Supervisior causing problems, what should I do?

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Sep 4, 2015

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...

In your OP, you acknowledge that they can schedule you however they would like to. Yet, knowing this, you continue to stir it up by switching and such as you only want to work one wing. You have gotten into at least one argument regarding this, as well as threatening to quit. I will say with certainty, I am not sure this is the hill on which you want to take a stand on. You are in nursing school, which is taking a lot of time and money. Why ruin your character and reputation on this? Why ruin your chance to advance into a possible nursing role over wing assignments? As long as the residents are cared for in a manner which is safe and effective, is this really an issue?

The best thing you could do for yourself is to become almost indispensable. You can work any wing, work it well. This will be of help to you moving forward. This is what will make you stand out as a knowledgeable and valued member of a team that could bode you well in your career as a nurse in the future. You have your reputation to uphold that could affect your future that you are spending lots of time and money on. OH so NOT worth it to get up in arms about. This is something that you do for 8 hours. Just do it. It will benefit you in the long run, and it benefits the residents that they have compassionate and care that is competent.

As a supervisor in LTC, from years of bedside nursing, and time as a CNA prior to that as well, it takes a great deal of maneuvering to get a schedule that works for the residents. You have been with the facility for 8 months, and apparently have proven yourself to be stellar at what you do, so they want to put your strengths to best use. And the wing in question must need a strong CNA. Additionally, you may find that every CNA must rotate after a period of time. It prevents burnout, broadens your skill set, and can be to your advantage going forward.

If you are per diem, that gives the facility a great deal of leeway on what/when/how they can schedule you. If you are only available certain shifts, they can and most often do schedule you for whatever will work for that shift. Regardless of wing.

If you are full time or part time permanent, again, unless you have a signed employment letter that states you were hired for a specific hall/unit/wing then you are scheduled according to need and to strengths. The other nurses/CNA's that don't ever rotate may be in a totally different classification than you--no one knows that but the higher ups and them.

I see it as you know that you can legally be put anywhere. And that you are purposefully switching assignments for your own comfort level. And that you are complaining about any assignment than the one which you believe you are entitled to. And threatening to quit should you not get your way. You are asking co-workers to switch, which could be considered harassing them. You are looking at this as a slight, and that the scheduler/supervisor is intentionally "pushing your buttons".

To be absolutely direct with you, if this were my unit, I would cut bait. I don't have the time nor energy to cater to anyone who believes they are entitled due to their perceived notions of what their job or assignment is to be. Nor to stir it up to get others to switch and otherwise cause distress among the team--that ultimately can cause resident harm. Nor a CNA (or nurse, or anyone) to get so emotionally invested in the residents of just one wing to the point which you describe that they decline to work anywhere else in the facility. It would be different if you were hired wing specific and were asked if perhaps you would float. But you are not, correct? Sorry, but I would have to let you go.

Should you decide to leave the facility when you are to be at work, in other words, if no one will switch with you so you leave as opposed to work, in most facilities that is considered a resignation, and not eligible for rehire. Even as a nurse in the future. Which then becomes a parent company thing, which will pretty much mean that any facility in that parent company.

So if you know that you are going to have to float, and you do not want to float, do what will be in your best interest and resign appropriately. Or have a discussion with the supervisor/scheduler that you only want to be scheduled (if you are per diem) for that wing--and that may mean a cut in the hours that you are used to, but never the less, a plan going forward.

Do not risk your future career on wing wars. It will only affect you and your reputation in the long run. And it is so not worth it.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Sep 4, 2015

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?
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.

There is none unless you wish to resign or be terminated and ineligible for rehire company wide. Nursing is a small world. Walking off the job because you perceive an assignment to be "unfair" and a "personal vendetta" may affect your career potential as a future nurse.

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

you cannot focus on your coworkers.

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."

. This is your job. Your perception that you are being treated "like crap" is likely be one sided

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

Don't assume. Managers do speak with each other. A manager does not need to be your direct supervisor to initiate termination proceedings for insubordination.

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.

Good luck. Your perception is your reality but that is no indication that management shares your point of view. Approaching your DoN about this perceived "personal vendetta" may result in a severing of your employment relationship for continued insubordination. Just because your DoN "doesn't care" who works what hall doesn't mean you have free range to change patient assignments created by the scheduler/supervisor. The schedule could be based upon a lot of information you are not entitled to know including patient needs and issues with other employees. Think hard if you want to potentially affect your future nursing career over wing assignments as a CNA/nursing students. Your choices and actions now will affect your future.

emmy27 · Sep 4, 2015

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.

It can't be *just* you switching wings, or who was working in those wings before you were assigned to them? You can't rotate just one employee- others must be rotating if you are, that's the fundamental nature of rotation. Are there staff who don't rotate? Possibly. Perhaps they are senior to you, were hired specifically to those locations, have limitations that keep them from working in certain places, or have ingratiated themselves to management through exemplary work (or butt-kissing, who knows).

The point is, rotating assignments is a frequent aspect of healthcare jobs, one that you will encounter *more* of as you become a licensed worker, not less. It's your decision to perceive this aspect of your job- which you admit to understanding is legal- as a personal slight and an unbearable indignity. Meanwhile, your scheduler may well be perceiving this as a relatively new staff member making a lot of waves over a totally normal aspect of a job, and becoming frustrated by it. Scheduling is already a stressful, nobody's-ever-happy job, and despite your insistence that nobody else minds switching, there's a very good chance that at least some people do mind switching but aren't willing to be upfront with you about it, and instead complain to management behind your back, because that's how a lot of people are. So she may very well have started out switching your assignment for a reason that had nothing to do with you, but if your attitude in this thread is representative of how you interact with her or talk about this publicly at work, then her continuing to do it after you threatened to quit *does* come off like she's hoping you will quit so they don't have to fire you (firing people is paperwork, people quitting is easy- and no chance of having to pay unemployment).

