Last week, my supervisor asked me to attend a coaching class. I've alway resisted coaching brand-new grads, and she thought this would make me more comfortable. She promised the class wasn't very long and told me I'd get CEUs for going. I said okay, and asked if I'd get paid for attending. She said they'd try, but probably not, but again emphasized that it wouldn't last long, and that I'd get CEUs for it.
So I showed up for the class, where I found out that not only was it an 8 hour long class (twice as long as she had originally said) but that every other nurse there (not from my unit, but from the same hospital) was either getting paid for the time they were there or was only having to work 2 days that week and was having their 3rd day be an education day.
I'm irritated that I seem to be the only one expected to donate 8 hours of my time and still come in and work 3 shifts. So I called my manager (who of course wasn't in) and left her a message, telling her what my supervisor had told me, that the class ended up being twice as long as promised, and that the other nurses in attendance were being paid (I didn't ask them - the lecturers made asked why people where there, which lead to a discussion about it.) Then I asked my manager to either find a way to pay me for my time or to take me off the schedule for one day this week, just like the other nurses.
I've left her 2 messages now, over the course of 2 days, and haven't received a call back. I know she's been in because I've talked with the secretary each time I've called, who has told me the manager has, in fact, been in. So I'm not sure why she's not returning my calls. If she can't accomodate my request, it would be nice of her to at least tell me that. But I have a lot of things to do this week, and I really didn't expect to have 8 hours of my time tied up with work related stuff. Had I known that, I wouldn't have agreed to go to the class.
I feel kind of like I was tricked. After all, it's of no benefit to me to be a coach - I don't get paid any more to do so.
I'm kind of at a loss of how to proceed. I'd like to have my complaint at least recognized, but if my manager won't acknowledge it, where else should I turn? Or should I just seethe in silence?
I know I have to have CEUs for my license - that's not the issue. My issue is that had I realized this class was going to be 9 hours long, I would not have chosen to attend on that particular day, no matter how many CEUs were offered. When my supervisor talked to me about it, she told me it was a 4 hour long class. That's why I agreed to go without being paid for it.
I have no problem attending things - of MY choice - without pay or on my own time. But this was not something that I feel benefits my practice in any way or was really my choice. It was requested of me (and it was something I felt like I couldn't really say to.) Plus, all the other nurses who work for the same hospital were getting paid, in some form or fashion, for being there while at the same time receiving the same CEUs. So it just seems a little unfair.
Anyways. I left 2 more messages with my manager, just asking her to get back with me. My supervisor finally called me back, left me a message saying she had taken me off the schedule for one day this week, but I'm having to take my own personal PTO for it, and she sounded ******.
Whatever. I'm certainly not attending any more of these classes at their request unless they some how benefit me.
Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
agree.
the scenario daytonite describes is not the same as the op's situation.
i agree that when i choose to attend a seminar not connected with my workplace for my own professional development, it is my responsibility to make arrangements ahead of time. in fact, my hospital system does provide a certain number of "education days" per year (time to attend seminars that is paid as if you were at work) to encourage professional development. if i have used up my education days but want to attend a seminar, i can use pto or just make sure i'm not scheduled to work that particular day. i have utilized all 3 of those options in the past.
however, what the op is describing, unless i am misunderstanding the op's post, sounds like a required inservice. while i agree that it may benefit the op in the long run, i believe that it is appropriate to be counted as a paid work day.
i agree, nurse salt and mlos.
i also disagree with the idea that professionals are not compensated for their ceus and professional development. not only are the classes frequently paid for, so are travel costs and meals.
i certainly expect to be reimbursed for my time if it is a class i don't particularly want to attend.
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
Anyways. I left 2 more messages with my manager, just asking her to get back with me. My supervisor finally called me back, left me a message saying she had taken me off the schedule for one day this week, but I'm having to take my own personal PTO for it, and she sounded ******.
She was probably mad at herself, not at you. I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall of the room where the conversation went on between your manager and your supervisor. I was a supervisor and I know they don't have the same authority as managers. They are stand-ins for the time when the manager isn't in the building. I'm glad you did get some kind of resolution though. For what it's worth, this wasn't totally your fault. Your supervisor also screwed up, learned a hard lesson and just hasn't or doesn't want to 'fess up to it yet, at least not to you. Says a few things about her character, I must say. I would be kowtowing at your feet begging for forgiveness and owing you big time apologies. Hope things go better for you.
Susan9608
205 Posts
I know I have to have CEUs for my license - that's not the issue. My issue is that had I realized this class was going to be 9 hours long, I would not have chosen to attend on that particular day, no matter how many CEUs were offered. When my supervisor talked to me about it, she told me it was a 4 hour long class. That's why I agreed to go without being paid for it.
I have no problem attending things - of MY choice - without pay or on my own time. But this was not something that I feel benefits my practice in any way or was really my choice. It was requested of me (and it was something I felt like I couldn't really say to.) Plus, all the other nurses who work for the same hospital were getting paid, in some form or fashion, for being there while at the same time receiving the same CEUs. So it just seems a little unfair.
Anyways. I left 2 more messages with my manager, just asking her to get back with me. My supervisor finally called me back, left me a message saying she had taken me off the schedule for one day this week, but I'm having to take my own personal PTO for it, and she sounded ******.
Whatever. I'm certainly not attending any more of these classes at their request unless they some how benefit me.