Being delgated a new task outside your job description.

[graft]

Hi all.

I work in a cath lab as an RN and was told today by my boss that I am now in charge of submitting all the ACC (this is statistical information that you punch in on a computer, which I think you need to submit for accreditation) paperwork.

This job used to be done by somebody fulltime. My hospital split from our former group so my boss was promoted and she was doing it. Now she claims she does not have enough time to do it with all of her other stuff so she is passing it on to me.

I'm a new grad of about 9 months and don't really have much experience as to if this is normal or not. As for as I am concerned its out of my job description and if they want me to do it I should come with more money.

Should I go to HR and see what they say?

[MunoRN, RN]

Typically RN job descriptions are written to allow for pretty much any task to fall within the job description, including QA tasks. The ACC registry is actually optional, not required. It's also pretty much the same as required medicare reporting, so assuming someone is compiling those numbers then the ACC registry is pretty much already done. And with a meaningful-use compliant EMR, it shouldn't be difficult to get the AAC registry data anyway.

[caliotter3]

Probably falls under the "and other duties as assigned" category.

[amoLucia]

Think of it as becoming proficient with a new skill that you can report on your resume for your next position. And every different management position I held in LTC came with different QA responsibilities - just part of 'other duties as assigned'.

And 'if thou doth protest too much' you may cause a major unhappy situation with your boss.

[Jules A, MSN]

Think of it as becoming proficient with a new skill that you can report on your resume for your next position. And every different management position I held in LTC came with different QA responsibilities - just part of 'other duties as assigned'.

And 'if thou doth protest too much' you may cause a major unhappy situation with your boss.

This is a very good way to look at it but if you truly don't feel like doing this task start looking for another job. I tend to be a work horse but have little interest in doing stuff that is being pawned off on me because someone else stopped doing it. I would probably do it for now because refusing would be detrimental but I would make plans to get another job where I was only doing patient care.

As a NP I have a bit more leverage now and whenever mgt has attempted to come at me with a hair brained scheme like I need to do my own prior authorizations I'm like "uhhh no get a secretary for that" and I can get away with it especially because they wouldn't even consider asking a Doc to do it but as a floor nurse I didn't have that luxury.

[elkpark]

As caliotter notes, every nursing job description I've ever seen in 30 years of nursing practice always concludes with a statement along the lines of "and other duties as assigned." This is the "other duties" part. :)

[roser13, ASN, RN]

No, do not go to HR. They will do nothing for you and you will burn some bridges with your boss. Either do it and consider it broadening your experience & horizons or don't do it and find a new job.

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

I made a recent transition to floor nursing & have been appalled at the administrative duties we're expected to perform in addition to caring for 5-6 patients. I feel more like a secretary at times, and patients would get higher quality care if I wasn't busy making copies for the case manager or answering non-stop phone calls. Despite all of this, I know I am fortunate to be employed and receive a paycheck every other week, so I say nothing. Smile outwardly, protest inwardly!

[~Shrek~]

Despite all of this, I know I am fortunate to be employed and receive a paycheck every other week, so I say nothing. Smile outwardly, protest inwardly!

And this is why our profession has so many problems. We don't have the courage to speak up.

[~Shrek~]

I sometimes feel that I am given so much work that it detracts from my ability to take care of my clients as well as I should. Everyone is doing what I can where I work, but we are short staffed beyond belief and underfunded. However, despite this, there are certain things I simply do not have the time to do.

Instead of saying yes early, I speak up early. I don't get angry, I just am assertive. I set limits with what I am able to do so that my patients' care is not affected.

Maybe it's because I am not in the hospital setting, but no one has gotten mad or threatened to fire me or anything. If anything, they understand and offer support and tell me to do what I can.

Your employers are not God. Be polite and assertive yet firm. If you feel like you cannot safely manage your workload without it affecting patient care, then speak up. Burnout is real and you can't destroy yourself for the sake of a job, especially when, even as a new nurse with 9 months of experience, you can find a job somewhere else with relative ease.

[sourapril]

Do you have time to do it? If so, do it. It adds additional skills on your resume and you can use that when you look for the next job. :)