[MrsWampthang]

This past week I stupidly offered to help out with a day shift need in the long term acute care hospital where I work. I normally work nights, but they were extremely short so with the offer of a bonus, I thought I would help out. Welll, to say it was the shift from H*%$ is putting it mildly. I wasn't clocked in yet nor had I had time to check out what my assignment was, when two different nurses told me that I had the sucky assignment. I only had 5 patients but all three patients had G-tubes or NG tubes with three of two of them getting tube feedings and two of them getting TPN. All 5 got their meds via G-tube. They all had bucketloads of meds spaced out all day long as well as several IV antibiotic meds spaced throughout the day. On top of that, I had to take a new admit! If one of the nurses that had an easier load had not pitched in to help me with the new admit I wouldn't have gotten out of there until midnight. I was so overwhelmed all day, that more than once I broke down in tears. It didn't help that the nurse sharing the hall with me had plenty of time to take breaks, lunch and just sit at the desk in the nurse's station, never offering to help me, even though she knew I was drowning. I didn't have time for lunch so I was glad I had taken time to eat a good breakfast before I went to work. I did put in a no lunch time sheet so I would get paid for the time I worked instead of eating. I was so behind all day and felt like such a loser. I haven't had a bad shift like that in a long time. I guess I am spoiled on night shift as there aren't as many meds to be given and they aren't spaced out as badly throughout the shift. Not that that particular assignment isn't bad on nights as well as days. Needless to say I will never work med/surg on day shift again, I don't care how short they are. I felt like I had been"bent over" even though I was helping out. I got the worst assignment for helping day shift. Anyone else ever have a day like that? Am I a loser or just being a baby?

Pam

[Katnip]

You aren't a a loser. You aren't a baby. You did the best you could.

Why weren't the assignments divided up to make them more equitable? Dumping all the heavy ones on one nurse and giving lighter assignments to other nurses isn't right.

There should never be light assignments, reasonable, assignments, and a "sucky" assignment.

[meownsmile]

That seems to be a regular occurance around my facility. If you have to float to another floor you can almost count on having the worst team on the floor with the worst staff they have to "help" you. You dont get any cooperation from others who are there on a regular basis. Its like they take the attitude, well we have to deal all the time why shouldnt you.
It gets real tiring and people hate floating for that reason. You would think they would be appreciative enough to at least split up that heavy team and share the work. Its to bad people are so self indulgent and superficial to think that way. Hey they picked that floor to take a position on.

[jillyk*rn]

That falls under the - NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED - creedo.

If I offer to work for someone else - I get floated. If I offer to work half a shift - the other person doesn't show up.

You are NOT a loser. It was obvious to others that you had a lousy assignment. You are being way too hard on yourself.

Just try to brush it off, and spend that "hard earned bonus cash" on something great.

[IreneL]

In my clinical rotation I saw them do this same thing to a traveling nurse. I thought it was extremely cruel to her and to the patients. My fellow students and I helped where we could but as students, of course, we were limited by what we were allowed to do. It seems the nurse in charge of assignments could step up and be a better manager.
Keep doing the best you can and use this experience to keep you aware of what it feels like so that the behavior doesn't gt repeated. Remain and advocate for your patients and your fellow nursing staff.

[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

Don't be silly, it wasn't you. It was that nurse-eat-nurse culture that just chomped a big hunk of your self-esteem.

This mindset thinks, Well we'll just show her how bad it can be on day shift. They can't resist rubbing your nose in it, but the fact is, they're cutting off their own noses to spite their faces.

Because what'll happen the next time they have a need?

They proved that you "can't handle" day shift, and you'll just walk away from another opportunity to be treated badly.

Oh darn.

