts
I've heard this complaint a lot in LTC facilities. They are using you for their own benefits, & will call you in and work u into the ground if they can. I won't do LTC work anymore - it's backbreaking and it's a nightmare having 65 patients to care for. If ur happy stay there, but you would be better off looking around in 2011 for a new, permanent position (as I am). Do the extra hours if you need the money, but if ur not getting benefits tell them ur not doing it. It's really ur choice.
And they won't care about you if they needed to get rid of you, trust me, there is no loyalty from organisations now. Be smart and start looking into other permanent positions once u have enough experience. I would never, ever stay in LTC, had too many bad experiences, & the nurse managers are never around, RNs have to organise everything.
I would say get out as soon as you can, they will just keep using u for their own needs and they won't stay sweet, trust me.