I need some advice fellow nurses....

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Specializes in Peds ER.

Hey everyone-

I am in a sort of dilemma and I'm not sure what to do right now. I need some outsiders input because I'm just going in circles with this right now. Here's the deal, I was offered a position in the hospital where I work in June, a full-time day position. I am now almost finished orientation and the next months schedule came out and I am on nights.

I spoke to my supervisor and was told that I was bumped, basically, because someone with seniority requested to move to days and she was not able to tell her no. She said she would try to work me into days if possible later.

At this point there would be no way for me to work nights. I did tell her this. I really love this position and I don't want to leave but I'm not sure I like being changed without notice or consideration at all. I know I am a new nurse and most start on nights, but I had several other offers from other hospitals that also guaranteed days. I turned all of them down.

It's not exactly a nurses paradise in New Orleans right now but I know I could find another position easily. What would you do?

Thanks y'all.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC.

I would consider how strongly you feel against working nights. If there is no way you would ever be remotely happy doing nights, then I say look somewhere else. I don't think it was fair for them to bump you to nights. You were hired for a certain shift. I think it was horrible for your manager to just change everything around for another nurse with more seniority. Seniority or not, that is not fair to go back on a promise with an employee. That would make me upset enough to look elsewhere. Who knows what else they'd do last minute without telling you.

-Christine

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Specializes in L&D.

If your paperwork you signed says you were hired for days, I don't see how they could move you to nights without talking to you first.

I do like working 3rd shift a lot. Never would I have ever thought I would be able to survive nights. I don't remember ever staying up all night and having no problem. But I do. Also, this way I don't need to pay daycare. It works great.

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Specializes in Transplant, homecare, hospice.

If you can't work nights, go to days at the other hospital offering you a day position. It's hard to leave and enter into the unknown at a new hospital, but you have to do what's important for you.

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That just ain't right. If you truly can't do nights, what's there to discuss? I'd give my notice and go elsewhere. And I completely agree with you that the way it was done was shady--there should at least have been some warning!

I'm sorry this is happening to you. Just leaves a bad taste, huh?

Andrea

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Specializes in Peds ER.

Thanks to all of you for your advice. I know I wouldn't have a problem staying up all night but my priorities are with my children and it would affect them greatly.

I did speak to a recruiter today about another position and I'll know something in a week at the most. At that point they will get my 2 weeks notice. It's just disappointing, you know. I'm not going to be burnt out after only a few months in nursing. I'm a firm believer in doing what makes you happy. I know sacrifices have to be made but to what extent? I'm thinking out loud now.

Yes, it does leave a bad taste in my mouth. I appreciate all of your opinions, it really validates what I already thought. Off I go now to my first night shift, kicking and screaming of course ;)

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Specializes in L&D.

[quote name=ItsyBitsySpiderYes it does leave a bad taste in my mouth. I appreciate all of your opinions, it really validates what I already thought. Off I go now to my first night shift, kicking and screaming of course ;)[/quote]

Good luck on your first night! Let us know how it goes...:)

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

I see five options. (1) figure out a way to put up with the night shifts and hang around for a bit to see if they honor your request. (2) go see the nurse recruiter and tell her about your night shift thing and ask if there are any open day shift positions on another unit in the hospital. Another way to do this is just pay a visit to other unit managers and see what you can scrounge up. (This is how I got a position on an IV Team) (3) go prn at the hospital and limit yourself to day shift only. That will keep your foot in the door. (4) go on a leave of absence while you find another day shift job, but check back with the hospital and your unit manager on a regular basis to see if a day shift position has opened up. (5) find another job first and then quit this one.

:twocents: I'm a little concerned that your supervisor didn't take the time to pick up the phone, or call you into her office, to tell you herself that she had to give up the day shift position to someone else. That stinks and I don't like the way she handled this. Finding out that you didn't get a position that you were told you would get by seeing it on the work schedule is absolutely unforgiveable as far as I'm concerned, and I've been in nursing management. I wouldn't feel the least bit sorry about looking outside this unit for another position within this hospital before moving on to another facility.

I was lied to by the DON about the first RN job I took out of nursing school. I quit it. To my way of thinking that says a lot about someone's character. It happened to me a second time, only it was 25 years later, and I quit on the spot when I got to the bottom of why I was assigned to another unit rather than the one I was hired for. It was the oddest thing, because the manager I originally spoke to when I was hired would not answer my calls or written notes. It took me a week to get the whole story. I guess this does happen, but it doesn't mean that you have to like it. Ask for an exit interview if you end up leaving this place and let them know that you felt you were lied to. Facilities expend a lot of money to hire and train new grads, in particular, and someone in that place needs to know that your supervisor just threw many thousands of dollars into the wind.

