LPN in Admissions being given Ultimatum

Nurses COVID

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Hello all. I am a Licensed Practical Nurse currently employed as Business Development Liaison of a large SNF. We have not taken any new admissions in a few weeks due to covid.

I have been doing some odd jobs here and there and helping to screen co-workers as they come in the door, since my department has essentially been shut down.

Word got out the I am a nurse and apparently some nursing staff are upset I am not made to work on the floor during this time. HR met with me and basically gave me an ultimatum- start training to work on the floor or you'll be terminated and your license reported to the board.

Some background on me, I have been a LPN for 10 years now, but have never worked as a floor nurse in a skilled nursing facility. Most of my career has been in Personal Care and hands off admin roles.

I am not comfortable with this. They also said I would have to go to 3-11 or 11-7, since those are the biggest staffing needs. I work Mon-Fri day shift in a completely hands off position.

They told me I would be making more money than my current exempt position pays, but money is not everything. This is not what I want to do.

I guess I am just wondering if anyone else has been in the same type of situation during this crisis.

Thanks to all of you that are knee deep in this mess. I know what you do and I admire you!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

While they can fire you I suppose- the threat to report you to the BON is laughable. For what?

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13 minutes ago, meanmaryjean said:

While they can fire you I suppose- the threat to report you to the BON is laughable. For what?

I think it's an empty threat, for sure. I do not believe any disciplinary action on my license would take place. I am not abandoning my job.

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While reading your post I sure got the impression that you are not well-liked there. I can see the employer's desire to get more from you by having you work on the floor, but I can also see that working the floor is not what you signed on for. No chance that once the crisis is over, you can return to your former duties? Probably wishful thinking, but that would go a long way in making me more amenable to changing up to play for the team.

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1 minute ago, caliotter3 said:

While reading your post I sure got the impression that you are not well-liked there. I can see the employer's desire to get more from you by having you work on the floor, but I can also see that working the floor is not what you signed on for. No chance that once the crisis is over, you can return to your former duties? Probably wishful thinking, but that would go a long way in making me more amenable to changing up to play for the team.

Thanks for the response. The thing is, I am still new. I've only worked there since January. I don't think it's the fact that I'm not liked, I'm not well known. HR told me temporary, but could not give me a timeline of any sort.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

What dues your employment contract and job description say about floor work?

Maybe you've just learned that this is not where you are going to be employed long term.

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Specializes in Psych.

Maybe if you let them fire you, you can collect the generous COVID-related unemployment monies! ? That might b a much sweeter deal that simply resigning.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

They have zero standing to report you to the board. Let them fire you. Get unemployment and start looking for work elsewhere if moving to a floor position isn't appealing.

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Thanks all for the replies. I declined to work the floor and they did terminate me.

Onwards and upwards!

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