lossing interest with my current OHN career

[skyburp27]

I want to get insights/ advise from my fellow OHN on my experience. I'm actually in the verge of resigning.

I've been working as an occupational health nurse in a construction industry in UAE for more than 2 years now. The thing is, the longer I stay in this field, the more frustrated I become. I really thought OHN is the best field for me to practice my profession, as I enjoyed it during my internship program. A lot of factors actually affected my perception to the job.

Incompetent colleagues

I was already exposed to OHN when I was still in college, so being in this field is no longer new to me. When I started working in my current company, I found out that most of my colleagues weren't actually nurses. No wonder, nobody respected me during my first few months. It took time for me to establish myself to be apart from them. I did things differently. Labors were used to visit the clinic and ask for whatever they need, and is given right away with no question asked. They can actually ask medical paper to go see a physician with common colds as their concern. However, I made changes by trying to assess them first and trying to manage their problem within the clinic (to reduce the medical expenses of the company). I got lots of complains at first, but eventually proven my action to be effective. After a year in the field, I was appointed to be the nurse in-charge for the 3 sub first aid clinics of the project with total of 9 nurses covering day and night shifts.

The management doesn't seem to give due importance to occupational health care. Their only focus is with the production and progress of the project. This is very evident from the staffing alone. They have promoted carpenters to become nurses by providing them first aid trainings, which degraded the profession. I felt like we nurses are just fillers to comply with the government requirements. I am a registered nurse in my home country, but not here. Never- the- less, I am a professional nurse, and that differentiates me from my colleagues.

Manager/ Management

Our department was handled by 3 different mangers over 2 years. Sadly, everytime we change manager, I have to prove again myself. It's like my contribution to the team and the company is being erased whenever we have a new manager. My achievement goes to the one who leave, and doesn't reach our head office. It was actually reflected during our appraisals. I was disappointed when, despite my effort to provide quality care to our staffs, I wasn't recognized. For the second time, I wasn't given an increment nor a bonus. It would have been okay for me if all of staffs did not receive. However, that was not the case. For the nurses, it was only me who didn't receive.

Company politics- Most of my co-nurses have been working together for more than 5 years now. They're also of the same country of origin, including those who are in the head office, which makes me an alien (not entitled for benefits), to them.

As I mentioned earlier I am not a registered nurse in this country when I joined the company. It's one of the reasons why I didn't complain. After completing the required years, I was finally eligible to take the exam. I passed, and now a licensed registered nurse (no necessary OHN certification needed here in UAE, being an RN is enough to practice your profession in this field). After getting the license, I thought to myself, now there's no reason for the company not to give me a raise. However, after I submitted my request, it has been set aside- pending until the next appraisal which will still be next year. I cannot wait anymore. I have waited long enough.

I've been applying and got an offer for the same position with another company. The offer is tempting; however, I'm having a second thought. I miss working in a hospital setting, and I would love to go back to that setting if given an opportunity. I wonder if somebody here has my same experience, and or, what is yours? I would like hear and be enlightened.

[Constructionohn]

How sad that you are not regarded as a benefit skyburp27.

Perhaps some of this is the setting you are working in but construction is a very different world to begin with. I find it impressive that they have a clinic with nurses! But, I have worked in the construction industry in the U.S. as an OHN for over 16 years and just now get a few kudos on a fairly regular basis. Ha!

I can't tell you how it is outside the U.S. but I have had many challenges and rewards in the U.S. construction industry. Do what your heart tells you. Just remember, not all occupational jobs are created equal and maybe a different employer would work better for/with you. Hospital nurses are always needed everywhere, so you are a value no matter where you work. But it seems a tragic loss of your experience to the occupational nursing world. Explore all your options and keep us posted.

UAE - as in United Arab Emirates? Are you currently working in the U.S. or outside the U.S.?

Wishing you well!

[Novo]

Why are you surprised with the treatment you're getting when that part of the world has almost zero regard for employee safety? I'm actually quite surprised they even have your position considering that workers are practically slaves over there. Try to apply overseas I'm sure you'll be much more valued.

[42pines]

From what I've read of what you wrote it's simply time for you to move on.

UAE is a different world and while I cannot completely agree with Novo, often safety is not looked at as it is here in the states, though I know of places worldwide (India and particularly a smelter in UAE where safety is seriously dealt with). If your work is in opposition to where your head and heart is, move on.