We have a new nurse in our dept, hired as a new grad to ER in this less than stellar job market. The other day I got to hear his whining about his lousy schedule.
He's a likeable guy, but is only a year out of school and landed a pretty sweet position, got a great opportunity, and seems very unappreciative. He is really mad at my manager who is actually quite a reasonable person in my opinion.
Do some new nurses totally not get it, regarding the hours and scheduling demands of nursing?
I and another 20 something are new at our jobs in a CCU, (I am a new grad and he has two years experience). We were hired has a swing shift 2 weeks on day, 2 weeks on night. Only 2 nurses in our Unit have a complete day/night schedule. Everyone else has the same shifts, with required weekends, and required holidays. No one really prefers nights as we get a 1.00/hr shift differential. I do not mind the shift, I feel blessed to have a good job in a specialty unit of my choosing. He on the other hand is a complete Prima Donna! Constantly complaining about having to work nights/weekends/holidays/etc. I asked him one day if he had been hired in under a different pretense, (as I was hired two months before and my schedule was very clear) and he told me "Well no, but I didn't think they were SERIOUS." Oh my. He even complained that we had the same schedule since I am a new grad, keep in mind we are both new to this unit and hospital. We have nurses that have worked there for 15 years that work the same schedule. I do not understand some people.
The holidays are around the corner. That schedule is particularly painful where I work. The senior nurses feel they should get their choice, the new nurses think it should be "fair".
Since the balance of age has tipped towards the young, "fair" seems to have taken the day. Everybody knows a 50 something with 20 years invested is not going to quit if they don't get what they want.
Hey, I can't fault them, working nights and holidays sucks. I'll never nights! I do silently judge that because spewing an attitude like that is unprofessional and childish.
for the millionth time...(how many damn times do i have to say the same thing every time someone makes a topic about "entitled newbs")...
one of the main reasons i went to nursing school in the first place is because everyone told me nursing was basically "make your own schedule". (and by "everyone" I mean actual nurses working in the field -so why would I not believe them? they're working nurses, i assume they know how their scheduling works.)
when i got to nursing school, the instructors said the same thing. work when you want! work/life balance! there are tons of people who like working nights/weekends/holidays because they get paid more, so you won't have to work nights/weekends/holidays unless you want to! choose your own schedule and work when it's convenient for you!
so yeah. maybe there are other reasons besides "omg i'm such an entitled millenial" why people might be expecting convenient schedules.
Anyone who goes into a 24/7 business expecting not to pay their dues and work nights, weekends and holidays is beyond naive. The great thing about nursing in the hospital is you only have to work three days a week, leaving you four days for the rest of your life. If you want nights weekends and holidays off you'll have to work in an office.
Ugh. I work with a new grad who is also the newest hire. Although the company policy says that everyone must work every other weekend, she doesn't have to work any at all. Her excuse is that she is in school. For some reason, I seriously doubt she has class on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. And anyway, her classes are online. Drives me crazy, especially when many of the rest of us end up working more than our share because she isn't pulling her weight.
for the millionth time...(how many damn times do i have to say the same thing every time someone makes a topic about "entitled newbs")...
one of the main reasons i went to nursing school in the first place is because everyone told me nursing was basically "make your own schedule". (and by "everyone" I mean actual nurses working in the field -so why would I not believe them? they're working nurses, i assume they know how their scheduling works.)
when i got to nursing school, the instructors said the same thing. work when you want! work/life balance! there are tons of people who like working nights/weekends/holidays because they get paid more, so you won't have to work nights/weekends/holidays unless you want to! choose your own schedule and work when it's convenient for you!
so yeah. maybe there are other reasons besides "omg i'm such an entitled millenial" why people might be expecting convenient schedules.
This line of thinking dates back 10ish yrs to when we had the bad nursing shortage. Instructors shouldn't be telling them this anymore!
I agree. But working nights, everybody wants Christmas Eve off. It's everybody's first choice.
Who gets it?
Alternate years. My manager puts a list up for preferences for 5 holidays coming up, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve and New Years Day. We put a number 1-5 in order of preference to have off. Then she makes a schedule, figuring in what was worked last year.
Alternate years. My manager puts a list up for preferences for 5 holidays coming up, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve and New Years Day. We put a number 1-5 in order of preference to have off. Then she makes a schedule, figuring in what was worked last year.
I love her commonsense approach!
That's how it's been done at my hospitals too. It's just part of the job we signed up for.
Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.
Shrug. I'm in the South, I worked days or evenings in the hospital, never a night shift. I work days now after ~1 year exp. I know floor
nurses hired onto their units specifically for days. The logic I've seen around here is it's actually easier to keep some newbies on days for about a year, because of the resources available for them, or maybe they're suited personality-wise to dealing with all the management and ancillary staff.
.thumb.gif.557c5203bd6f06724ecab47703960500.gif){kind=small}
LoveNeverDies
133 Posts
I and another 20 something are new at our jobs in a CCU, (I am a new grad and he has two years experience). We were hired has a swing shift 2 weeks on day, 2 weeks on night. Only 2 nurses in our Unit have a complete day/night schedule. Everyone else has the same shifts, with required weekends, and required holidays. No one really prefers nights as we get a 1.00/hr shift differential. I do not mind the shift, I feel blessed to have a good job in a specialty unit of my choosing. He on the other hand is a complete Prima Donna! Constantly complaining about having to work nights/weekends/holidays/etc. I asked him one day if he had been hired in under a different pretense, (as I was hired two months before and my schedule was very clear) and he told me "Well no, but I didn't think they were SERIOUS."
Oh my. He even complained that we had the same schedule since I am a new grad, keep in mind we are both new to this unit and hospital. We have nurses that have worked there for 15 years that work the same schedule. I do not understand some people. 