License vs Seniority

[mickeypat]

Is there an unwritten rule somewhere where a new hire that is a graduate nurse, needing to take boards yet for RN, gets the open hours over someone who is just an LPN and would have seniority over this other person?

Reason I ask is that I am the LPN. I have been working both day shift AND night shift because there were not straight day shifts open. But now I was told by other staff members that a former employee that worked at this facility as a CNA was hired and will be getting all the day hours!

I'm frustrated because I have been working both shifts since September and have been picking up an extra shift every pay period. We have had someone who just put her 2 week notice in and is going casual, and she had all day shifts. All of the day shifts are med shifts, which is what I have been doing but I also do charge on 2 of my night shifts.

I currently work 3 night shifts and 4 day shifts. I would really like to get off of the night shifts because they are so hard on my physically. Like this weekend, I worked last night (6p-6a) and have to go back tomorrow morning at 6a. I am the only nurse in the whole facility that does that.

I guess what I'm really asking is, do I have a snow ball's chance in hell to get the straight day shifts?

Thanks in advance for your opinions

[ktwlpn, LPN]

You won't know until you ask. Was a position created for this person? You know the facility has to have a certain number of LPN/RN's and aides. It may be that simple-they need another RN. In this area GN's have to work with a licensed RN on the unit with them, some area LTC's do not utilize them at all.

If you have not put in a request asking for straight day shift they would not know you wanted that. Talk to your DON/ADON/supervisor about your availability,you can just stop being available for those nights,too

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

I would think that if you were both LPNs you could say something but seeing as how this person is a RN and you are a LPN, there is a difference there. There are both 2 different jobs so there really is no seniority there. There is probably specific reason this person was hired for the day shift. I agree with the PP to talk to the DON and see what's up. But I am betting that they are going to tell you that you do not trump this person because while you are both nurses, you have differing scopes of practice therefore different jobs.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

I would think that if you were both LPNs you could say something but seeing as how this person is a RN and you are a LPN, there is a difference there. There are both 2 different jobs so there really is no seniority there. There is probably specific reason this person was hired for the day shift. I agree with the PP to talk to the DON and see what's up. But I am betting that they are going to tell you that you do not trump this person because while you are both nurses, you have differing scopes of practice therefore different jobs.

Bingo. This is the answer. Her job is not the same as yours, no matter what you think in terms of "med nurse" or anything else. RN (which, presumably, she will be) is a higher-level licensure and a different job description with different legal and professional responsibilities, even if you don't see the tasks as the same as the ones you do.