My New Grad RN Experience at a CA SNF- Dealing with unethical boss

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Hi Everyone! I would like to share my new graduate RN experience at a Skilled Nursing Facility in Northern California. The final outcome has been very upsetting for me and I'm not sure what to do next. I'll try to make this as succinct as possible. Any input and advice would be appreciated.

April 2012- During 1st semester of nursing school, I began working as a CNA per diem at an SNF through the same hospital where I did clinical (only hospital in county of about 45,000 pop). I thought this would be a great way to get some hands on experience and a foot in the door.

In Dec 2012, I graduated from my ADN program with a 3.75 gpa and great reviews. To my surprise, I didn't get the Med/Surg new grad job at this same hospital, and I began to see how truly difficult it really is for new grads.

In Feb. 2013, I got my RN license. I spoke with my Director at the SNF about working there as an RN (even though this is the last place I would want to work, but hadn't found anything else). He said he could likely bring me on, but kept putting me off. I think they needed me as a CNA for the time and wanted to see how serious I was.

In March of 2013, I met with the Director and two other Dept managers. They offered me a Per diem RN position at the RN I rate of about $35 hourly, with no guarantee of hours or benefits, of course. They said they wanted a commitment from me, that I had to sign a contract stating that I would work for them for 15 months (1 year + 3 months orientation) and be loyal to the SNF Dept-- not work for any other part of the hospital during the 15 mo. Period which could cause "inter-department conflict." I think this was due to budgeting and them not wanting to invest in training me and me switch jobs. They said that during orientation I would be full time for 3 months and would orient on both long term care units and TCU, for all 3 shifts (am, pm, noc). I thought about it and decided that at least it's some type of RN experience and I could save a lot of money in 3 months to help budget for the rest of the year (pay bills in advance, pay debt, and not to mention save for my wedding next year..)

The contract was incredibly vague. It didn't say a word about my position or pay. I was referred to as an "employee" and contract states I would be compensated at the regular pay scale comparable to others in the same job classification. The contract didn't say I could only work in the SNF dept. It says I am still an at-will employee. Not really an enforceable contract right?

Anyways, so I bring up my concerns about the ambiguity of the contract to the Director. I asked if we should add in a clause about me working in that Dept only if that was the purpose of the contract. I explained I wanted my obligation to be clear, and I asked for my wage details in writing. The Director said that I was making him feel uneasy with all my questions. He thought this was the opportunity of a lifetime to be trained as a nurse in this economy and how could I even think to question it. He said I could continue to work as a CNA but the offer was no longer available. I cried and cried. I couldn't believe he just took it away like that. He warned me not to speak about any of this to anyone or that would be insubordination.

So there I was, working as a CNA with an RN license all the way through June 2013 absolutely miserable but I stuck with my job. Working as a CNA was better than no job. Finally, the Director approached me again, said because of my persistence and dedication to my patients, he brought back the original offer, AS IS. I jumped on it and said ok. I had still been applying all over CA and hadn't received a phone call. I didn't even try to get anything about pay etc. in writing because of what happened the first time around.

June 2013- On my first day of work, we fill out the form which details pay rate/employee type etc. Guess what? New grad nurses are paid $25.08 hourly. He apologized but said it's a "new policy" that is now in effect at all depts. He said he was just made aware of this change. And, my orientation schedule was not full time. I was working 2-4 days each week. I asked him when I would be eligible to move up to the RN I rate, and he said that would happen as soon as orientation was complete. I asked for him to please adjust my schedule so that I can be working full time as agreed, with this major decrease in pay it would only seem fair. He said he never promised full time orientation. He even had the nerve to tell me that if I was only doing it for the money then maybe we shouldn't move forward!!! He who makes 6 figures, what a prick thing to say right? Aughh, anyways so I say ok. I try to get the promise of the $10 raise in writing so it won't get forgotten about... and so he writes on the pay form "IP training program" and that would suffice.

Oct 2013- I finished orientation a few weeks ago. I never trained on NOC shifts, so I'm not available to cover that. I was never orientated me on TCU, which was supposed to be the focus of my orientation and would have actually been a great learning opportunity, sorta like acute care. I get my schedule and I have eight 8-hour shifts in a 6 week period. How can I live on that right?

Oh it gets worse. I ask about when we can fill out the paperwork for my raise since I'm done with orientation... the Director tells me that new grads make $25.08 hourly for the first year!! And I won't be eligible for a raise until July 2014, when my contract is over. He has no recollection of ever telling me different.

Oh, and when I login to the computer and order labs etc, it still says my name followed by S.N. "Student Nurse." It has said that since I was a 1st semester nursing student. I worked hard for my RN, so I called HR about this and they said as long as I'm in orientation as a new grad, once I move up then it will say RN. Well it still says SN now, even though Ia m working as a Charge Nurse, responsible for up to 36 patients and supervising aids and LVN's. There is no other RN to go to when I need help, I can call the other units or call the DON but I'm on my own! So how on Earth can they pay me as a new grad for the first year when I am going to be held to the same standards and expectations as any other nurse who works there, some of them making twice what I make. Oh and this hospital is a religious organization and claims to be non-profit.

