Nurses HELP ME pls

[BelleNurseRN, MSN, APRN]

Hello Nurses,

I wanted to write this long ago but I didn't want to talk bad about my job but I NEED to vent so bad. I've been working at this LTC in NJ for 6 months, It took me 8 months after graduating to find a job after applying everywhere and out of state. I HATE HATE that job, the constant backstabbing, negative environment, the chaos, I decided to stay to pay my bills. Only if you work there you would know the extent of what I'm talking about, at my job it is survival of the fittest type of job, it is "eat or be eaten" basically. It is the worst 1st job experience as a new grad, everything I learn thus far are things I had to learn on my own. I was never properly trained but I shadow other nurses who never wash their hands between patients, who don't take the BP when giving a BP meds, and falsifying vital signs to make them normal just so they can save time from calling the MD.

Anyways, I've been used and abused so much, for example they hired me PD but everyone they hired after me has been FT w/ benefits and I make less an hr than the FT workers. I work all hours, 7-3, 3-11, and 11-7, I come in when nurses call out and they never appreciate me or anything I do at that place. Last week, the state came to the job and you can imagine the chaos and pressure. I've been working 3-11 last week, but stayed till 3AM, due to admissions, never ending incident reports, ER situations and redoing statement since the DON and the manager asked us to redo them for the state. The DON had the nerve to call me in her office couple days ago to tell me that they will not pay me any OT, they will only pay me 8 hrs of work and if I stayed till 3am it is because I'm a conscious nurse that nobody is asking to stay till 3am. I explained to her I have admissions, incident reports etc, she said well that why you have a supervisor and wants me to clock out and continue my work (Is she freaking kidding me?). The supervisors at that place are lazy, they don't do anything for me, they won't even pick up a MD order or a lab for me. I was so upset when she told me that and decided I need to leave that hell hole and should all Dept. of Labor on them. They never pay me OT when I stay pass 8 hrs at work, and with the pt load, passing 100 meds, charting, admissions etc. there is no way to finish in 8 hrs. I love being a nurse, I love my pts. so much, they know it and they feel it, but enough of this abuse.

Thanks for reading..Any advice??

[Orange Tree]

I don't doubt that the workload is unrealistic. That seems to be the case almost everywhere! I would find it very hard to justify staying four hours late, though. Is it possible that you could speed up your admissions, improve your organization skills, or cut out some of the "never ending" incident reports? I've found that being blunt is necessary, at times, too. I've had to let supervisors know that I can do this or that....but that I do not have time to do them both. Together, we come up with a solution. I may receive help, receive permission to stay a little late, or some low priority tasks may get pushed aside and left undone.

I never work off the clock, though. Never.

[NurseGuyBri]

Good answer, Orange Tree! I agree- I can see staying a little late, but as a manager, the budge has to be balanced too. If what you say is true and you have earnestly tried to get help/ assistance/ or even education to improve your self and it is not being provided, get out!!!! There are good workplaces out there! Take mine, for example. I am in SE VA. Our workload (30 pts/nurse) with ten million pills each plus everything we ask our nurses is nuts. It's to much- but it has to be done. We all pitch in, however. It's a group effort and I am working with an amazing team. They're out there, I promise. Just don't lose your license over it. I doubt you will find a job with less "workload" but maybe with less "laziness". OH, and I think "clock out but stay and finish" is federally illegal; however I do think you may need to re-evaluate where you are and what you can do first for yourself, and if you've already done that or when you have done that, see if it helps. If not get.... out!!!

[thenursemandy]

They can not make you clock out and work off the clock. That place sounds terrible. I worked somewhere like that and quit after being told to falsify records by the DON and administrator.

[NurseCard, ADN]

Everything in your post sounds about normal for a lot of nursing homes. Yep.

[chrisrn24]

Never work off the clock!!

[DSkelton711]

If they expect you to work off the clock then I think you only have one choice: give notice and start looking for another job.

[gabulldogs]

Good answer Orange Tree! I agree- I can see staying a little late, but as a manager, the budge has to be balanced too. If what you say is true and you have earnestly tried to get help/ assistance/ or even education to improve your self and it is not being provided, get out!!!! There are good workplaces out there! Take mine, for example. I am in SE VA. Our workload (30 pts/nurse) with ten million pills each plus everything we ask our nurses is nuts. It's to much- but it has to be done. We all pitch in, however. It's a group effort and I am working with an amazing team. They're out there, I promise. Just don't lose your license over it. I doubt you will find a job with less "workload" but maybe with less "laziness". OH, and I think "clock out but stay and finish" is federally illegal; however I do think you may need to re-evaluate where you are and what you can do first for yourself, and if you've already done that or when you have done that, see if it helps. If not get.... out!!![/quote']

They can not make you clock out and work off the clock. That place sounds terrible. I worked somewhere like that and quit after being told to falsify records by the DON and administrator.

I agree They cant force you to clock out and finish work w/o pay. Time to move on.

[withasmilelpn]

She is violating the law. Period. And they owe you all the $ they didn't pay you. Approved or not - you were working and they owe you money. Their only recourse is to discipline or fire you for not following their policy of no overtime. They can be subject to steep fines and if investigated this can be for all employees and for years. Google it - there is a fact check sheet that answers questions employers have about labor laws and how they are applied. Health facilities frequently violate these laws because they misinterpret them or are unaware or outright ignore them. (read unpaid lunch breaks) They haven't always been enforced - but under this administration they are - and there are also often collective lawsuits put together against health care corporations.

In an industry that has to follow so many regs - it's inconceivable that facilities don't know the ones that govern their workers - it still aggravates me and I find it very irresponsible - they risk losing just as much financially.. What protects them is that their workers don't know the law.

Best of luck to you.

[St_Claire, ADN, RN]

Call the Dept of Labor in your state. They will investigate immediately and you will be paid for the hours you worked. It is illegal for a nurse to work off the clock. Get a new job, this job may cost you your license if you continue.

[withasmilelpn]

Get a new job first though before you quit or call the labor board.