Is this insane or what?

[moonshadeau]

I have worked in the same unit for the last several years. The stress of the unit, the politics and the same old bull just really started to wear me out over the last year. When I started to feel that I was going to be physically ill going to work, I decided to find another job.

I did find another job within the organization I currently work for. I gave notice in NOVEMBER. Here rolls in January I am allowed to start my new job part-time. Problem is that my new job is full time, only I can't leave my old unit until 11 new hires are oriented. I still have to work in my old unit every 3rd 12 hour 3 day weekend until SUMMER. So it ends up that my old unit is keeping me for over 32 weeks!

It has been so bad to go to work at the old unit that I want to cry or puke anytime I think of how much longer I have to work there. This unit has done so many crappy things to me that I have really started to become bitter and attempt to vent at my peers. What I didn't realize was that there were brown noseing capabilities in the people I used to trust and admire. "We must all promote a positive enviroment for the new people". We only care about the "new" people not the people that have stuck it out.

I want to tell my old boss that I want OUT at a much more reasonable time frame than she has given me, but I am afraid of backlash and I still have to spend quite a bit of time on this unit in my new job.

SO Confused....

[Tephra]

32 weeks... holy carp!!!

Sheepers, I've heard of training your replacements/filling a schedule but you're being YANKED.

Most units that realize you're burnt on them, will be willing to let you out to another area w/in a month- 6 weeks. Speaks volumes about your institution that they're not.

Is there another viable alternative in the area?

[NorthStar]

Apply for some leave without pay to "recover from some emotional upsets", then start your new job and tell them as long as you are not on your old job, you don't have any emotional upsets.

[OC_An Khe]

Can I assume that you work for a non unionized facility?

This was one of the first things we negotiated in our contract, a reasonable length of time the employer could hold you in an old position before thet must transfer you. We felt that this was a retertion issue. Yes go up the chain but I wouldn't be hopeful of success. I would also explore opportunities with another employer that values your services. Obviously this one doesn't value its employees at all.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

That's unfair.

Our hospital has a rule that your old unit can only hold you for 30 days (nonunion). They'd rather have a good nurse transfer from one unit to the next rather than quit.

Their policy and expectations are poor management because they run the risk of loosing you. Perhaps that's how you should present your case.

Good luck.

[rstewart]

I believe that there would be little point in running this matter up the chain of command; in all likelihood the problem has originated from the very same people. If you are going to stay with that organization, you are stuck in a physical sense.

However, they can not control your mind, your "head set" so to speak. And no, I am not going to suggest that you pretend that you enjoy the train wreck unit or that you have a newfound love for your nursing administration.

Rather, I want you to mentally "turn the tables" on them. From this point forward, I want you to think of the new/nonessential position shifts as training or education......training that is better than free. You have have figured out a way to make yourself more marketable in order to escape the hell hole unit and at your tormenting employer's expense to boot.

Become a sponge for information about the new position for the next 32 weeks. Accelerate the learning curve by doing extra reading about the new specialty, join the approriate specialty organization and become active etc..

At the end of the 32 weeks plus what you have done to date, you will be ready----to start seeking work in a new specialty with a new and hopefully more appreciative employer. But you won't be seeking that new position as a burnt out employee who is "mad at" her employer with no real additional skills beyond what you have acquired on the old unit (which would be the case if you quit right now out of disgust). Instead you'll be able to say you are looking for some new challenges, you'll be able to cite examples of what you have done already to make yourself a more attractive employee, you'll have several months experience behind you, and you'll be able to present yourself as someone who has no problems with her former employer but wants to do this new specialty on a full time basis and your employer just can not accomodate that at present.

Sound silly? Perhaps. But over my nursing career it's worked for me more than once. (Unfortunately, the situation you describe is not at all unique in nursing.)

One more thing. In my experience, beware when health care employers have divided positions into essential and nonessential categories. Your current employer has told you that they consider your new position nonessential and you should consider what that means. When the next cycle of layoffs/position cuts occur in your present organization (and there will always be such cycles) can there be any doubt that you will be one of the first out on the street ? Just a little food for thought.

[colleen10]

Hi Moon,

Didn't you just have a baby a few months ago?!

How in the world are you keeping up with this pace?

The only thing I can suggest is perhaps going to your new unit and explaining the situation to them, letting them know the extra hours you are working on the old unit and that you are pretty close to burn out as it is. If you found a kind trusting soul there perhaps they could stick up for you and say "hey, we have this new employee here and really like her and don't want to loose her so you better let her go."

Otherwise I really don't see how it's worth your while to stick through this, especially if you have a newborn at hom.

Worst case scenario I would probably give them both two weeks notice and re-apply for another job within the org. or out of it.

[Gldngrl]

Is there any way to find a loophole, ie: has anyone transferred to another unit and were not forced to remain on their former unit beyond their given (reasonable) notice? If there are others that have been allowed to transfer without the wait that you've endured and with similar circumstances to yours, there's the argument that the policy being enforced is arbitrary and thus, discriminatory. Again, the employee has the deck stacked against them, but it's a thought.

[Town & Country]

As soon as they get all the new orientees done for her "old" job, they will probably FIRE her ~ she said the new job "isn't need-based"...they're probably just keeping her around long enough to train the newbies, letting her *think* she has the "other" job.

Nothing would surprise me anymore!!!

[Gldngrl]

It's very frustrating that we have a variety of employment issues in this country, from our jobs being "relocated" to other countries for pittance wages to employees already limited rights being eroded into the ground. Not to wax sentimental, but it's heartbreaking and I wish I had answers instead of feeling like Don Quixote.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

I think this organization is yanking your chain and giving you the run around. If the unit your are currently working on is the unit from Hades, then you must have terrific staff turn over, so when the newbie's are trained, do they fly out the door to another facility that values the nurse more?

If newbie's leave or some of the present staff, I would think that will effect your going to this "nonessential" position even more.

I agree that any position defined as nonessential will be one of the first to go at lay-off time. Looking for the loop hole is a good idea, but it probably won't work. By the time you find there was once a hole, they will probablly have filled it.

I think you are setting yourself up for even more stress and hard work by trying to learn this job on a part time basis and still working on your present unit.

I would investigate some of the other opportunities for employment in your area. I would investigate going part time on my present unit, since the new job is part time, you need to accustom yourself to a reduced income.

I would get some stress counselling. Take some vacation time if you can, and re-evaluate my future with this organization.

[gypsyatheart]

Originally posted by Agnus

Nothing can stop you from applying but they are not likely to rehire you under these circumstances. They do hold all the cards in this case.

My point was more that she inform her current NM that the terms they are offerring are unacceptable, so much so that, unless different terms are presented, that she will resign from this job!

Of course, she has to be willing to do that...however I can't personally imagine working under the terms they've given her!

Also, in the organization I work for (extremely large), it happens quite frequently, where nurses have quit and come back to a different unit....not all NM agree and like each other, so what is one's loss, is another's great find! I guess it all depends on how much this organization values their staff....not too much, from the sounds of it!

[mattsmom81]

I agree they are yanking your chain and hanging on to you to use you for their needs. For as long as they can. This is business as usual for facilities in general, IME.

You have to decide whether it is worth it or not. Do you want to play this game and can you stick it out a little longer to get this new position...is it worth it? Only you know.

I have not ever found it wise to jump over my immediate supervisor in the management team...best to speak directly to her first, IMO. Is she a caring person? Do you have a good relationship with her? If you don't care to blame all your stresses on the job stresses you can even say you are having 'personal' stressors or health problems.

The part time option may be a great solution for you to destress from this unit a bit while you wait for the next position to open up. Good luck and hope things work out the way you want.