To confront or not to confront, that is the question

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Long story short, I was denied a position with less hours. A nurse with 13 years LESS seniority than I was given the position.

Would you ask your manager about it? This was also done in a manner against union contract, I asked the union about it. OR would you just cut your losses and move on to a possibly better position elsewhere?

:angryfire

Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.
Totally agree with TazzRn here. I know it is a big disappointment, and if for some reason this other nurse needs to leave that position, you may have immediate access to it. (this same senerio happened to my husband a few months ago. More pay less hours but went to someone with more seniority, last night she walked out (not nursing) and he was placed immediately in her position with her pay until it can become official.)

I am not in a union, so take this with a grain of salt, I personally would talk with the boss first, then bring in the union. Remember you can catch more with honey than with vineagar. Good Luck.

When did this happen and when are you thinking of going to talk? I would give myself a few days to gather my thoughts and calm down from the disappointment and discouragement.

Let us know what happens.:innerconf

This happened 3 weeks ago, I've had time to think about it. I want to talk to manager soon, since I am starting a new job next week and I'll see if it's better...it is more flexible, that I know.:o

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I would speak with her first, then go to the union. This is why I prefer unionized workplaces. If she was required to post the position and didn't, you have a nice bargaining chip.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.
I would speak with her first, then go to the union. This is why I prefer unionized workplaces. If she was required to post the position and didn't, you have a nice bargaining chip.

I actually did the opposite, to make sure I was right first. Now I've found a more flexible posiiton, but I really want to see what the manager will tell me!

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I would focus on the 'proactive' approach! I would ask for some time to discuss this positively, and during that talk I would ask if there were ways I could improve to fit into the position. Show your interest in the position from a professional standpoint (good to use your key words, and sometimes quoting their mission statement!).

That usually gives good insight about why you weren't chosen, give you goals on improvement if needed, and shows the managment team that you are proactive in regards to yourself, your career, and their facility! A total win if not now, but down the road!

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Specializes in Nursing assistant.

She might want to keep you on full time cause she really really likes you!

I would approach her with your need for reduced hours, not based on the past, but just to clarify that you really need to make this change, and would she let you know if there are any opportunities in the near future.

I am not sure I would bring up the other nurse getting this, let her save face. She maybe just didn't connect the dots.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.
She might want to keep you on full time cause she really really likes you!

I would approach her with your need for reduced hours, not based on the past, but just to clarify that you really need to make this change, and would she let you know if there are any opportunities in the near future.

I am not sure I would bring up the other nurse getting this, let her save face. She maybe just didn't connect the dots.

UPDATE!! I called the manager today. She admitted she gave the other nurse the position because she is going back to school, but our union contract doesn't address cutting back to go to school...she said because the contract is silent on the issue, hospital policy rules. So, is this ok to allow hospital policy to overrule? The nurse going back to school will not help the unit, BTW. :angryfire

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

We are short-staffed, that's why she wouldn't let me reduce hours, not because she likes me...nice thought, though.

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Specializes in Nursing assistant.
We are short-staffed, that's why she wouldn't let me reduce hours, not because she likes me...nice thought, though.

That booger!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

That still doesn't sound kosher to me. If positions are to be done by seniority, then that is how it should be , and it should matter what the reason. Where I work, when a lower hour position opens up, it is posted and the most senior person gets it. Same with lateral moves to a different shift. The union steward should follow up on this regardless...she broke contract by not offering it to the more senior person IMHO and I would not be happy.

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If I do mention it to her, I planned on being more direct than that. How about "Why did she get the position when I was told it wasn't possible to reduce hours? I know people talk, especially women.

i can't speak as a nurse (just a student), but I think that nightengale had a great tak on how you should proceed. I think being too direct could just bring some defensiveness and resentment down the line. I would choose a private place and bring up your concerns that you were denied the position and someone with less experience got it. But bring this up in the vein that you would like to know what made her the more attractive candidate so that you can improve and qualify in the future for a similar position. You really do catch more flies with honey! good luck.

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If you approach her this way, you will put her on the defensive and things will get worse, not better. You should approach her with the attitude of "I'm really disappointed that I didn't get the position, could you tell me why? I'd like to know if there's something about myself I need to change or improve on to increase my chances next time." You'll get the information you want without causing any bad feelings.

Yes! this is exactly what i thought!

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

In a nutshell, the manager jerked you around because she was pretty certain she could get away with it. Her job is to staff the unit, not necessarily to play fair or follow the rules. She must have believed that you would stick around even if denied the change, while the other nurse wouldn't. Simple as that.

I once worked in a very understaffed NICU. I was promised FT 3-11 when I was hired, but those hours were given to someone else, and I was placed on 12 hour rotating shifts against my will. After working them for about 6 months, I was literally ill and close to going crazy. Since we were soooo understaffed, no changes in status to lesser hours were being permitted. There were several experienced nurses with far more seniority than me who were waiting for status changes to PT. I had no children, few financial obligations, and a well-paid husband, so I went to my manager and told her that if I didn't get the hours I wanted immediately, I would quit. Suddenly, I was working M-F 3-11, and all the other more senior people were still awaiting their schedule changes. Our nurse manager knew that none of them had the luxury of quitting, so she continued to jerk them around.

It's not right or fair, but that's the way it is. If you can afford to quit, then confront her. If not, then don't.

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