Help, did I get hired onto a sinking ship?

[skydancer7]

Hello all,

I just got a new (sort of) job and I am a bit concerned already. Background: it is an ambulatory surgery center, and I transferred from one branch of the company as per diem, to this other branch as full-time. I didn't stay at first branch as full-time because the PACU nurses (what I was doing at the time) NEVER get their breaks. Only a lunch. I need food and a break or I am not a safe nurse, and it's state law. But I digress...

Please tell me if I should RUN NOW or try to stick it out:

-There is currently no RN clinical director; she quit and left mere days before I was hired on. There is a job posting but no replacement yet.

-Hallways overflowing with supplies, supply-chain person seems totally confused and over-worked, we are running out of things because "it's inventory time"

-Scrub techs are not labeling any of the meds or solutions on their field, ever!!!??!

-TWO of the main OR nurses with most knowledge and seniority are leaving. Well, going "per-diem". This leaves the charge nurse, me, and this other OR nurse who seems VERY shaky on her feet; charge nurse even said she didn't feel comfortable having this nurse orient me. But we are so short today and per-diem nurse who knows what he is doing is out sick, so guess who I am training with...

-Charge nurse overheard saying how much she hates her job.

-Charge nurse takes two days off for mental health break, during my FIRST WEEK of orientation. My 4th day on the job, I am in a room by myself, on my own. I handled it fine, but the cases and surgeon were easy. Not even a week, and charge nurse says she thinks I can be "done with orientation". Um, what??

-Scrub tech telling me about worker's comp surgeon with dubious practices ("oh that knee cartilage looks pretty good... *tear* oh whoops, looks like I now need to do a repair $$$")

-Numerous people warning me about one surgeon who hates new people and will "test" you by being a dick to see if you have thick skin, one surgeon who bites your head off if you whistle or hum, one who is extremely condescending etc etc etc

-Manager is friendly enough but constantly looks and seems extremely nervous and un-sure

-Scrub tech saying jokingly that he was amazed I came back after my first day

-looks like some very new nurses are training even NEWER nurses in pre-op and PACU

I am feeling pretty uneasy, guys. However, I have hated all my nursing jobs and my resume looks like I am a job-hopper. There is another surgery center who is interested in interviewing me... should I look into it? Should I stick it out?

[skydancer7, BSN, RN]

But you stated you were getting your lunch break, just not your 15 minute breaks that are "required" by law and that was making you unsafe. I said I need to eat. And I do. I may not get my whole 30 minutes at once, but I shove something down.

Not getting a 15 minute break throughout the day seems like a weak reason to not go full time. Especially, when you have rent due and have no job.

If shoving something down is what sounds like a healthy and sustainable work situation for you on a daily basis, then hey, I know a clinic that's hiring...

It's very interesting; It sounds like what you are saying is that not remotely attempting to provide your employers a quick break before the 6+ hour mark, and in fact neglecting this on a daily basis, is acceptable and sustainable behavior for a company who expects to retain their employees and help maintain a healthy work environment. Is this accurate?

"That's a weak reason to not go full time"... That's also very interesting. It sounds like you are saying that people who find a workplace to be a poor fit for themselves and also are willing to take the risk to advocate for their rights and needs in the workplace are weak and selfish, and should just be grateful to have a job. Is that really what you are saying?

"Unsafe" might be a strong word and is possibly what you are being so reactive over. If you care, maybe some background will help you speak my language.

I remember one specific day when I was shaky, dizzy, couldn't think straight, managed to keep my patients safe... but at the end of the day my co-worker asked me to fix multiple charting errors which I KNOW for a fact would not have happened if I had been able to take proper care of myself. I only make those kinds of errors when I am beyond fatigue and hypoglycemia. It scared me, because it made me wonder what could happen IN THE FUTURE... and if this was a safe place for me to work, if this was going to continue every day, especially because this is SLOW season at the clinic. Do you understand? I was trying to catch things before they became TRULY unsafe. Charting errors I can fix. A med miscalculation is another matter, and I saw the writing on the wall. That's MY nursing judgment of myself and the situation I found myself in. It's my license on the line, and I know my body and what I need. Also, I refuse to be a martyr, and that's my decision.

The break thing was not the only issue, but I did see it as one of many symptoms of the place that I judged to be not the best place for me to stay. End of story, and not even the point of my original post...

