Hello every one! I'm a long-time-reader/rare-poster, and I'd like to thank you for all I've learned from you. Could I ask for a little more help?
I'm a new RN. I've been working at my current position for nearly 5 months, and I need to know if my unit is "the problem" or if I am....(especially after the "meltdown" I had last week at work"). I'm currently working in the mother/baby unit, but we also have the occasional ante-partum patients, and gyn surgical patients.
There seems to be chronic short-staffing, and even though I work the evening shift, I've been called to work days and nights, and I've frequently worked on what should have been my day off. This seems to be "expected" and little comments about not being a "team player" are made whenever someone doesn't work extra.
After a run of several especially busy evenings where I had 10-12 patients (a couple of those being new admitts with no unit seceratary or PCA to assist), I told my manager that I was concerned, as a new grad, that I was "over my head" on nights and requested a move to days where there is a smaller patient ratio, a secretary and a couple of PCAs. This was 2 weeks ago, and she still has not adjusted my schedule. Wait - let me correct that - she had me come in and work a couple of DAY shifts when they were short-staffed, but told be I would need to work "at least" another week on nights.
This unit seems especially chaotic with tons of new admits - one night I had 4 new admits within a 4 hour time-period -- 2 of them c-sections! (that shift I had 15 patients) Is this the nature of OB? Or it this unit dysfunctional?
It's gotten to the point that I dread going to work, and I fantasize about calling in sick and never returning. If I do decide to quit this job, will the short amount of time be viewed unfavorably against me by a future employer? Any advice will be accepted gratefully.
Our PP unit does not do couplet care. They take gyn surgeries and stable antepartum (uti's etc...) They have 15 bed and are staffed with and RN and an LPN... day shift and census over 12 gets a CNA... no unit secretary.
Staffing guidelines are from ACOG/AAP. I believe 4-5 couplets is what is recommended.
OH... I also wanted to say... Don't be afraid to leave. You have to find a safe place to work. You have worked to hard for your license to jeopardize it. What is gonna look worse to a future employer.... that you left a job ofter 5 months because of unsafe staffing... or an action against your license because of mistakes made because of a burned out, stressed out nurse in an unsafe staffing situation....
((((((((HUGGGSSSS))))))))... and take care of YOU!!
Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
Agree with the posts regarding looking elsewhere. I would, however, if at all possible, give the standard 2 week notice, just so this job doesn't contnue to haunt you after you're gone!
California's mandatory staffing ratios for mother:baby are 4 couplets.
California has a huge nursing shortage. There also exists a state mandated staffing ratio. A law mandating lift teams in most health care facilities is winding its way through the legislature right now. Nurses are much nicer to each other there than in the midwest, where I'm from -- my theory is that the nice gentle climate mellows people out. Most of the hospitals in the Bay Area are also unionized, which takes care of that mandatory overtime and team player bullshit. Nurses in the San Francisco Bay Area are the highest paid in the country -- new grads who work for, example, Kaiser or Sutter Health affiliates start in the $35/hr range, and Sutter will pay back your student loans on top of that. The Bay Area is also the most beautiful part of the USA ... The cost of living is higher here in New Haven CT than SFBA. The cost of living isn't outrageous as long as you don't buy a house -- rents have substantially decreased in the last few years. You have your pick of cultural and social events. Your relatives and friends will visit you frequently. You will have your choice of a constant supply of fresh fruit and vegetables all year round there, affordable wonderful take out and restaurants, and the best coffee shops in the country. Proximity to the Pacific Ocean does wonders for your sinuses, seasonal allergies, and general health if those things bother you (I was sick only twice in nearly 4 years there).
No, I certainly don't get a kickback for encouraging people to move to California (I just quit my Sutter health job to move east for graduate school) but nobody here in CT believes me when I tell them I made over $45/hr and my assignment in L&D was ONE active labor patient, not 3-4, as it is in this tiny CT hospital I now work per diem at -- and will not be at very much longer. If midwives made any money out there I'd move back after graduation -- RNs there make more than midwives.
Of course, if you are a socially conservative Republican, you'll hate the Bay Area.
Listen to the other posters and hie thee immediately to another job! "RN" does not mean "abused wife."
