Calbrunette

I have a new job and I'm not getting the hours I was hired for (20/wk). It's a clinic job and there just aren't enough patients. There's a lot of changes going on and in an effort to be cooperative while things were in transition, I think I misrepresented myself as being OK with so few hours. If I have to work extra, that encroaches on my other days off and defeats the whole reason I'm part-time. I don't want to leave so soon after being hired. I will speak to my boss this week but need to be prepared if there is no improvement. And does the organization have any responsibility in all this? What would you do??

I'm the only one that would be required to take call on this particular day (the one day the department is closed). So yes, I would be the only one that has to take call in the entire department. It's the same day every week. I have no problem doing it on a rotating schedule but not as an assigned day each week.

It's one of the specialty departments in a hospital. 10-hour shift. And the call requirements stated in the interview are not at all what was stated in job posting. Having never done call I just don't know what's normal.

I'm assuming the position would pay the usual $2-$5 per hour that most call pays but that obviously isn't the same as what I'm earning per hour as an RN. I feel like since my day isn't my own that I'm working for almost free. If I wanted to have an additional entire day of my week eaten up by work, then I would work a job where I earned a normal wage. I'm sure it pays the usual few dollars per hour for call. Not a regular wage.

I'm interested in a job that would require call one day a week. There is no rotating call for this one day; it would be required of only me only every single week. I've never done call before so not sure how it works. But to me it appears that I'm basically working for free this one day per week. I can't go anywhere or do anything on this day so basically I'm working yet not getting paid. Am I missing something here?? I'm OK with rotating call but not weekly required call. It just seems excessive and odd. What do you think??

I started a new PRN job almost 3 months ago. It's a unit-based position but I was told in the interview I would be first to float. I was OK with this. So far I've been floated four times. Two of those times were to the same MS/Tele floor and both of those shifts were terrible. My last shift there was so busy and bad that I had a headache and high blood pressure for two days after (I don't normally have BP issues). Now I have anxiety about my upcoming shifts because I'm so worried I'll be floated this particular floor. I'm ready to quit the job over this. I've been a nurse for several years and have worked very hard on a busy floor and have a lot of physical issues because of it. I refuse to beat my body into the ground any further for any job. I also refuse to have anxiety before every single shift. I like being busy but will no longer compromise patient care or my health by working on a poorly managed floor. I'll feel so, so, so unprofessional if I quit so soon but I don't know what else to do. I don't think talking to my manager will help; she told me I would be floating and obviously I can't pick and choose where I go. Any suggestions on what to do or how I can gracefully quit so soon????

Been an RN for about 8 years. Recently changed jobs going from one major hospital system in my town to another major hospital system (tele/obs floor on both). Every single thing in the new hospital is different...the charting, the equipment, the physical environment, workflow, down to the medicine cups. I feel VERY underqualified for this position. They just do things so differently. The charting is 100x more detailed and complicated. I feel like a new RN rather than someone who is experienced. The turnover, pace, and patient load is more than I'm used to. They have a million protocols, pathways, and processes that I've never experienced. To say I feel stupid is an understatement. I feel like I'm utterly out of my league here. I have no idea what's going on with any of my patients because the pace is so great that once you get report, you are running non-stop for at least the first 8 hours and have no time to read or retain anything. On top of that I feel my orientation hasn't been managed properly, my main preceptor makes me feel dumb, and my stress and frustration is becoming evident which makes me look bad. At this point I have no idea how I will ever learn all this. I just don't think I'm good enough for this place.

Been considering looking into this for some side work. I'm talking about the type of clinical instructor that oversees the students at their clinical days for school. What are the pros and cons to this??

Considering a Masters in Nursing Education. But a very well-educated colleague suggested CNS instead since ultimately I just want to stay in a clinical environment and not be too far from the bedside. I want to go whichever route will give me the most options and is the least limiting. What are some of the ways I can use a MSN-E? Should I be considering something else??? What do you use yours for??

Serious question, but what is a Masters in Nursing (MS) used for? I don't know anyone with that particular Masters degree and it seems very general/vague. Is this more for a leadership path or clinical path? Would it be a good Masters to help me keep my options open?? My career goal is some type of educator. Description is as follows: "The MS program in nursing is a post-baccalaureate degree designed to meet both the requirements for a Master of Science degree within XYZ University and the professional nursing requirements outlined in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials and the National League for Nursing competencies. The program focus is to provide nurses with advanced education and skills in the translation of concepts, practices and principles of leadership and improvement science that will lead to safe, effective, coordinated, patient-centered health services, improved health outcomes and reduction of health care costs."

Need fast help with answering these types of interview questions. I tend to struggle with coming up with good answers. It always feels so fake and forced. I actually normally interview really well when it's not this format but that doesn't seem to be the norm anymore. Anyone have any creative answers to these questions or any good resources for practice questions???

I can totally relate. I'm struggling with the same thing myself. However...I'm not sure I know the answer but I can tell you that the grass isn't always greener. There is nothing wrong with being happy where you work. There are always ways to know more, do more, achieve more. It depends what your priorities are. You mentioned you were a new grad...perhaps take some more time and see what areas of nursing really appeal to you and where your passion is. Then go in that direction. Don't pressure yourself to a change just for appearances sake. Nursing is hard and it will wear you out. You might not be there yet since you're new. If you have a job that has good pay and good people, that's rare! If your job isn't depleting you mentally, physically, and emotionally then don't mess with it, lol. This will allow you to have a quality of life outside of work.

Help me brainstorm...what else should I be including on my nursing resume to make sure I'm not forgetting anything? I have my education, licenses, certifications, work history, etc. Just not sure what else I can put when describing my last position (PCU RN)...I feel like that section looks weak. I mean, I did patient care. How can I expand on that? I've listed my precepting, special roles I held, superuser areas, committees. But my primary job was patient care. How detailed do I have to get on what I did all day? Assess, monitor, educate...what else is there?? I don't want to put a bunch of nonsense in there to over-inflate what I did.

Thanks for the solid replies. It's good food for thought. I just need to figure out how to not let this affect my confidence.

I recently left (quit) my RN job after six years on the same unit. While there I was never approached about being a Charge RN or Manager. I'm a good nurse and employee. My patients loved me and my annual evals were great, if not excellent. Less experienced nurses (that were hired well after me) were asked to be Charge. Needless to say this is very bothersome to me and has affected my confidence. I know what my flaws are but they didn't seem to be any worse than other nurses on the unit. There is no one at my former job I feel comfortable asking for feedback. Managers, what would make you select or not select someone to be Charge? What qualities are you looking for? This has been weighing on my mind a lot. I'd like to try and figure out where I fell short so I can change or improve how I present myself and how others see me.