What do you think???

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Specializes in Long term care.

I recently interviewed and was offered a position as a restorative nurse for a 100 bed facility. After thinking about the offer several days, I decided to take the position. It is a step up to me. I have never done restorative before and they are willing to train someone from outside. It is more $$, flex time which allows me more time with my family. All positive right. Well when I went to tell my DON at the facility I currently work as second shift supervisor, she flipped out! She was upset that I even sent a resume out to another facility and tried to make me feel as if it was a poor choice to take a restorative position. Made comments that it was a waste of my time. Even hit me with the "why go to another nursing home, you should want to go to a hospital" line. I hate that statement when anyone says it but a DON!!!! Even had the administrator tell me that the facility I was going to won't give raises b/c they are not at full census. Any way, I took the position. I wanted to stay on and work both for a while as long as I can if they allowed me to come in 1/2 hour late. (facilities are 15 minutes apart) the ADON is ALWAYS there until 8pm or 9pm EVERY NIGHT. I thought to my self WOW when the administrator told the DON no, she wouldn't approve me to come in late. The other idea was to split the fulltime position with one of the weekend supervisors that was willing to pick up 3 days and I work the other 2. To this the administrator also said no, she wants consistancy on the shift. I understand that but the other supervisor works the second shift on the weekends! the days I'm off. I have never been late since I have been there. I am the only supervisor that HAS NEVER CALLED OFF,and 2 have only been there 3 months! I guess my question is am I being selfish or are they just being unreasonable???

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.

I'm a little confused by your post. Are you still working at both facilities or are you working exclusively for the second one? Which ADON always stays late? The first or the second?

BTW, I would also be a bit put off by your first DON's comments about how you "shouldn't" go work for another nursing home and you "should" go to a hospital instead. Good nurses are needed in LTC and if that' s where your heart is, there's no reason you shouldn't continue working LTC.

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Specializes in acute care and geriatric.

you need to separate the two issues and remove the emotional responses. Understand that your DON's response is actually a compliment reflecting how much she needs and relies on you. A good nurse is hard to find, her response was emotional and far from professional. But focusing on it wont help you.

As I understand it, your goal is to work at both places and you want to come up with a way to do it. IF your new facility is so flex time cant you leave a half hour earlier in order to do it?

If your old facility needs you, they will accommodate your lateness, if they dont, its a sign that they are replacing you, regardless you have to decide which place is more important to you (your alpha facility) and bear that in mind when working out your scheduling.

GOOD LUCK!!

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Specializes in Long term care.

Moogie, I am currently working both places. It's the DON at the 2nd shift job were I am supervisor the ADON is there late everyday, she even said she don't mind holding the fort down a 1/2 hour cause she knows I don't get a lunch break if she doesn't. She didn't leave until 9:30pm last night doing paperwork. Achot Chavi, The Restorative position is flex, and I will be able to come in at 6:00am and leave at 2:30pm. I just wanted to work the hours for my week of orientation with the restorative nurse I was replacing. she was coming in strictly 9-5 despite flex time and I wanted to have as many hours with her as I could. but it worked out well I came in at 6am, did the quarterly assesments and careplans and she was able to go over what I did when she cam in and we went to the next step. She actually told me I got more completed in a day than she used to.

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Specializes in acute care and geriatric.

sounds like you have things under control and the problems are temporary. Lots of luck but try not to burn the candle at both ends!!

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