At my wits end!

P_RN, ADN, RN · Oct 27, 2003

I've switched jobs a few times myself. Once I stayed about 30 minutes because of the lies and deceptions of the nurse recruiter, but I know what you mean.

Your patients' health are important, BUT yours is MORE important. Is there another position in another agency...kind of a lateral transfer?

If not I'd silently find out about collecting benefits etc and move on. My hubby was a state employee for over 30 years....I don't know how he did it...I tried twice and left in frustration both times. Right now you need to take care of YOU.

zudy · Oct 27, 2003

I think sjoe has the perfect answer for this. My advice? Get out of there now.

ktwlpn, LPN · Oct 27, 2003

Originally posted by HerEyes73
Sadly, I think I am going to have to leave my unit. My charge nurse is an incompetent procrastinator and I can't take it anymore!

I have been off work for the past 6 days because of chest pain so bad that I actually saw a cardiologist and had a workup. His Dx? Extreme anxiety. He told me to take time off of work and I'm feeling beyond fine. I KNOW when I go back tomorrow it's going to start right back up again. An agency nurse friend of mine gave me a call today and told me about everything that hasn't been done while I've been gone. New admits and hospital returns not getting flu shots or PPDs, a schizophrenic pt. of mine not getting her Haldol decanoate on the 22nd like she was supposed to and so on. Luckily, my friend has my assignment today (the charge nurse has had it all previous days while I've been out) and she said she'd get it all done so I didn't have to stress over it.

Believe me, it is not the work that bothers me (what's giving a few flu shots?) it's the fact that she LEAVES these things for ME to do and sometimes it compromises my patients.

I have spoken until I'm blue in the face to EVERYONE about these problems I'm having and it does no good. I work for a county facility and as long as you're a body, they're happy with you. Everyone knows she is a screw up. My supervisor actually came and asked me to run the unit (I spoke about this in another thread) because I'm 'good' and I can do it. Well, not when she's making more money than me!

There are TONS more examples to give, but it would take too long to type it all out. The bottom line is she is ruining the unit, she's disorganized, morale is at an all time low with all staff, even the pts see this! What is left for me to do? I can't go on like this every day any longer. Anyone have any suggestions?

Also, has anyone ever switched units/jobs because of something like this and how did it work out?

Thanks!

bureaucracy at it's best-I'm an LPN in a county run LTC facility also...It is so difficult to weed out the incompetents and with the nursing shortage any warm body will do and this does put more pressure on the regular staff...Our charge nurses don't get paid any more then the rank and file.My facility has 9 units and our DON will make every attempt to help staff find their comfortable niche....Some nurses move from unit to unit quite frequently.I am a full time float nurse at this time and I love it.When I am filling in as charge on some of the smaller units I try to get as much done as possible to help the regular charge nurse.Some staff just don't have a good work ethic and have the attitude that "someone else can do it" As a consequence things do get missed...The things you note really are not YOUR responsibility...your supervisor should be following up with the staff that should have carried out those orders-incident reports should be completed.There was no negative outcome so these things can be picked up on easily.Maybe you could devise a system to alert all staff to things like the monthly haldol (mark it on your desk calendar?) We have the PPD and flu shot mess often,too...and again,unless incident reports are completed and the supervisor is not alerted to the problem then the same staff will continue to let things slide...You can be "the hard ass"and do this or just pick-up and do the things that get missed...In my facility we only have a few RN's on staff but they are in charge-no matter how incompetent they may be and that's just the way it is....and that's the way it is everywhere for LPN's in LTC around here...Do you work with the charge nurse but when you are off she is alone on the unit or does someone fill in for you? If that is the case then she needs to communicate to them what needs to be done..if they are not capable of reading the MAR and are missing things like that monthly haldol who knows what else they are not doing...scary.If she is left alone with complete responsibilty of the the unit then cut her some slack and pick up what you can does.I personally have made the decision to stay where I am--the benefits are too good to walk away from and I know that other facilitis in this area have the same problems and some worse...We are the best staffed in this area and I am not going anywhere....I don't stress out over that kind of stuff-I used to when I was younger..Now I just go and do.....Since you are letting it efect your health you owe it to yourself to get out of the situation...Get yourself sent to another unit-don't burn your bridges with the charge nurse though...just say you need a change from the low morale...as fast as you can...Talk to your DON-he or she should be more then willing to work with you and keep you on staff.....Keep telling yourself that you have no control over other people's actions and just do the best you can...Good luck....If it does not work out I can hook you uphere in southeastern Pa...we need some good nurses...we have alot of cna's...very good ratios...

sjoe · Oct 27, 2003

It's already been said. You need to take care of YOURSELF, first. Nobody else will or can (or should).

Hopefully you will find a less dysfunctional unit next, but remember to shop carefully and wisely, and trust your intuition and common sense. There are all too many dysfunctional ones desperate for nurses.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 27, 2003

What sjoe said.

Good luck.

Knowing when to leave a job can sometimes be difficult.

Love-A-Nurse · Oct 27, 2003

take care of yourself. let us know what you decide to do.

nurseygrrl, LPN · Oct 27, 2003

Thank you all for the replies. Sometimes venting and just knowing other people know what it feels like to be in your shoes helps! I know I am going to stick it out at least until one patient of mine leaves the facility. He is almost there and I don't want to foil anything for him. He will be gone by the middle of Nov. This should give me enough time to thoroughly think this through and 'shop wisely' as sjoe said.

ktwlpn~ If things don't work out for me here, I may take you up on that job offer! Cost of living is way too high here anyway!

Once again, thanks...you've all made me feel better and I'm ready to head in to work tomorrow with a positive attitude!

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Oct 28, 2003

I hope your day tomorrow will be a positive one for you. I do think you would be wise to start a search for another job. I know that we convince ourselves to stay in situations that we should leave ASAP. Please heed our words and take care of yourself. Let us know how things go.

KLS · Oct 28, 2003

HerEyes73, extreme anxiety, as I'm sure you know is just the beginning....things don't seem like they will get any better on this unit..don't others see that she is .. to qoute you "a screw up", maybe a few loose screws too

go on, fellow nurse, to new pastures and keep feeling "beyond fine" as you are now

as Kenny Rogers sang..you gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away and know when to run

glad you are feeling better :)

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Oct 28, 2003

Get the heck outta Dodge!!!!!!!

nurseygrrl, LPN · Oct 29, 2003

Thanks everyone...went back today and it wasn't so bad. Probably because I've been off for 6 days!! I am going to really try and not let things bother me until I make a final decision. Hopefully things will work themselves out. Thanks again, it really helps to get things out!