Night shift and mandatory meetings

[aprilrazz]

I work nights and my job requires me to attend mandatory meetings twice per month as well as any in-service training. The problem is that they are all scheduled during the day (meetings are at 1400) and I work 7p to 7a. I have worked elsewhere where the nurses meetings were held twice a day, once in the mornings and again in the afternoon. We are required to be there and get written up if we don't show. For the last two months I have had to work the night before and the night the meetings are held. The last time I had a med error (caught fast thankfully) that I honestly think was made simply because I was tired. Management refuses to change the time of the meetings or offer more than one and I am afraid someone will be injured because of this. I read a while back about a nurse that was killed in a car wreck because of a similar situation. I live an hour away from work and that is three plus hours at least that I can't sleep due to meetings and training. Of course day shift sees nothing wrong with the way things are now.

I love this job but don't want to hurt myself or someone else because of lack of sleep.

Should I go above their heads or look for another job?

[Certifiable, BSN, RN]

I work 8 hours shifts and the monthly staff meeting is always scheduled at 13:00, everyone is expected to show up - but if the nurses from the previous night shift don't - no one says anything. They read the minutes printout that get sent along with their salary slip.

[aprilrazz]

Well I did not go to the meeting and was written up and I was told that a second write up will put me on probation. I wrote a rebuttal and included a copy of an article that was in the AJN about a nurse that was killed in a car accident due to similar circumstances. I have an exemplary work record with them except for meeting attendance. They will not budge on times and say that they hold them when the most people can show up. When I brought up any kind of remote attendance I was told due to security reasons it was not possible (I work in corrections) and that I would have to "plan my time better". I love my job but management will not be reasonable about this. They have another in-service planned from noon to 1500 right in the middle of a work week for me that is, you guessed it, mandatory. I have had enough and I am putting in my notice. I have another offer and I have an interview tomorrow (going on my way home, they were very accommodating) and will see if the grass is greener. I don't' want a write up over something ridiculous as that to ruin a good track record.

Thanks to everyone for their input and I am glad I am not the only one that thinks this is unfair.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Wow. Flexible group, aren't they?