Experience

Hello Everyone: and discovered there hasn't been many discussions in the recent history.

I am at a facility as a traveling RN in an ICU where staffing ratios are 3:1, 4:1 and 5:1 on a regular basis. These are with complex patients, vented and with multifactorial problems (not PCU overflow or med/surg overfill). Staff does not get lunch breaks because there is no coverage. There is rarely if ever a tech or an aide on the unit to help out, no secretaries so RNs are also expected to answer phones/do all charts/orders etc. Equipment is at a bare minimum or often not functional. Currently it seems like there is more travel RN then regular staff do to a mass exit. I am being told by the state board that I would be held liable if an adverse even happens to a patient, I have tired addressing concerns with HR, Manager, Director, my travel company without any positive resolution. Now I am being told my my travel company that if I leave they will force me to buy out my contract which will be hundreds to thousands of dollars. I feel like I am in a rock and a hard place, I cannot afford the cost of leaving but feel like the cost of staying is possibly my license and is at a cost of my professional integrity. I have also tried other regulatory agencies i.e. JACHO, OSHA, HHS but they are telling me it could take months to process any complaint or follow up on the issues. Anyone out there have any suggestions? Is anyone else facing issues or in the past had issues or as a traveler been in this situation? What do you do?