Has anyone else experienced this? I just accepted a new position in an acute rehab facility. During the interview I was told that I would be replacing someone who wanted to work a different schedule within the company. I was also told that I would only rarely have to stay past my scheduled shift but that most days I would get out on time. I told the interviewer that I will work my five days each week but do NOT want to be called on my days off, as I am not interested in any overtime and she said she would make a note of it and wrote it down.
I am now a few days into orientation and I have learned from the other nurses in the facility that a.) I am replacing a nurse who got fed up with the working conditions and left the company without a two week notice, b.) I will end up having to stay over the end of my shift pretty much every time I work in order to get everything done, and c.) I received a phone call this morning at 6:30 where I was pressured to come in and work to cover a call off, even though I told the caller that I do not want more than five days a week and I am still on orientation to boot. She was not very happy when we hung up.
I feel duped and scared that I have gotten myself into something that I will regret. I do not appreciate being lied to and I think it was unethical to do so. Part of me wants to run before I get in any deeper and part of me feels like I need to stick it out, except that I'm worried that I will decide to do so only to find that I am constantly pressured into picking up overtime, being forced to stay over, and getting nagged to come in on my days off, in which case I will kick myself for not getting out right away. I am not afraid to say NO to the requests for overtime, but if this is an ongoing thing, it will make my life miserable anyway.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I really wish I knew. When I left there I traveled for a little while. I stopped because the I was offered a job where I work now and I stayed. But you know how it is on bad days when you just want to see what's out there. I applied for a job as a home dialysis nurse. We talked on the phone every day for about a week, they were very excited to talk to me, blah blah blah. Then.......silence. I couldn't get ahold of anyone. No one would call me back. Finally I emailed HR to find out what was going on and they said I was not available for rehire and "kind regards".
I have known people who were fired by the company and then hired back. I"d really like to know how they did it. I may or may not travel again. I like my job very much, but life is funny. You never know what's going to happen. I might like to go back to the company for whatever reason. I don't blame the company so much. I blame my former manager who was an ego maniac and was retaliating against other nurses besides me. I feel like I was in his cross hairs and he got me good.
The icing on the cake is now I've been in dialysis so long that nobody else will hire me. They say I don't have enough experience. I'm kind of stuck. Thank the Gods that I like my job and don't plan on leaving ever, but if we got a new manager who was a battle axe with no common sense who drank the company Kool-Aid.....well. Then what would I do?
I told this to someone who could not believe I couldn't find a job. Her husband works in the HR department of a nice hospital close to where I live and she gave him my resume. Sure enough - "well your background is in one area and we need nurses with more well-rounded experience".
Which is cautionary tale about not working med-surg for a year or two when you get started, but that's another topic.
And that's a topic that, although it's been done nearly to death, still bears discussing. In another thread perhaps.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Thanks. I did resign a couple of days ago and have two interviews on Monday, one for the dialysis job that I described and another for another dialysis job, just in case. Life is too short to be miserable, not to mention that I am not willing to risk my nursing license by working somewhere with an unsafe culture where people call off and/or resign constantly.
Yes, I realize that I also resigned, but it started way before I came along and I was lied to about the working conditions, as were others, probably.
It's not all that easy to lose your license. You almost have to be trying.
Seriously? You've been a nurse for 25 years and are just now going thru this? I dealt with this on my very first nursing job 28 years ago. They either lie to your face, or lie by omission
Remember you are business. Think of yourself first. I am all about being loyal to an employer. Unfortunately employers are not all about being loyal to their employees. Take your dream job. Give rehab two weeks professional notice and move on. You are business.
That is a terrible position to be in. I saw in my last job how the managers would actually make promises and not keep them. I had worked there many years but and over that time had gone through several managers, with the last batch being unethical in that respect. I can think off the top of my head about 3 great nurses that were told they could have certain days, hours, etc only to find out soon into orientation that it was all not true. Unfortunately, these experienced, good nurses left before their orientation was over. They took the job based on what they were promised. If they are like this now, my recommendation is to look for another job while you still have one so you are not out of a job. Good luck, and sorry this has happened!
I know what you mean... I recognize the story. I am way overqualified for the position I am in, but believed the hype I was sold in the interview. It actually sounds like we work for the same company. Keep your chin up. You have to do what's best for you. We would all love to work from home in our jammies, but reality can be rough. I pray you get your dream job.... I know you rock as a nurse... Your compassion is evident.... You think before you react... That is a blessing...I got my dream the other day.... Now I just have to tell the work place from hell I am leaving. I hope I have the strength you did
Since you've got the interviewer's agreement (at least at the time of the interview) in your favor, that gives you an incredible advantage and can make the way you handle this very easy.
Go back to the person who interviewed you and calmly recount the facts point by point.
You: "When I interviewed, I'd mentioned that I wasn't willing to work overtime and x, y, z."
Her response will either be:
A) "Yes (she recalls the same thing and is in agreement with you)."
or
B) "Well I meant....(some sort of disagreement with what you're saying)."
If she responds with A,
You: "Well I've gotten x number of calls asking me to ...."
Her: she will either be concerned (this shouldn't be happening), or acknowledge there's a problem with the system (well yes, I told them not to ask you to work overtime, but there are so many people who might call, and they can't keep track of each nurse's requests).
You: (getting to problem-solving stage) "I see. Well nothing's changed on my end (subtly reiterating your position from the interview), so what would you recommend for handling the requests that I'm likely going to be receiving?"
If you can say this all in a totally neutral tone -- like the same way you'd say "the sky is blue" -- with no attitude (though you have every right to be angry/annoyed), you'll portray yourself in a positive light. Professional.
If she responds with B, quote more of what she said back to her. "You'd said X when I said Y about my availability." (say neutrally, then wait for her reply).
If she gives more excuses or says she said something she didn't, at that point you know you're dealing with someone who isn't willing to honor what she said.
Unfortunately lying to new hires is a common theme in nursing, especially places where there is a high turnover. I was actually shocked to learn that lying persists in Magnet hospitals too. The recruiters are not interested in what THEY can do for you but what YOU can do for the company RIGHT NOW. It's a one way road. The economy is not as tight as it was a few years ago and many senior nurses are retiring. You will find a better place. Keep looking. And remember, always negotiate. They need you more than you need them.
Yes, I have. RUN!!! and don't look back, because it will be exactly what you think it will be... HELL! Besides, how can you feel ANY sense of safety, security or well-being in a situation where the administration is clearly dishonest and subversive?
Ruby Vee, BSN
17 Articles; 14,051 Posts
And that's a topic that, although it's been done nearly to death, still bears discussing. In another thread perhaps.