good management or complete contempt for staff...what's your thoughts please?

[scared'o'needles!]

I recently did a night shift and the night co-ordinator called in to say that a named member of staff on that day was to work in another ward as they were shortstaffed.

This is normal procedure so I thought not a lot about it until she then added (looking & sounding very pleased) that she specifically chose this SN as she (the SN) was on days off after this shift and the ward she was going to was closed with due to infection (norovirus). She then went on to say "so it won't matter if she gets the bug".

:angryfireI think it will matter to her if she is ill on her days off! The NC did not even blush when saying this..

[ayla2004, ASN, RN]

i though permant staff couldn't be pulled to shut wards?. Even bank staff tend to avoid them.

[Mr Ian]

I wouldn't be surprised if someone waited til 4:55pm on Friday then punch her on the nose and tell her at least she's got the weekend to get over it.

:trout:

[Ruthiegal]

Said NC was covering her own bottom. She didn't want to be bothered with covering shifts if someone became ill with the norovirus. Shame on her.

[Vito Andolini]

Ugly thing to say. Her thinking was either that she hated the nurse she wanted to work the infectious ward or she figured that, if that one got sick, it would not affect staffing, since the one who was expected to get sick was going to be off anyway. Or maybe she's just being realistic and thinking out loud, foolishly, sadly. If the pulled nurse was careful, she wouldn't have to get sick necessarily. Wear a mask, gloves, wash hands, etc.

The boss would have been better off not to say it, of course, but only think it.

As for pulling 2 when it is possible to pull only 1 - this happens because they are either doing shenanigans such as the OP describes or, as at some facilities, they have a method of pulling that requires that they follow a certain rotation and they do follow it. I have seen where a unit will have all or a majority of pulled staff but the regular staff are on duty on other floors! Go figure. There's not much sense in that, IMHO, but the people in charge apparently think otherwise.

It is sad and disturbing when we awaken to the realization that those who supervise and manage are full of flaws, just like the rest of humanity. Sort of like when a child realizes there's no Santa Claus or that his parents are less than perfect. Try not to let this upset you too much. It's just a harsh, sad reality of life on planet Earth.

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

The manager was not being very smart to say what she said. Now she has a morale problem because of her insensitive remark.

I'd say having a morale problem was the least of the managers problems!:angryfire