New grad struggle/situation

[go9873]

I'm a new grad nurse and I just finished orientation at my hospital. The hospital that I work for is ranked the best hospital in my state, so I feel really fortunate to work here. However, I just found out that instead of working just 3 12hour shifts a week, I will have to do an alternating 4 shifts one week and 3 shifts the next (which I presume is due to my probationary period as a new hire). The 4 shifts one week are alternating 8 and 12 hour night shifts, but I was under the impression that I would only have to work 3 12s a week. When I did my interview with the nursing director and supervisor, I was asked if I wanted to do 3 12s or 4 8s a week, and I said 3 12s (because who wants to come to work more than needed). But they never mentioned anything about having to do this alternating schedule when I first started. I know that I'm a new grad and have to put my time in like everyone else, but I feel like it's deceiving of them to not give me a heads up and inform me of this. I know it's such a small thing to be concerned about, especially as a new grad I know there's other things I should be focusing on, but this just feels very deceptive of them. Again, I know some people who read this may think I'm ridiculous or that I'm complaining about such a small thing, but work-life balance is extremely important to me. You see, I'm not entirely new to the world of healthcare as I've worked as an aide/tech for a few years before becoming an RN, and I still feel burnt out from that experience especially after working through the time of COVID. I was just hoping that with this new chapter in my life, I'd maybe find that joy again of working in healthcare/at the bedside, but it's stuff like this that just leaves me feeling like I want to give up. I feel like working at the hospital you don't get much of a say in anything anymore, and as as new grad I feel extremely intimidated to speak up and talk to management. Am I overreacting at all? Please help a new grad out and not feel so defeated.

[K. Everly, BSN, RN]

First of all, there is NO part of this you should feel guilty or whiney about. You were deceived, or at least not properly informed, and you have a right to be frustrated about it - but rather than just sit in that frustration, use it as a catalyst to make your next move. Being frustrated with behavior like this is not only allowed once you're a nurse for 5 years; you don't have to put up with shenanigans or not have a voice because you're a new nurse. 

If you have a nurse union - speak to them about this! They should help. 

If you don't have a union, I'd ask for paperwork about your employment. If you see that your job entailed x3 12-hour shifts a week and they are pulling this crap on you, speak up and don't accept it. If, however, you see something in the job description about "will stay late/float/pick up on call as needed to support unit staffing," then you're kind of stuck. You could still negotiate with them, but if they snuck that in the description, they are technically within their rights to pull this behavior.

I'm a new nurse but I'm a little older, I'm 30 and have lived a pretty tumultuous life, which has emboldened me to self-advocate a little more fiercely than I see my other new nurse friends doing. The way I see it, I might risk rosey relations with my boss for speaking up, but I don't want to work on a unit or for a facility that disrespects or uses me. 

So far, I've advocated for a few things that made me a little nervous and I am glad I did. I think it led to my managers respecting me a little more because I was very professional but direct about things. I also come to work with a positive attitude so when I do self-advocate, they don't simply see it as typical negative behavior. 

Nursing doesn't have to be this way, where you feel blindsided and without a voice. You get to decide what environment and treatment you are willing to tolerate. Feel free to PM me if you want to chat.

[go9873]

@K. Everly Thank you so much for the kind words, it means a lot! Unfortunately after asking around, I guess it's pretty standard policy (I'm not sure on other units at my hospital), but even some nurses on my unit who have been working 6 months past the probation period still haven't been bumped up to 3 12s. I looked back at my offer letter and all it shows is 36hrs per week, but nothing about what type of shift/schedule, so I guess that's kinda how they get around it. I've accepted it for what it is now, but I can't help but feel this huge cloud over my head because of what I've gotten myself into. My hospital does have a union, but I guess this is part of the culture at my workplace and meeting unit needs. I just hope I make it through these next couple months, because I've already started to doubt myself and whether I belong at the bedside. Thank you again for your response though, it definitely made me feel better!

[K. Everly, BSN, RN]

2 hours ago, go9873 said:

@K. Everly Thank you so much for the kind words, it means a lot! Unfortunately after asking around, I guess it's pretty standard policy (I'm not sure on other units at my hospital), but even some nurses on my unit who have been working 6 months past the probation period still haven't been bumped up to 3 12s. I looked back at my offer letter and all it shows is 36hrs per week, but nothing about what type of shift/schedule, so I guess that's kinda how they get around it. I've accepted it for what it is now, but I can't help but feel this huge cloud over my head because of what I've gotten myself into. My hospital does have a union, but I guess this is part of the culture at my workplace and meeting unit needs. I just hope I make it through these next couple months, because I've already started to doubt myself and whether I belong at the bedside. Thank you again for your response though, it definitely made me feel better!

Ahh, okay. So it sounds like their practices are a little shady but at least they have it written into their hiring paperwork. I personally feel it would be worse if they took liberties that went directly against the job description. Neither could change how frustrating the situation is for you now, but at least you know you are working for an employer who doesn't just violate their own terms constantly. Good info for the future (ie: read exactly what is written whenever presented with info from employer and know they will take liberties in any vague terminology/gray areas). 

As far as whether bedside is for you - please please please know you are not alone. I am book smart, but I struggle in acute and emergent situations. My anxiety gets pretty palpable and I forget everything I ever knew LOL. I had to quit floating at my hospital and move to the closed inpatient rehab unit just to even remotely feel at peace with safe staffing etc. And this unit is one of the few in the hospital that comes with on-call requirements, so I've been working about another 30-40 hours a month just in on-call. It's such a give and take. God willing one day we will both feel competent and secure, but I remind myself often that we learned about emergent situations in school by reading books. It could in no way prepare us for the first actual rapid response code we've been involved in or the first time a patient just doesn't look right and the doctors are ignoring you. Those things take practice, and growing pains, and were in the "but it hurts!" phase of our career. 

I've been trying to study and gain knowledge, while also giving myself grace. If this ends up being a stepping stone to something non-bedside, I'll go wherever the Lord calls. 

[NewGradRecruit]

It’s unfortunate that they were not clear about what your work schedule would be and that the paperwork leaves so much room for variation in a schedule. Hopefully you are able to have a conversation with leadership (or your manager) and see what options are available in the near future. Keep your head up! 

[NPnowmovedon]

I understand how you feel. If I were you I would feel the same exact way. Please know that you have options. This pandemic has really left a lot of us burnt out.  Taking some time with yourself would Definity help you find some clarity with your situation and how you would like to move forward. I myself have had so many similar situations as this and found that pivoting has really given me the joy I was seeking out of my career. Don't lose hope 

-Syceria 

[lifelong learner-RN]

Wow, this feels familiar! I was in a similar situation earlier this year–at hire, I thought that I would be doing 3x12's per week, rotating every third weekend. Halfway into my orientation, I was given an "on-call" sign up calendar, where as a new grad I had to sign up for multiple time slots OUTSIDE of my full time hours, which often included my weekends "off". (Mind you, I was a brand new nurse fresh out of school, still on orientation signing up for on-call hours while already being full time !) At hire, I was under the impression that a call schedule was only used at times of dire need (as stated in their position description/policy) but this was a constant schedule sent out every month. It was completely ridiculous, felt a bit deceiving, and I truly could not believe this was their normal. Nurses even told me that the unit "functioned better being a bit understaffed" so that they could "make more critical needs pay." The manager even stated on a group page that as a unit, we had the choice to either "take extra call shifts to make a lot of money" or "get staffing help." I was shocked and didn't think that having a fully staffed unit should even be in question! So that didn't last long, I quit before my orientation ended and have spent the last few months figuring out what to do next, or if I should even stay in this field all together if it would be like this. Fortunately, it's not!

Fast forward to now, I have spent the last few months in search of non-hospital RN roles. There are so many options for new grads, so don't let anyone tell you that you "need" 6 months, 1 year, etc. of experience. They are wrong!! I've been so picky–work/life balance is my top priority, so I would not even consider a job that required weekends, nights, holidays, or overtime. Recruiters and healthcare establishments have been reaching out to me like crazy. I was offered two different positions for public health departments, both of which had zero bedside responsibilities. One was a nutrition educator position for postpartum mothers, and the other was auditing school nursing departments within my county. I ultimately turned both down due to the pay and lack of opportunities for advancement. Government jobs pay very poorly in my state, but insurance benefits are outstanding which was a plus, but not necessary for me as I'm still under my family's plan. Plus, it was a flat salary with no opportunities for a raise. This differs state to state though, so I would definitely consider if I lived elsewhere. I was also offered a few nursing home positions, one for a medical daycare/PPEC, and home health. There's so many options!

I accepted a home health position where I will be working within the 9-5 range M-F, no weekend or holiday requirement. I ultimately chose home health for the relationships you get to build with your patients, the amazing flexibility in hours, and excellent pay. I will practically be able to build my own schedule and cannot wait ?

Good luck to you! I hope wherever you end up, you enjoy what you do and that it provides the work/life balance that so many healthcare establishments ignore!!