Am I wrong for calling off? Please help!

Published

Hello all!

This situation is weighing quite heavily on me so I'd like to get some advice. All responses, no matter how brutally honest, are much appreciated. Sorry for the long post. Here goes....

My evening consisted of 5 patients of my own (2 vents & 1 on 3 critical gtts). I was also responsible for covering the LPN's 3 patients that all required frequent IVP narcotics, IV antibiotics, am labs, and 1 of hers was on a vent. So I'm responsible for 8 patients.

Charge nurse had 7 patients. Several vents/critical gtts. LPN had 7, 3 of which I was essentially responsible for. 1 aide that spent the entire shift in the restroom, breakroom, anywhere but the floor.

Administration was called several times. No one returned our calls.

We barely make it through the night. I check the schedule for the next night & realize that myself, the same charge nurse, and a LPN are on the schedule. No attempts have been made to contact agency even though scheduling has known for 4 weeks we were short on this night. While leaving the charge nurse informs me that she will not be coming in the next night due to the awful night we had just had. So that leaves myself and the LPN tomorrow that would be responsible for the 19 patients.

I call the next day to see what staffing is like. I'm told it's me & the LPN. The charge nurse called off. They left messages for agencies but none have called back. They also left several messages for administration, but they haven't called back either. So I call back 2 hours before shift starts & it's the same situation. So knowing the ridiculously unsafe night ahead of me, I too called off. I've been a nurse for 18 months & the previous night was my worst night. I never let things get to me, but I allowed myself to lose control and cry. I just felt so overwhelmed...I felt I couldn't give my patients the care that they deserve. I couldn't knowingly walk in to the same situation again the next night, especially being a new grad and not having a resource.

Am I wrong for calling off? Am I not a team player? I feel sick stressing about this? Please advise.

Thanks in advance

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Haha, ok so now this leaves 1 LPN for all the patients. Oh, how awful. If anything you could have at least called in sooner than 2 hours prior to your shift. That is not much notice to find other nurses. I also think you calling in to check on the status of nurses may hurt you. You probably should have called once and said I'm sick I can't come in. It looks pretty fishy to call and ask how many nurses you are going to be working with and then find out and call in sick. I don't blame you for not wanting to work either. Was this a responsible decision, maybe not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Responsible? No? But I can't say I blame you . AT ALL.I probably would have called in earlier. I would start job hunting ASAP. That is very unsafe.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

Sounds like your work situation is very unsafe. Can you look for another job. I believe it was highly unethical of your charge nurse to call off for the reason she did. From the little info I read I would have to say that protecting your license does need to be job one. Please get yourself another, safer job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

It may look fishy to have called to check staffing, then call off later, but you may have made a decision that could be a game-changer for your floor. It may have forced admin's hand to really look at staffing. At the very least, you took yourself out of what could have been an unsafe situation for yourself when it comes to your license. You've only been a nurse for 1 1/2 years, not long enough to have such a burden on your shoulders. That's really unsafe for any nurse, not just one with your level of experience.

This is not how our new nurses should be treated. It's not how any of us should be treated. My fear is it's only going to get worse.

You did what you had to do. Don't you let them make you feel guilty for calling off. They should feel guilty for having such terrible staffing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Sounds like your work situation is very unsafe. Can you look for another job. I believe it was highly unethical of your charge nurse to call off for the reason she did. From the little info I read I would have to say that protecting your license does need to be job one. Please get yourself another, safer job.

Maybe the charge nurse was worried about protecting her license.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

Next time, just call in. If you aren't going in, it looks odd that you called previously to check staffing. It's obvious to admin why you called in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well maybe admin will be forced to address the lack of staffing, otherwise I would look for another gig. This one sounds like a ticking time bomb and the administration will just blame it on you when something does go wrong. (not if, but when)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

That LPN is going to have a stroke, lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No, you were NOT wrong. This was actually an attempt at the "PINK FLU". An unofficial walk off!

What other way is administration gonna get it?

You should not view this as a selfish move.. rather.. taking the initiative toward safe staffing levels.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I can't blame you for your reaction, but I can't see why you called to check on the staffing, then called in sick. If you had any reservations about working that night, you should have called off early to begin with and given them more time to try to find someone. I feel sorry for the poor LPN and anyone else with that assigned group of patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry, OB, NICU.

I think you shouldn't have called in for the patients' sake. It only makes situation worse. I see it's a danger to be short staffed, but even less staffing doesn't make it better. Being short staffed is bad already, but no staff is the worst, right? LPN is restricted with her scope of practice here, so no nurse to do IV push meds then? Poor patients, I feel sorry for them most.

I think, in this type of cases where we're short staffed, everybody should make attempt to actually come in and help, not run. This makes you a trust-worthy, and dependable employee. This is also a plus when you go for and interview and tell them that you've done it.

I also agree that, it is fishy that you called in after asking staffing. Believe me, they most likely know you called in because of this.

Well I hope they find a solution for staffing soon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion