After Nursing: Is There Life Out There?

Some musings from a nurse in her mid-fifties who learns that she faces the possibility of losing the best nursing job she's ever held.......and ponders the question of whether it's time to make this 'best' nursing job her *last* nursing job. Nurses General Nursing Article

You are reading page 4 of After Nursing: Is There Life Out There?

Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Hey there, Viva. Have only read the first page of this thread.

But I've reviewed a ton of your postings through the years. (No, I'm no spring chicken either.)

And there's no question in my mind that even if the current audit turns out to be the worse in the facility's history, you're still gonna land on your feet someplace else.

'Cause you're too sharp, too experienced and too with it.

Might also turn out to be a blessing in disguise: The next place may be your best employer. So stay positive.

Good luck to ya!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide

VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN

22 Articles; 9,987 Posts

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Awwww....that didn't hurt one bit. Thank you!!

Liddle Noodnik

3,789 Posts

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..

Viva any updates on this? how are things going?

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide

VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN

22 Articles; 9,987 Posts

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Liddle Noodnik said:
Viva any updates on this? how are things going?

I apologize for being remiss in checking my threads/articles. :blackeye:

Things have improved rather dramatically in the past week and a half or so, I'm happy to report. The new schedule ROCKS! I got so much done last week that I was able to take on some new projects, which has already retrieved my butt from the sling it was in just a couple of weeks ago. My boss is happy again, and I even got hugs from the RDO!

Now I've just had my first 3-day weekend and have literally enjoyed every minute. In these three days, I've actually gotten to go on a "date" with my husband, do some shopping (although it's like "HELP! I'm spending too much money and I can't stop!!"), get some yard work done, see a movie, clean up some of the clutter around the house, go to Mass, and I STILL had time to just veg in front of the computer. And I'm relaxed and rarin' to go tomorrow morning. YESSSS!!!:singing:

Liddle Noodnik

3,789 Posts

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
VivaLasViejas said:
I apologize for being remiss in checking my threads/articles. :blackeye:

dat's ok dolling... glad the new schedule is working, amen! ?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
VivaLasViejas said:
I apologize for being remiss in checking my threads/articles. :blackeye:

Things have improved rather dramatically in the past week and a half or so, I'm happy to report. The new schedule ROCKS! I got so much done last week that I was able to take on some new projects, which has already retrieved my butt from the sling it was in just a couple of weeks ago. My boss is happy again, and I even got hugs from the RDO!

Now I've just had my first 3-day weekend and have literally enjoyed every minute. In these three days, I've actually gotten to go on a "date" with my husband, do some shopping (although it's like "HELP! I'm spending too much money and I can't stop!!"), get some yard work done, see a movie, clean up some of the clutter around the house, go to Mass, and I STILL had time to just veg in front of the computer. And I'm relaxed and rarin' to go tomorrow morning. YESSSS!!!:singing:

I am so happy for you!!!!!!!!!!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide

VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN

22 Articles; 9,987 Posts

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

An update I wish I didn't have to share........

Our re-survey process began at 0830 Wednesday morning, and it all went downhill from there. What we were expecting was the one surveyor who did the quickie one in January and said we just had a few more things to fix up. What we got was a team of three---one of whom is well-known to me, and when I saw her come into my building I knew we were in deep Bandini: she is a pit bull of a surveyor who nearly closed our sister facility singlehandedly two years ago (I was the one who saved that facility from a stop-placement order, as some of you may recall). And, to put it politely, it took them only ten hours to carve up our documentation and hand our butts to us......with a brand-new citation and a 'harm' tag to top it off. :arghh:

So now we get to go through this again. AGAIN. Strange, I thought it was my job to make sure that our people were doing their jobs; it never occurred to me---until it was pointed out to me today---that it was also my job to make sure that other companies were making sure THEIR people were doing THEIR jobs. :rolleyes: I also got a verbal spanking for apparently being a poor advocate for my resident who isolates in his room because he wants to be left alone, whose son thinks he's doing OK under the circumstances and knows Dad would pitch an unholy fit if the mental-health nurse came in to evaluate him.

I've carefully documented the conversations I've had with both of them, figuring that would suffice; but I am evidently remiss in allowing the man to live out the remainder of his days as he chooses without intervening, without forcing him to do things he doesn't want to do......and for what? So he can stick around even longer when he already feels that life has become a burden and he wants to be done? So he can regain the 40 pounds he lost in the nursing home, which he certainly doesn't need and is far more mobile without? How is that being an advocate??

