I'm a new graduate of about 6 months and it has been a challenge. Finding a new position and just getting interviews has been an up hill battle. I decided to take a per diem position a few months ago at a nursing home in the city, I live in NY now. Well the hiring process went smooth and I went through orientation and it all seemed like a wonderful opportunity to gain some experience, but the grass isn't always as green as it looks.
I work in a facility in Manhattan, and that is as much as I will say. I'm sure some will read this and probably guess the facility. Anyway, I took whatever shifts I can day and evening in attempt to be flexible. I became a nurse because I LOVE THIS work. It's sad to say that after a few months working in this facility I am starting to hate nursing. I know this isn't what it's all about. It's better.
It appears to me that the facility is run by the CNA's. Some of the CNA's have been working in the facility for a very long time (10-20 years) and they have the run of the place. They talk back to the charge nurses when they are given directives, they are rude, disrespectful and choose what they will do and what they won't. The first time I saw this, I was so shocked because I never witnessed anything like this in the hospitals where I trained. Nothing is done about it, it's like a norm.
The place is divided between the Filipinos and everyone else. I am often called at all hours of the day and night and asked to come to work. During these past holidays, I took pity on them and I worked on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. I put in a lot of hours because they were short staff, and with nurses quitting, it left them desperately in need.
No matter how nice I am, polite, and respectful, it makes no difference. I am met with disrespect, spoken to very rudely and treated very badly. My favorite is the "Can you stay till 7pm because a nurse doesn't show up on time", but it's really a trap to make you work a double shift because the late nurse NEVER comes in.
I am a very CLEAN nurse and I work neat and clean. I give meds some days and I like to work from a clean med cart and I have my routine: clean when I start my shift, throw out the garbage, and stock up my meds and supplies and neat things up. I just can't work on other people's dirt, as I say to myself. The favor is never returned. If I kindly insist that others do the same as it is the policy to do it, I am met with a lot of attitude, bad lip service and bad eye contact.
When I charge the floor, I often have had situations with CNA's hiding in the resident's room, not answering call bells in a timely manner or at all, telling me to answer them myself because they are too busy. Lately, my absolute favorite, is being left on the floor alone with 3 or 4 CNA's and 40 residents. If you have questions and need support and call for help, you are met with bad attitudes, or your calls are ignored. You are treated as if they are doing you a favor.
When you work per diem, you are a guest in someone else's home and should be respected and feel welcomed. I often feel like trash and like less of a human. Like I said, I LOVE NURSING. In order to continue loving nursing, I am leaving this facility and will never return. I enjoy the residents, as they are amazing some of them and I had a few challenging ones. I kept going back because I was able to hone in on my skills with med administration and learn charging and I love the work.
If I could rank this facility on professionalism, I would give it a 4. This divide between nationality/races is very bad for morale. CNA's should not be given choice of floors because the work is easier on one floor than another. Nurses should treat each other with respect and dignity, not just do it because you are my race, or from my country. It should be done because it is the right and professional thing to do and its expected in this business.
Another thing----SPEAKING IN YOUR NATIVE TONGUE IN FRONT OF OTHERS WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND IS WRONG AND DISRESPECTFUL. THE PERSON WILL THINK YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THEM AND/OR HIDING INFORMATION FROM THEM. YOU CANNOT JUSTIFY THIS. IT IS WRONG ON ALL LEVELS!!!!
