not on the work schedule

[HAYNURSE]

Morning all. My delema is that about 8 months ago the DON starting asking me when I was going to retire I told her I had not thought of that yet. Well there was an employee that was going to get her ADN in June and she wanted to work here. I told them beings I worked every week-end and had no kids at home I would be willing to do every other week-end. This sounded great to them. In the mean time they hired two more nurses and the next thing I know I am not on the December schedule When I asked why I was told you wanted to retire so we put you PRN. When I mentioned that I was told I could do every other week-end they said it did not work out that way we needed to give the new staff full time hours. My bad was I did not get this in writing. Pretty sad after 6 years.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

You do have an employment contract.Your employment contract is whatever status you were hired at.For example were you hired per diem ' 40 hours per pay period or full time. No written contract or signature is needed, you still have a contract. I am thinking you are per diem, is that correct?

That's not a contract. Any offer letter I have ever signed has disclaimers such as "this is an employment at will position, either party is free to terminate the relationship at any time and this offer should not be considered a guarantee of continued employment blah blah etc." Without a union, in general there is no contract.

And OP's employer could simply fire her instead. Or they could argue that her part-time position was eliminated and that they were doing her a favor by keeping her on per diem.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

OP, I am so sorry that this happened to you. Dirty, for sure. They are going to "do you the favor" of "letting" you stay on per diem? Are you in a union? Also be sure that you say to the manager "I did NOT tell you I was 'retiring' on the contrary, I was hired as xyzpdq, and after reflection, that is where I am staying as my position is for 24 weekend hours..." (or whatever is applicable)

The managers staffing is not your issue. That he/she hired a boatload of new nurses again, not your issue. You need to be sure that you protect yourself, and you are not encouraged to do things that you have no intention of doing.

There are some facilities in some states that if you are hired in a specific position as a full time or part time regular employee, there is obligations of sorts on the part of the employer. For instance, all of your benefits are based on the number of hours that you work.

Yes, we are mostly all "employees at will" however, this (as I understand it) has to do with being employed or not being employed as opposed to the position and category in which you were hired for.

With that being said, there are many of us who are switched to alternate shifts (such as nights after years of days for instance or day shift after working nights) that can make it miserable for anyone to want to continue to work. Or the infamous "horrible assignment" strategy that makes it so that one doesn't want to go to work.

Have this discussion with HR, as if they are "retiring" you, you need to be 100% sure you are getting each and every thing that you are entitled to. Oh, and a snarky little aside, usually if one is "forced" to retire, there's usually a little early retirement package that goes with that...

Your unused vacation time. Any pension monies (and around 6 years ago, even if you had a couple years of pension in it is yours). Talk about your 401K stuff if you have it.

Also, per diem means a higher rate of pay. So then there's that as well--and If you are in fact a part time regular employee that your benefits (and I should say that by benefits it doesn't mean just insurance. It also means your PTO) are based on a set number of hours per week, you need to speak with the DON and/or HR (with a union rep if you have one) regarding this as they are changing the category of your employment. And in my own experience, that usually involves all sorts of job posting, letter offering of position, acceptance of position, etc.

Also, seniority, past practice and that you would go back to your weekends (and if you have the seniority, this could be feasible). And what kind of obligation PRN means on your part and theirs.

IF what they are doing is passively/aggressively firing you, and oh so how convenient of them to have you around while the newbies are being oriented, you have very specific rights to get everything you need to as far as benefits. That I am sure they are hoping that you just go away quietly.

This is such boo-hucky I could spit.

One more thought process is that you could transfer off that unit. And work your weekend shifts in another unit entirely.

Again, it is such malarkey that after such a long time at a facility and there is nothing to do with loyalty anymore.

Best wishes and let us know how it goes.

[theradiantforce]

Wow! That is cut throat and simply terrible. I don't understand how these places expect their workers to bend backwards then repay dedication with situations like this. Sad. This is why people no longer stay in one place for too long. Jobs simply don't appreciate longevity anymore.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Wow! That is cut throat and simply terrible. I don't understand how these places expect their workers to bend backwards then repay dedication with situations like this. Sad. This is why people no longer stay in one place for too long. Jobs simply don't appreciate longevity anymore.

You are so right!! They see it as money sucking. They can hire 2 (sometimes 3) nurses at the cost of one long term nurse. And any nurse can be trained to follow the script with confidence....Sigh.

[prettyinpink1963]

My mother is in a nursing home. I drop in at AL hours. I find the CNA Just sitting in chairs with ear phone in their ears listening to music while alarms are going off. The residents are getting up out of their wheelchairs or beds. They dont even go check to see why the alarms are going off. My mother end up in the ER a few weeks ago. She got up out of her wheelchair and had fallen hitting her head. Her bloodwork indicated she had been laying on the floor for awhile. I want to move her but my father says no. She is not being care for in that nursing home. My dad is being brainwashed. But, I see so much going on in that place. Very unfriendly CNA working there. Never even a hello. Looking very mad all the time. Like they hate their job. I tried to ask a male CNA for some water for my mom because her lips were so dry and cracked. She also suffers from a UTI all the time. She never had those infection before she had Alzheimer's. He had those plugs in his ears and kapt saying huh huh I told him if he would please remove those plugs he might be able to hear me. He got nasty with me and said "I said Huh twice" This is what I get all the time. Also, My mom has finger marks on her upper arms where she is handle a little to tight. I'm heart broken. I worked as a CNA I know it's is not a easy job. It's demanding. But. You have learn to love your patient not love them at least like them to where you want take care of them the best you can and also great the patient's loved ones I'm heartbroken I see all this going on then what is wrong with my father he just don't see it it hurts we've had a round table discussion with nurses Hospice head nurses and the people that run the place they promised us what kinds of thing I don't buy it and don't happen but my father he does they hard to deal with

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

As an older employee, threads like this make me shudder. I've been feeling vulnerable for awhile. It's not a feeling I'd wish on anybody.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

You've been laid off in the most despicable way. It's not illegal but you do have the right to get unemployment.