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!??!

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I am all about employees sticking up for themselves and negotiating job duties and benefits with their employers actively. Far too often, employees take a childlike attitude about their employers and simply do whatever is asked of them, burning themselves out and making undue sacrifices to their families, their health and their well being.

That having been said, you have made a fundamental error in your negotiation. You told your employer that you wouldn't be willing to continue to work if you had to switch wings, but you didn't really mean it. This was your mistake.

Ultimatums are kind of like nuclear weapons. You need to have a few at your disposal, but they should only be used under the most dire of circumstances. Ultimatums very often destroy relationships. Therefore, ultimatums should be a last resort only. That's the first rule of ultimatum. The second rule of ultimatum is that you should never make an ultimatum unless you are 100% committed to following through with your stated consequences. Thus, if you tell your employer: I will quit unless I can work on this wing and the employer schedules you for a different wing, then you must quit. Otherwise, you have created a situation in which you have lost all credibility and respect.

Your employer has called your bluff, and is sending the message that they are willing to let you go if you don't comply. You've lost your negotiating power on this issue because you dropped a bomb too soon. It happens. Learn the lesson, make a choice from your available options and move on.

As far as I can see, your choices are to either resign or accept working in other wings.

Walking out is not a good option at this point, it's like shooting at something you already couldn't destroy with your hand grenade.

I admire your spunk and tenacity, but this is a still a lost cause.

I'm not an RN yet, so I've not given advice about how working multiple wings might benefit you in your goals of becoming an RN. But I think you hear the RNs out about that. They're probably right. How could it hurt you to learn new patients?

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Wow. If this is the way you take feedback in real life, I'm beginning to get the bigger picture of why things are they way they are for you.

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...

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

OP you have received solid advice. No "big headed RN" is talking down to you. Jeez if this is how you take any criticism you will not last long in health care. You were told you were working a different hall/ wing for a day and you keep switching without permission from management. You are in the wrong. You may be having you assignment changed for a reason unknown to you. It may be to watch another employee closer. You are hired to work for the facility and they can float you for any reason.

[Riawahine, BSN, MSN]

Although you have worked here less than a month, you stated you have 4 years of experience. Have you thought that because you are very good at your job scheduling feels the patients would benefit from your skills, relationship building, and experience? Another thought is maybe someone is being investigated or monitored and needs to be assigned or re-assigned for reasons that you are not aware of. In one of your subsequent posts you briefly mention an argument with the scheduler that you omitted in your OP. Anything else you haven't mentioned? And, as someone else stated, when/if you become a nurse, your assignment can change not only with every shift, but during a shift. Try to be flexible. Good luck.

[nlitened]

I am not an RN, and the only advice I can give you is learn to be more flexible. If not, then you might not have this job for much longer.

[Jules A, MSN]

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

This is excellent advice.

Big headed NP here. Just wanted to clarify from the start but please know I love my techs and want the best for them. It really does sound like you are putting out some attitude.

At one of my first PRN jobs I was passed around like a bong when other PRN nurses had their favorite, home bases. It annoyed me initially because I also had a favorite unit but what I soon found out is that my value to this facility really grew. I was known as the nurse who could do it all and wasn't going to waste management's time griping. My resume looked much better when I added neuro-psych, pediatrics, male-female adolescents and forensic experience.

Consider this: there were times when I wasn't happy about being assigned to a unit but later in the shift things hit the fan on my desired unit. It made me thankful that I wasn't stuck there after hours cleaning up the mess with all the incident reports etc. I never wanted to express a preference on the off chance I didn't get my way because then I'd be pissed thinking they did it on purpose. Why even go there? Just smile and cash your pay check.

And like someone else wrote don't ever give an ultimatum unless you are willing to follow through. At this point if you want to continue working at this facility I would make it known you will work wherever you are needed with a pleasant attitude and your excellent CNA skills. The best way to turn the page here if you don't leave is to knock their socks off with how flexible and skillful you are. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

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...

This post is very revealing, and not in a way that portrays you favorably. OP, you need to learn to play well with others. This means not resorting to name calling, accepting assignments that you are qualified to do whether it's the one you want or not, and accepting the full responsibility of the job you took. If that means not working your preferred hall, that means not working your preferred hall. Your actions, with only 8 months at this job, do not speak well for your continued employment, and may well affect your future employment. Self-reflection is definitely in order here.

[Cola89]

No offense, but they might already see you as a "live wire" and maybe they want to push your limit because they feel you are to demanding of an employee.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

They are probably also trying to see how much of a "team player" you are. Take the assignments you are given. Don't be the one always having to have their way.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

I am not an RN and I have never played one on TV. I started out as a nurse's aide, went to LPN school, was an LPN for over 40 years, then retired. I now work part-time as a CNA doing private duty through a temp agency.

"Cross-training" is practiced frequently in many kinds of businesses. Employers want to feel they can call on their personnel to help in a pinch. As someone said previously, assignments can change in the health-care field at the drop of a hat.

I used to really enjoy floating because I learned a lot. Being able to accommodate a temporary change is such a benefit to your knowledge and confidence. I did it because I have seen some nurses who would freak out if they had to do something different from their usual assignment and I didn't want to be like that, afraid to be called on or picked out of the crowd, so to speak.

After I had a few years under my belt in different areas I actually went to work in the float pool at our hospital. I was hired for part-time, but usually ended up doing 5 eight hour shifts a week. If I had a 'bad' shift one evening, I could almost be assured I wouldn't be stuck there the next night. I liked not having to work with the same people in the same place all of the time.

When I was hired they wanted to know my 'preferences'. It was on my application that I would not work pediatrics nor the burn unit. I think both are specialties requiring a different knowledge base than I was trained in.They were okay with that because I was willing to go anywhere else, even the Neuro ICU, which actually scared the crap out of me.

OP, ya just gotta loosen up. Otherwise it's going to be a bumpy ride.

[mrsboots87]

Another thought occurred to me. What is the care level of your desired hall? Are there less total cares then other halls? less deanding residents? Basically, is this an easier assignment then some of the others? At the facility I work at, there is one hall in particular that everyone dreads. We are all rotated 2 weeks through each hall then on to the next, rinse, repeat. The one hall in question happens to have mostly lift patients. 2 of them are major fall risks due to their dementia. Both are of course hoyers, so falls are even harder to deal with. One is a younger quad patient who is very needy. Two are wander risks. And 2 are practically independent. But essentially, beside the 2 independent residents, the rest are hoyers and seras, total care, and/or demanding. Its a rough assignment and happend unintentionally based on room availability when the residents were admitted. Then there is another hall that is very easy to work. Only 2 hoyers that are minimally demanding, a sera, and the rest are independent or 1X assist. None of them are call light hogs and dont ask for much. SO managing the day on that hall is simple and care is excellent because there is time to give the best care possible. That easy hall is paired with the hard hall and they help each other out.

If you are on an easier hall, then I can see other employees wanting to be able to rotate to that section for a break from their tougher halls. Even if you have a harder wing, it wold be good for you to get a break from it. Knowing all the residents is a good thing. It makes you more valuable. It makes you more of a team player and employers like that. You will likely get better assignments if management knows you will go wherever.

I am a float. So I come to work and they can put me anywhere. This ended with me working the hard hall for almost every shift for over a month. I voiced my irritation over it but still worked the shifts and didnt make any threats to leave. After a while, the nurses and management realized that it was happening too often and because I didn't make a stink about being upset about it, they started to avoid scheduling me on that hall so much. I can imagine had I made a stink like you are, they would have placed me there for EVERY shift until I quit or found a reason to fire me.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

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 ONLY reason I can think of that legally requires employers to give their employees time off work is jury duty. So go ahead, show up at work one day, see you're assigned to a different wing than you want, say "oh snap, I forgot I had jury duty today" and see how that works out for you.