I agree with you regarding California. There are some positive points to living in CA. I spent some time in a travel position in the Bay area and was shocked at how much higher the wages were. Now in S. CA and paid much lower. Do not understand the huge differences in wages from bay area to S. Calif. Not sure if it is a better union? Everyone always answers because housing (cost of living) is more in the bay area but my experience here is that housing is just as outrageous.
of course, if you are a socially conservative republican, you'll hate the bay area.
listen to the other posters and hie thee immediately to another job! "rn" does not mean "abused wife."
not a conservative, so no problem there :) ....
it's funny, as my co-worker was complaining about nursing schools turning out nurses who expect to only care for 6-8 patients, and bragging about how she'd taken "15 patients on many occasions", and another co-worked bragged about how she's had 17 patients, the term "abused nurse" popped into my head. these women really can't see their work environment for what it is - abusive.
thanks for your reply......(now i'm ) "california dreamin'" :rotfl:
Specializes in Case Mgmt; Mat/Child, Critical Care.
I agree with you regarding California. There are some positive points to living in CA. I spent some time in a travel position in the Bay area and was shocked at how much higher the wages were. Now in S. CA and paid much lower. Do not understand the huge differences in wages from bay area to S. Calif. Not sure if it is a better union? Everyone always answers because housing (cost of living) is more in the bay area but my experience here is that housing is just as outrageous.
Hi there! I'm in S. Cali, too. I do love it here, but also agree about N. Cali....pays much better there.... I have to say, I believe Kaiser is about the best paying place around, here, anyway, one of the "larger" systems told me there pay and I about wanted to die laughing!
I'm debating about going back up to the bay area.....not sure yet. The nice thing is, we have the ratios and the unions....I'm not from a union state so this is all new to me, wow....they have it all covered! So far, looks good!
Specializes in Case Mgmt; Mat/Child, Critical Care.
I agree w/the other posters, you are being taken advantage of. Get out of there! I will say, however, PP can be a very busy unit, and it's constantly "going"....discharges and admits, constant. But, no reason for you to be overwhelmed and dumped on! If you like OB, why not look into L&D, now that you've been doing PP and some antepartum....you just might like it, I love it!
Good luck to you!:)
Hello every one! I'm a long-time-reader/rare-poster, and I'd like to thank you for all I've learned from you. Could I ask for a little more help?
I'm a new RN. I've been working at my current position for nearly 5 months, and I need to know if my unit is "the problem" or if I am....(especially after the "meltdown" I had last week at work"). I'm currently working in the mother/baby unit, but we also have the occasional ante-partum patients, and gyn surgical patients.
There seems to be chronic short-staffing, and even though I work the evening shift, I've been called to work days and nights, and I've frequently worked on what should have been my day off. This seems to be "expected" and little comments about not being a "team player" are made whenever someone doesn't work extra.
After a run of several especially busy evenings where I had 10-12 patients (a couple of those being new admitts with no unit seceratary or PCA to assist), I told my manager that I was concerned, as a new grad, that I was "over my head" on nights and requested a move to days where there is a smaller patient ratio, a secretary and a couple of PCAs. This was 2 weeks ago, and she still has not adjusted my schedule. Wait - let me correct that - she had me come in and work a couple of DAY shifts when they were short-staffed, but told be I would need to work "at least" another week on nights.
This unit seems especially chaotic with tons of new admits - one night I had 4 new admits within a 4 hour time-period -- 2 of them c-sections! (that shift I had 15 patients) Is this the nature of OB? Or it this unit dysfunctional?
It's gotten to the point that I dread going to work, and I fantasize about calling in sick and never returning. If I do decide to quit this job, will the short amount of time be viewed unfavorably against me by a future employer? Any advice will be accepted gratefully.
I have found that if you don't put YOURSELF first, then you won't be available to take care of anyone...I have worked at facilities where it was bullied into what they called being "a team player," however what I found was the folks that were bullying...were NEVER working any extra...they would come in and do their 7-3 5 days a week, and were SURE to have breakfast, a break, and lunch...when folks that were pulling double shifts, were lucky to have the time to use the bathroom once in a 16h shift...
If you take care of you first, you can't go wrong...
I'd start emailing my resume' to other facilities, and when you are interviewed, it's acceptable to say that "patient" safety was a concern for you and that is why you are leaving your current employer...
I'm in S. Cali, too. I do love it here, but also agree about N. Cali....pays much better there.... I have to say, I believe Kaiser is about the best paying place around, here, anyway, one of the "larger" systems told me there pay and I about wanted to die laughing!
fourbirds4me
347 Posts
Our PP unit does not do couplet care. They take gyn surgeries and stable antepartum (uti's etc...) They have 15 bed and are staffed with and RN and an LPN... day shift and census over 12 gets a CNA... no unit secretary.
Staffing guidelines are from ACOG/AAP. I believe 4-5 couplets is what is recommended.