[skydancer7, BSN, RN]

It sure does sound like your current place is sinking and I would absolutely get out of that place in a heart beat.

But I underlined what I personally think is the main or real problem here. You said it yourself, you have HATED all your nursing jobs. Hate is a very strong word!

So if it's any consolation, I always tell this to some of the new employees, new nurses, and students alike and that is:

When I'm scouting for a new employer or position, I don't look for a perfect job. But what I look for is what's perfect for me.

Oh totally!! I 100% completely understand and agree. I tried to post something to this effect on my phone, but it didn't go through:

1) I am actively in therapy to work on all this wonderful stuff; I feel stuck in a pattern and need help getting out

2) I am actively looking for other work and VERY open to finding something other than nursing altogether. Maybe ultrasound tech as someone suggested, or starving artist, or writer or who knows...

3) I am in the position that I need to make a certain amount of money to pay off my debt and reduce expenses so that I CAN take something that pays less and makes me happier... so in the meantime, I need to find a nursing job I can at the very least tolerate. OR find a job that pays similarly, but the only ones out there I can find are tech jobs, and I don't know sh*t about computers

SO yes! Thank you all. I know I need to change directions. It's just that the next step is getting out of a BAD situation and getting into a safer one. Did I mention they have someone in there who has never been in the OR before, alone and on her own after minimal "training", because they are so short staffed?? Sweet baby Jesus I hope my friends and family never need surgery there...

[LovingLife123]

If shoving something down is what sounds like a healthy and sustainable work situation for you on a daily basis, then hey, I know a clinic that's hiring...

It's very interesting; It sounds like what you are saying is that not remotely attempting to provide your employers a quick break before the 6+ hour mark, and in fact neglecting this on a daily basis, is acceptable and sustainable behavior for a company who expects to retain their employees and help maintain a healthy work environment. Is this accurate?

"That's a weak reason to not go full time"... That's also very interesting. It sounds like you are saying that people who find a workplace to be a poor fit for themselves and also are willing to take the risk to advocate for their rights and needs in the workplace are weak and selfish, and should just be grateful to have a job. Is that really what you are saying?

"Unsafe" might be a strong word and is possibly what you are being so reactive over. If you care, maybe some background will help you speak my language.

I remember one specific day when I was shaky, dizzy, couldn't think straight, managed to keep my patients safe... but at the end of the day my co-worker asked me to fix multiple charting errors which I KNOW for a fact would not have happened if I had been able to take proper care of myself. I only make those kinds of errors when I am beyond fatigue and hypoglycemia. It scared me, because it made me wonder what could happen IN THE FUTURE... and if this was a safe place for me to work, if this was going to continue every day, especially because this is SLOW season at the clinic. Do you understand? I was trying to catch things before they became TRULY unsafe. Charting errors I can fix. A med miscalculation is another matter, and I saw the writing on the wall. That's MY nursing judgment of myself and the situation I found myself in. It's my license on the line, and I know my body and what I need. Also, I refuse to be a martyr, and that's my decision.

The break thing was not the only issue, but I did see it as one of many symptoms of the place that I judged to be not the best place for me to stay. End of story, and not even the point of my original post...

I'm not a martyr at all. I'm simply pointing out that you have job issues. You can't pay your rent right now and you wouldn't go full time at a PACU job over 15 minute breaks. You are the one that stated you got your 30 minute lunch break. So it's not that you are working all day without getting to eat or sit down. And yes, I think you are being dramatic by using the term not safe. That term is way over used to try and grab attention. I see it a lot in here.

Focusing on the clock to watch for breaks seems to be your focus. Why is this 6 hour thing so important? I feel like this is your barrier in jobs. I bring plenty of snacks with me to work and I take the time to munch when I get a free minute. I take my break every day it is possible, but it doesn't always happen on a schedule as patients can go unstable at any minute and admits can occur at any time.

Nursing is a job where you have to be flexible. If you can't be flexible and are constantly looking at the clock for your break or are having such medical issues that you need a strict regimen of food, perhaps another line of work is good for you. I know plenty of diabetic nurses who keep themselves healthy and fed and I personally have been struggling with hypoglycemia recently. I'm still never unsafe as o always have a snack handy.

