I started a per diem position at a brain & spinal cord injury rehab a couple months ago. This company has 3 different locations in town, but I was only trained for 6 days at "Location A". On the last day of my training, they tell me last minute that "Location B" needs coverage the next day. Management tells me to finish my training over there (which at this point there's 2 hours left on the shift). I think to myself, I've trained for 6 days, and it's the same company, so it should be ok right? Wrong.
For the two days that I picked up at Location B, my life was hell. 2 hours was not enough to prepare me for the havoc. Nurses are always quitting at this location, calling in, and running around like you wouldn't imagine. I can see why people are always quitting. I thought I had seen crazy, but this place is something else. They even had an LVN (with no CNA certification) pick up a CNA shift one day. When I was there, I got my head ripped off by a family member because I didn't do things how she wanted them done. She made a big scene and talked bad about me to EVERYONE. Then all the other patients & families were extremely rude to me. I know my worth as a nurse, but boy did I feel pathetic those days.
I'm more than willing to pick up shifts at the other locations. Unfortunately, the other locations are the ones that are fully staffed with no days available. Location B keeps calling me asking me to pick up shifts. Out of 19 available shifts that they have for June, I've only picked up 2. I am also taking summer classes which are demanding. So I keep rejecting these shifts because they interfere with school, or because I just don't feel comfortable going back. Even nurses with years of experience leave almost in tears.
Is it wrong for me to feel guilty for not picking up at Location B? Sometimes I feel obligated but then I think about my license and my sanity.