I'm so frustrated and sad...

[Sadie04]

I had one of the WORST shifts ever yesterday. The shift started with myself, a CNA and 7 patients at 7AM. At 7:15 2 patients went to the OR and one went for a TEE. Then the lab called to say the TEE pt has MRSA so we moved him next door to a private room that belonged to one of the 2 OR pt's (a Leukemia pt). The night nurse I took over for was supposed to leave at 7:30 was still there at 10AM doing charts. Then at 12:00 I took report on one of the OR pts (a BKA) and at 12:15 took report on the Leukemia pt (Omaya reservoir implant). At 13:00 I d/c'd another pt. and then got called into the Leukemia pt's room, he was livid to have lost his private room (understandibly so). I got the social worker and head nurse involved as I didn't have time to talk to him (I was 2 hours behind on my meds) and had 3 pts ringing for pain meds. At 13:30 I got a page saying I had an admission on her way up. I went to the charge nurse on the verge of tears and said "I'm NOT taking another pt." The HN and AHN heard me and told the charge nurse to call a float to do the admission. I told the HN that my assignment was inappropriate, esp. considering 2 other RNs on the unit had 4 pts each (with no CNA) and why was I getting the admission??? She said if I was concerned about my assignment, I should have expressed my concerns to the charge nurse at the beginning of the shift, not at 13:30. WTF?!?!?!? I was supposed to be working an 8 hour shift but didn't leave till 5PM (no lunch break, of course). :angryfire

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent, I feel really bad for the pts who didn't get good care.

[Blackcat99]

:) Hey Sadie

Sounds like one hell of a shift. Hope you are feeling better today and will be able to get some rest.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

Many of us have been there. Hugs, and understanding to you.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Sadie - is this the norm? It doesn't sound safe or do-able.

[Torachan]

Stop complaining. You are lucky to be a nurse. Next time they ask you should never complain and ask if you can do more.......

I hope you relise that I am joking.

Honestly how much do they expect you to give? I bet if the patient had an adverse reaction you would be wearing the blame.

Hope they don't do this to you on a regular basis.

I worked 12 hour shifts 6 days a week for 6 weeks. When I asked for a day off I was told no then the next day I was sacked (did me a big favour) because I left on time the night before (and this was in a warehouse packing boxes not dealing with peoples lives)

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Welcome to the absolutely wonderfull world of nursing

[Owney]

Sadie04,

I hope you archived your message to yourself. If you have not, go back to your post and down load it into your word processor.

Whenever your patients care is compromised, you should write a memo to administration, if only to cover your behind in the event of a lawsuit.

Your anecdotal notes *could* act in your defense in the event that your leukemia patient sues for getting a disease while under your care.

You should always complain, preferably in writing, whenever your patients are compromised due to unfair staffing. If this becomes a pattern, you may have to find another job before you find yourself in the middle of a REAL disaster.

Love, :kiss

[Town & Country]

Whenever your patients care is compromised, you should write a memo to administration, if only to cover your behind in the event of a lawsuit.

When you mention lil details like that in writing, you won't be there long.

I know, because I did so.

The unit manager mentioned that she "didn't like the way I was charting incident reports."

They routinely gave us eleven acute med-surg patients and the admits kept on a comin'.

Happily, this "hospital" is now being INVESTIGATED.

[mscsrjhm]

So, you were not the only one absent the day they taught "able to leap tall buildings in a single bound".

I feel better. I thought I was the only one missed that class.

Mschrisco