CM required to work bedside/ competency

[Reneec]

Five years ago, I was hired for CM/ your role. Prior to that, I had 15 years experience in outpatient areas. Because my current position was not direct patient care, I have never attended any nursing orientation or skills/ competency labs. Now my employer is requiring us to fill in at bedside when needed. I am very uncomfortable with this due to the length of time since I have actually worked in an inpatient environment. I have brought it to the attention of management that I feel incompetent to work at bedside. Time doesn’t allow for full orientation but I was offered 4 hrs IP charting classes and their support with procedures that I am not comfortable with. So far, the support I have received has been very awkward. I’m not confident that the people teaching me are competent either. 
I am not refusing to do this but  I am requesting further training. I haven’t operated any of this equipment, given medication, read monitor strips or performed most procedures in over 20 years. My pleas for appropriate orientation are being ignored or I get written disciplinary action for having a bad attitude. 

 Is there anything I can do to protect myself? I am 2 years from retirement. I don’t want to finish a 40 year career like this!

[C Roll 5, RN]

I worked for a small hospital as both a staff nurse (mother/baby) and as a case manager. As a CM we were never used to staff clinical units. As a staff nurse in maternity, we did have to float to the other floors, however we worked as a tech, not a nurse. I would be very uncomfortable with your set up. 

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

7 hours ago, jreneec said:

Five years ago, I was hired for CM/ your role. Prior to that, I had 15 years experience in outpatient areas. Because my current position was not direct patient care, I have never attended any nursing orientation or skills/ competency labs. Now my employer is requiring us to fill in at bedside when needed. I am very uncomfortable with this due to the length of time since I have actually worked in an inpatient environment. I have brought it to the attention of management that I feel incompetent to work at bedside. Time doesn’t allow for full orientation but I was offered 4 hrs IP charting classes and their support with procedures that I am not comfortable with. So far, the support I have received has been very awkward. I’m not confident that the people teaching me are competent either. 
I am not refusing to do this but  I am requesting further training. I haven’t operated any of this equipment, given medication, read monitor strips or performed most procedures in over 20 years. My pleas for appropriate orientation are being ignored or I get written disciplinary action for having a bad attitude. 

 Is there anything I can do to protect myself? I am 2 years from retirement. I don’t want to finish a 40 year career like this!

Can you get another job?  Maybe a travel assignment as a CM?  You say you have two years until retirement, can you retire now (from that company), but still work travel assignments?