Feeling dumped on as new PRN

Published

Specializes in L&D.

Not sure if this is just how this unit treats PRN staff or if it's because I'm the "new girl".

But I definitely felt dumped on last night - my first shift off orientation.

I work L&D and at the start of the shift there was only one patient on fetal monitoring (cervidil induction).

Guess who's patient it was?

Yep, mine.

Then an active labor patient comes in and they tell me to give away my patient and take the labor patient because I need practice.

I get that I'm still learning how things work there and I do need practice with lady partsl exams since my last facility had residents who did them. But I'm not a new nurse! I'm not even a new L&D nurse!

If this continues not sure I'll work there much longer.

Plus it's nights and I hate nights.

I'm interviewing for another job. Fingers crossed!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yeah, that does seem unfair. Maybe you should jump ship. Good luck on your interview.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

Perhaps I don't understand, what would you be doing if you didn't have these assignments?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.

It was a quiet night. There were 3 or 4 free nurses for most of the shift. Helping in triage or just waiting for an admission. So basically instead of giving the admission/delivery to a nurse who had been patient-less for 5 hours, it was given to me, the only nurse who had had a labor patient all shift.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't understand. You had one patient until another one came in and you were relieved of the first one? You never had more than one patient at a time?

I don't understand how how that is dumping. If they didn't keep you busy with an assignment, wouldn't they have sent you home when it was otherwise slow?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.

On this L&D unit nurses are always 1:1 with labor patients. Which is nice! And the way it should be.

Ideally there is always at least one free nurse at a time to take an admission.

Last night there were several.

But they still gave me the admission.

Just seemed unfair to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

PRNs, per-diems, agency nurses...we tend to get the worst assignments. It kind of goes with the territory :/

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Unless you had to do more work than is reasonable, I wouldn't worry about them maximizing your productivity. Maybe they had recently been slammed and were taking a breather while they could with the luxury of a per diem on a quiet night?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

As a prn it is better to be busy !! Job security!! And there were plenty of staff to step in if things got busy!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've heard nurses remark about 'dumping' on float or PRN staff. We tried hard not to do that on my unit. Sometimes we'd have long term patient we were needing a break from, and they were given to PRN or floats. When I was in charge, I made my assignments for reasons -- matching staff ability/experience with the patient care. Sometimes what I came up with was displeasing to a staff, and if they were mature enough to ask me about it, I'd explain it.

And then I've seen PRNs and floats get dumped on! If I were the only nurse 'working' while others were sipping cocktails at the desk, I'd wonder too. But before you conclude 'dumping', it could have been a weird night, there could have been valid reasons that would make perfect sense if you asked. Sometimes just ASKING gets the charge on the defensive, so I understand being new and PRN and not feeling it.

I would HATE just sitting there! I would be begging for something to do lest I go nuts.

People can think what they want, there's no law. But I hate to suffer, and make a lot of choices that way. Why get myself worked up about something that may have a perfectly reasonable explanation? It makes your whole day go sour, and it doesn't go unnoticed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

You said you need practice on lady partsl exams...this seems like a teachable moment; not "dumping". :nono:

I wouldn't jump ship; you may not 1:1 in L&D anywhere else :whistling:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PCCU, tele, Med/Surg, ED, Psych.

Amen to that!I worked floatpool and we always got "challenging" pts as our manager called them. That is manager speak for BOHICA (if you don't know the acronym, ask around. LOL)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion