I'm a Staff Nurse. My unit has a few travellers/agency nurses. They are all good nurses and work hard.
One is new. She's already *****ing about the hosp., etc. *****es about nursing, wants to be a doctor. Okay whatever. Her friend brought her to our unit (another traveller)
Okay. These two are the managers PETS. They are ADORED. The Attending has joined the lovefest. Okay, whatever.
These nurses are publicly praised and patted on the back, hugged (literally) constantly. They are begged to stay on our unit. The Staff nurses are either ignored or spoken to condescendingly. Even yelled at.
All the nurses on the unit work hard and are dedicated. I don't see how these nurses are any better.
I don't understand my managers thinking. Why does she treat the travellers/agency better than her own staff? Does she want everyone to leave? And yet, she depends on us to work OT and switch days, etc.
About two months ago, we had some hairy situations on the unit. My manager made a big show of saying how "phenomenal" the travellers worked during their code, etc. and so on. Big hugs. Big displays of affection and compliments.
I had a code too. Another staff nurse was helping me. I was told by my manager that mine wasn't as bad because it was expected. (wtf??) I had taken care of this patient for two weeks and it was a lot of work. I was not told that I did a good job. My boss kept yelling whether the room was cleaned up yet or not.
"Maybe you should resign, then come back to the same place as a traveling nurse, as others have done. "
That sounds like a good idea. The travellers are immune from the politics, the vacation/time off squabbles, they set their own schedule and they do not work holidays or weekends.
"Bottom line, there are good travelers and bad travelers. Treat them well, welcome them, don't cop a resentment about the money they make, and they usually work out just fine."
Yeah I guess that sums it all up. :) I'm not really resentful of them, just upset at my manager.
"This is part of the dysfunction within our hospital systems and is management's way of intimidating us and keeping us down. They promote night shift against day shift, agency against staff, fulltime against prn, etc. "
Yes, I think you are right. These nurses are very good, don't get me wrong but it was just a weird thing to watch.
You have some good ideas. Believe me, I am upset enough to say something to my manager. I guess the right time will come up when I can mention it without it sounding like sour grapes/and/or jealousy.
It sounds to me like your manager is trying to court the travelers into coming on as a full time regular employee. Perhaps the manager does not know that such behavior will blow up in her face. The best bet is to treat everyone well and compliment all for a job well done. Why would a traveler want to work at a place as a regular employee when the regular staff is treated in this manner?
Glad you found prn nursing more to your satisfaction.
Cherry Soda
41 Posts
SJoe:
"Maybe you should resign, then come back to the same place as a traveling nurse, as others have done. "
That sounds like a good idea. The travellers are immune from the politics, the vacation/time off squabbles, they set their own schedule and they do not work holidays or weekends.
Cherry