I called HR and they confirmed that this is the new standard of pay for all new grads hired in spring of this year moving forward for all departments, but there is no written policy they can forward me, it's just the "new standard." The day after I spoke with HR, the Director approached me and said that he was glad I got in touch with HR and got things clarified. Creepy right? Can't even talk to HR without my boss finding out.

My classmates who did get the new grad Med-Surg job in January 2013 were started at $30 and already moved up to $35, full time with benefits. Every nurse I have talked to including new grads at SNF hired 6 months ago or more were started at $35 and none of them had to sign a contract.

Should I try approaching my Director in writing? Should I make an appt with the Vice Pres (his boss) and talk to her about it? Should I talk to a lawyer? Is this discrimination? How can they tell me I'm making one amount and then months later take it back? Yes, I am already applying many places and as soon as I find that full-time job I am definitely leaving, no guilt there.

Sorry this is so long, any advice is very much appreciated!!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

As per the terms of Service.....We cannot give legal advice.

HR is NOT your friend.

Are you sure other new grads are really making that amount?

I'd look for another job....shady place.

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Unethical?

He's worse than that. And I can guarantee you that he sleeps well at night because he's so good at being a douchebag.

Run away.

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Specializes in ER.

Wow, bend over, here it comes again...

Absolutely unacceptable, and if a situation comes up with a patient you can bet this boss will throw you to the wolves. If you need the money, I would say stay quiet and look for other work. But if you have options, go to a lawyer and check ALL of this out, then write a letter to human resources, looking for pay equivalent to those with the same job title and experience. I expect that if your bosses shenanigans are brought to light, that his job will be at risk, so make sure you have an exit strategy.

Never sign anything that obligates you to someone, but doesn't mention their promises to you. Add their promises, handwritten even, and get them to sign as well.

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Look for another job. He may think he can screw you over because you technically did not fight it.

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Lets stop the presses and back up. You were in Semester one in April 2012, then graduated in December 2012?

How did you do that?

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Lets stop the presses and back up. You were in Semester one in April 2012, then graduated in December 2012?

How did you do that?

There are fast track adn programs. Mine was 4 terms but was Aug 07 to Dec 08. She might have put the wrong year in

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

OMG....unbelievable....

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3 and 1/2 semesters to be a nurse...WOW.
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Oops, I got my CNA cert in 1st semester and the CNA job in 3rd semester.

Thank you for the comments of support. At least by these comments I'm reassured that this is not how nursing management everywhere. I wish I could just leave this corrupt place but haven't been able to find anything else in CA high or low! So I guess I have to just suck it up and deal with it if I want to keep a job and just keep trying for something else.

I hear a lot of negativity about the future of nursing, especially for us new grads. But something better has to come evenually...we have to believe we were meant to be great nurses! I'm pretty sure the only way I will be happy there is if I get my raise and he gets fired! haha fat chance right? Hmm I wonder if that savings gets passed down to the patient since the cost of nursing care is far less when I work... Yeah.. on another planet right?? It just sucks to go into work feeling bitter about working for a bunch of crooks!

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When a boss participates in unethical behaviors, one can be assured that they perhaps are not a nurse, have never been a bedside nurse, and have never, as a working adult, had to necessarily struggle paycheck to paycheck. May be a sweeping generalization, however, it is difficult to explain why they are so out of touch with the realities of a working nurse.

Pay rates differ widely from state to state. On the east coast, $25ish +/- an hour is about correct for a new grad.

I would take huge advantage of any and all clinical skills you can while you are working. This could only be to your future benefit. Start scanning the internal job opportunities, and see if there is a place where you would like to transfer to when you are contracturally able to do so. See what the nurse educator has to offer, and start your certifications (ACLS, PALS, NALS, WCC....etc)

This boss sounds like he has an interesting style of management. However, they are all about the bottom line, dollars and cents, and negotiating vauge subjective contracts that the facility can get out of should they want to. I think the general theme here is that they want a nurse to produce to their financial gain. They are certainly charging the patient the same money regardless of what they pay you. Only now, they make a bigger profit.

I would also keep an eye out for other facilities job opportunities. There is nothing wrong with making an appointment with a NM from another facility (and hopefully another parent company) and do some talking about what you need to do to get to where you want to be.

Best of luck to you!!

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
OMG....unbelievable....3 and 1/2 semesters to be a nurse...WOW.

BADNAP- WBAGNFARB (Would Be A Good Name For A Rock Band. Dave Bary fans will get it right away.)

I'm with Esme; it shows just how much a nurse's education is valued.

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Specializes in Public Health, L&D, NICU.

I second the poster who said HR is not your friend. You can pretty much bet that a manager will hear about your call to HR about 0.25 milliseconds after you hang up.

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