[grumpy old nurse]

unfortunately you are not alone, this is similar to what happens to me every weekend i normally have at lest 6-7 patients on an ortho floor, doing my own vitals, no cna because they have either been pulled to another floor or one was not scheduled, 16 patients between two nurses,

[patwil73]

As most people have said the ratio nurse to patient sounds ok, but the lack of ancillary support is what kills. I am the supervisor at my hospital on nights and our surgical unit will take: 3-5 days, 4-6 eve/nights. 1 aid to upto 12 patients. 1 unassigned charge to help out. 1 secretery (will eventually cover 2 units when chemo is up and running on nights). Usually we have a house float to help, and I am always willing to come down - insert foley's, ng, admit, and we have a rapid response team also (me and RT, sometimes the critical care charge).

When I hear "horror" stories of places with staffing I say the same thing - there are too many nursing jobs available to be stuck with one you don't feel safe in.

Hope this helps,

Pat

[mosin46]

sounds typical and grossly unsafe. the other posters seem to think that refusing to ignore patient care and monitoring to do public relations,secretarial and ancillary functions is the way to go. i agree. administration hearing a bunch of complaints about that stuff sliding probably won't work. but at least you have kept your focus where it belongs and haven't compromised yourself by letting the load get dropped on you and your co workers.

[caliotter3]

I agree with the other posters, particularly steelcityRN. Your supervisor has told you if you don't like it, quit. If you quit, they will surely replace you. Try to hang in there and get as much experience as you can. At some point, start looking to broaden your horizons. When the time is right, then you might consider moving on.