I have looked all over this site and can't find any advise. Some support and advise would be appreciated.
My boss is forcing me to an inconvenient shift to try to force me to quit even though I am one of the more senior nurses at the facility. First some background info....
I have been at my current job on 12 hour night shifts in LTC for over 3 years. Last month a new DON (director of nursing) took over. At first I really believed someone new would be great to clean up some of the problems. I quickly realized that she is on an instant power trip and out to blame anyone and everyone for the problems going on.
One of my first encounters with her, I shared some of my concerns with her regarding staffing at nights and the wide spread of the facility and the inability to hear some alarms when patients get up at night. Our fall numbers are at record highs (she is well aware) due to the acuity of the recent admits and decline in condition of some patients. Even with the increased acuity staffing remains at night, me as only nurse and 2 CNAs. There are a lot of people who are to cognitively impaired to understand they need to call for help to the bathroom and have to have alarms. Frequently more than one alarm is going off at a time and there are some very demanding residents that are on call lite all night with requests; change the TV chanel, make me some tea, adjust the covers, snack etc.
One resident that fell is in one of the rooms farthest from the nurses station. I told her that even though I was at the nurses station by the time I heard the alarm the resident was on the floor after being in the bathroom and on the way back to bed. I told her for the residents safety he should be moved to the empty room right by the station. She immediately snapped that is not going to happen and proceeded to drill me about why I was at the station and not out walking the floor. I explained I have a lot of paperwork. She asked me to keep track of how long paperwork takes me and what I do all night.
The next night I worked I downloaded a company form that breaks down into 5 min segments that is used for time analysis by management. I filled out one to show her the number of alarms and call lites that go off and on the other kept track of what I was doing. The next morning she was in bright and early to drill me on what I do. She glanced at the form and told me it takes me to long to fill out certain paperwork. (she has been with the company months, like 2 months b4 moving to DON and has never filled out the paperwork, believe it or not I actually have to look up stuff not just guess which box to check to fill out forms) She accused me of being the reason the resident fell the other night. She twisted that I was at the station doing paperwork into, "you told me yesterday you dont answer alarms because you have to much paperwork." She accused me of putting the resident on the toilet and he fell because I left an alarmed resident alone in bathroom. I immediately pointed out there was a definate communication problem because I did not say that and I did not put in the incident that I put the resident in the bathroom. She actually argued with me that I put that in the incident report. I advised her to read it again because since I wrote it I am pretty sure that is not the event I charted.
So that very night I am out on the town and run into a coworker and start talking to her and her BF. Im introduced to the BF and he asked how we know eachother, oh work. Well his mom is the new DON. He asks my name and says oh its nice to have a face to go with the name his mom was ranting about this week. Im like ***. I play it cool and I am pretty sure he didnt go home and tell his mommy he ran into me and told me she rants about me.
So on to the reason for the problem. On Monday I get a call from the DON stating she had to adjust my schedule and put me 3 nights in a row. Sure no problem. Then she says and I need/want to move you to 8 hour day shift. I was speechless. She told me to call her the next day to set up a time to meet and talk about it. The next day I call her and of course get her voicemail. I leave her a message basicly stating that a change to 8 hr days will not work for my family situation and if any further discussion is needed to please call me.
This weekend I go to work and find a note telling me that in 2 weeks I will be starting 8 hour day shifts. She is totally disregarding what I said about being unable to switch to that shift. In the note she talks about working with me to develop skills to supervise the CNAs, so basically saying I dont know how to do the job I have been doing for 3 years. Also she has not brought any CNA supervision problems to my attention. She also states what a great opportunity it will be to work with time studies and management. So telling me I dont know how to manage a job I have been doing for 3 years.
I really can not switch to day shift. I have kids that cant be left home alone during the day when my honey is working. I have worked out a perfect night situation and in 3 years have never called in because of daycare or ill kids.
So here is the real kick in the teeth. A new nurse's name on the schedule doing only 12 hour night shifts. MY shifts!!!! Of all the nurses there are only 3 have been there longer than me, including management. Two of them work day shift and one of them was actually told this week she has to go to pms temporarily because a night nurse is going to days. Temporarily, like what until she can get rid of me. However there are no pm hours to be had so I think the DON expects me to blow a gasket and quit leaving the day shift gal exactly where she is. Either that or she wants me there during the day so she can scrutinize everything to do and try to write me up to get me fired.
I strongly feel this is retaliation on the DONs part because I told her about problems and that she is trying to get rid of me. Think she is trying to force me to resign. To top it all off she starts this switch around the day her boss starts a 2 week vacation. So there is no one above her in house to go to about this until the schedule will be out. Either I have to call the boss on vacation or go to corporate to stop this before the schedule changes come out.
I do have a meeting set up with her on Monday but I can already tell she is not going to listen to me and will insist on pushing me around into a shift I dont want. Stupid thing is the full time 8 hr day shift is the envy of most of the staff. She has at least 5 nurses that would jump at it.
So bottom line, I want out of her a reason why I have to switch. There is no reorganization going around. My shift will still exist only with the newest hire getting my prefered shift. The things she mentioned in her note (supervision of CNAs and time management) she has not talked to me about to let me know there is a percieved problem. She has never worked night shift in LTC and has no idea what my job entails.
I really dont want to find a different job because I really love my residents and the other staff are the best. Also I am finally vested and eligible to get retirement contributions. I feel if I can ride this storm out she will hang herself very soon and be escorted out. She doesn't do her job and is not properly trained to be a DON in long term care. She only has the few months she worked here as LTC experience. This is the 6th DON in my 3 years, yeah really, so they go quickly.
I want advise on what to say or not say on Monday. I plan on having a witness come in so there is no miscommunication. I will be bringing my points and questions writen down so I cant get ambushed off point by her. I plan on writing down exactly what she says and I have thought about bringing a tape recorder. She has a history already of being extremely unprofessional and talking down to her nursing staff even the RNs.
If I cant get through to her do I immediately go above her head? Do I call the boss on vacation? Do I call the corporate? Do I wait for a week for the boss to be back from vacation to contact him. I really want to get this fixed before the schedule comes out. If I do get to stay on my shift because I get my way from someone above her, but the schedule is out it is going to mess up a lot of my coworker's schedules too and I dont want that.
She is not going to get rid of me that easily. If I have to I will do the day shift until I can get this settled. If she pushes me out she will have to pay unemployment and I may fight it up corporate. For those wondering no union, and right to work state. But just because its right to work state, the boss above her is very careful about firing anyone. He knows people in this state, in this town, in LTC, have sued for wrongful termination and gotten back pay. He will not want that. If I have her hovering trying to get me in trouble I will not give her anything to write me up. I will remain calm and professional and do my job properly. I am sure I have more ability to stay calm then she does. She has already spouted off unprofessionally on many staff and word has spread of her comments.
For those who made it through this to long post, thanks. Please give me your 2 cents.
