Don't know how much more I can take.

Nurses Stress 101

Published

First, I'd like to apologize for the length of this post. But I could really use the advice. I'm an LPN working in a trach and vent group home setting. I've been working here for a little over a year, it's my first job since graduating. The company I work for is family owned, essentially meaning that all management is either related or a close friend of the family. Very cliquey upper management to say the least. Recently, a "friend of the family" RN who has worked alongside the rest of us was promoted to Staff Educator, which basically makes her responsible for all education and training. In her non-management RN position, she has been caught voice recording other nurses' private phone calls, voice recording nurses' complaints about management causing them to be terminated, gossiping, cursing/using foul language with staff etc. Very unprofessional. Long story short, these behaviors have continued into her new position. Various nurses have voiced their complaints to our department manager to no avail. I have constant anxiety about going into work, and shudder at the thought of her randomly showing up to assess my skills. Our work environment was once fairly low stress and now it just feels constantly stressful and tense. Our manager, who seems to not really be bothered by the complaints voiced by my colleagues, is the son of the owner of the company. He has no medical/nursing background. Manages the trach/vent group homes with no formal management education or experience. One morning, I showed up to relieve night shift, and walked in to find that my patient had been hospitalized days prior, with no one even bothering to contact me. I have an hour commute so I was rather irritated, but accepted it and went home. A few hours later, I was called and texted repeatedly that I needed to return to work immediately because my patient was being discharged. I was livid. Not only do I have young children and relieved my sitter for that day as I had not heard anything from management period, my manager insisted that I could bring my 1 year old daughter into work with me. Procedure for a patient returning from a hospitalization requires a post hospitalization assessment as well as a crap load of paperwork, so bringing my infant to work would have been an absolute disaster. Not to mention- is that even legal?! I responded that I would not be coming in, I relieved my sitter and stated the fact that no one had even called me to inform me of my client's hospitalization in the first place. Flash forward 5 months later, I was written up last week for excessive call-outs, all occurring in 2017 with this incident being included. I do admit that I did call out a few times too many, so naturally I signed the write up and kept it pushing. Last week, I came into work not feeling my best but able to still train a new hire and perform the essential functions of my job. Around 3am, I spiked a fever of 102 but stayed to complete my shift until 7am. The following day, I was very ill- fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, body aches, the whole nine. I've never felt that sick in my life. Went into the ER with a HR of 180, sp02 of 91%, fever of 101. Turns out I had the flu, and received a doctor's not excusing me from my next two shifts, which were Tuesday and Thursday. Emailed my manager to let him know and attached a copy of the note for his review. Thursday morning, I recieved a text from him, asking me to come in for the shift and that he would include a bonus. This, at least for me, is absolutely unacceptable. Not only was I not fit to even perform the essential functions of my job, but it was completely unsafe for me to even be in close proximity of my clients who already have weakened immune systems and respiratory issues. The disregard for patient safety and my health and well-being has just sent me over the edge. Along with all of the work related anxiety, I have a lot of issues going on at home too. Husband recently lost his job, meaning we also lost about 70% of our household income, my 2nd grader has severe behavioral issues which warrant many school meetings and psych appointments, and my 1 year old recently started physical therapy due to a gross motor delay. The more I think about it, the more I seem to hate a job that I once actually enjoyed. I try to leave work at work, but it's gotten to the point that I'm just generally miserable, even at home. I literally feel like I can't hang on much longer. I'm just looking for some advice to see if it's really that bad, or if I'm overreacting. Please help.

