[ann945n]

Listen to your gut, its telling you this is not safe and you should not work that hall. Tell your boss no and tell your boss what you just told us. If they will not listen to you and force you to that hall quit. Do not put your license on the line for any job. You deserve a job where you are happy and safe, take the time to find it.

[NurseCherlove]

So, you're saying that at one point she was ok with your concerns about going to this unit (i.e. not pressing the issue) and now you happen to find out (only b/c you called) that you are scheduled there for the weekend?

What if you hadn't called to get your schedule? I guess you would have been driving to work oblivious to the surprise awaiting you.

Sorry, but that act of disrespect alone is enough to quit in my opinion. Sounds like this facility/admin is showing their true colors - no real concern for their nurses (or really for their patients either with staffing like that!).

I say shake the dust off your shoes as you walk away from this one.

[chocolate123]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I called and spoke with the DON and she stated that she will move me back to my old unit and let the more experience nurse work the heavy unit. But she also said that they are going to train me on the heavy unit because everyone is now going to be rotating. When I interviewed for this position, I was told that I will be working the acute care unit which only hold 32 residents. Now I learn today that I will be trained to work any unit in the facility.

I decided to go to work tonight, however, I going to start looking for a new job. Several people that I work with told me to go to a hospital first and get some experience and then come back to LTC, but I always wants to work in geriatric, however, I believe I'm going to take their advice. It is a shame because I really like the residents and I believe they like me. They tell me all the time that I really care for them and I do more for them than the other nurses. If they wants something done and I'm just walking past their room, they call me to do it knowing I'm not their nurse.

Again, thank everyone for you help. You guys are the best, I will let you know when I get that new job.

[Brownms46]

I would NOT accept this assignment at all! And I wouldn't care what they promised you, because I would not trust any facility that would even think about doing this. I would leave and go elsewhere. You can only reason with reasonable people, and it is obvious you are not dealing with reasonable people. Or they would not have even considered putting ANY nurse with 48 patients, day night or otherwise!

At least you know before hand, and have a chance to protect yourself! The last shift I did was a agency 3-11 Shift on Thanksgiving two years ago on a mental health unit. I had four techs, and SIXTY residents! Many were walkers and talkers, but lot of diabetics, and that was the LAST shift I will ever work! I got out of there with my license intact, but I have never and will never work another day as a nurse if I can help it!!! That was just the last straw!

Take care of YOU, because if you don't, who will???

[Brownms46]

Originally Posted by chocolate123

I decided to go to work tonight, however, I going to start looking for a new job. Several people that I work with told me to go to a hospital first and get some experience and then come back to LTC, but I always wants to work in geriatric, however, I believe I'm going to take their advice. It is a shame because I really like the residents and I believe they like me. They tell me all the time that I really care for them and I do more for them than the other nurses. If they wants something done and I'm just walking past their room, they call me to do it knowing I'm not their nurse.

Again, thank everyone for you help. You guys are the best, I will let you know when I get that new job.

Be very careful tonight, because you may walk in and find you are STILL on that unit!!! Arrive very early prior to the shift, so you can get a heads up and make contact quickly before the end of the evening shift. I would not trust these people at all!

Do not take report! Contact your DON or whomever is the contact person, and tell them you will not take report and you are leaving!!

Hospitals have geriatric units also, so don't feel you have to stay in LTC facilities just to care for the elderly.

[dekatn]

I work in a hospital and the majority of our pt. are geriatric, as a matter of fact, we get some from the very NH I where I used to work.
I know a lot of nurses hate med surg, but I work in a small rural hospital, there is a lot of team work and to be honest, after working in the NH environment, working at this hospital is like being on vacation. We work 12 hr shifts, I get to work 3 and off 4, love it.

[nyapa]

Good for you. Look for that job. Don't under any circumstances let them send you to that ward. This is your registration at risk. They have lied to you previously in saying they wouldn't send you there, one can imagine there is no way they will back you up should something go wrong

In the mean time, put your concerns in writing and thank them for not sending you to that unit! In this way you are not attacking them, but you have stated your concerns, and acknowledged you have had a conversation with them.

Jay

[CapeCodMermaid]

48 patients on a dementia unit with one nurse is pretty standard staffing these days. Certainly not all 48 of them are wandering around at night. There shouldn't be many meds to hand out...ask for another CNA. You're more likely to get that than another licensed person.

[bollweevil]

Originally Posted by chocolate123

Thank you so much for your responses. However, I called in for my schedule for the weekend and I was told by last night supervisor that I will be working on that unit this weekend. I spoke with the DON last week when she asked me to go on that unit and I told her that I was uncomfortable working with 48 pts being that I'm a new nurse and just learning my way around the facility. She was find with it last week, now I find out that she placed me on the unit this week, becuase that LPN she had working last week stated to me that she will never work on that unit again. She siaid it is too much work for one nurse. What gets me is that this LPN has 10 years of experience at this facility. If she can't do it how do they think that I can handle all these patients.

I'm going to pick up my check by noon today and have a talk with the DON one more time. If she says I have to work on that unit I think I should resign today, because I really dont feel comfortable working with all those resident by myself.

Question: Would that be abandonment if I quit before I count with the nurse. I thought abandonment is when you have accepted the assignment and you walk out after you have count meds with the prior nurse.

Please advise. I really appreciate you help in this matter.

I believe it's abandonment after you have accepted the assignment. To me, this means that, even if you are getting report and you are told something in report that you cannot accept, you may still refuse the assignment and not be abandoning. Not positive. You MUST get the straight answer from your BON. Not from us here or from anyone else who has no power to sanction your license.

[CapeCodMermaid]

"You MUST get the straight answer from your BON. Not from us here or from anyone else who has no power to sanction your license."
THAT was the best advice given in this post.