New graduate mandated overtime in supervisor position

Nurses General Nursing

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as a new graduate, i am happy in my current position in ltc as a staff rn on the 3-11 shift. however, i have been mandated to work as shift supervisor on the 11-7 shift x2 when the 3-11 supervisor left to go home and the on call management personnel did not come in. on both occasions i had worked the 3-11 shifts beforehand. therefore, mandating required me to be up more than 24 hours by the completion of the 11-7 shift. i never was oriented or trained to this position nor do i feel that i have the practical experience to handle any extreme emergency that may develop without some training. i was told by the 3-11 supervisor who was going home that if i left it would be considered job abandonment. there was another nurse on duty on the 3-11 shift who has worked as supervisor. she, for some reason, was allowed the option to choose to go home. i have the sense that the requirement was only the rn that follows my name. this was spoken out loud to me by an incoming lpn who supposedly repeated what a supervisor had said. at some point, with proper training and orientation, i might consider such a position. at this time, however, i have concerns. what can i do to handle this situation in the future as a pattern seems to be developing?

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They are taking advantage of you and you need to put your foot down TODAY. Tell them you aren't comfortable being supervisor and will not accept that assignment again. Also tell them you are not putting your patients and license at risk by working so many hours straight. Most states have laws that you can't work over 16 hours straight and you should find out where your state stands on that as well.

If they don't abide by these changes then you need to find another job TODAY. Don't let anyone put you in a position to fail. Shame on them for taking advantage of a new nurse in this way. And trust me...they know that is what they are doing.

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Leave Now!

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I typed up a letter of concern addressing the issues. Why do you say "leave now"? I wiiling to learn from your experience.

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If they do this with such ease, they aren't going to change. Yes, putting things in writing will help cover you, but they are going to continually push the limit. You will likely spend most of your time fighting them and will be miserable.

If you have to keep fighting them because they are doing inappropriate things, you may harm your career by being terminated. Then you will have to try to explain why you kept being the "squeaky wheel" and a new employer may not want to take the trouble to hire you because you could cause them problems.

Sometimes it just isn't worth it to try and fight. You have to pick and choose your battles or you will die before you ever get anything accomplished.

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Any employer who would put a new nurse in this position really isn't worth your time and energy. My guess is you are fighting a losing battle here. They will just keep leaving you to work double shifts and threatening you with patient abandonment. They are using you and they know it.

If you want to try and work it out you had better be firm and draw the line immediately. No waffling or they will circle you like sharks. Gut tells me you should leave ASAP. They don't care about you and more importantly they don't care about their patients or they wouldn't leave a new nurse in charge without any training. They set you up to fail.

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A new grad needs a manager who will protect them from possible problem areas. This management team is putting you and your patients at risk.

Find a job and leave ASAP.

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as a new graduate, i am happy in my current position in ltc as a staff rn on the 3-11 shift. however, i have been mandated to work as shift supervisor on the 11-7 shift x2 when the 3-11 supervisor left to go home and the on call management personnel did not come in. on both occasions i had worked the 3-11 shifts beforehand. therefore, mandating required me to be up more than 24 hours by the completion of the 11-7 shift. i never was oriented or trained to this position nor do i feel that i have the practical experience to handle any extreme emergency that may develop without some training. i was told by the 3-11 supervisor who was going home that if i left it would be considered job abandonment. there was another nurse on duty on the 3-11 shift who has worked as supervisor. she, for some reason, was allowed the option to choose to go home. i have the sense that the requirement was only the rn that follows my name. this was spoken out loud to me by an incoming lpn who supposedly repeated what a supervisor had said. at some point, with proper training and orientation, i might consider such a position. at this time, however, i have concerns. what can i do to handle this situation in the future as a pattern seems to be developing?

i beleive that they are absolutly using your rn. leave now, i agree, run for the hills. how could they expect someone to work 16 hours and make a rational decision? good luck

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

I think that they are putting you and the patients in a potentially dangerous situation. I wouldn't feel comfortable working in an organisation like you have described.

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At this point, I want to paint a better picture of the facility where I work. Management does really care about the patients there. As I stated at the beginning of my post, I am happy working the 3-11 shift as a staff RN. The root of the problem was a vacant position for supervisor on the 11-7 shift. Supposedly that position has just been filled. Although I am a new graduate, I do have some training in management and have a Masters degree in Public Administration. This is a second career for me so you can figure out that I am not the typical new graduate. I was told the thinking related to mandating me was that the 11-7 staff has been working there so long and have so much experience that they would be able to assist in an emergency. In other words, management had confidence in the "team". I was also told that the current situation in the facility was considered and that no problems were anticipated as no residents were in crisis status or situations. My concern was that some situation might develop and that ultimately I would be held accountable. Hopefully, the new person will start soon. My suggestion to management was to provide me with training and some orientation in the event that I might be called upon to "fill in" again. I thank you for all your replies. As a result, I did feel encouraged to submit a letter of concern addressing the issues and expect a good outcome. In the event that I am wrong and should be placed in this situation again without orientation or training, I now have the rationale to use to refuse to accept the assignment. Thank you all for your input.

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