New Hire Help...

[Sweetlillove, BSN, RN]

I am a newly licensed RN in New York and I am having a dilema. I was recently hired at a nursing home and rehab but things seem strange. they have asked me to volunteer one or two weeks of my orientation! During the interview I kept being told "I hope you are long term". Then as I left the interview other employees, as I was introduced, made similar remarks along the lines of are you the one that is going to stay.

Because I am a new nurse, and single mother who NEEDS to work, I accepted but now I regret it. I was told by my instructor that this is not common practice and they must have a high turn over rate. What if this place is not safe for me as a new nurse and then I worked for them for free! Another nurse 8 years in the field told me I should not have accepted that.

Yesterday was my first day and I went in at 7 am, I basically sat around for 3 hours because 2 RN's and 2 CNA's had called out. the night nurse was there until 930am, 2.5 hours past her shift trying to figure things out. Also there is no union and they have not even given a salary or benefit package.

what should I do? Is there any organization I can call to find out if this is right? Also you should know I attained this interview from a family friend that is also an RN supervisor in this nursing home, I do not want to let her down but I think she was not truthful or straight forward about the situation.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[Sour Lemon]

Well, what other options do you have? As a new grad, you're probably not going to end up with the best job and the most ideal circumstances. I would say "NO." to volunteering any my time, though. And I'd avoid signing any contract, as well.

Get some experience and get out (if conditions are not good).

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Stiffen your backbone- walk into the HR/ DON/ Admins office and say "I don't work for free and need to know the salary and benefits package TODAY" . If they don't provide it- do not return.

[Sweetlillove, BSN, RN]

I will do this on Tuesday before starting. I know I should have asserted myself but it was like dangling a bone in front of a dog....í ½í¸–

[Sweetlillove, BSN, RN]

I don't have any other options right Now but I turned down a home care job for this place because I thought it would be more stable for me as a new nurse!

[Sweetlillove, BSN, RN]

Is it illegal for them to ask me to volunteer my orientation?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Is it illegal for them to ask me to volunteer my orientation?

Yes!!!

[PedNephNurse]

Sorry you're going thru this. Especially as your first nursing job! Nursing homes are tough. They have high turn over rates because it is a demanding environment. Some nurses absolutely love it. You can always go to HR, let them know you thought about the volunteering and didn't fully understand what you were agreeing too. If they give you any trouble just let them know you're sorry but it doesn't seem like it's going to be a good fit and leave. You don't have to include them on your resume. Just consider it a hiccup and keep moving forward.

[Marisette, BSN, RN]

WOW !!! I've never heard of volunteering to train. It seems to me the reason coworkers are asking you if you are a working there long term, is because the majority of people who were employed for that position ultimately leave or quit. Don't worry about the friend that recommended you. Think about your needs. If she is a good friend, she will understand. What is your overall feel for the place? If you don't feel welcomed and treated fairly, it will effect the way feel about your job in the future. Can you survive the experience? I generally feel one has to stay awhile with a new employer at least 6 months to learn and feel comfortable. But in this case, the signs of potential for abuse is obvious.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

WOW !!! I've never heard of volunteering to train. It seems to me the reason coworkers are asking you if you are a working there long term, is because the majority of people who were employed for that position ultimately leave or quit. Don't worry about the friend that recommended you. Think about your needs. If she is a good friend, she will understand. What is your overall feel for the place? If you don't feel welcomed and treated fairly, it will effect the way feel about your job in the future. Can you survive the experience? I generally feel one has to stay awhile with a new employer at least 6 months to learn and feel comfortable. But in this case, the signs of potential for abuse is obvious.

If she was a good friend, she never would have dragged her into this crap in the first place!!!

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

OP, you do realize that employers want proof of one year of PAID RN experience, right? The only thing I've volunteered for was to come in and be PAID to work on my day off....and I can count the number of times I've done that over the past 30 years.

[Sweetlillove, BSN, RN]

I have been researching and there is nothing on google about a nurse being asked to volunteer her training. I let the excitement get the best of me and did not think!