I notice some students or others seem to think that because they've heard about a nursing shortage, that means that they will get a day position in their dream unit, and be welcomed with open arms as if they are the reserve troops come to save the day.
I don't think that's really the case. You still have to take the less desirable shifts, prove yourself, be accepted by your co-workers, and earn respect. Yes, there are toxic units, and those ones are probably more in need of extra help, so you might be more likely to get a job there.
If you are a newbie, you still have to 'pay your dues' in some way, that's usually the way life works in many arenas.
For every *specific* day that you want to work, someone else has to work the one you're off. And maybe it truly doesn't work for someone to work every Tuesday, or Thursday, or whatever because you don't want to. They shouldn't have to have set days ON to accomodate your set days OFF. It's hard enough just making a schedule fit and make sure all the hours are covered appropriately without having to consider that A wants Sundays off, B can't work Tuesday or Wednesday, etc etc etc.
Uh....the point is that if I wanted Tuesday and Thursday off, I'm pretty dang sure there's someone else out there who wants to work on Tuesday and Thursday, so your shifts will be covered. We don't ALL want the same days on or off.....So A wants Sundays off. I'll bet B might like to work Sundays. Why is that so hard to try and accommodate the employees????? As to set days to work every week, why is that so hard too? A majority of nurses I know have families that have set schedules, and set work days would really work for them. I'm not saying 'do what's best for me'. I'm saying try to do what's best for ALL the nurses, because many of us want the same thing. I think that this inflexibility in scheduling has a lot to do with why people don't stay at the bedside. Yes, it will take some extra time to schedule, but in the end you'd have happier nurses. I have seen a few places that let nurses self-schedule, and they always have all their shifts covered. It can work. It just seems that the powers that be just don't want to do the extra work to make it happen.
Who cares about paying dues. It's about who is best for the job and that doesn't necessarily mean experience...yes believe it or not...you have to pay the experienced more...why not go with the newbie who can grow with the company (hopefully). People get so caught up in this concept. Yes I believe you have to work hard for what you have, earn what you want...that's the american way. But gosh...you can't knock someone for wanting 1st shift, starting at 50,000/yr with no wkend/hol. The problem comes when people don't perform their job effectively because they don't have the hours, wages they want. Also, staying in nursing for the money because you can't make a career switch is very sad. Some may say it's a generational concept that newer nurses have the attitude of entitlement. Please don't lump all newer nurses in same category...I am 23 and let me tell you I worked very had for what I have...and I will be damned if someone tells me I am lazy because of the generation I come from or because I want my dream job coming right of school. Nsg...shortage...where???
Understood. But this topic comes up in various forms all the time, must be an issue...generation gap...just making my point. No offense no need to explain.
Specializes in Trauma ICU, Surgical ICU, Medical ICU.
Who cares about paying dues. It's about who is best for the job and that doesn't necessarily mean experience...yes believe it or not...you have to pay the experienced more...why not go with the newbie who can grow with the company (hopefully). People get so caught up in this concept. Yes I believe you have to work hard for what you have, earn what you want...that's the american way. But gosh...you can't knock someone for wanting 1st shift, starting at 50,000/yr with no wkend/hol. The problem comes when people don't perform their job effectively because they don't have the hours, wages they want. Also, staying in nursing for the money because you can't make a career switch is very sad. Some may say it's a generational concept that newer nurses have the attitude of entitlement. Please don't lump all newer nurses in same category...I am 23 and let me tell you I worked very had for what I have...and I will be damned if someone tells me I am lazy because of the generation I come from or because I want my dream job coming right of school. Nsg...shortage...where???
We have 'self scheduling' and trust me, most people want the same 9-5 shifts, though there are always many exceptions to the rule. My 'self scheduling' means I put down what I want but most likely wont get it. The problem is not when people WANT a great job or have goals, its when they cry when they dont get it and they expect to get something amazing right out of school. And why not go with the newbie? Well if thats all you go with then whos gonna train the newbie besides more newbies. Its the blind leading the blind. Most of the people who oriented me had over 20 yrs experience and it made all the difference in the nurse I became. You wouldn't be saying that if you had stayed with a company for 20 years and they were giving new grads the same salary as you. There is no growing 'with' the company. Also, you dont want others to 'overgeneralize' about you but you are saying that it is sad if you can't leave your job because you can't make a career switch if you are older. Breaking to any career is hard but when you are older and have a life and children sometimes it isn't better for everyone involved (husband, wife, kids) for you to go back to school or take a gamble on a new job that may or may not be profitable than what you are doing. Why work in a new area for $12 an hour when you can be making $30 with a few years experience? Money isnt everything but it is huge when you have a family to provide for. Plus the economy is not what it used to be and jobs are hard to come by, especially in areas that are not medical related. It isnt just "I hate my job let me go do something completely different!" I am also 23 and I do not like being called 'lazy' either and while it is great to have goals, expect to be a little bit flexible in your first years of training if you want to be the best nurse you can be and accomplish your goals. You can not say that our generation isn't about the "I WANT IT NOW!" instant gratification.
Also, I do believe being a new grad, you should not have to work EVERY crappy shift and every weekend and every holiday. Though it seems I did until some newer people were under me which only took a few months. I just think that the experienced people should get some extra perks just to say thank you for being here. If you work over 10 years in my unit you are exempt from working holidays. If you work one year christmas, you are off the next year, new or not. We all have to work at least one weekend a month unless we have worked there over 10 years. Most of our staff has not been there 10 years so it makes it easy to spread the less desirible shifts around.
PiPhi2004
299 Posts
I have a scrub top that has the happy bunny saying its all about YOU! That makes me giggle lol