Unit Sec/PCT position

mamaxmaria · Jun 21, 2011

Sounds like a same day surgery unit to me....

Maybe you will be performing both secretarial duties as well as PCT duties...

checking patient vital signs and putting orders in the computer most likely

pdblack · Jul 22, 2011

Hi. New member here!

I left a position as a Unit Clerk at a hospital because of an offer from another hospital to be a crosstrained Unit Secretary/PCT that would allow flexible scheduling for nursing school in the fall. I asked for the one day off from Aug til Dec. The Nursing Director said that was OK she was fine with it as my skills were beneficial for the unit.

Now she sends out a scathing e-mail to the unit saying that she is sorry people have school concerns or may have other work concerns but she is only concerned with staffing THIS floor (caps hers) and people may not be able to get a specific day off. Now I am stuck because school starts on Aug 29 and I have now been on this job 3 months. I did not take this position to be a career tech, but they would have the benefit of my service for about 2 years as a tech. Now, I do not want to quit nursing school because this lady decided to rescind her promise (lie) but now I have to see if I can get my old job back and negotiate for the flexibility I need. BTW one person is retiring from this position at age 71 as a PCT. I don't (can't) be that person. I am 50 now. I have only one shot at a nursing career and cannot let one Nursing Director block me. What do you guys think of this?

Thanks for letting me vent...

mermcm83 · Jul 22, 2011

As hard as it is, I was unemployed the first year of nursing school, I work a casual every other weekend as of the past month, and I have to sacrifice the money for my career...start looking for a casual position if applicable. So many ppl are not willing to be flexible with students, which is stupid because we are usually the main one's who will keep our skills within their companies. But long story short, I would definately start looking for something else...school is priority if you dont want to be that lady. Good Luck to you!

pdblack · Jul 22, 2011

Thanks for your response... Yeah I considered that (again), but as I am 50 yrs old with no other means of support, I kind of need a full-time job while in nursing school. I already was working the casual (PRN) position as a tech at the same time as a Unit Secretary part-time position at another place when this job was presented. I told the director that I was a student first thing, so if she had misgivings- that was the time to say she didn't want to hire a student. So now I'm back in this most difficult job market only 3 months after starting this position. She waited until my 90 days were up so I definitely cannot go back to my previous employer & I would have to quit school to work there until something else comes along. I know something WILL work out because this situation was so utterly wrong and unnecessary. Thanks again for the well wishes...

jb2u, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2011

pdblack...I would email the director back. This letter could be intended for someone else or an ongoing problem. I'd just email and let her know that "I received your email" and ask her if the "day off that she agreed to is still ok or not". Let her know that you understand her staffing needs and this job really means a lot to you, but you have to consider your future.

Of course, this is just all my opinion. You have to do what is right for you. A simple email checking to make sure that it was not about your situation would be appropriate. I would be respectful. I would then wait to see what her response is. Then I'd get more of the " I don't understand how you can agree to something prior to me leaving my other job, and now, have a completely different attitude. I made it clear to you that, although I was there to work hard for you, I need this day off for school. I left my other job in good faith that you would honor that commitment. I am only asking you to please honor that commitment."

You may get a reply back from the first email saying that, "no it is not about you. You can still have that day off." I'd say just relax, send off the first simple email, and wait for her response.

Good luck,

jb

pdblack · Jul 23, 2011

That sounds entirely reasonable JB. Now that I have come off my rant and am now in my right mind, I'll send off an e-mail to her tonite when I go to work & see what she says.

I'll let y'all know what happens & thanks much for the advice. Definitely appreciated!

oklahoma~dreamin · Jul 24, 2011

^^

What happened?