Is it just me?

Midwest4me · Nov 30, 2007

My heart goes out to you!!!Sounds like a staffing problem to me; the CNAs should have been assisting with the baths so you could take care of other nursing tasks. Time management skills are learned but when faced with so many admissions and discharges, that kind of goes out the window....or at the very least is definitely put to the test. The stress you feel is BECAUSE you care and will always be there on some level due to the environments in which we work. You have to find some outlet to relieve the stress--venting here is excellent; physical workouts, etc.

DeLana_RN, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2007

Sounds like the med/tele floor I used to work on during my first year out of school... due to similar issues (too many admits/discharges, 1:8 ratio on day shift, no IV team, unhelpful/lazy aides, need I go on?!) many of my 12-hour shifts turned into 13, 14, 15, 16 - my record was 17 hours, just because I simply did not have time to do any charting during my shift (including admit assessments, which were very time-consuming).

What did I do? I left the hospital! Even experienced nurses could not handle it, and even the manager - who tried to remedy the situation - quit in frustration. It was, and is, a system problem, and has nothing to do with your ability as a nurse.

Have you tried talking to your charge nurses or manager about this? If they have no solution, can you transfer to a less-stressful position within the hospital (or elsewhere)?

I wish you the best of luck,

DeLana :icon_hug:

P.S. I went into dialysis and have never regretted it. I'm back in a hospital now, but in a dialysis unit - much less stressful than floor nursing (our ratios are usually 1:1, never more than 1:2).

Scrubby · Nov 30, 2007

What ppl are describing here is the reason why i left nursing on the wards! I'm the type of person who takes pride in doing ALL of my work on time, and i used to feel so frustrated when i could not fit it all into an 8 hr shift. I also get very angry with ppl who don't do their job properly and leave it up to you.

My suggestion is to document the workload and the effect this has had on you. Do you have hazard reports, occupational health and safety reports or anything similar? I would be making it known to the powers that be that your working environment has become too stressful and extra staff is needed.

Workplace stress over prolonged periods can be dangerous. Heres an interesting read:

http://www.pwclegal.com.au/legal/pwclegal.nsf/pages/fbf63a2b5b388aa1ca25706600126c81

al7139, ASN, RN · Nov 30, 2007

Hi,

I hope it gets better for you.

I have been a nurse for about 6 months now. I work on a busy telemetry/medicine unit. I never in a million years was prepared for this in nursing school!!!

When I was new and just off orientation, I felt that since I was "low man on the totem pole" that I couldn't say NO. I was guilt-bagged into working double shifts, doing the last nurses admission ppwk, etc. I was scared that I would not be accepted if I said NO. Now, I have realized that alot of my problems on my shift are my fault for not sticking up for myself. I am new, I am not supernurse. Now, if I get report, and a nurse says to me "This pt came in at (several hours ago), and I did not do their admission ppwk because "I got busy", I find out what their definition of "busy" is. If a pt coded, etc., then I understand. If it's just their own disorganization, I refuse to be the dumping ground for the stuff they don't want to do. I make sure to do walking rounds, and check each pt as I get report. Guess what so and so's iv is infiltrated from his hand to his elbow..."What? i just checked the pt an hour ago!" Sure you did...You get to do the paperwork for risk mgt...NOT ME!!! "This pt's 1pm meds were not given (I come on at 3pm)." "Can you do them for me?" "No, it is YOUR responsibility to give all meds from your shift AND get pharmacy to change the schedule when you give them late."

It may sound bad to you, but I have learned to "Just say NO!"

I will have enough to do on my shift without doing what you didn't!

As for crazy pt assignments, I have had several. They are doable, but they do suck. I go to my manager, and ask that if I do get lots of admissions, that they be staggered, or get help. They are usually understanding since I am new.

Amy

NurseCherlove · Nov 30, 2007

TigerGalLE,

In NO way should you think it's just you, that there is a problem with you!! Did your charge even step in to help at all??

I can all too much sympathize with you, especially that feeling that no matter how hard and fast you work, it still just isn't enough to keep the patients/families from getting upset. On that note, as far as discharges go, I am often thankful to be doing the discharges of frequent flyers because they already know ahead of time that it is not going to be instantaneous. The reallly cool ones just expect it to take time. Now other discharges are a different story of course.

Heck, you know what I think would be a cool idea? How about instead of little holiday gifts like gift certificates for a ham, have just one day around holiday time where all the nurses could enjoy decent staffing??? It'd be like a gift to the nurses and the patients! Oh, but wait...nurses don't need that - they function better like robots working beyond max capacity.

I don't know the solution hon. Just try to stay focused on the fact that you are a great, caring nurse who is not just in it for a paycheck. Hugs to you!:icon_hug:

TigerGalLE, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2007

Thanks y'all... A few days off have helped some. Maybe when I go back it will be better... However they have called me every day on my day off at 5:30am to see if I could come in and help... And I said NO! I need my time off from that place :) Thanks for the encouraging words though.