bmcqueen

Thanks for the input. Since Corporate insisted on immediate education for our nurses over last weekend (we failed to clear a tag on g-tube feedings - one nurse was just scared and made a mistake while the other nurse was way off - we have retrained her, but have still taken her off the schedule because of other issues), I have put 75 hours in since last Wednesday. Again, I don't mind putting in extra to get important things done, but they also have not said anything about me having a day off this week. In general, this facility really isn't that bad off, so I think I really just need to talk to them and establish firm boundaries.

I started my nursing career as an LPN for a year while I finished my associates RN 6 years ago. Since then, I have worked in one LTC facility for 3 years, the hospital setting as a tele nurse and travel tele nurse for 4 years. I have been given what I think is a great opportunity as an ADON at a LTC facility, even though I don't have a lot of experience, but I have completed my Bachelor's and am in a Masters program now. My question is about this company's apparent policies regarding on-call, med-carts, and comp time. I am salaried, so after 40 hours I don't get paid. I expect to need to work 45-50 hrs a week just because of the added responsibility, and that's fine. However, I found out today (three weeks into my new job) that every 4 weekends (from Friday at 3p to Monday at 7a), I am expected to be on-call to handle staffing. That is, I am to take the portable staffing home with me, receive all call-offs, attempt to find coverage for those call-offs, assess whether people need to be called off, and if I am unable to find coverage for nurses, come in and work a med-cart. I was also told that the week prior to that weekend (Monday through that Friday) that I am on-call in the event of a staffing issue to take a cart for whatever shift that can't be filled. I wouldn't necessarily have too much of a problem with that, but this company does not have a comp time policy. So, if I have to come in over the weekend, I am still expected to work my 40-50 hrs during the week. Obviously, this does not sound right to me, but as I said, I don't have much LTC experience. Is this normal or is this company expecting too much? How should I address it with my DON? I really like my job, but I don't want to sacrifice my family and school to the company for what would end up being paid less than a floor nurse for the hours I am working. Thanks for any advice or input anyone could give me. Beth

What about the agencies, like Medical Solutions, who say that the reference has to be on their form? I have two written references, but they are on different forms, and so my recruiter won't take them. Have you run into this?

I had been traveling with one company, but would like to add other agencies. The problem that I have run into is that too many agencies have called my references, and now the department managers won't return the calls. Has anyone run into this problem? How do you get around it? Am I stuck with the agency that I started with? Any input would be very much appreciated.