Should i be angered, or honoured?

[bubblesthenurse]

Hi guys,

i have a "work politics" type problem.

I am a CCU nurse who recently took a 3 month secondment down to ED to gain some experience. i have only been in CCU since feb this year, and i do enjoy it.

however, i also really enjoy ED nursing, and i went to my NUM about staying on in ED. they are both under the Cit Care directorate.

i am going away next feb, and i have made this very clear to my CCU manager. my reasoning for staying in ed is that 6 months of ED looks better than 3 months on my resume, and the experience is invaluable. when i asked him about the possibilty of staying in ED he said i couldnt.

his reasons were this: 1) he needs me for the rosters over november and december as we are extremely short staffed ( isnt everywhere?!)

2) as i have recenlty finished my 2nd year RN prog, and there is a new influx of program nurses, he is relying on my to be there to support them, and connect with them, as there are about 4 of us in their 20's, and no-one in their 30's.

he says he is relying on me to help change the culture of the unit, which is riddled with bitchyness, and negativity, by encouraging younger nurses into CCU. the reputation CCU has throughout the rest of the hospital is embarrassing, because apparently we are all pushy, and are there just to inconvenience those who need to transfer a patient to us.

so my question is this.

should i be angry about the fact that my own prffessional development has been sidelined by someone else because of staffing, or should i be honoured by the fact that I have been given the responsibilty of "setting up a social life" for the unit... which i'm leaving in Feb?

i'm rather confused.

Cheers.

Nikki

[Grace Oz]

Take it as a compliment, Nikki.

If you look for positives in any given situation, you WILL find things to be positive about. And, you will have proven yourself to be reliable and dependable. Those traits are highly valued in nursing.

I wish you well.

Cheers........

[joannep]

I agree, relax and build on proving yourself mature enough to look at the bigger picture, that ED department will be there when you want it, and you never want to antagonise someone that you may want as a reference in the future.

[augigi, CNS]

Plus, if you've only been in the CCU for 3 or 4 months, the extra time there will really be useful and applicable wherever you go in the future - including the ER.

[maryloufu]

he says he is relying on me to help change the culture of the unit,........

It seems like you could get him to give you some kind of title or something- like a mentor status that would look good on your resume. I am not saying that all of the nice things we do are just for career advancement- but helping new nurses into the fold is a characteristic of an excellent nurse and I would think new employers would jump at the chance to get you.

[xt1]

I think I'd always be looking for opportunities for advancement towards the area I'd like to go.. Check with other places of employment. get a few offers. Then reapproach your manager with that leverage on your side. Leverage is key, your own goals should be more important to you than the goals of the hospital. They dont care about you, only what you can do for them. So you have to make sure you are doing whats in your best interest. :)

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

There is a mantra that I always keep in the back of my mind - it is a bit pessimistic but true.

"Never do anything well, that you do not want to have to keep doing over and over again".

Because invariably management will keep pushing you into this niche because you are good at it......even if you do not like it.

Consider it a compliment and if it is only a matter of a few monthes, it isn't a problem. If it gets in the way of your goals for 6 monthes or so, then it is a big problem. It is fine to delay for some brownie points, but don't let them forever take your goals for granted.