And of course, it all boils down to what TPTB demand from us---perfection---versus what we who do NOT walk on water can give, which I call "pretty-damn-close". We take good care of our residents. Everyone, including the top brass at our company, our outside home-health providers, and the residents' families, knows this. We just have trouble proving it, in no small part because the targets we're aiming at keep moving all the time.

And yes, I'm frustrated, angry, upset, and fearful that this is indeed the final nail in the coffin. I honestly don't believe my director will survive this latest catatastrophic survey, and if he goes, I'm gone too. We've given it our best shot and then some, and we still aren't getting it done to the state's satisfaction; why ever would the company keep us on when our mistakes are drawing civil penalties that cost them money?

I'm not going to spend the weekend stressing about it, though. Boss goes on vacation Monday and will be gone for a week, which means nobody's getting fired till at least the beginning of the following week; what happens after that is anyone's guess. But I've been thrown under the bus before with bad surveys, and I'm sure I'm not done quite yet. All I know is that I'm going to carry on just like I usually do, working on the things I can fix while trying not to drive myself bonkers over what I cannot.:nailbiting:

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide

VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN

22 Articles; 9,987 Posts

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Well, I got my orifice handed to me again yesterday........emergency staff meeting, then a private discussion with my boss. He spent over an hour and a half on the phone with Corporate before the staff meeting, and it's boiled down to this---we will both be fired if we fail the next re-survey.

From a business standpoint, I understand perfectly well what TPTB are thinking, and I don't blame them. This is part of what being in top management is about, somebody's got to fall on his/her sword, and life goes on. OTOH.......I don't have a Plan B, and I'm scared to death.

I've NEVER not had a Plan B for what to do in case a job didn't work out. This was the one I'd planned to stay with until I was ready to leave nursing, period; I know what the economy is like, and I know what the job prospects are for a 50+ nurse with an associates degree, to say nothing of years of experience that make me expensive to hire, and medical problems that make me expensive to insure. And I'm sick of starting over again........I finally figured out why I used to job-hop, have stuck with this one through some pretty tough times, and have absolutely NO desire to leave. I am too old and too tired to keep starting over, and over, and over.

To say the least, I am afraid........I am very afraid.:notworthy:

wincha

339 Posts

In the same situation, in my 50's, in a high level administration job and can't continue these hours for health reasons. Before I took this position I wasn't considered for the hospital or even in any other area, too long out, to high up in administration and would not be considered for a position I had years ago even if wanted too, had excelled in my previous position, and would take a pay cut. Not sure what to do. Very frustrating. Do I go back to get my BSN? I already have a BA but that is keeping from being able to apply for some positions. However that doesn't guarantee I will be considered anyway. If I was younger I would go back to school to be a NP, that's where the jobs are BUT I still have children to put through college and after 3 now it would be over 4 years since a doctorate would be required and most programs are moving to the doctorate level I would be closer to retirement, if we had the money to retire.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
VivaLasViejas said:
Well, I got my orifice handed to me again yesterday........emergency staff meeting, then a private discussion with my boss. He spent over an hour and a half on the phone with Corporate before the staff meeting, and it's boiled down to this---we will both be fired if we fail the next re-survey.

From a business standpoint, I understand perfectly well what TPTB are thinking, and I don't blame them. This is part of what being in top management is about, somebody's got to fall on his/her sword, and life goes on. OTOH.......I don't have a Plan B, and I'm scared to death.

I've NEVER not had a Plan B for what to do in case a job didn't work out. This was the one I'd planned to stay with until I was ready to leave nursing, period; I know what the economy is like, and I know what the job prospects are for a 50+ nurse with an associates degree, to say nothing of years of experience that make me expensive to hire, and medical problems that make me expensive to insure. And I'm sick of starting over again........I finally figured out why I used to job-hop, have stuck with this one through some pretty tough times, and have absolutely NO desire to leave. I am too old and too tired to keep starting over, and over, and over.

To say the least, I am afraid........I am very afraid.:notworthy:

If it is any solace...you are not alone. You are amongst friends....((HUGS)). I have no words of wisdom.....I was, in the end, unable to save myself, now it's a moot point.

This too shall pass.