They think I’m an ‘Undercover Boss’

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Specializes in Surgical Specialty Clinic - Ambulatory Care.

Started a new job and moved to a new state. Blessed to be in Texas quasi near the coast where my husband wants to live. Blessed to have my mom let us stay with her until we can find a place. But guys, healthcare in the US is just crap. Like I’ve never known a doctor or nurse wanting to give crap care, but the ‘business side’ of this system is just crap. My husband says I always complain about nursing. I think if there is a nurse or physician today satisfied with the crappy care we are doling out, that would be the healthcare provider I would trust the least. Or, by some falling star, once in a lifetime chance, they actually have a facility that cares and I want to know where it is.  My new job is probably the worst I’ve seen yet. They had the first two weeks of orientation without ANYONE to provide instructions or guidance to the 11 new hires they have. ??? NEVER have I seen that before. I had to, without computer instruction or guidance of a class like setting or from assistance from an HR person, figure out how to sign up for benefits and automatic deposit on my own. After the first week of this unstructured craziness I decided to give myself a tour of the facility and find my manager so I could as about when I would be starting the floor. I found her and she didn’t even greet me. She barely looked up from what she was doing and said “I thought you were suppose to start a month from now. You’ll have to ask HR what you are doing.” ??? I gave up a life I built in an area in Illinois over 15 years to take this job.....soooooo yeah. Turns out they are about to have 50 RNs from the Philippines that they have had contracted for the last 3 years leave (because none of them want to renew). They also have travelers who have quit 2 weeks in due to lack of safety. So I’ve been pretty verbal about my dissatisfaction with their culture...in person and in writing... to my manager, my director, the CNO, and the President. Also have to write up a Safe Harbor sheet last shift because the ratio is 6:1. There was 1 new grad, me, and one nurse with 2 years experience on the floor and they assigned the regular a full team and me and the new grad 3 a piece. I was okay with that but the poor new grad has only been a nurse for 3 weeks. They were like “the other nurse can help her out”. And the other nurse was like “then that means I’ll technically have 9 patients!” But she didn’t want to fill out a safe harbor form because she was afraid of the repercussions. ???? And I’m like, “sisters, things ain’t changing if we don’t grow a pair.” They finally signed with me. Frankly I’m just laughing at this point. I’m not leaving because I gave up EVERYTHING to get down here. So I guess I’m working on getting fired.????? I guess I’m the first aggressive nurse they’ve had in a while. One of the CNAs came up to and for real was asking if I was part of that show ‘Undercover Boss’. So dang sad!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.

Welcome to Texas! I moved here about 4 years ago from the Midwest originally and to say it’s a culture shock in every sense is an understatement. Safe harbor is great but yea I think you could be setting yourself up for a paper trail that could lead to your termination unfortunately. I’ve found myself many times questioning practices and get the same “that’s just how we have done it” answer, but it’s to the extreme in Texas. Stick by your guns if it has to do with patient safety but be looking for a backup plan!

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4 hours ago, KalipsoRed21 said:

One of the CNAs came up to and for real was asking if I was part of that show ‘Undercover Boss’.

You shoulda said "Maybe. But don't tell anyone."

?

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4 hours ago, KalipsoRed21 said:

They had the first two weeks of orientation without ANYONE to provide instructions or guidance to the 11 new hires they have. ??? NEVER have I seen that before. I had to, without computer instruction or guidance of a class like setting or from assistance from an HR person, figure out how to sign up for benefits and automatic deposit on my own.

I have found this to be standard practice at a few jobs, including my current gig. I do my own onboarding and I orient myself by asking fellow staff questions. The managers do not train and HR does not onboard. I assume its a cost saving measure. 

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Specializes in Surgical Specialty Clinic - Ambulatory Care.
1 hour ago, TAKOO01 said:

I have found this to be standard practice at a few jobs, including my current gig. I do my own onboarding and I orient myself by asking fellow staff questions. The managers do not train and HR does not onboard. I assume its a cost saving measure. 

Sorry, but that is complete B.S. of any healthcare facility. 
1) Because it sets the baseline that they don’t have time for you and it is somehow okay. Which then sets the culture of the environment you will be working at and I’m sorry, but “I’m to busy and short staffed to serve you appropriately.” is just not acceptable.

2) I’m not talking someone sets you up with a computer and some videos and those educate you on how to proceed with your orientation. I’m talking you show up to a room with turned off computers, no one there, and you click on apps and stuff trying to figure out what the heck you should be doing. Either way is B.S to me though.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 4/13/2021 at 6:47 PM, TAKOO01 said:

I have found this to be standard practice at a few jobs, including my current gig. I do my own onboarding and I orient myself by asking fellow staff questions. The managers do not train and HR does not onboard. I assume its a cost saving measure. 

