Is 1.5 years in Med-Surg too short?

[Metalchild]

I'm a fairly new nurse. Worked in a post-acute-rehab for 3 months and went over to med-surg and had been at it for 1.5 years now.

I liked my job. I was very content with the pay, work load (VA did not under-staff and work us on skeleton crew like many places around here did), I like most of my co-workers, and for the most part, the patients are great (I'm a vet myself, I can identify with most of them).

However, recently I found out that the rest of my new grad peers got promoted and I didn't. My manager told me the reason the promoting committee didn't pass me for a few of the criteria/dimensions because I've "never precepted" and my "research did not impact the hospital". I was told there's really no point to rebuttal within 3 months. I asked for precepting opportunities ("I'm not sure if I'm ready to take on a new hire, but I would love to precept a nursing student when they come through!", and I was told I needed to take a preceptor class first.

Of course my other new grad peers got promoted without ever having to precept and conduct a research study that impact the hospital. Now I'm getting paid way less than my peers.

I don't think i'm a crap worker. And according to CNAs and some of the other nurses, I worked my ass off! I'm also fairly courteous toward everyone. I feel like the promoting committee had evaluated me based off of a set of different standards (I was the first of the new grads, came in a few weeks ahead of the others), and then changed their minds when they had gotten to the others.

And that preceptor stuff was bs too, because now I know half of the people who had done precepting had never gone to the class, including the 2 new grads who hated working on the floor and now had both left the hospital (you can tell they hate it too). And of course the class is very difficult to get in.

I was going to stick around the floor for at least a couple of years or so, but now I really want to leave because I feel that my work is not being valued.

There are also a couple of other things.... like I got denied of my supposedly $500 annual allowance to take nursing-related classes/events. And that I don't feel like I fit in because I'm like that ONE female nurse who is completely single and I get roughly joked on.

Am I being too brash wanting to jump into job search and just leave the VA med surg floor all together?

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Comparison is the thief of joy. There were more positives than negatives about the job before you were denied the promotion, the only thing that has changed is your point of view, the positives are still there, you just need to refocus on them.

[Metalchild]

Aye, probably need to chill off. at the same time I feel like i get the short end of the stick in most situations. any suggestions for the fix?

[RNperdiem, RN]

You have a VA med-surg job with a good workload, patients you like and co-workers you mostly like. By med-surg standards, you are living the dream.

Is the raise really that much more if you are promoted?

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Have you ever tried meditation? Calm abiding meditation can help you to see that thinking that you get the short end of the stick, is just a thought, a thought that identifys with your ego, not your true nature. It can clarify perspective and an appreciation for the good in your life.

[Metalchild]

like... 10k

[Metalchild]

NP Perdiem: like 10k

Dishes: I thought I was doing a good job. :-/ I don't know, assistant manager works with me and said i should have gotten promoted. the whole system is frustrating. yeah ima meditate. thanks

[Libby1987]

I would not leave.

Wherever you go, you're taking the same person unchanged with you into what may likely be a tougher situation to shine in.

[Metalchild]

Libby,

Yeah I think you are right. Might just suck it up till I get my masters... unless some miracle happens and I get in some badass specialty like wound care *light ray shines with angel choir singing*

[nutella, MSN, RN]

Libby,

Yeah I think you are right. Might just suck it up till I get my masters... unless some miracle happens and I get in some badass specialty like wound care *light ray shines with angel choir singing*

It sounds you like your job otherwise - although it is not fair, and you can try to mediate, it is important to keep a positive attitude and in the meantime work on your RN portfolio. The portfolio can highlight different classes you have taken, and so on.

[ProgressiveActivist, BSN, RN]

This promotion process sounds political. Since you have an otherwise good job just play along and meet the goals rather acting disgruntled.

[Hollybobs]

Yes, it would be a shame to leave a job with so much going for it although I would be p***** off too.

In fact, as others have said, this is a good chance for you to work on your own development and resume in a job that you like. Precepting, when you get a class and a student can be rewarding in itself and make you feel more confident and maybe show you something else you are good at.

Also, if you manage to stay cheerful and positive, (at least on the outside), during this time, you will make a really good impression on those around you as people will expect you to feel annoyed by this and perhaps underperform a little. If you now use this opportunity to shine you will make the decision not to promote you look really stupid and you will become an even better nurse at the same time.