Hi
Ive no formal outlet and i just want to vent.
Ive been a registered nurse for over 21yrs. In that time ive worked various wards of different specialities. Up until 2016 i worked fulltime then worked part time following adopting my son. For the last 6yrs my line manager accomodated flexible working. In fact she was more than accomodating. Her ethos was she would rather accomodate flexi and have boots on the ground than to be short staffed.
Last september she left and the new senior nurse arrived who we all know as she has risen through the ranks. We have a facebook work page and from our ward sister we were told the senior would not be accepting flexi in terms of set days or nights and we needed to arrange a meeting with her asap to discuss our circumstances.
I arranged a meeting along with my union and HR.
I explained as my husband works away requently im unable to work in the week as i cannot commit to regular shifts. This had not been a problem for my ward sister as many didnt want weekends and usually i ended up taking charge of the ward weekly with bank or agency staff. The new senior nurse said that wouldnt work for her and she suggested I looked for outside childcare. I did argue as we live rurally who would look after my son until 8pm when i actually return home from work. Hr curtly said the nhs is not here to provide you with childcare. Funny that because when i worked full time i worked around everyones childcare and shifts. The new senior nurse said to ask my husband to approach his employer because the child is his to. Her argument was that because she had new starters she had to be fair and equitable to all. The union might as well not been present as they just rolled over and agreed with managent. The meeting ended with her ultimatum of work the week or leave.
A month later i had no choice but to leave.
The shock of this and the stress tbh left me broken. I feel ive given 20+ years of loyalty to the trust and now 1 senior can come in and puff your gone. My only crime being that i have no childcare. Ive now had to take a position on the bank and have lost all my privileges which id built up over the 20yrs.
I feel so let down I dont trust applying for another substansive post and having just completed another revalidation I think this will be my last. My circumstances will change next yr and I will be able to increase my hours which i planned to fullfill in a different role within the nhs. This wont be happening now. It annoys me that there are ads for flexiworking and news that the nhs are crying out for nurses but the reality is quite different.
Any nurses who have left, what are you doing now?