So, I picked up a new position on the medsurg floor at the hospital where I work.. Started like 4 weeks ago..
I soon realized that that their shifts are ALWAYS short of staff... 30 beds with 4 nurses, 3 and 1 charge... then when I came we became total of 5--- 4 with 1 charge. Our charge also takes up pts to help us out. We work as a team to get our job done. This passed week we had the whole floor full of patients.. not just simple cases, but patients with high acuity. So, you know how tasking our shift was.. Most times we hit 26-27 patients.. post-op, pre-op patients, Cancer pts who get 2-3 units of blood transfusion every other day... Geriatric pts.. just name them...
EVERY WEEK and I mean EVERY week the house supervisor calls or texts for me to come in for extra shifts and help out others. Honestly, Im already worked up during my shift this last week that I was looking forward to my days off this weekend.. So, when I get these calls or texts, I feel, "these people are somewhat heartless, how do they expect me to come back during my days off, when I am trying to spend time with my family, rest and refresh myself"... And guess what, 1hr before I wrote this comment, I got a text asking if I can come in tonight.. meanwhile I worked last night and Im barely starting to get my rest... I replied that Im sorry, but that I cannot come.. say 45mins later they texted again and asked if I can come tomorrow for day shift... I was like REALLY?!!! ... Havent they done enough?? I just felt like... who ever is house sup today must be heartless.. Cant they see?? I just felt like , at least last week I picked up extra to come help.. so this week they should just let me rest...In my mind, I was like, "I have a life, you know, and I have the right to ENJOY my days off without getting disturbing texts and calls asking me to come to work....
Most of the staff are leaving their full time and heading for PRN.... everyday people call in.. Why? they are just so tired...Theres just SOOOO much to do and so little human resources to do them...
Im just looking for a way to vent my feelings....
I don't know, may be Im getting it wrong or something.. Just want to hear form those of you that may have gone through similar situation..
Ouch it's just bad all over. And I don't want to sound whiny, and I know better, but some days I really do worry about ny license. I get a better workout sprinting for bed alarms than I did as a college athlete, I'm terrified to go to the bathroom because there's not enough staff to catch all my jumping patients! Only been a nurse a little over a year, I'm hoping all this anxiety lessons as I gain more experience.
It's not worth it. You won't earn that much extra in your paychecks because most of it will go towards taxes, and your paychecks end up being the same amount as if you just worked your scheduled hours. Now if you pick up extra and it gets counted as a mandatory stay date, then might as well pick up here and there to decrease the risk of being forced to stay, but if your facility does not do that, then forget it.
Most times we hit 26-27 patients.. post-op, pre-op patients, Cancer pts who get 2-3 units of blood transfusion every other day... Geriatric pts.. just name them...
... Havent they done enough?? I just felt like... who ever is house sup today must be heartless.. Cant they see?? I just felt like , at least last week I picked up extra to come help.. so this week they should just let me rest...In my mind, I was like, "I have a life, you know, and I have the right to ENJOY my days off without getting disturbing texts and calls asking me to come to work....
:unsure:
PCnurse88
182 Posts
Ouch
it's just bad all over. And I don't want to sound whiny, and I know better, but some days I really do worry about ny license. I get a better workout sprinting for bed alarms than I did as a college athlete, I'm terrified to go to the bathroom because there's not enough staff to catch all my jumping patients! Only been a nurse a little over a year, I'm hoping all this anxiety lessons as I gain more experience.