OMG....We are soooo short staffed!!!

Specialties Home Health

Published

I have to complain....I'm freaked out at the moment. I love HH, so don't get me wrong, but it's just me and one other full time RN working in the field, with 3 LPN's (one LPN has only been on the job 2 weeks). For on-call there's me, the other full-time RN and 1 PRN RN (that's all she works, one on-call per month). We have had 3 nurses quit and one who went on medical leave until further notice. 4 nurses gone within a 2-3 week period. They hired another full time RN and a part timer, plus they're suppose to hire another RN.

I was just on-call and worked last week-end and I have to do it all over again next week. The last time I was on-call (last week) I worked 9 days in a row, including the holiday, and worked 86 hours in a row. Plus, me and the other RN are training the new RN's on top of being ridiculously busy with long, long days.....

I'm not going to have a summer and I'm mad. The 2 RN's in the office are managers and are not offering to help, do you think they should????

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think the office nurses should be forced to work one day a week apiece until things change. I've talked to office nurses before who said they had to fill in when necessary so it is not unheard of.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If the office nurses are trained to be in the field, then they should absolutely help you guys out! We had a really bad week last week. We're down one nurse who quit. Then one was on vacation and 2 called out sick. Our nurse managers made a few routines visits to help us out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

In most offices, the office RNs are required to help out as needed, but sometimes this backfires. When you have someone who is great in the office but sucks in the field, it makes life even more difficult.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MedSurg/Neuro/Ortho/Home Care VNA.

Of course, they should step in to help out in the field. This is what I see at my workplace!!!

If not - work burden on the rest of the staff, and they may be left with no one, in the end!!!

Working 9 days in a row ; in tough work condition!!! Oh no!!!:confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the replies....

Being over-worked without support of the office really makes a person want to quit....however, I really do like my job usually, so I'm trying to tough it out. The new RN they hired already got thrown into the field with only 10 days of training (ridiculous), she looks distraught every time I see her. I trained her for two days in a row before she was cut loose and she looked like a deer in headlights while I was training- as if Oasis, time sheets, etc. were not discussed by the other nurses that trained her.

I wouldn't be surprised if she goes running back to the nursing home she came from begging for her job back! ....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

1263 You should give her your phone number and offer assistance. She may never call you for help, but just the thought that you are willing to help her may help her to feel as if someone cares.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
1263 You should give her your phone number and offer assistance. She may never call you for help, but just the thought that you are willing to help her may help her to feel as if someone cares.

She does have my cell number as all the nurses have each others numbers and I went up to her on Friday to ask if she had questions or needed to talk. She wasn't very open to talking, she said she was in a big hurry and closed down the conversation. I said If she needed to talk to let me know.... Soooo, we'll see, I'll approach her again tomorrow and see if she's okay.....If she shows up!

The other RN they hired started on Friday... She didn't make a good first impression w/ me. She had a BIG time attitude. I walked up to her and introduced myself, then asked if she was the new nurse and she said and I quote, (w/ a crap look on her face), "NEW NURSE, NOOOO I'M NOT A NEW NURSE! I'VE BEEN A NURSE FOR 20+ YEARS!"..... I couldn't believe it. Then I said, "Uhhhh....new to this company?.. new to home care?...that's what I meant!"....Then, she said "Ohhh well if that's what you meant then ...yes". Unbelievable, I couldn't believe the chip on her shoulder, my god get over yourself! :uhoh3:

If she's so super fantastic, then maybe she'll learn the Oasis and paperwork in 1 day....NOT!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow! I'm not the smartest thing around, but even I would have thought you meant the new hire! Someone does need to get over herself.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Wow! I'm not the smartest thing around, but even I would have thought you meant the new hire! Someone does need to get over herself.

I know, right....LOL.

My plan with her is too mind my business and let her come to me (frankly, I don't care if she stays or goes), however the other new nurse is "normal" (haha), therefore I will go out of my way to help her and I hope she stays....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment