What do I do?

[AnonyRN]

Without getting into too much detail: I currently work at "Hospital A." The other nurses are so nice and helpful, but unfortunately the rest of the staff is not. The nurse aides are horrible, and in addition to being lazy, they backtalk to me when I delegate (or try to), and are horribly rude and nasty. Other nurses are having the same problems, and management knows, but chooses to do nothing. Our last manager just up and quit, and the current manager is a "stand in. My orientation (as a new grad) was not that great, and there were times when I was oriented by other new grads. Nurse to pt staffing ratios can get really high at times. Turnover on this unit is high. I am too new to this hospital to apply for an internal transfer, and have heard that I am not thought of as a good fit for this unit. (So maybe they are planning to get rid of me soon?)

Just when I thought I couldn't take it any longer, I received a job offer from "Hospital B" which is closer to home, with higher pay, same type of unit, but part time (I would be working 8 hrs less per week). I have friends who work there and love it, and say nurse to pt staffing ratios are great. However, I had a friend who worked on this particular floor for a year, and also old classmates who had clinicals on this particular floor, who said the nurses were completed b*$^@es to each other.

So which poison do I pick? lol. I feel like I will be leaving one bad place only to encounter bad nurses at another place. I know no workplace is perfect- I would just like to be able to go into work and do my job and not feel like I am getting put through a hazing so to speak. I feel so grateful that at my current job the nurses are great, but when I have such a lack of support from other staff, it makes things really difficult.

So, would it be worse to work with bad nurses or bad support staff?

Thanks for your opinions!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

well, if there are bad options in both I would go for the money and closer to home. No such thing as having it all.

[Rabid Response]

Move to hospital B. Put in your time with the supposedly mean nurses on that floor, and then put in for a transfer to another floor as soon as you are able if it turns out that the nurses are not supportive. I think that the pluses of better ratios, shorter commute, and higher pay outweigh the single negative of dealing with unpleasant co-workers for six months to a year. Also, you don't really know for sure that you won't get along with these nurses. I remember being told before I started on my unit what prima donnas the nurses were there. I never found that to be the case. Ditto for my transfer from night shift to days; everyone on nights told me that the day shift nurses would chew me up and spit me out, but that has not happened either.

Take a chance!

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

What they said.

[mentalhealthRN]

I gotta agree here.......and just curious. Where have you heard the "your not a good fit for this unit" rumors? Are the nurse talking, the aides, ???? --

Could you go to another unit at "hospital B"? Better patient ratios is big. A lot less stress on you. and better pay and closer to boot??? I would totally go for hospital B....as far as the unit, talk to HR there to see what your other options might be. If there are no other options at least you are in a better place and you can transfer. Good luck.

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

B for better!

[TabithaB]

LOL B is for Better............. and Brighter and Best!!!!!

[CiaMia, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

As long as the higher pay for 8 hours less is something you can deal with or something that would compensate for each other, I would probably move! :)

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

As long as the higher pay for 8 hours less is something you can deal with or something that would compensate for each other, I would probably move! :)

Now let's see...higher pay, less hours...hmmm (debate, debate) hmmm...

Ok, finished debating! Op, I don't know about you, but higher pay, less hours, AND closer to home is DEFINITELY something I could live with....!

[TDCHIM]

Look at it this way:

High patient ratios vs. Reported low pt ratios Winner: B

Lower pay vs. Higher pay Winner: B

F/T vs. P/T (8 hrs less than A) Winner: A (barely)

Poor wk conditions vs. Split reports Winner: B

Longer commute vs. Shorter commute Winner: B

High turnover vs. Sounds like lower t/o Winner: B

You didn't list your benefits, so those are an unknown quantity. The rumors circulating that you aren't "a good fit" for your current workplace are a decided warning that you may not last much longer at Hospital A. Once something like that starts, it's often a matter of time until someone manufactures a reason to fire you. So I'd add that factor as a winning point for Hospital B as well.

From the information you've supplied, it sounds like Hospital B is the way to go, particularly if you get your benefits through a spouse/partner (if you have one, that is) or would be eligible for benefits through the new place even as a part-time employee.

Best of luck to you, whatever you decide!

[CiaMia, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

Now let's see...higher pay, less hours...hmmm (debate, debate) hmmm...

Ok, finished debating! Op, I don't know about you, but higher pay, less hours, AND closer to home is DEFINITELY something I could live with....!

Teehee... well yes, absolutely, but maybe it would work out to be less overall even if the hourly was higher... you just don't know!!

(I definitely would take a pay cut I could work with and still live on, if it meant less hours/stress/better quality of work life!!)

[caliotter3]

Closer to home and more money. Personalities can change from one floor to the next and from one day to the next, but one should always expect to encounter difficulties in this area when working in nursing. Rarely will you find pleasant acting people all the way around. Your car and your bank account will thank you for making the change.