Lied to in Interview

[westieluv]

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.

What would you do?

[suezee]

What is the matter with you? If they promised you the conditions you asked for and reneged on them by telling you otherwise....leave!!!!! Suppose it was the other way around??? They would fire you...Well, you can fire them.

I have always marched to my own beat and am quite specific in what I will and will not do. I have 3 per diem jobs I love and have flexibility like nobody else. I REFUSE to work 7-3 or 11-7...and am very vocal about saying that I will not call back anyone who requests them....and if I answer the phone will not take those shifts....I NEVER get called anymore...they got the message....On the other hand..I will fill in on holidays, weekends, lastminute 3-11s if I am available and because I like that shift...they know I will step right up to make myself available. I also do home care...REFUSE to do anything but revisits...no admits, discharges, ROC....anything of the like...I hate doing them and time is money....and they require a lot of time and aggravation...

I can honestly say i have NO stress whatsoever with my jobs....I love my work...and found that if you do not treat this like a business you will be walked all over....You need stop feeling sorry for yourself and take control of your life.......the facilities you work for won't...

[Teacher30]

Westieluv,

I think that the rehab unit should have been straight with you and you should feel no obligation to stay if another job is calling. If you don't feel you want to commit to acute rehab, then it would be best for you to leave now before your employer spends a lot of time and money to orient you. I can't tell you how many new nurses we have added to our unit that complete orientation (three to six months in PACU) and then leave because they can't deal with the call or just realize that it's not their cup of tea. Best of luck in your decision!

[NurseDiane]

I agree that it should be this simple, but when you work at a place where the culture is such that the other nurses are willing to work seven days a week and over at the end of their shifts (while griping and beefing about it continuously) and you are not, it's just not that simple. Instead of being the assertive one who has a life and is not willing to be manipulated, you become "the one who won't pick up extra" and leaves your co-workers working short. Not a great way to have great relationships in the workplace, and even though you don't have to be best friends with your co-workers, you need to get along and respect each other when you're together 40 hours a week.

It is not your responsibility, nor any other staff nurse's responsibility, to make sure there is enough staff. Staff nurses are not the ones responsible for making sure the nurses are not working short. Management likes to dump the responsibility on them by doing exactly what they're doing---making the staff nurses feel guilty about leaving their co-workers short staffed. If all of the nurses quit filling in for the sick calls and skeleton-staff schedules, management will have to hire more nurses. Working 7 days a week doesn't mean much if the other nursing staff calls out all the time. If the other nurses are willing to work 7 days a week, that's their choice. You are very happy working your 40 hours every week, no more, no less. Let the others complain and moan all the time---they are in charge of their own destiny, you are not. You are in charge of your own destiny and your own happiness.

[englishgarden]

Dear lied to. Two years ago I made a big change in my career. I left the ICU after 18 years and tried home health nursing while I finished my master's degree. After five weeks I was miserable. The best advice I got was "I can't believe you stayed that long...what are you waiting for"? I suggest you leave now and take the dialysis job you want. Give them a one week notice if you feel bad and just don't use them on a resume.

[rquinn0111]

If you can financially do it and the job market is good in your area, I'd go elsewhere ASAP. If they are happy to lie to you in your face during the honeymoon period, it's going to be a nightmare if you stay. You were honest with them, they didn't reciprocate.

And to top it off, it's probably not the busy season there yet. It will get crazy soon.

[wolf9653]

My general thoughts are that during the first 90 day probationary period, they can dump you, no questions asked. and that's a 2 way street. You wouldn't be the first person to disappear during orientation, and it saves them money compared to you quitting shortly down the road. I don't know what happened, maybe the interviewer has no clue what happens on the floors.Maybe find her and ask her.

[wolf9653]

That's one of my big three questions at an interview.What happened to the last guy. Since they ask me why I left my last job I think it's fair game. And they wouldn't want me to lie would they?

[lfriberg]

I don't think you would be violating your own ethics to leave the rehab job at this point You are still orienting and and they are still "on probation" with you.I think you should get out while you can ! You being "loyal" is not going to change the working conditions.

[wolf9653]

Thinking about it, I don't think I've ever heard of a day shift nurse wanting a different schedule.

[jlpeace2]

This has happened to me several times even lately. Honestly if it's a good place to work why would they need to lie to you to get you through the door? You can always look for another job or go back to an old one if this job is not working for you. However I would see this as a big red flag.

[patrociacsmith]

This was a similar scenario that happeded to me in an ALF/Rehab facility. After just a few hours, on the 2nd day of orientation, they wanted me to pass the medications out without a computer class. See one, do one, and so on....because they were short of "warm bodies" called nurses. I should have run then. However I have a conscience, and very optimistic that this wasn't hopefully the norm around here. However, as the orientation progressed, or may I say, lack of it, I finally gave a farewell. The responsibility was too much demand expected for one nurse to do: poor organizational structure--too top heavy "suits" and poorly delivered orientation! They wanted me on my own, and waited until I made a mistake, only to tell me that I am out of compliance, when if they could have guided me better, and provided support, I could have avoided this. My only regret was I didn't have a plan B, and still looking for work. However, I had to think of my licensure, and weigh the risks and potential outcome of each situation that I was uncomfortable with that they were not helping me solve.

[Nathifalr26, LPN]

Please please please take the dialysis position! No where is worth you being unhappy. I am going by my own experience. If I could choose all over again I would of stayed at the office I was working rather than go elsewhere and being blindsided. If today or tomorrow if the rehab center wanted to let you go they can go. It's at will employment, pending no contract was sign. You have the right to go someplace that will be great for you. Especially if the job is a dream and the schedule you prefer. Don't loyalty blind you.