I am so frustrated..........vent!!!

Specialties Emergency

Published

Specializes in 1 PACU,11 ICU, 9 ER.

I just completed another crazy shift in our very busy ER(busiest in volume in our state) and am so close to resigning and going back to the ICU where I still do per diem.

We have 4-5 pts each per shift, including 2 hallway pts (more often than not). It does not matter if 1 of them is intubated etc, still expected to care for other 3- 4 pts who can all be very sick. These are all 3 or yellow and above, no ft pts. If you get a trauma you have to make a point of asking for the float or someone to cover your other pts. If you are lucky you get to eat! It obviously depends on whom you are working with but I am soooooooo tired of dealing with this crap. (excuse my french!).

I work in another ER elsewhere and it so different, just not enough work there right now. ( I am per diem at both).

I am tired of lazy nurses who do not pull their weight, bad nurses who should be fired and also tired of ff pts abusing the health care system and making the really sick people wait for hrs.

I get my eval today which was fine and then had a comment(that was bought to my attention but not part of my eval) that someone stated that " Nurse X(me) gets angry with the workload and seems to have a breaking point way sooner then she should. I am not sure if it is because she is used to the unit and a load of 2 pts of what the reason may be beyond this". " Nurse X gets frustrated with the ff pt population and is not very quiet about it."

Most of us are not quiet about it! ( I am not talking within earshot of ots, but in break room etc)

I have been very frustrated recently and have complained 2 or 3 times to the Unit sup or CN about how unsafe the ER is, not c/o about my particular work load! I did 14 -15 yrs ICU(last 3-4 per diem) and have been working prety much fulltime ER since then.

I want to resign tomorrow, I am so frustrated right now. My evals are always great and this one was too but these comments and the ff are just peeing me off.

Any suggestions besides a glass of vino or a vacation? (which I have in 3 months)

Thanks for letting me vent!

:angryfire:madface::nuke::rolleyes:

:zzzzz

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

I'm sorry for your situation...what about getting FT status at one of the other hospitals? Sounds like your current dept is not a good place to work.

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Take some time off to regroup - do nothing hasty.

Take care of yourself and get some support!

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Hello Dear

You are right to be frustrated.

I have a suggestion....does your other colleague feel the same way you do?!!!

If that is true...then all of you can write it down your frustration or your issues(we can say it). Written materials( in memo form or any other) are more effective to communicate to higher ups. By writing down we can be more assertive without showing any aggressiveness.

good luck

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I think that all reviews tend to have some BS comments in them. Unfortunately, in this world, if you complain about anything, you are considered a whiner and not a team player, even though your complaints are very grounded in fact.

I would just ignore the comment in your review. In my last review cycle, several of the nurses (including me) got comments (that were apparently garnered from the "peer review group") that we were not prompt in giving pain meds. All of us who got the comment are religious about giving pain meds. So, go figure.

Take care,

Oldiebutgoodie

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Specializes in ER/CCU/Military Nursing.

I can completely understand your frustration. I work at a 40bed ER that sees 75,000 pt a year. We have 1 MD on on nights for all of the patients and we may have a CN(who doesn't take pt) and 2-3 other nurses. Sometimes we might have 7 pt's (usually more). I was recently at my breaking point. I literally was making myslef sick over the thought of having to go back to that place. No matter what you said or did, no one even tried to fix it. In fact, we refer to our director as a legend because supposedly she is there......but sightings are limited (kinda like big foot). I recently left and I can't say how much better my quality of life has become. I may not make as much or be considered a "critical" care nurse now, but for the first time in a long time, I am happy to be a nurse again. I hope this helps.:wink2:

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Specializes in Telemetry and ER.
I can completely understand your frustration. I work at a 40bed ER that sees 75,000 pt a year. We have 1 MD on on nights for all of the patients and we may have a CN(who doesn't take pt) and 2-3 other nurses. Sometimes we might have 7 pt's (usually more). I was recently at my breaking point. I literally was making myslef sick over the thought of having to go back to that place. No matter what you said or did, no one even tried to fix it. In fact, we refer to our director as a legend because supposedly she is there......but sightings are limited (kinda like big foot). I [b]recently left and I can't say how much better my quality of life has become. I may not make as much or be considered a "critical" care nurse now, but for the first time in a long time, I am happy to be a nurse again. I hope this helps.:wink2:[/QUOTE][/b]

I have to ask where did you go?????Did you leave the hopital.:idea::uhoh3::nuke::nurse:;):yawn:

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Specializes in ER/CCU/Military Nursing.

I am now working with injured soldiers, it is very rewarding and I feel like I can really see the benefits of nursing again. It is nice to be appreciated and to help people who have given so much

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Specializes in Trauma/E.R./ ICU.

I wish I had something somewhat useful to add to this thread. I also work in an Urban ER and the situation is dire (just like the ones above)

It just seems strange to me that we as nurses keep allowing this to happen. There is a limit to human capacity. I myself let a hot belly sit in a room for 2 hours because I was dealing with an intubated overdose who was also very sick. I don't know what happend to the other 3 people (5 total) because I just didn't have time to get to them. Everyone else is so busy in the department they can't help either. I just don't know. The ugliness is here. I think we are really feeling the lack of Nursing Instructors, lack of retention, lack of healthcare for individuals, and many other factors. Yikes.

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Specializes in ICU of all kinds, CVICU, Cath Lab, ER..

Sounds familiar.... you worry about keeping your license the entire time you are there.

I am shocked that two facilities mentioned in the comments only have one (1) doc on nights.... isn't that doc howling about it to his group?? should be.....

My experience is that it will take a monumental (sentinel event with JACHO) to make the changes that they need to..... sad, sad, sad.

My advice: get a full time job elsewhere and keep perdiem (or agency) to supplement - and I understand supplement too.

God bless - good luck!

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I wish I had something somewhat useful to add to this thread. I also work in an Urban ER and the situation is dire (just like the ones above)

It just seems strange to me that we as nurses keep allowing this to happen. There is a limit to human capacity. I myself let a hot belly sit in a room for 2 hours because I was dealing with an intubated overdose who was also very sick. I don't know what happend to the other 3 people (5 total) because I just didn't have time to get to them. Everyone else is so busy in the department they can't help either. I just don't know. The ugliness is here. I think we are really feeling the lack of Nursing Instructors, lack of retention, lack of healthcare for individuals, and many other factors. Yikes.

Don't forget about lack of managment people that care about anything but the bottom line.
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Specializes in 1 PACU,11 ICU, 9 ER.

Thanks for all of your replies. I wrote out my resignantion and felt better, talked to my unit supervisor about how I felt and she has suggested that I me take a break from the ER if I like( I am per diem and only HAVE to work 2 shifts per month) and give it a month or so.

I am also per diem in the ICU and in an ER at another hospital (that I love!) and I shall work those 2 places a little more. I have to stay per diem as I have 2 kids under 3 and work around dh schedule. By the way I love per diem, work when I want to work!!!

I have a 2 week vacation in 3 months so I will hang on for that. I had a better shift tonight. Glad I have supportive friends and dh!

Thanks again and I feel the pain of what you guys are also going through.

:)

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