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?
My first nursing job was day-day-night-night then off which was mandatory for all staff and so far as I am currently applying for new positions since I have relocated they have all asked me what my preference was... I still consider myself a "newbie" 1.5 years exp.
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.
I was hired for straight days as a new grad. None of the older/more experienced nurses have complained to my face, but in a retention meeting they complained bitterly about new grads getting day shift when they were still doing swing shifts. The biggest determinant was that I agreed to work straight weekends and holidays as scheduled while they have numerous reasons as to why they can't do either.
And just an FYI, we have a local nursing school that runs clinicals on the weekend. Just had students on the floor last Saturday and Sunday, so yes, school can happen every weekend. It's an online lecture class built around those who work full time.
I find this concept that new hires have no "right" to complain or object to something they find objectionable sad and a great example of why new grads are often silent in the face of unfair, unsafe, and/or unethical treatment or environments.
This also depends on what area you work in, because in the OR, the vast majority of shifts are days. We also hire newbies. When I graduated nursing school, I actually had to fight a little to get the evening position I wanted.( I was there already as a surg tech)
I was hired for straight days as a new grad. None of the older/more experienced nurses have complained to my face, but in a retention meeting they complained bitterly about new grads getting day shift when they were still doing swing shifts. The biggest determinant was that I agreed to work straight weekends and holidays as scheduled while they have numerous reasons as to why they can't do either.
And just an FYI, we have a local nursing school that runs clinicals on the weekend. Just had students on the floor last Saturday and Sunday, so yes, school can happen every weekend. It's an online lecture class built around those who work full time.
I find this concept that new hires have no "right" to complain or object to something they find objectionable sad and a great example of why new grads are often silent in the face of unfair, unsafe, and/or unethical treatment or environments.
Uh how in the world is having to work nights, weekends and holidays as the new person on the unit "unfair, unsafe and unethical"??? That is how things work. Things go by seniority, new people have to pay their dues and the reward for that is a better schedule. None of that is unsafe unfair or unethical.
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.
Or an ambulatory surgery center, which is my ultimate goal.
I'm Canadian so our holidays are a bit different but here is how our unit works long weekends.
You work eight Easter or Victoria Day (equal to Memorial Day)
you work either July 1 (equal to July 4) or August long weekend
you work either Labour Day or Thansgiving.
For these long weekends, it doesn't matter want you worked in the past. You just work one or the other.
For Xmas:
you work either Xmas or New Years. You work the opposite to,what you worked the years before. So one year you work Xmas, the next year New Years. You also work the opposite shift. So if you got days last year, you should work off shift (evenings or nights) this year. We do 8 hour shifts so that there is family time available. You are free to trade/give away but it is up to you to make sure the shift is covered.
This works very well. Non religious people let it be known they will work Xmas, and often do.
This works well because people know what year they have to work Xmas and what year they will be off.
Pepper, that's how it works in theory. Especially for the full timers. My manager chops and changes the part timers around over the Christmas two week period and no body has a clue what's happening.
We also work rotating shifts, so unless you go to outpatients or day surgery, there are shifts and weekends in everyones futures.
I was hired for straight days as a new grad. None of the older/more experienced nurses have complained to my face, but in a retention meeting they complained bitterly about new grads getting day shift when they were still doing swing shifts. The biggest determinant was that I agreed to work straight weekends and holidays as scheduled while they have numerous reasons as to why they can't do either.
And just an FYI, we have a local nursing school that runs clinicals on the weekend. Just had students on the floor last Saturday and Sunday, so yes, school can happen every weekend. It's an online lecture class built around those who work full time.
I find this concept that new hires have no "right" to complain or object to something they find objectionable sad and a great example of why new grads are often silent in the face of unfair, unsafe, and/or unethical treatment or environments.
New grads have every right to complain and/or express an opinion. However, there are limits to the amount of complaining your co-workers can take, especially because we have all been there. In any profession, the junior employee pays their dues in some fashion. Just something to keep in mind....
I am not a nurse, but I left a cushy Monday-Friday doctor office job to work in the ER during nights for nursing school.
I also work every weekend since I am in school.
That being said; I worked Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. Thanksgiving is supposed to be my holiday off and they are trying to make me work 7p-7a that night.
I am pitching a fit, not because I am "entitled" but because it is supposed to be my holiday off and I am to work Christmas.
I'm not bad mouthing management about it, but I have made my disagreement with them known to them.
I'm hoping that it goes in my favor due to the fact that I have worked the last 3 holidays.
I am not a nurse, but I left a cushy Monday-Friday doctor office job to work in the ER during nights for nursing school.
I also work every weekend since I am in school.
That being said; I worked Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. Thanksgiving is supposed to be my holiday off and they are trying to make me work 7p-7a that night.
I am pitching a fit, not because I am "entitled" but because it is supposed to be my holiday off and I am to work Christmas.
I'm not bad mouthing management about it, but I have made my disagreement with them known to them.
I'm hoping that it goes in my favor due to the fact that I have worked the last 3 holidays.
At my hospital the Thanksgiving holiday starts at 7pm on the eve of (Wednesday 7pm). Meaning night shifters scheduled for the holiday would work Wednesday night into Thursday morning then be off Thursday night. If it is their holiday off they would have Wednesday night off but could still be scheduled Thursday night (Thanksgiving @ 7pm) since it is not considered the holiday.
heartnursing
125 Posts
My first nursing job was day-day-night-night then off which was mandatory for all staff and so far as I am currently applying for new positions since I have relocated they have all asked me what my preference was... I still consider myself a "newbie" 1.5 years exp.