go9873

@K. Everly Thank you so much for the kind words, it means a lot! Unfortunately after asking around, I guess it's pretty standard policy (I'm not sure on other units at my hospital), but even some nurses on my unit who have been working 6 months past the probation period still haven't been bumped up to 3 12s. I looked back at my offer letter and all it shows is 36hrs per week, but nothing about what type of shift/schedule, so I guess that's kinda how they get around it. I've accepted it for what it is now, but I can't help but feel this huge cloud over my head because of what I've gotten myself into. My hospital does have a union, but I guess this is part of the culture at my workplace and meeting unit needs. I just hope I make it through these next couple months, because I've already started to doubt myself and whether I belong at the bedside. Thank you again for your response though, it definitely made me feel better!

I'm a new grad nurse and I just finished orientation at my hospital. The hospital that I work for is ranked the best hospital in my state, so I feel really fortunate to work here. However, I just found out that instead of working just 3 12hour shifts a week, I will have to do an alternating 4 shifts one week and 3 shifts the next (which I presume is due to my probationary period as a new hire). The 4 shifts one week are alternating 8 and 12 hour night shifts, but I was under the impression that I would only have to work 3 12s a week. When I did my interview with the nursing director and supervisor, I was asked if I wanted to do 3 12s or 4 8s a week, and I said 3 12s (because who wants to come to work more than needed). But they never mentioned anything about having to do this alternating schedule when I first started. I know that I'm a new grad and have to put my time in like everyone else, but I feel like it's deceiving of them to not give me a heads up and inform me of this. I know it's such a small thing to be concerned about, especially as a new grad I know there's other things I should be focusing on, but this just feels very deceptive of them. Again, I know some people who read this may think I'm ridiculous or that I'm complaining about such a small thing, but work-life balance is extremely important to me. You see, I'm not entirely new to the world of healthcare as I've worked as an aide/tech for a few years before becoming an RN, and I still feel burnt out from that experience especially after working through the time of COVID. I was just hoping that with this new chapter in my life, I'd maybe find that joy again of working in healthcare/at the bedside, but it's stuff like this that just leaves me feeling like I want to give up. I feel like working at the hospital you don't get much of a say in anything anymore, and as as new grad I feel extremely intimidated to speak up and talk to management. Am I overreacting at all? Please help a new grad out and not feel so defeated.