Supervisior causing problems, what should I do?

[sunshiny1]

Hello everyone!

I work as a CNA and have a supervisor of sorts deliberately pushing my buttons.

I started working here about 8 months ago but have been doing this kind of work for four years.

So the scoop is I have been down the same wing every day since I started working here. It's my primary wing and I've established a degree of closeness and relationships with my patients. They know me well as I do them.

However, this new scheduler, who is also sort of the supervision for CNAs, has decided to start scheduling me down different wings that I am not accustomed to and personally do not want to work since I have an established wing that I have become familiar to.

I made it clear to the higher-ups, that I will, if it came to it, quit working here if they continue to try to put me down other wings. I have not been given 1 good reason why they are doing this after talking to them.

Also, there are 8 other CNAs that I can think of off the top of my head, and 2 nurses whom "NEVER" are assigned to other wings. Ever.

I have brought this fact up and I'm still (most consistently now) being scheduled down any and every other wing other than the one I always work on.

How I have been dealing with it is I just switch wings with other employees and everything is fine. Everyone I work with knows I work down the wing I do and have no problem switching. Often times I come into work and they already made the switch because they know when i come in I work down that wing and will not go to another. But now this supervisor/scheduler posted a notice that write ups and discaplinary action may result in doing this.

I have good reason to believe that she is now scheduling me like this on purpose and for no other reason than to push my buttons and we got into a sort of argument about it recently as well.

I understand they reserve the right to put me where they want me, legally.

But It is not fair at all when many of the other employees never have to move and are "never even asked to move!'

What do I do? I don't want to quit my job, I like it here. I already spoke my mind to the supervisor/scheduler and the DON and it continues to happen. Well, the DON said she personally doesn't care if I switch but that It's not set in stone that I may never not have to.

Yet I come into work and it happens again. I also dont want to put other employees at fault for a write up because they are switching with me.

I was also wondering if there is a way or reason to leave work on the spot (for the day) that is covered under any laws. Because I am seriously holding that idea in reserve if this happens and there comes a time they absolutely tell me I cannot switch (which hasnt happened yet)

Again I dont want to quit my job but I am dreding every day I go in now what will happen.

Help!??!

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

What kind of place is this? A nursing home? You are an employee of the facility, not that specific wing. They assign you as they see fit. And you've only been around 8 months, you're at the bottom of the totem pole. If you keep this up, I gather you won't have to quit because you will be shown the door sooner rather than later.

[NanikRN]

First, noone can "push your buttons" without your cooperation. It's up to you how you choose to respond to your superviser. Saying that s/he pushes your buttons therefore you act in whatever manner, gives her power and authority over you. YoU choose how to respond ( or not respond) to the situation

If I were in your situation, I think I would want to think very hard about what it is I want. Do you want to continue to work at this place? Or do you want to work there only if you get your way? Are you ready for possible consequences if you force the issue?

Cause if I told my boss that I would quit if they assaigned me to a different hall and then my boss continued to do so, I'd really start to wonder if they wanted me there.

There are no legal consequences if you quit on the spot. There isnt a pt abandoment issue for you as a CNA. There certainly are ethical issues with quitting without notice as well as possible future job implications

Good luck to you. I hope it works out well for you.

[sunshiny1]

Does anyone have a helpful comment that isn't an RN with a big head?

I didn't come here to be talked down to...

I'm also highly educated and in nursing school...thanks...

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

If you walk out on the day you will likely be considered constructive resignation.

You need to decide if this is a battle worth risking your job for. Do you have seniority? Were you hired for a dedicated hall or guaranteed assignment? Fair is relative. You have no legal standing. You've spoken with management. If other aides switch assignments with you, all have been warned of potential disciplinary action. Continuing to focus on whether you are assigned to your preferred hall is likely going to result in misery and dissatisfaction. Only you can change your perception of the scenario. Only you can change your feelings of unfair/slighted/etc. the supervisor can only "push your buttons" if you choose to let her make you feel that way. You cannot control the choices and actions of others but you can control your reaction and attitude.

What is it that you don't like about rotating assignments?

You potentially risk your job (and future employment at the facility as a nurse) if you continue to go to management complaining about your assignment and what you perceive as unfair. Is it worth giving up or losing this job while in nursing school? No one can answer that for you.

You report already dreading going to work and this is going to show in your productivity and attitude at work. This will likely be noticed by your coworkers and management.

[emmy27]

Maybe an employee senior to you or a patient on that wing had a complaint about you, or prefers another staff member, or a staff member with more seniority requested that assignment, or perhaps your peers were tired of swapping and went to the boss about it rather than confront you.

When I was a tech, there was another tech on my floor who always wanted to trade assignments if she was on the hall next to the nurses' station and I was on the one far away. I never cared either way, so I always agreed, until one day the manager told me to stop trading with her because they were intentionally assigning her to the near hallway for increased supervision because she was on probation for multiple disciplinary issues. She was eventually fired.

If management has already posted a notice that continuing this practice will result in discipline, they have told you that you absolutely cannot do this, you're just choosing to ignore it. Discipline in an employment context means "a step on the path towards potential termination."

As a nurse, you will be given many assignments you don't prefer and probably floated to floors completely different from your own, and few and far between are the charge nurses or house supers who will take kindly to you trying to make your own assignment. You can call people names for telling you what you don't want to hear, but thats the reality of bedside healthcare at every level.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

Your scheduler is trying to make you miserable so that you leave on your own.

Expect to be in progressive disciplinary action for insubordination if you continue to change the assignment without permission.

[MunoRN, RN]

Unless it specifically says in your description that you only have to work that one wing I'm not sure where you're getting the impression that you get to dictate where you'll work. You're free to voice your preference for a certain wing, but that's about it, what you're describing is pretty straightforward insubordination and you should consider yourself lucky you haven't already been fired.

[Anna S, RN]

OP, that scheduler is a meanie. You are a special snowflake, and she is bullying you.

[mrsboots87]

I truly don't understand where your self entitled attitude comes from. Boo hoo. you arent besties with the residents on other halls. Have you ever thought that they are moving you around so that you LEARN the other residents. So what that other CNAs are not asked to move around. They may have seniority over you. No matter the reason, what THEY do does not affect YOU. Worry about yourself.

At my facility, there are 4 sections with 8-11 residents depending on amount of care required. There is also an SNF with patients that change all the time. We don't get assigned one hall only because there is a different level of care required on each hall and it is not fair for the same people to always get the less desired section. Also, when people switch with you, that means they are willing to work a different hall then they are used to. What makes you so special that you can't just learn the other wings.

It is not that hard to learn care for the other sections of your facility. After a few days you will know the times each patient likes certain things and how they like their care. You are more valuable to an employer is you float around. Maybe the other sections are "harder" adn other employees are complaining and want to rotate.

Unless you were hired specifically for that hall and told it would always be like that then it is your own fault for not at least trying to learn the residents on the other wings. How do you work somewhere for 8 months and not know a single thing about other residents.

Last thing, if you have threatened to quit over being made to do your dang job, and they are still scheduling you all over, it's likely because they want you to quit. You are not valued by them. Make yourself valuable so they want to keep you on or you will be looking for another job soon. And you may end up working in another facility that requires rotated work assignments.

[sunshiny1]

I didn't do anything to cause this. Unless she just has a personality conflict with me. She did add all of the CNA staff to Facebook. I didn't accept. It's a stretch to think, but perhaps she took offense?

This, putting me down other wings thing that's going on, was also was happening before the supervisor and I "got into it" -- a sort of argument. That only happened a few days ago.

To further the notion that I didn't cause this due to being a bad employee: I was nominated employee of the month last month. I also had a trainee with me for the first time (at this job) the other day and all of my patients told her I had a good teacher and other comments along those lines. I'm also specifically requested by more than a few patients. I have not had any write ups. I'm also good at my job and have been doing it for years. The average employee stays here about 3 months. The building is still new, so I can't give any other sort of projections since it has not been open for a long time -- the point of stating that is to show that seniority isn't just not a factor; It's nonexistant. So, that can't be the problem either.

Also, what I meant about leaving on the spot

I just meant is there any way to make up an excuse or reason that has legal binding to get out of work (for the day only) without prior permission. As in any way to leave for the day and not get fired for leaving. I'd like to be aware of one if there is in case it comes down to that. To use as a sort of escape route to put my ducks in a row and come up with a new plan, which will probably entail wanting to find a new job because they seemingly don't care about their employees.

The DON told me she knows I don't want to quit.

And I don't. But that can change fast depending on if the way she is treating me and playing games escalates.

Obviously hoping it does not. And hoping I never have to exercise leaving work for the day.

And the patronizing is unnecessary.

Did you miss the part about how more than a few other CNAs never have to switch wings and are never asked to?

Also

The reason why other CNAs float is because they straight out say that they don't care where they go.

Some people just prefer to establish with patients and not have to relearn new ones constantly while others it makes no difference.

Being that I have done this for several years, I just dont want to deal with the stress of not having an always changing assignment. A place I used to work for was terrible. I feel the job is already stressful enough, thankless, and the way many of the the nurses and managment treat CNAs like they are next to nothing, makes me want to hold onto the little pride I have.

If she starts throwing me around everywhere I'm letting her know its ok to treat me like crap, and that I will bend over and take it because "she said so."

She's not even technically my boss. She doesn't have any firing authority.

Perhaps I will talk to the DON again and mention to her that I think there is a personal vendetta going on here rather than that I am NEEDED down other wings.

I know I am not NEEDED down other wings. There is no demand "AT ALL" to switch employees around to other wings. As stated and proven based on that many don't switch around.

It's literally just me she is pushing at.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Not a made up reason, liars are always caught.

Your home is actually on fire known because your neighbor or the fire dispatcher called . Your family member is acutely ill or injured and being rushed to the ED. You have a syncopal episode on arrival and leave via EMS stretcher. All of these would likely be considered valid excuses to clock in then have to leave abruptly.