Got to my shift last evening. Had been on weeks vacation. Only 12 patients, two going home and two admits coming. Manager sends one RN and one aid home because of census. Well that leaves us with me(RN), LPN, aid and secretary. That is OK, I don't know any of these patients and I will struggle a bit but I can do it. Especially taxing is the fact that it is Friday, homecare nurses and case managers and physical therapist and occupation therapist are swarming over the place trying to get their work done because they are off the weekend. Still I am ok with all this, not like I have not done it before. I tell the manager I am ok with it. Then after I get report I am told we are going to take all the patients from Team 2 and move them to team 1 to expedite things for daylight shift on weekend. That is 8 people and all their stuff being dragged down to front end of the unit. There are only 4 on front half and it would seem easier to move the smaller number but it really is better to have everyone on front half. That is when I flipped out. "No, I ain't pushing a bed, I ain't dragging a bedside stand or picking up a flower pot, am just to frigging busy. Not only do I not know these people but if you move them I will not know where they are." Head nurse said, "I will do it." I say, "while you are at it make sure you transfer all the paper work." She did move them all and while she had the aid and LPN are busy moving furniture a patient fell. She says to me, "You have to fill out incident report" Me again, "nope this was your idea, you are going to fill it out and you are going to notify the MDs and call the family." They when she went to leave at 6pm I said, "you are going to cover the floor while I take my lunch". She did not get out of there till 7pm. I bet she wished she had kept the other RN for at least half a shift. Ain't I a bytch? PS if you wonder what I was doing don't forget there were two admission, couple of people getting blood and coming back from OR.
