What would you do to keep your job? LONG

[angelbear]

This is my situation. I am going on med leave for 8 weeks. I have worked straight 3rd since starting there 2.5yrs ago. We have had trouble keeping staff both nurses and aids. Now all of the sudden we are over run with nurses on 2nd and 3rd however we are sorely lacking in aids. The reason we are lacking in aids is because management decided to keep a rude threatening and obnoxious aid who does not do her job or respect authority. They had fired her but then reversed their decision so due to this so far 5 of our decent aids have quit. Ok back to my problem we are suddenly over run with nurses who have all been promised the hours that they want. I work 6 dys a pay So naturally my coworkers and myself got to looking at the scheduel and began to wonder how on earth they were going to make room to fit me back in when I return. There are not enough hours for everyone while I am gone what is going to happen when I return? So I called my boss and she assured me that my hours would be there when Ireturn she did however say that we may have 3 nurses some nights and that we will have to be willing to change some things in our job description and do some jobs we do not normally do. In talking to our coworkers we determined that they may be intending to use us as aids instead of hiring the ones they have lost. I kind of think this would be not very cost effective but some think that is what they are going to do. They are irrate at the thought. What do you all think would you do the aid job at the nurses pay in order to keep your job?

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Ever heard of Primary care - I personally prefer it.

[PMHNP10]

Now if you mean one of the nurses would be used as a tech (while maintaining nurse salary, I'd say...life could only be so nice. Yes you might have to do more of the labor than normal, but you don't have to do full body physical assessments, and if you do see something out of the ordinary you of course have to report it to the primary nurse.

Now if you mean that as a nurse you will have a lower pt load but will assume tech responsibilities, that is not necessarily a good deal...if for no other reason than you need a certain number of bodies on a floor to take care of the patients--turning, bathing, ambulating, etc.

Hope for choice 1.

[Katnip, RN]

Did you ask specifically what sort of job description changes they plan to make? That, or waiting to find out is the only way to know for certain.

Second guessing can lead to all kinds of false conclusions.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Pffftttt..they already use us as aides!

And everything else under the sun that they can think up..

and I can certainly understand the top-dog CNA issue. I have two where I work. They pretty much run the show. Management tells the nurses to stand up to them and be strong, but when we do, they turn around, go to so-called management whining and crying, and because they are good aides, they get their way....

Therefore, I no longer say anything about the numerous smoke breaks, or anything else they do. (1st smoke break at 6:30a after just clocking in at 6a????) (Resident breakfast trays sitting on the cart getting cold while they take another smoke break between 6:45 and 7a?????)

Nothing is said to them...nothing is done....

And I have told the DON and ADON that I will say absolutely nothing else about these two until THEY (management) stands up for us!!! My threat fell on idle ears.....they still get away with murder.....

Boy~ that turned in to a rant, didn't it?

[Speculating]

Why would you want to worry about having to look for a job at the end of your leave. Secondly, If you signed the Family Medical Leave Act http://www.dol.gov/dol/allcfr/ESA/Title_29/Part_825/toc.htm your job has to be there when you return. I don't know whether or not you carry insurance through work or not. I wouldn't want to worry about that right now. If I were you I would chill and concentrate on what ever you are taking the medical leave for then when your back on your feet rethink the job thing in 8 weeks when you have more info to work with. The newbe's will weed out and you'll be back to the regular routine soon. There is a reason your employer can't retain.