Nurses secretive about getting another job

Nurses General Nursing

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We have a Per Diem nurse 'Karen' who also is Per Diem at another hospital where I used to work. There's others from there and a lot of back and forth. Another coworker who also works both places let it slip to me that she thought Karen was now orienting at a 3rd nearby hospital. There's some of our nurses who work there as well, lots of openness, no restrictions from management at all.

So I sent a friendly text to Karen asking how she's doing, that I hadn't seen her in awhile. She said she's been really busy with her daughter's graduation. Mind you, she and I have been workplace friends. I later confirmed with a nurse that went to that 3rd hospital fulltime, staying Per Diem with us, that Karen has been there a lot orienting.

So, Karen is being secretive, which is ridiculous since nursing is a small world where it's going to all come out in the open anyways. No one would ever bat an eye about her picking up another job since there've been fewer of the day shifts that Karen likes available lately.

So, why would someone be secretive about this?

"Karen" doesn't need to share her job choices with anyone. It is her business and maybe she feels people would be asking too many questions. As long as she can keep up with the work demands and the schedules, then it is her business.

1 Votes
On 6/7/2019 at 11:48 AM, Mergirlc said:

I actually think Karen may have perhaps ran into some financial trouble herself and this is the reason she got this new job and is keeping it to herself.

Emergent, you mentioned in your post that she looks down on those in a lower socioeconomic status. Maybe she has now become one of those she once despised and is ashamed? I'm just theorizing here, but if she announced she took yet another job, her coworkers might wonder why and suspicions would be raised as they were with you a few others in your unit. Not that this would happen (maybe it would?), but Karen might think her coworkers would make fun of her and shame her.

If my theory is correct, she just doesn't want to admit or show she has to eat humble pie if her economic status has taken a downturn. Also, if her daughter is graduating, she needs extra college cash.

I just think it boils down to her economic status changed and she's embarrassed for whatever reason to bring it out into the open in an obvious way.

I don’t think it’s that deep. It’s being pointed out to the OP that her worried about Karen says more about her than Karen. That lead to her bashing Karen somewhat. Let’s not entertain this behavior. There are literally people dying. Who cares how many jobs a nurse works.

3 Votes
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Maybe Karen saw someone somewhere get burned by being too open and decided to play her cards closer to the vest. Maybe she gets treated differently by some employers and finds it more prudent to be circumspect.

On a similar note, I've had coworkers who are friends seek me out to confide some burning issue in their lives. Then they ghost me. I guess they regretted spilling too many beans even though I never sought the information and never shared it. I've learned over the years that friendships with coworkers tend to be transient things.

2 Votes
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

I generally make it my business to stay out of other people's business. How others handle their lives is no skin off my nose. I only comment if they ask for my opinion.

I am a stealth bomber when it comes to work - I fly in do my job effectively and I flay out. The only thing I care about with regard to my co-workers is that they do their jobs well, ask for help when needed, respond when others ask for help an have an appreciation for music from the 80's. But in fairness to all tastes I will listen to just about everything.

When I read about these toxic environments I know how truly lucky I am to work in a facility that gives great support to it's employees and has great staff.

Hppy

6 Votes
On 6/6/2019 at 3:32 PM, Emergent said:

We have a Per Diem nurse 'Karen' who also is Per Diem at another hospital where I used to work. There's others from there and a lot of back and forth. Another coworker who also works both places let it slip to me that she thought Karen was now orienting at a 3rd nearby hospital. There's some of our nurses who work there as well, lots of openness, no restrictions from management at all.

So I sent a friendly text to Karen asking how she's doing, that I hadn't seen her in awhile. She said she's been really busy with her daughter's graduation. Mind you, she and I have been workplace friends. I later confirmed with a nurse that went to that 3rd hospital fulltime, staying Per Diem with us, that Karen has been there a lot orienting.

So, Karen is being secretive, which is ridiculous since nursing is a small world where it's going to all come out in the open anyways. No one would ever bat an eye about her picking up another job since there've been fewer of the day shifts that Karen likes available lately.

So, why would someone be secretive about this?

A better question is....why are you so obsessed with what she is doing?

She's trying to pay her bills like anyone else. If she wanted to tell you, she would.

3 Votes
On 6/6/2019 at 4:00 PM, Emergent said:

Why does it bother you that I bring this subject up and my observations. This forum has been a bit dull lately.

Obviously, Karen doesn't want to share this, but word always gets around. It's not malicious to discuss happenings. Why does that ordinary human activity bother you so?

I find, when people are more open, it's less of an issue. When people hide ordinary news, it leads to speculation.

Ok, ok. Lol. I'm going to give you a pass on my end. Because I will admit I like some drama every now and then on here. Yep, things have been kinda dull on here. I don't like drama in my real life, but I do enjoy it on here sometimes. I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but you know what I enjoyed? Ok, here's my guilty pleasure. The few threads where certain MAs acted like complete know it alls and the nurses chimed in taking them down a few pegs. Now I'm ONLY talking about the ones who think they ARE "basically nurses bc they do exactly what we do." Those always got pretty good until the moderators ended it. Ok, I named my guilty pleasure.

Specializes in Psych/Mental Health, Detox/MAT, AL/LTC.

I’m amazed this question got this much feedback. To mimic the sentiment others have expressed, “Karen” doesn’t have to divulge anything to you or anyone else she works with. It’s HER personal life. It’s not a secret to those that likely matter to her. Coworkers are not entitled to know details about the lives of those they work with. The fact that you seem to think they do is baffling to me. Why do you even care? (The fact that you posted about it suggests you do) THAT fact is actually far more interesting a topic to me. YOU may think you and Karen are friends. SHE may think you’re merely coworkers and therefore not owe you any explanations or access to her private/personal life outside of what she wishes to share.

Specializes in Psych/Mental Health, Detox/MAT, AL/LTC.
On 6/6/2019 at 5:03 PM, TitaniumPlates said:

I find, when people are more open, it's less of an issue. When people hide ordinary news, it leads to speculation. 

Who says she’s “hiding” it just because she’s not divulging it to others? It only leads to speculation for nosey people and gossipers. People who mind their business won’t speculate at all.

1 Votes

I keep things to myself at work also. Its kind of a need to know basis.

3 Votes

Maybe she just kept it from you. Why are you so interested? I'd just stay out of it. No good can come from this kind of gossip. Keep in mind, if they gossip with you, they are probably also gossiping about you.

On 6/6/2019 at 4:46 PM, Emergent said:

I guess I have always seen no reason to hide a second job. Lots of nurses have them, it's no big deal.

I never hide my other agency/per diem jobs. Actually, once my main flex pool position realized I had no one but two agencies that always had last minute open shifts they stopped being so quick to cancel my shift. Before they would cancel me only to call me 30 minutes after the shift started and ask if I could still come in. After getting cancelled too many times I got the agency positions and would call them immediately after being cancelled so that I wouldn’t lose income for the day. Once my other job learned that if they prematurely cancelled me there was a good chance I’d already be working down the street and therefore unavailable to come in since they cancelled my shift, I noticed a lot less cancellation calls.

I’m sure it could work both ways though. Work should be thought of as just that, work. It seems some people can take it personally though and hold it against someone if they don’t show ‘loyalty’ to one employer-which is silly because the employer often views the nurse as replaceable anyway so why should it be any different for how many places a nurse chooses to work for a living?

3 Votes

@Emergent she isn’t hiding anything from you. She just hasn’t told you about her other job. No more than she hasn’t told you what she’s having for dinner or what she’s wearing to bed. Why WOULD she tell you?

If there’s an issue it isn’t her, it’s you.

1 Votes
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