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Specializes in Peds ER.
I see five options. (1) figure out a way to put up with the night shifts and hang around for a bit to see if they honor your request. (2) go see the nurse recruiter and tell her about your night shift thing and ask if there are any open day shift positions on another unit in the hospital. Another way to do this is just pay a visit to other unit managers and see what you can scrounge up. (This is how I got a position on an IV Team) (3) go prn at the hospital and limit yourself to day shift only. That will keep your foot in the door. (4) go on a leave of absence while you find another day shift job, but check back with the hospital and your unit manager on a regular basis to see if a day shift position has opened up. (5) find another job first and then quit this one.

:twocents: I'm a little concerned that your supervisor didn't take the time to pick up the phone, or call you into her office, to tell you herself that she had to give up the day shift position to someone else. That stinks and I don't like the way she handled this. Finding out that you didn't get a position that you were told you would get by seeing it on the work schedule is absolutely unforgiveable as far as I'm concerned, and I've been in nursing management. I wouldn't feel the least bit sorry about looking outside this unit for another position within this hospital before moving on to another facility.

I was lied to by the DON about the first RN job I took out of nursing school. I quit it. To my way of thinking that says a lot about someone's character. It happened to me a second time, only it was 25 years later, and I quit on the spot when I got to the bottom of why I was assigned to another unit rather than the one I was hired for. It was the oddest thing, because the manager I originally spoke to when I was hired would not answer my calls or written notes. It took me a week to get the whole story. I guess this does happen, but it doesn't mean that you have to like it. Ask for an exit interview if you end up leaving this place and let them know that you felt you were lied to. Facilities expend a lot of money to hire and train new grads, in particular, and someone in that place needs to know that your supervisor just threw many thousands of dollars into the wind.

I agree with you, it does say alot about her character. Funny thing is, now that this has happened just about every nurse on the unit has pulled me to the side to tell me their personal hell story with this supervisor. This is not only not uncommon for her but apparently it represents how she runs the unit regularly. Everyone has told me to stand up to her, and at the same time told me stories of what has happened to people who do.

There are several day positions in the hospital available and I really think before quitting I will apply for one of them but technically I am not eligible to transfer internally until January. I will ask for an exception because I don't think she's the type of person I want to work for, but I doubt I will get one. I wonder if I can take a leave of absence, I'm going to check out all those options when I go back tonight. Thanks for your advice and for sharing your story.

I made it through last night. I haven't seen my kids in over 24 hours, I can't sleep during the day, and I feel like I'm selling out by even going...other than that things are great! Ok, I'm not feeling sorry for myself anymore. I'm going to call HR right now and see what they say.

Thanks y'all!

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After reading your post, a lot of different thoughts came to my mind...First, the hospital that offered you a " day position", was this in writing?? Also, is it a Union or Non-union hospital?? In any event, its basically all how you see it. You seem to be set on working days and I dont blame you at all. You have to do what works Best for you and your life. Nightshift actually in my opinion is a great shift (if you can stay up). I think its good because you in someways have more learning opportunity typically on nights. You are able to process and put the picture together so to speak. It doesnt always work this way, but there all in all is more downtime with nights.

I also agree that you should have never been offered verbally or in writing a day position and then have it be yanked under you, probably after you planned it and were excited about it. What a disappointment. In my opinion, it was NOT very professional of your manager and it shows lack of leadership and respect for her/his fellow nurses that are on board in that unit. Iam not sure even if you were offered a day position again, would I myself want to work for that manager. That is kind of a sign or would at least be to me... GOOD LUCK IN EVERYTHING!!!

N

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There must be some unwritten rule about making sure someone makes a new grad's first job a pain. I had trouble with my first job out of nursing school (I chose 7p- 3a to accommodate children) and ran into a lot of STRONG personalities in the department and shift I had chosen.

I was then told by my nurse manager (I never complained to her) at my 90 day evaluation that she "was surprised I hadn't been eaten alive" on that shift. I think sometimes managers DANCE around strong personalities and try to accommodate them to prevent their complaining.

You may have been BUMPED by one of those STRONG personality people. Why did this person who bumped you not put in for the job before it was posted for the general public? Everywhere I have worked, all positions are posted first within the department, then for 2 weeks in the hospital, then to the outside.

You got a raw deal. I would seriously question working with a place that is that inconsiderate.

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