[Beary-nice]

Originally Posted by Traumamama59

This past week I stupidly offered to help out with a day shift need in the long term acute care hospital where I work. I normally work nights, but they were extremely short so with the offer of a bonus, I thought I would help out. Welll, to say it was the shift from H*%$ is putting it mildly. I wasn't clocked in yet nor had I had time to check out what my assignment was, when two different nurses told me that I had the sucky assignment. I only had 5 patients but all three patients had G-tubes or NG tubes with three of two of them getting tube feedings and two of them getting TPN. All 5 got their meds via G-tube. They all had bucketloads of meds spaced out all day long as well as several IV antibiotic meds spaced throughout the day. On top of that, I had to take a new admit! If one of the nurses that had an easier load had not pitched in to help me with the new admit I wouldn't have gotten out of there until midnight. I was so overwhelmed all day, that more than once I broke down in tears. It didn't help that the nurse sharing the hall with me had plenty of time to take breaks, lunch and just sit at the desk in the nurse's station, never offering to help me, even though she knew I was drowning. I didn't have time for lunch so I was glad I had taken time to eat a good breakfast before I went to work. I did put in a no lunch time sheet so I would get paid for the time I worked instead of eating. I was so behind all day and felt like such a loser. I haven't had a bad shift like that in a long time. I guess I am spoiled on night shift as there aren't as many meds to be given and they aren't spaced out as badly throughout the shift. Not that that particular assignment isn't bad on nights as well as days. Needless to say I will never work med/surg on day shift again, I don't care how short they are. I felt like I had been"bent over" even though I was helping out. I got the worst assignment for helping day shift. Anyone else ever have a day like that? Am I a loser or just being a baby?

Pam

You are in no way a loser!!!! I agree with others that you did the best you could with what you had to deal with. I have had similar assignments in the past working in a hospital float pool. I would get the biggest load, the most G-tubes, the most isolation patients and whoever else the floor nurses were "tired of tending to." I am someone who takes it a time or two then I put my foot down and say "I am happy to help you, but I either need back up or you all can divvy this up a little differently!" Most would heed my word and those who didn't, well, I didn't visit their area for a while. I know not everyone is allowed to do that but my manager did allow it if you explained the situation. I have been known to meet with managers of other areas and say...what the hey is this??? I am all out for 1. The patients and 2. My sanity!

Good luck with the wedding!

Beary

[TazziRN]

Part of the problem is that you are used to a different routine, so you weren't in your element. The other part is that the newbie or the floater or the person who graciously agreed to help gets stuck with the pts that nobody else wants. Neither of these label you as a loser. If anything, you should be labelled as a saviour because you got through the shift and everything got done. Blessings to the nurse who helped you.

{{{Traumamama}}}

[Jess1983]

Originally Posted by Traumamama59

This past week I stupidly offered to help out with a day shift need in the long term acute care hospital where I work. I normally work nights, but they were extremely short so with the offer of a bonus, I thought I would help out. Welll, to say it was the shift from H*%$ is putting it mildly. I wasn't clocked in yet nor had I had time to check out what my assignment was, when two different nurses told me that I had the sucky assignment. I only had 5 patients but all three patients had G-tubes or NG tubes with three of two of them getting tube feedings and two of them getting TPN. All 5 got their meds via G-tube. They all had bucketloads of meds spaced out all day long as well as several IV antibiotic meds spaced throughout the day. On top of that, I had to take a new admit! If one of the nurses that had an easier load had not pitched in to help me with the new admit I wouldn't have gotten out of there until midnight. I was so overwhelmed all day, that more than once I broke down in tears. It didn't help that the nurse sharing the hall with me had plenty of time to take breaks, lunch and just sit at the desk in the nurse's station, never offering to help me, even though she knew I was drowning. I didn't have time for lunch so I was glad I had taken time to eat a good breakfast before I went to work. I did put in a no lunch time sheet so I would get paid for the time I worked instead of eating. I was so behind all day and felt like such a loser. I haven't had a bad shift like that in a long time. I guess I am spoiled on night shift as there aren't as many meds to be given and they aren't spaced out as badly throughout the shift. Not that that particular assignment isn't bad on nights as well as days. Needless to say I will never work med/surg on day shift again, I don't care how short they are. I felt like I had been"bent over" even though I was helping out. I got the worst assignment for helping day shift. Anyone else ever have a day like that? Am I a loser or just being a baby?

Pam

No, youre not a loser or a baby. you worked hard and there are plenty of people who would have walked out and never came back! the other nurses who saw you struggling should have lent a hand. if i were you i'd never volunteer for day shift agian. not after the way you were treated.

[vloho]

and why is it when you agree to work another shift or another day ,someone points out you missed something[like a B-12] and you get written-up for your effort?