[chocolate123]

Hi Guys, I really need your help. I am also a new nurse at a LTC facility. I have been working at this facility for 3 mos. I started out with 15 to 30 patients. I'm always doing at least 1.5 to 2 hrs overtime everyday to complete my notes are to finish my treatments. I finally felt a little comfortable working with 30 pts - I still do at least 1 hr overtime. But I was told by my supervisor that they wanted me to work on another unit that have 48 pts. I don't know what to do. I want to quit because I don't think this is safe for the patients or me. Just last week , three of the patients on this unit fell and the LPN that was working, who has 10 yrs at this facility, said she will never work on that unit again. Now since she won't do it they asked me to work on that unit. I'm saying if she can't do it what makes you think I can do it and I'm a new nurse (never worked in healthcare before) and new at this facility. I'm scare I may loss my license working on that unit. Please help! I suppose to work there tonight.

[chocolate123]

By the way it will be me with 1.5 CNA. One CNA will help out with the other side of the floor as well.

[kakamegamama]

I don't think any amount of money would keep me in a place like that. Sounds very unsafe--both for patients & for your license. I think "run as fast as you can to the nearest exit (after giving notice so as to not be accused of abandonment) sounds like a wise thing! Best of luck!

[racing-mom4]

I think quiting is a drastic 1st step. I think you should tell your boss that you dont feel comfortable taking on the 48 pts with minimal CNA assistance.
Explain that you understand she is in a tough position that this wing needs covered but you alone do not feel qualified or prepared at this point to take it on. Offer up some suggestions. Maybe you and 2 of the best CNAs, or you and another LPN and a CNA.

I believe in presenting the problem: I do not feel capable of taking on this large of a pt load at this time and then presenting some solutions to the problem. I would feel comfortable if I had Suzy long time LPN with me as well as Carol and Mary the great CNAs helping us.

If she is adamant that you must do this wing with out help, then ask her to help you. If she is not willing to put on some scrubs and work a shift with you, then tell her unfortunately you will be putting in your 2 week notice. Then document, document, document.

Best of luck with this.

[bollweevil]

You should tell your boss what you told us and see what she responds.

Keep safe, is the best advice. Personally, I think it seems pretty obvious that you are getting shafted. But, you should try to be certain. What is really happening? Are you being fed gossip or gospel truth?

On the other hand, you might want to quit now, for personal reasons, with notice, and not even discuss the matter with your boss. She will probably initiate the talk with you when you give her your notice. If you think it's wise, discuss it then. Or just say you have a family situation and need to resign, you're so sorry, you hope to remain in good standing, maybe you can come back in the future, on and on.

Welcome to Nursing.

[txspadequeen921]

If you are comfortable in your current position ( I think it may be too much for you but you do need time to build up organization and time saving skills) then I would tell them NO!! What are they going to do fire you??? If you don't stand up for yourself they will drag you through the mud. I guarantee you that if you get overwhelmed and something happens to one of those patients they will not be there to back you up....LTC is a dog eat dog world, do only what feels safe for you.....

[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.

[michelle126]

You have to get report and count first. If you just walk on the unit and find your assignment that isn't abandonment.

Sounds like they are trying to dump on you! If the nurse of 10yrs wont take it, what makes them think you should be able to handle it.
I've been doing LTC for 12+ yrs and would never accept that assignment! Over the yrs I might have been stuck (emergency where the nurse left early...in an ambulance) with the whole 48 by myself, but I would never willingly work that way. That is with 3-4 cnas on a 3-11 shift.

Be specific and willing to walk if she says you must work that unit by yourself. I just can't imagine doing that on a dialy basis. Why don't you have enough staff?

BTW....what shift is this? If it in an 11-7 shift...one nurse does sound okay for 48....any other shift it would be crazy.

[chocolate123]

Hi Michelle,

This is a 11-7 shift...but my thing is that most of the pts on this unit has dementia and wanders throughout the night. They are considering locking down this unit. Also, I was told by the LPN that 3 people fell last week and she had to come back the next day to do some late entries because it was just too much for her. This is really to much for one nurse. Another thing about this assignment is that I have never worked on this unit. So I don't really know anything about the patient, their treatments or meds they get.

What had happen the nurse who use to work this unit quit after 5 years of service and I believe if I do this for them tonight they will stick me with this unit. I told her I was willing to help during the week on the 7-3 shift when it is two nurses on the unit, but not doing it by myself. Well come to find out she place me on the schedule tonight (11-7A) to do it by myself without letting me know. I so happen to find out my the week evening supervisor.

[dekatn]

I would leave and find something else. I worked in NH for several years and one of my pet peeves and putting moving nurses from one hall to another w/o talking to them about it, you come in and you are scheduled to work a hall you have never worked before. I resent that. 48 pt. with 1/5 cna isn't safe and they know it. The thing is, they don't care how hard it is for you, they are at home in the bed asleep and the floor is covered according to the numbers. By the way, the way they figure the staffing numbers and post them is a crock too. Find something that is workable for you, when you leave there will be another warm body to take your place. It's not abandonment for taking care of yourself. This is your career, your bread and butter, if you stay under these conditions you will get burned crispy. There are better jobs out there. It's not just the nurses either, the cna's suffer, the pt. get used to certain nurses and cna's and it confuses them even more when people are moved around like that. Please take care of yourself, places like this will survive, they always do, but it takes its toll on good staff.