I am sure this has been asked before and mentioned previously and is probably akin to beating a dead horse with a stick, however... I am absolutely confounded, miserable, and at a loss as to what to do- so please bear with me and help me if you can?
But first a little background on me: I obtained my LVN license back in Jan. 2010. I have been working under this license since October 2010 (had a hard time finding a job as a new grad). And of the 2 years of nursing I have done: I worked in 2 facilities and have spent 1.5 years doing wound care.
I currently work for a 103 bed facility but we maintain about 90% census. Census has never dropped below 80 since I have started working here (~5 months).
I see the whole building for wound care. Thats 80+ patients with dry dressings, wet to dry dressings, a couple wound vacs, etc. It is is my sacred duty to change foley caths, colostomy/ileostomy, treat every skin tear, nose bleed, and skin irritation.
At first I thought this was how it worked here in this facility. The hiring admin assured me wounds for only about 50% of the populace. That has not held up to be true.
I see about 85% of our current census. That includes the creams, powders, and general what-have-yous. And I am required to do my work in 8-hours. No more, no less.
Now that I have been here a few months, I am hearing the same question over and over again: why are you the only one?
Apparently, before I was hired, they had 2 wound care nurses on the floor. One worked 4-hours and the other worked 8-hours. But I was told I was the only tx nurse on the floor and I am only given help one day of the week so that I can prepare our weekly wound report.
I have had up to 6 admissions in one day.
And this is getting really long so please just tell me: can I go make a fuss about this situation? I am at my wits end with stress and trying to keep up with all their "required" paperwork for patients and new admissions.
Also, since I am the "full time treatment nurse" I am supposed to "catch" any and all potential problems which include work that should have been done and completed by the weekend tx nurses.
Is this a matter I should bring up with my union rep?
Sorry this got to so long. I was trying to give the whole picture so that I may obtain the most accurate answer. Thank you all for your time! It was greatly appreciated.
