Getting situations dumped on you at shift trade!

[bradons]

Anyone else have this happen on a regular basis?

CONSTANTLY in the last year it seems like every shift I'm starting off with a patient crashing or almost crashing. Had 2 today and they weren't even my patients (was charge and handle myself in situations that arise). Problem is where I work the staff mix is terrible and it seems like bodies instead of brains is hired (yes it may sound mean but I'm fed up). Literally seems like its clean up duty EVERY shift.

The worst part is that the people that are always causing the issues or not doing their work don't think its an issue. I know why I went into nursing and it wasn't for the money. But lately it seems like all the newer staff are only here for the money. Yes we make excellent money but that shouldn't be the driving force for nursing. It should be making a difference in patients lives be it start of life or end of life. But lately all I've seen is people using work as a gossip place and a party place.

I've brought the issues up, wrote letters and incident reports. Nothing has been done about it. If it wasn't christmas time I was going to just lose it this morning as I am very VERY patient orientated and advocate like crazy. It makes me sick to see patients treated like they are and nothing being done.

I'm almost at the point to just throw the towel in and switch professions. I am awaiting a posting to work in a different area. But lately I'm just contemplating doing something else. Love working as a nurse but HATE the bu!!sh!t that could be prevented.

Just don't know what to do.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Problem is where I work the staff mix is terrible and it seems like bodies instead of brains is hired (yes it may sound mean but I'm fed up).

The chief nursing officer at my workplace has bluntly said that he's now only hiring people for their personalities. Upper management's theory is that cheerful nurses will result in higher patient satisfaction scores.

Unfortunately, many of the happy new hires lack basic nursing skills.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

You also have to look at who is hired. Lots of inbreeding going on in hospitals. Nepotism at its best. Nobody cares because they probably never studied in college knowing they already had a job...

[bradons]

You also have to look at who is hired. Lots of inbreeding going on in hospitals. Nepotism at its best. Nobody cares because they probably never studied in college knowing they already had a job...

Thats the problem I have been seeing. Get out of college and are almost guaranteed a job.

And 80% of them do not DESERVE to be a nurse.

[uRNmyway, ASN, RN]

Well hold on now...guaranteed job or no, we all have to pass the same exams. If these nurses graduated and passed boards, then someone, somewhere must have thought they were knowledgeable enough to be a nurse...

[bradons]

Well hold on now...guaranteed job or no, we all have to pass the same exams. If these nurses graduated and passed boards, then someone, somewhere must have thought they were knowledgeable enough to be a nurse...

No clue how they passed as the simplest of things are foreign. Maybe its the common sense thats lacking or the critical thinking. But all I know is I HATE coming on shift after a lot have been working.