The reason why I mentioned the break thing is that you are having issues at every job you have had. This current one doesn't sound great, but at some point you need to see the common denominator at each job is you. And if you ever want to move into other areas of nursing you are going to have to be able to hold a job. Job hopping is going to bite you in the butt. The only places that are going to hire you are sinking ships.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Oregon has VERY strict staffing laws, and places are being fined for not allowing their nurses to take their 30 minute lunch and 2-3 15-minute breaks per shift.

[dla1618]

Girl...hop again!!! Save yourself!

[OlivetheRN, ADN, BSN, RN]

Oregon has VERY strict staffing laws, and places are being fined for not allowing their nurses to take their 30 minute lunch and 2-3 15-minute breaks per shift.

Dude. I need to move. Most nights I'm lucky if I get 15 minutes to stand in the break room an inhale something. The other night my lunch was me eating a Tupperware container of strawberries and pineapple spread out over like 3 hours of my shift ducking behind the monitor of my computer at the desk and I drank half a can of diet Mt. Dew.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

The OR is usually very different from the floors break wise. OR staff usually get at least a 15 and a 30 minute break per 8 hour shift. I have worked in several ORs and 98% of the time, I get my breaks. Surgery centers tend to have less staff, so sometimes, I don't get a 15 but I also get to leave early many days. I eat lots of protein in the morning and that seems to help.

The not labeling meds is something the Joint Comission can ding your facility for, so bring that to managements attention. If that doesn't work, take it up the chain.

It doesn't sound like the best place to work, but I've worked in worse. Try to stick it out.

[3ringnursing, BSN]

Bail. There is too much wrong at that job. It's not a sin to think of yourself first.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Yes... what usually happens is I hate the job due to stress and nursing being a bad fit for me, so I quit out of desperation for my mental and physical health. Sometimes I don't have anything lined up yet but I feel like I cannot stay anyway. Then I am in the position of needing to take something SOON because rent is due. It's a vicious cycle but I don't know how else to make ends meet at this point...

Stop quitting before you have a new job.

Stop listening to all the stuff people say, all the gossip. Maybe they have had problems with certain doctors or other staff, but that doesn't mean you will. Could be the others are just wanting to feel important or get a rise out of you for whatever reason.

I don't know how to advise you because only you can really decide whether to stay or go, but I do wish you well.

When you need a quick break and you would not be abandoning your patient by taking a few minutes, take the break. If you can't get away, eat your food that you have with you - quick cheese or peanut butter with crackers, fruit, juice, H2O, or other snack, or even a sandwich. Eat it right at the desk or eat it at the bedside. If you need the food, you need the food. It is better to eat wherever you can than to become ill. By taking care of yourself, you willl actually be doing what's best for your patients, too. And if someone tells you you're not allowed to eat anywhere but the break room, tell them you need to be properly relieved to take an actual break but no one was available to relieve you, you requested a break from the Charge nurse, etc. Involve the Labor Board if you have to, if anyone gives you major @#$#&%^$ over it.

If you have to urinate, then you have to take a couple of minutes. Tell another nurse that you can't hold it any longer and you'll be right back and tell her you'll return the favor. It's so wrong for nurses to shortchange themselves just because the facility has no respect for staffing.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I feel sorry for the patients.

Try to offer some positive suggestions.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

In Oregon, it's 6 hours before requiring a lunch. So, a few times I would start at 7am and be going until 1pm or later before the charge nurse says oh maybe she is due for a break... Meanwhile I am too busy to step away and eat an apple sauce, and if I do, 1 minute later someone is in my face saying "hey aren't you taking the next patient?" grrrr. The company gets to save money by not staffing appropriately, and we are supposed to suffer through and be grateful, and I call BS on that.

I am glad there are some robot tank nurses that can power through but by then my brain has slowed waaaay down from lack of sugar, I am making charting mistakes all over the place, and so far that's the worst of it, knock on wood. Actually considering ketogenic diet just to try and stabilize my energy levels, because I know even excellent workplaces sometimes can't get people their breaks on time.

You are absolutely right about calling out the scrub techs. It's no excuse, but it was my first day and I was just trying to keep my head above water; so I noticed, but was quickly distracted by the bovie not working, patient needing a new airway mid-case, etc.

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[Cactus Nurse]

I only read half of what you wrote and nothing sounded good 😓 I would leave. If you aren't able to take time for even a granola bar, that's not good. We can't work as nurses if we are so exhausted and hungry we are ready to faint.

There's always other jobs. I always say- go to registry in the mean time until you can find something good.