Am I being a baby?

[RNbubu]

Sometimes I get so overwhelmed that I do not have time to think or ponder on what is really important. Where I work there is no CNA, no phlebotomist. Rns do it all. I always have at least 1-2 total care patients (incontinent, needs assistance with feeding). Maybe one on a ventilator. And another in some sort of critical condition (either unstable, or on drips that need titration, or fresh out of surgery). I do vitals, assessments, feeding, oncontinent care, bathing, passing of meds, lab draws, IV starts, central line dressing changes, trach care, troublshoot vent alarms, read and interpret tele strips, fetch juice, water, blankets. Problem solve difficult discharges, discharge planner leaves at 3pm and I am

reaponsible to finish what he had not had the time to finish (yes, calling facilities, finding out where the heck the equipment that should hve been delivered for discharge is not here yet). I clean the bathroom

because janitor will not touch any body fluid or poop ("that is not my job

to touch patient's body fluids"). I have find clean beds when I am getting a new admit and there is no bed available. I have to check with pharmacy whether MD has sent the correct prescription, whether it has been properly dispensed and whether it is ready to be filled (seriously, RNs are responsible for this). I have to chart like crazy. I do not get paid overtime if I use my break to chart. I can go on and on and on. There is no support for nurses and they keep finding more stuff to put us in charge of. am I feel like I am the worst RN because I get somoverwhelmed with the millions of calls lights, and all these tasky tasks and I cannot focus on thinking about what is important for my patients. I feel like venturing out to

another hospital, but I wonder if all are the same way. Sometimes we are so short, I have worked 12 hours without a break. Sometimes our charge nurse is assignment patients because we do not have enough nurses. The acuity level in my unit is really high. 3:1 patient to nurse ratio. Low ratio, but each patient has really high acuity. Am I being a baby?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

STOP blaming yourself. This is an outrageous workload, handed to you by the man, that is making $$ off the sweat of your back.

It's past time to "ponder" why you have no CNA or phlebotomist. You don't have one , because the man is pocketing that cost.. while YOU run around like a chicken with your head cut off.

Time to tell the man, where to go.

[Karou]

I would find a new job. There should be a CNA to help with so many of these tasks. You can't turn and clean a total care patient yourself... You shouldn't! This requires 2 people. It's ridiculous that nurses are now expected to do real at housekeeping duties. A big pet peeve of mine. The discharge navigator can't leave at 3, that's absurd! Most discharges occur afternoon in the hospital setting. What a useless position if they don't stay at least until 5pm. They are legally obligated to pay you for a lunch break not taken.

It's not this bad everywhere else. Look around and ask nurse friends about their places of employment.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

You are not being a baby. Leave. Leave quickly and do not look back.

[LetMeGrabSomeGloves]

If it makes you feel any better, I absolutely hate when people whine and was all prepared to come in here guns blazing - my jaw dropped reading what they expect of you. It's ridiculous and it's not safe for you or the patient. I agree with PPs, apply elsewhere, get a job, leave and don't look back.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I got overwhelmed just reading you post!! Time to fire this place.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Oh, and not getting paid OT -- is that because you're still

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Wow. You are amazing actually.

[SmilingBluEyes]

NO you are most certainly NOT being a baby. You are a warrior. But you deserve much better, as stated before me.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

That sounds ridiculous,no you are not being a baby.

Hearing this scares me, as I have heard this is the new thing to go to now. They call it an "Intermediate care unit" ratio is 3:1 no additional help. Your other coworker nurses are expected to drop what they are doing to perform those jobs listed to help you., and vise versa

Not sure why anyone is going into healthcare these days. You have a license-if something goes wrong , you are to blame-no skin off their teeth.

[Deebuzz, BSN, RN]

That sounds ridiculous,no you are not being a baby.

Hearing this scares me, as I have heard this is the new thing to go to now. They call it an "Intermediate care unit" ratio is 3:1 no additional help. Your other coworker nurses are expected to drop what they are doing to perform those jobs listed to help you., and vise versa

Not sure why anyone is going into healthcare these days. You have a license-if something goes wrong , you are to blame-no skin off their teeth.

I work prn at a similar place and it is the absolute worst when your patients are so dependent and you have to do everything. We have Pca but no phlebotomist, most of these pts veins are so exhausted it takes 2-3 nurses to draw blood. Our pt ratio is 5-1 on night shift, I literally do not take a break for the entire 12 hrs due to charting and total pt care. Thankfully it's only prn and I dont have to go in schedule. I'm trying to get the hell out of healthcare altogether, this field will leave you crazy.

[vintage_RN, BSN, RN]

They recently got rid of our phlebotomists too....now nurses get to draw blood on 6 patients at 5 in the morning! No aide either. And I find I'm also walking/mobilizing patients when PT isn't available, counseling patients when SW isn't available...running after doctors...pharmacy. nurses seem to be the one holding it all together...making sure everyone else does their job. Why this responsibility is on us...I have no idea.