to stay where i am or leave?

Good for you. All the best for the future and hope all goes well for your dad. You don't need the added pressure of working for a boss with no feelings. When will these dentists learn, be kind to your staff and they will reward you with hard work and loyalty. Surely they must realise we're all in it for the love of the job cos we sure as hell ain't in it for the money!!! x

again, thanks to everyone who has responded to my original post. This is just an update
I finally managed to corner my boss for a 'serious' talk. I expressed EVERYTHING in a cool and calm manner and after an hour and 40 min chat, I have handed in my resignation. My boss was not too happy and tried to offer me less days and more flexability etc (still on reception) and much as this makes me sad (it really is a nice practice) i declined. My last day is the 11th june and i am so excited. I will be looking for a temp agency and see where the road takes me!
so again thanks to everyone for your advice!

hope your dad is better now,have a chat with the boss,if this is no good then leave and try temping

Im sorry also to hear about your dad . what a dilemma . Ive had a boss like yours who I worked for 6 yrs! and the final straw for me was when my cousin got murdered two yrs ago and they would not let me go to her funeral cos it was on the same day as our staff xmas party and they had spent alot of money on a ticket for a show also wanted me to take my 4 weeks leave the following yr when they were off NO WAY so I left . There is no loyalty with these people , im temping now also and always have enough work I earn a better hourly rate which means I only have to work 4 days a week with fridays off which gives me a nice long weekend luxury after working my guts out for 26 yrs in the business. If you are worried about work get a part time job and temp the other days. I have managed to get a few surgeries who ask for me on a regular basis now so the agency always send me some surgeries use temps most of the time if they only need someone one day a week etc . Good Luck let us know how you get on !! x

I just want to say thanks to everyone for their replies.
I have had a chat with my boss and unfortunately as my contract states, i am emloyed as a dental nurse with reception duties - in reality, i do not have a leg to stand on! and my boss has not taken too kindly to my 'attitude'!

I think i am going to stay where i am for the moment and search for some temp agencies and if i find a good one then i will hand in my resignantion, temp until i find a nice practice which treats its staff with some respect.

If anyone can recommend a good agency i would be very grateful!

thanks again people!
support our nurses!

I hope everyones advice is helping you my dear.

If in doubt call citizens advice and see what they say. check the terms of your contract and if it states you are a dental nurse first and foremost bring it up with your boss. They are breaking the terms of your contract not you.

So sorry to hear about your situation, it must be awful.

BTW, You can turn down jury service if it will cause you 'severe hardship', my husband got out of it twice as he was the main wage earner etc. Not the point but....try talking to ACAS regarding your employment situation, you should retain your nursing position and the unfortunate thing is that dentists just get away with everything they do - because they can and no one calls them on the decisions they make. You could leave and claim constructive dismissal.

Temping is great, no you aren't guaranteed a wage, and the pickier you are, the less work you will get. I am not sure where you are, I worked for an agency as a full time nurse for 2 years and got great money and nothing less that 3.5 days per week - which was the equivalent of full time pay!!

Where are you based?

Its so sad but it must be a dentist thing. My employer youst to be the best in the world! Its true money changes people. I think Dentists should do a corse on employment before taking on a practice and staff. I think your 100% correct to move on and do whats right for you! I wish you the best of luck and am sure it will all work out for you. Sorry about your Dad too...

Regards and best wishes,
Colette.

Hi, Sorry to hear about your troubles. You have a legal right to your position. If you feel you can not appeal to your boss, and we have all worked for bosses like this! I suggest getting on several dental agency list and going for it. You may find youearn more and have a nicer relationship with the practices you will work at. Then if a job comes up in one of the practices that you find your self agency working, you will then know if you could settle there and what the people are like first. Do the 2 month rule first though, note down in a diary how your feeling now and if say in 1-2 months your feeling the same way. Hand your notice in. Its so easy to stay in a practice your not happy in. Take control of the situation with your rules. Good luck. We are all thinking of you.

my heart goes with you because i have been on the dilemma as you regarding your father / family being there to support them . i would have done exactly the same thing and i did .

i too totally agree with beth and lou by making a one to one chat with him regarding the matter . always be honest and tell him what is in your head no point of keeping things , you can not beat honesty .

my own personal experienced was slightly different as i am not a dental nurse but i am in a dental profession so i dealt with it by making the hours up to fulfil my own work , working weekends just so my work load did not suffer .

when it was jury service ( i was employed by a different company this time) he refused to pay me for all the time i was not at work BUT the court paid me for the hours i was there .

this does not solve your problem , i know BUT this is why Websites like this is such an important creation for people like you and me . i have been working in this field for over 15yrs and i have not met any dentist with a 'human' heart who would look at people the way he would look at himself/herself . i have worked hard to get to my level and so have you and many others there and all we ask for is a little respect and what we are worth so NO do not put up with it , speak up girl and then move on otherwise .

goodluck

I totally agree with Beth,speak to your employer about how you feel it does sound like they are being unreasonable.If this does not work then start looking for another job.

Louise

If you are employed as a nurse and this is stated on your contract, they cannot take you away from your present position unless it has been agreed by both parties.

I suppose the only problem is that you will rock the boat if you take this further and may mean an awkward working relationship. Have you tried takling to the boss, to say how unhappy you are in this situation?

Beth

What an awful situation you are in! So sorry to hear about your Dad being poorly x

Agency/temping is definately the way to go, i work part time in 2 practices and for an agency, the agency i am with 'Apex Dental Agency' they are fab and never send a nurse with out a practice inspection first. it's great because you go in have a great day nusring meet some people and leave-no politics-BLISS!

Good luck x

hi there,

I am very sorry to read about your dad that is not good news!

I can not believe the way you are being treated at your job, these are thing that you also do not want but cant be helped and i think its terrible your work is not being understanding!!

I have worked in Australia,New Zealand and London as a temp nurse and if you work for the right agency then you always getting work and a secure monthly wage but also have more fexibility on the working hours you do!!

In your situation i would say def try temping as it sounds like your boss does not appreciate you and your loyalty and dont worry there are plenty temping jobs out there.

I hope this helps

Emma

Ok, this is probably more of a moan than anything. I have been employed as a dental nurse at my current practice for over 2 years, i love my job, i love the place i work and i love the ppl i work with. i am a good nurse, qualified and experienced in most aspects of dentistry. I have been fortunate enough to work with quite a few specialists so i am confident in my skills. Unfortunately, in dec last year, my father had a massive stroke, he barely survived and is now severly disabled. i ended up not working the whole of december due to helping my mum and sister out and being there for my dad. My work or rather my boss was not so nice or understanding (bearing in mind i have worked for this man for 2 years prior to my current job in another practice - he has known me for 5 years). I knew he couldnt do anything so i resumed work in jan this year and nothing more has been said. I then got summoned for jury service for feb in which i ended up on a 7 week trial - again they were not too happy but what can one do?!? we have been short staffed and basically needed a part time nurse and a full time receptionist. i get back to work 2 weeks ago only to find out they have hired a part time nurse and a full time nurse and put me on reception only to nurse as and when needed! I am not happy as nothing has been discussed, nor have i been asked and basically i am a nurse - not a receptionist! i have been debating to start temping since my dad got ill just so i can be a bit more flexable with helping my family out but i have been worried about the security of a monthly wage as i have a mortgage and bills etc and from what i understand temping is not guaranteed and it is seasonal. does anyone have any advice?
thankyou