Cutting the umbilical cord with the hospital?

The unit on which I am currently working PRN (usually every other weekend) is rapidly tanking. They are down to TWO regular staff nurses on day shift (both of whom were and are useless independent of this, but that's another thread.) They should have about 7; evenings isn't in much better shape, and nights is soon due to lose its strongest and oldest nurse - the rock of the shift and the most knowledgable person on the unit.

It's to the point that when I go in, I am working with exclusively float staff, following people I don't know and reporting off to folks I don't know. Don't get me wrong - I'm thrilled to have them and they are ALWAYS dolls, but there is NO continuity of staff or care. It's also getting scary that I always charge whenever I'm there; unless there is a frequent flier I am familiar with, all the patients are new to me every time I work. Always remain professional, but it's to the point where I just hate going in.

I guess I'm just feeling (what - guilty?) about quitting entirely. I don't think there is any hope for this unit to get back on its feet and I hate that. I feel like just another rat deserting the sinking ship. Almost keep hoping that I go in one day to a completely intolerable staffing situation and refuse the assignment and feel ok about just quitting.

I love my regular full time job; we don't need the money, and I've been hanging on at the hospital for the notion that I don't want to "lose my skills." The only skill I seem to be cultivating is being frustrated (getting pretty good at that .

Whine/rant over.

[sjoe]

What's that sound?

SNIP!

[SandyB]

I hear it too!

SNIP!

[OBNURSEHEATHER]

Did somebody ask for one of these?

[psychonurse]

I think that for your own state of mind I think that I would go away and find another place to put in your time. There are enough frustrated nurses and I am sure that you will find a place to put in your time that you will be happy with. :)

[KP RN]

I heard it also!

SNIP!

[bagladyrn, RN]

What happens to the rats that don't desert the ship? They drown! Get out while you can.

[kids]

I agree...snip.

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

This is fun....snip!

It's like riding a bicycle. It will be there when you have taken a break, and you won't have forgotten anything....snip! :)

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Bye Bye Bye

(sung to the tune of Bye Bye Bye, by NSynch)

[anitame]

ah, thanks 3rdShiftGuy, all I needed to see was the first 2 byes and now I have another song in my head:

Bye Bye, Miss American.........................ugh ty ty ty very much lol

Oh, and NurseRatched: Snip, snip!

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I love singing American Pie . . . .. that commercial on tv where the girl is sitting outside the car while her boyfriend sits in the car singing to American Pie makes me laugh . . I'd be sitting in the car with him, singing along.

I agree with the other posters . . . snip snip.

steph