Don't talk to the DON about how this is a personal vendetta against you. That is not going to go in your favor. Try to put yourself in their shoes for a moment and imagine how you would handle it if in addition to your normal responsibilities of running a large facility with an extensive staff, a relatively new, relatively low-ranking employee came to you multiple times claiming people- people you work with and may even have promoted or assigned to their position- were out to get her, and the evidence was that she was being asked to do things that are within her job description and very, very common in the field. Would you be sympathetic to her plight, decide she was being persecuted, and make exceptions for her based strictly on the aspects of her job she enjoys doing, or would you feel like this was an employee who was more trouble than she was a help and start looking for ways to get her to quit?

If you like this job- if you need this job, and it's better than the one you had before- stop, regroup, and reframe this situation as something other than her "pushing your buttons" and decide to treat it as an opportunity to become familiar with the rest of the residents, get to know the staff on other wings, increase your flexibility and improve your reputation at work, and rise above someone potentially chasing you out of a job.

Or lie about an emergency and walk off the job when they give you a reasonable assignment that you perceive as a slight- but do that understanding that if you do that, you'll probably be marked ineligible for rehire, which has long-term consequences.

mrsboots87 · Sep 4, 2015

I would like to clarify that I in no way was patronizing you. I flat out said I think you are acting unrealistically entitled and should get over yourself. I'm sorry that you only like one wing, but you have no way of KNOWING any of the things you say you do. When you are a nurse, you will not have the option of only caring for certain patients and what not. Its best to get used to it now. And if you only want a job that guarantees one patient type or group of residents, you will be heavily limiting yourself. I care for ALL the residents in the facility. OF course some have passed and we get new admits and some transfer facilities, but I know all 40 of them. Not just 8-11 of them from one section. This has in no way impeded my care. I chat with them all each shift. I like all the residents. I know how all of them like to be cared for. And each shift I may only be assigned to a certain group of them, but I still see the others in the halls and chat here and there. I feel like it makes a more personal experience for all of them.

But in your very long winded reply to me, you managed to completely miss my point which is that your work obviously doesnt care about what you want and rightfully so. Being there 8 months and having an opnion of yourself as you do, does not mean you get to have your way just because you somehow feel you earned it. Again self entitled attitude at play. I don't care how long you have been a CNA, if you work asks you to work different wings, if you expect to keep your job with you beloved residents, then you best learn to work the other wings.

Asking us how to lie to a facility or find a way out of working a floated shift without getting fired just further proves your entitlement issue and shows a deep lack of integrity. You can't have your cake and eat it too. You either want to keep your job and can play by there rules REGARDLESS of how other employees are scheduled or any perceived dislike from your supervisor, or you can quit because you don't like the rules theyve made for you. There is no moral way out of it.

macfar28 · Sep 4, 2015

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...

I find this response so incredibly insulting. You come here asking for advice and when you don't like what you hear, you call people names. No one said you weren't educated and no one talked down to you. You were given solid advice.

With a response like the one above, my guess is they have bigger issues with you than your inflexibility to go where assigned. It's time for some self reflection or you're going to have a long and bumpy road ahead of you in healthcare.

gigi_bsn_rn, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2015

Precious, you've got to be more thick-skinned if you plan to stay in nursing! When I worked LTC, staff was moved around so we would learn all the residents. That helped with continuity of care, in case someone called in or was off work. It's a disaster to not have anyone working a shift who "knows that hall." Flexibility goes a long way, and is highly valued by employers.

NOADLS · Sep 4, 2015

OP, the attitude you have towards working on a different wing is not going to get you far throughout your career in healthcare (or even in life for that matter). You were hired by the facility to work in the entire facility, not just a specific wing. If you are being asked to work on another wing, refusal might be grounds for discipline. If your attitude is somehow tolerated, don't expect as many shifts if you are only willing to accept shifts on one wing. The CNA's that have been there longer get to make choices before you do.

Consider this scenario: an escort working for an agency, only having been employed for a few months only wants to see clients that are 25-40 years of age. Do you think the agency is going to keep that escort around?

ambr46 · Sep 4, 2015

The more you switch wings the more you will get to know how to care for your patients. That is the upside to this situation. I have seen many nurses and Cna's who are resistant to working other areas. It is stressful and can be nervewracking but handle it with grace and realize that your only option will be to work other halls and view it as a learning opportunity . Quitting with notice would be so much better than walking off the job. Also think of the potential of using them as a future reference and how walking off the job may affect your future prospects. Good luck

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2015

It is in your best interest to STOP trying to manipulate the schedule. I agree wth all the other nurses. None of your reasons hold water because you have an employment contract and you are violating it by not taking the other hall and trying to control the situation.If you cannot do that with a good heart and with a good spirit them quit and make room for a person that will because the patient deserve no less! Really..what is so horrible about working a different hall? I have different patients every day all over the hospital and I constantly have to change my plans as new calls and requests come in constantly. You might actually like it if you give it a try! You need to let go of this and maybe that supervisor will get off your back as a bonus!

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Sep 4, 2015

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...

im not a RN, with a big head, I am a RN, with over four decades of experience, and several stints as DON.....

I make assignments, to cover the residents/patients needs.....

i have one question, "can you do your job?"

if your not willing to, or can not.....that is ok.

you may go home, and no longer be employed at this facility.

if you deliberately switch assignment , against the direction, and delegation of the lis. Nurse.....

that is a termination behavior...

best wishes

DowntheRiver · Sep 4, 2015

There are three sides to this story: yours, hers, and the truth.

That is all.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2015

Moved to Nurse/Colleague Relations

Supervisior causing problems, what should I do?

How many members of allnurses.com give good advice?