Well, I suppose it's a bit better than signing away your firstborn if you have to run away screaming.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 4/13/2021 at 8:34 PM, KalipsoRed21 said:

Sorry, but that is complete B.S. of any healthcare facility. 
1) Because it sets the baseline that they don’t have time for you and it is somehow okay. Which then sets the culture of the environment you will be working at and I’m sorry, but “I’m to busy and short staffed to serve you appropriately.” is just not acceptable.

2) I’m not talking someone sets you up with a computer and some videos and those educate you on how to proceed with your orientation. I’m talking you show up to a room with turned off computers, no one there, and you click on apps and stuff trying to figure out what the heck you should be doing. Either way is B.S to me though.

I admire you for standing up when no one else will.  People who do this always have a target on their back (ask me how I know this).  Like Jaded said, it is best to have an exit strategy if you're going to persevere.

If they do end up running you off, I hope you go out spectacularly and give them a run for their money.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I've found that in my last 2 jobs, onboarding has pretty much been ditched in the times of Covid. They can no longer have 30 people in a room together. So onboarding has been turfed to the individual managers, who don't have a clue what the onboarding curriculum is supposed to be.

In my current job (a clinic manager), I've had to piecemeal an onboarding curriculum from various videos and things I can find through our internal video learning library. Which is hard to do as a manager new to this system, not knowing what I don't know, or having any idea what onboarding used to look like here (because of course I did not get any onboarding or new employee orientation either).

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On 4/13/2021 at 11:34 PM, KalipsoRed21 said:

1) Because it sets the baseline that they don’t have time for you and it is somehow okay. Which then sets the culture of the environment you will be working at and I’m sorry, but “I’m to busy and short staffed to serve you appropriately.” is just not acceptable.

2) I’m not talking someone sets you up with a computer and some videos and those educate you on how to proceed with your orientation. I’m talking you show up to a room with turned off computers, no one there, and you click on apps and stuff trying to figure out what the heck you should be doing. Either way is B.S to me though.

1) You are right about this

2) At least the computer was on for me?

 

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 4/13/2021 at 1:46 PM, KalipsoRed21 said:

Started a new job and moved to a new state. Blessed to be in Texas quasi near the coast where my husband wants to live. Blessed to have my mom let us stay with her until we can find a place. But guys, healthcare in the US is just crap. Like I’ve never known a doctor or nurse wanting to give crap care, but the ‘business side’ of this system is just crap. My husband says I always complain about nursing. I think if there is a nurse or physician today satisfied with the crappy care we are doling out, that would be the healthcare provider I would trust the least. Or, by some falling star, once in a lifetime chance, they actually have a facility that cares and I want to know where it is.  My new job is probably the worst I’ve seen yet. They had the first two weeks of orientation without ANYONE to provide instructions or guidance to the 11 new hires they have. ??? NEVER have I seen that before. I had to, without computer instruction or guidance of a class like setting or from assistance from an HR person, figure out how to sign up for benefits and automatic deposit on my own. After the first week of this unstructured craziness I decided to give myself a tour of the facility and find my manager so I could as about when I would be starting the floor. I found her and she didn’t even greet me. She barely looked up from what she was doing and said “I thought you were suppose to start a month from now. You’ll have to ask HR what you are doing.” ??? I gave up a life I built in an area in Illinois over 15 years to take this job.....soooooo yeah. Turns out they are about to have 50 RNs from the Philippines that they have had contracted for the last 3 years leave (because none of them want to renew). They also have travelers who have quit 2 weeks in due to lack of safety. So I’ve been pretty verbal about my dissatisfaction with their culture...in person and in writing... to my manager, my director, the CNO, and the President. Also have to write up a Safe Harbor sheet last shift because the ratio is 6:1. There was 1 new grad, me, and one nurse with 2 years experience on the floor and they assigned the regular a full team and me and the new grad 3 a piece. I was okay with that but the poor new grad has only been a nurse for 3 weeks. They were like “the other nurse can help her out”. And the other nurse was like “then that means I’ll technically have 9 patients!” But she didn’t want to fill out a safe harbor form because she was afraid of the repercussions. ???? And I’m like, “sisters, things ain’t changing if we don’t grow a pair.” They finally signed with me. Frankly I’m just laughing at this point. I’m not leaving because I gave up EVERYTHING to get down here. So I guess I’m working on getting fired.????? I guess I’m the first aggressive nurse they’ve had in a while. One of the CNAs came up to and for real was asking if I was part of that show ‘Undercover Boss’. So dang sad!!

 

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Specializes in Psych.

I would run!

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Specializes in Surgical Specialty Clinic - Ambulatory Care.
On 4/15/2021 at 1:46 AM, TriciaJ said:

I admire you for standing up when no one else will.  People who do this always have a target on their back (ask me how I know this).  Like Jaded said, it is best to have an exit strategy if you're going to persevere.

If they do end up running you off, I hope you go out spectacularly and give them a run for their money.

I am old enough that this will surely be the plan.??

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