Hello everyone. I have been reading discussion on this site for the past few years. Ive finally decided to come here to vent and get some advice. My manager asked me to work every Monday night on this schedule, while still doing two 7a-8p shifts. We do 13 hour shifts at my facility. She claims that the night nurses that she has can not work Monday nights. These nurses do not have young children, but just "prefer" not to work Monday night. I have a one year old child. I agreed to work the shift, but only be because she said I would work Monday night and then come back on a Thursday or Friday.
Well she didn't make the schedule out that way. She has working every wedensday morning. They only gives me one day off. I will sleep most of that day. I worked like this last week and was utterly exhausted and disoriented. When I asked her if I could have some time to thin about working Monday night she said no I have to get the schedule out. Then she stared going on about making it "mandatory". This manager also asks me to cover a night shift whenever she has a call out. She does not ask the other nurses. I've only been at this job a few months.
I feel like I'm being taken advantage of. What do you guys think? Should I suck it up or seek other employment? Sorry this is so disjointed! Your feedback is appreciate.
Yes, we all agree with you it is wrong and unfair. We also all agree the whole "child" thing should not have been brought up.
Your manager is being unfair, look for a different job. But every job you get in a 24/7 hospital you will be asked to work extra hours, different shifts, etc. Politely say "no", don't give any reason or excuses, be a broken record, "sorry, no I cannot stay over, work my day off, trade with you" etc.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
It has nothing to do with seniority. Having a child does matter actually. Nurses without children do not have to worry about childcare and should be available to work any given night. I was hired for day shift and am being assigned a Monday night shift because of "preference" and not necessity.
Nope. My youngest is nearly 18 and it's time to focus on my hobbies and future goals. Screwing up the schedule of someone like me for someone who has young kids would not fly with me.
I did not imply that I knew what their lives were like. You appear ignorant to make that assumption about the post. Would you like to work my Monday night 13 hour shift and report to work at 0700 Wed.? Feel free to do so. This is an unfair schedule. An EMPATHETIC manager takes someone's home life into account when creating a schedule. No one should have to rotate unless there is a dire necessity. Not just because the other nurses "don't like Mondays".
IM NOT ASKING FOR PRIORITY! I was hired for DAY SHIFT. With no rotations mentioned what so ever. I'm asking for a fair schedule. The two night nurses should have been able to alternate working Mondays. I agreed to rotate only because I was promised two days off in between.
No need to yell! We all agree with you that this schedule change is not fair and really not workable. You just lost us with the kid thing. It's a really touchy subject.
Did you sign anything stating you were hired for day shift that is in writing that you have in your possession (I hope so)? If so, I would politely but firmly refer back to that hiring contract with your manager and state that while you were happy to help out for a few bumps in the schedule, that you need to return back to the schedule for which you were originally hired, per your contract/agreement.
As for the rotating shifts thing, well, I do it, and I have 2 kids. It's hard, it sucks, but you do what you gotta do. Quite a few people on my unit rotate shifts, and they all have children. *shrug*
Yeah, you also lost me with the "nurses without kids" comment. Boo-hoo. I have no kids but I rarely work extra or switch shifts with people. We self-schedule and I make mine work for me. I would NEVER agree to rotating to a night shift, and definitely not once a week. Stand up for yourself and say no. Find a new job if that is a problem. Your employer would NEVER bend over backwards for you; why do it for them?
So, manager is having a problem with the midnight staffing. Instead of handling it with the midnight staff, she approached day shift to solve the problem. Did she ask anyone other day nurse to fill in?
As soon as you agreed to solve her staffing issues, she then started to take advantage of you.
I would finish out the current schedule, make it CLEAR that you cannot work any midnights on future schedules. Do not cover another midnight call off.
If she makes it mandatory for day shift to cover night shift, all day shift nurses would be required to do so on a rotating basis. THAT will not fly.
Yes, she took advantage of you, but you let her. You only have to suck up this schedule, then stand firm on no more midnights.
I did not imply that I knew what their lives were like. You appear ignorant to make that assumption about the post. Would you like to work my Monday night 13 hour shift and report to work at 0700 Wed.? Feel free to do so. This is an unfair schedule. An EMPATHETIC manager takes someone's home life into account when creating a schedule. No one should have to rotate unless there is a dire necessity. Not just because the other nurses "don't like Mondays".
Wrong again. Managers only take into account the needs of the facility. It's their job. And you DO imply that you know what other nurses' home lives are like. Because you ASSUME that because they do not have little ones at home, that somehow this frees them up to take all the crap shifts. If you are unhappy- vote with your feet.
brownbook
3,413 Posts
Yes, we all agree with you it is wrong and unfair. We also all agree the whole "child" thing should not have been brought up.
Your manager is being unfair, look for a different job. But every job you get in a 24/7 hospital you will be asked to work extra hours, different shifts, etc. Politely say "no", don't give any reason or excuses, be a broken record, "sorry, no I cannot stay over, work my day off, trade with you" etc.