0 Votes
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
First, I'd like to apologize for the length of this post. But I could really use the advice. I'm an LPN working in a trach and vent group home setting. I've been working here for a little over a year, it's my first job since graduating. The company I work for is family owned, essentially meaning that all management is either related or a close friend of the family. Very cliquey upper management to say the least. Recently, a "friend of the family" RN who has worked alongside the rest of us was promoted to Staff Educator, which basically makes her responsible for all education and training. In her non-management RN position, she has been caught voice recording other nurses' private phone calls, voice recording nurses' complaints about management causing them to be terminated, gossiping, cursing/using foul language with staff etc. Very unprofessional. Long story short, these behaviors have continued into her new position. Various nurses have voiced their complaints to our department manager to no avail. I have constant anxiety about going into work, and shudder at the thought of her randomly showing up to assess my skills. Our work environment was once fairly low stress and now it just feels constantly stressful and tense. Our manager, who seems to not really be bothered by the complaints voiced by my colleagues, is the son of the owner of the company. He has no medical/nursing background. Manages the trach/vent group homes with no formal management education or experience. One morning, I showed up to relieve night shift, and walked in to find that my patient had been hospitalized days prior, with no one even bothering to contact me. I have an hour commute so I was rather irritated, but accepted it and went home. A few hours later, I was called and texted repeatedly that I needed to return to work immediately because my patient was being discharged. I was livid. Not only do I have young children and relieved my sitter for that day as I had not heard anything from management period, my manager insisted that I could bring my 1 year old daughter into work with me. Procedure for a patient returning from a hospitalization requires a post hospitalization assessment as well as a crap load of paperwork, so bringing my infant to work would have been an absolute disaster. Not to mention- is that even legal?! I responded that I would not be coming in, I relieved my sitter and stated the fact that no one had even called me to inform me of my client's hospitalization in the first place. Flash forward 5 months later, I was written up last week for excessive call-outs, all occurring in 2017 with this incident being included. I do admit that I did call out a few times too many, so naturally I signed the write up and kept it pushing. Last week, I came into work not feeling my best but able to still train a new hire and perform the essential functions of my job. Around 3am, I spiked a fever of 102 but stayed to complete my shift until 7am. The following day, I was very ill- fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, body aches, the whole nine. I've never felt that sick in my life. Went into the ER with a HR of 180, sp02 of 91%, fever of 101. Turns out I had the flu, and received a doctor's not excusing me from my next two shifts, which were Tuesday and Thursday. Emailed my manager to let him know and attached a copy of the note for his review. Thursday morning, I recieved a text from him, asking me to come in for the shift and that he would include a bonus. This, at least for me, is absolutely unacceptable. Not only was I not fit to even perform the essential functions of my job, but it was completely unsafe for me to even be in close proximity of my clients who already have weakened immune systems and respiratory issues. The disregard for patient safety and my health and well-being has just sent me over the edge. Along with all of the work related anxiety, I have a lot of issues going on at home too. Husband recently lost his job, meaning we also lost about 70% of our household income, my 2nd grader has severe behavioral issues which warrant many school meetings and psych appointments, and my 1 year old recently started physical therapy due to a gross motor delay. The more I think about it, the more I seem to hate a job that I once actually enjoyed. I try to leave work at work, but it's gotten to the point that I'm just generally miserable, even at home. I literally feel like I can't hang on much longer. I'm just looking for some advice to see if it's really that bad, or if I'm overreacting. Please help.

Sounds like it's really that bad. It's going to add more stress to your already stressful life, but perhaps it's time to start looking for a new job. Your future self will thank you.

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I did not have to get very far into your post to see that I would have started the job search by now. This situation is not going to get any better. Take charge of your own mental and physical health by getting another job.

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You have to find another position ASAP.

And, to the extent you are in the position to do so, you need to be just a little bit choosy and aware of red flags such as those that are inherent in the situation you're in now. These people are not in it for patients, right? Doing the best for patients doesn't usually involve a chance for a everyone in the family to be invited for a piece of the pie.

I'm sorry you are under such stress. Good judgment is the very first order of business as far as gaining some stability for yourself and your family. You can do it.

Best to you~

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I'd like to thank you all for the kind advice, it was just what I needed to decide if would be making the right choice. I had an interview today and I have accepted a home care position, and I'm very excited (and relieved) to start a fresh chapter in my nursing career. :happy:

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I'd like to thank you all for the kind advice, it was just what I needed to decide if would be making the right choice. I had an interview today and I have accepted a home care position, and I'm very excited (and relieved) to start a fresh chapter in my nursing career. :happy:

YAY!!

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Bless your heart, after 14 years of hell I have decided to pursue my true passion as a personal trainer. Yes the pay will pale in comparison, but the stress, having to deal with irrate family members, doctors, management, and taking assignments where it is not possible to get everything done in 8 hours is going to be a huge weight off my shoulders. The best part about it is, I won't even have to go to school for it, I just have to take a credentialing exam. I took a practice credentialing exam and aced it because 99% of it is anatomy and physiology which, thanks to nursing, I know the ins and outs of all the body systems. I'm definitely ready to move on.

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Specializes in Home Health, PDN, LTC, subacute.

"And, to the extent you are in the position to do so, you need to be just a little bit choosy and aware of red flags such as those that are inherent in the situation you're in now. These people are not in it for patients, right? Doing the best for patients doesn't usually involve a chance for a everyone in the family to be invited for a piece of the pie. "

I was thinking this too. Poor residents.

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