help, short staffed, at wits end

[jrbl77]

help. it is now 5 am and I have been awake almost all night after my last 7a to 7p shift. I am now crying. I have heard that things are only going to get worse at my hospital- shutup , smile and don't complain or you will be fired. Other people my family and friends- don't want to hear how bad our state of health care is- most reply be glad you have a job. If they only knew what it is to have people's lifes in your hands. I am an old nurse, but too young to quit. My husband tells me go with the flow, only do what you can. that is not the type of nursing that I have always practced. I always put that pt and their needs first, even when it means, i can't take a bathroom break. I am told by my co workers that I am an excellant nurse and many times patients and their family thank me for care provided. I often hear i did'nt know that nurse can bath pt, do mouth care and simple tasks that I still see as important. I often see co workers texting, talking on the cell phone and sitting around while i am always busy. I am not afraid to stand up for my beliefs and values, but am being told a new policy is ineffect- compalin or voice concerns and you will be gone ( i don't have my contacts in an can't see well to type). The last few weeks have been espically hard for me as my mother has been ill, we thought that she was going to die- she is in long term care. She has improved and things are looking up. I am resposible for medical care- transport to md office etc for her. Last week she was non weight bearing and you all know how much fun that is. I am sorry that I am rambling on> i did fill out 2 on line applications last night for other hospitals. I am even considering work at the local farmer's market in place of nursing. My daughter tells me that I wouldn't like standing on my feet all day for minimum wage amd I responded- well at least I wouldn't be responsble for life and death decsions. thanks for being a great group of nurse.

[MissPiggy]

I have known folks who have called in anonymous complaints to Medicare & JCAH. Medicare especially has to come out to inspect the hospital w/o any warning & tell admin ONLY that there was an anonymous c/o. This worked wonders in the hospital I was working in at the time. Good luck!

[LilyBlue]

Hmmm. Sounds like your husband is more concerned with you bringing home the bacon than being supported. That's an entirely separate issue but I can tell you that will not improve, either.

I'm sorry you re going through this.

[*ac*]

Well, I can agree with this nurse as I'm seeing the exact same thing at our hospital. Sorry, we're short staffed, but we aren't doing any new hiring and you should probably just be glad you have a job. Now, get back to work, here's some new paperwork requirements to add to all the others, and, by the way, no, you can't put in for a vacation as we are understaffed that week and even bugging more nurses to put in overtime. Being able to take a lunch break is something you struggle to do every shift as demands on each nurse are escalating.

This is the reality right now -- and the sad thing is, this nurse may or may not be able to leave because she's signed a contract to the unit (at least that's how it is for all us new nurses).

I am seeing more and more shifts where there are no techs, no secretary, short nurses and supplies just seem to be dwindling or slow to be stocked. Hospitals are cutting corners everywhere they can now to avoid the inevitable: salary cuts and layoffs. Meanwhile, they are stepping up admissions, admitting the wrong patients to the wrong floors just to "fill beds" and stepping up discharges, just to "fill beds." And I guess they'll do that - until all the money just inevitably runs out.

I am also burned out, and I'm a newer nurse. I suppose one could go complain to all the higher levels of authoriy, but, tell me -- who has time for that in between shifts and taking care of home and often a family to boot? I don't.

I just feel that as the whole mess is supposedly linked to our bad economy, then the problem goes way above my own head and is more a political problem in this nation. Something needs to give, because ALL of our lives are endangered by it. And by IT -- I mean forces that are perhaps beyond all of our control. Our country is changing -- and it's not for the better. We used to be a strong and successful nation, once ruled by a Constitution -- but that is slowly being eroded. I guess what I'm trying to say is that to simply tell a nurse to "pick herself up and pull herself up by her bootstraps" is almost putting an impossible burden on a nurse. Nurses are NOT the problem -- the political realities in this country are the problem, and I'm not sure what it's going to take to solve them.

Do you work at my hospital? To add insult to inury, we are constantly getting emails about how we need to step up customer satisfaction. This is a joke! How can I when it's all I can do to meet their basic needs? We have near-misses every day on my unit d/t the above mentioned problems. It's so stressful.

[jrbl77, RN]

regarding on call at night for hospice, when someone is dying or dead they are told not to call 911. the management at first told us we didn't have to go to this area at night, but changed their minds at midnight while that family was on the phone. I no longer have to deal with that and I am glad of that. have put in applications at 2 hospitals that i could work straight med surg, not vents, trachs and tele. am calling in all favors and networking as much as possible. :)

[augiebear]

It seems to me that you have a lot of pressure on you from your husband, mom, and job. I am sorry and I bet it must be so hard when it seems like nothing is going right and you have no one to talk to. But you do not have to take that crap from your employer, if you must complain because it has something to do with the well being of patients, then that is what you have to do. And if they fire you because of that, you will have one huge lawsuit. Also, you should talk to some agenices that can help you with this situation. If it really is too hard, you must quit!

Part of the reason I wanted to be a nurse was to help people during trying times. I watched my dad die and was with him in and out of the hospital. At one point, I vowed not to be a nurse because the I thought that the emotional aspect was too difficult and I see the corruption and politics in the healthcare system and did not want to be a part of that.

But I had sort of a revalation if you want to call it that, these things go on in workplaces whether I like it or not, whether I am part of it or not...If I can change one persons life by giving them excellent care and empathizing with their situation, then that is good enough for me..Everytime I feel disgusted with our healthcare system, I think of this, and I feel better and ready to go back out there and take on the world..hope this helps some..

[highlandlass1592, BSN, RN]

I've read your other posts and my heart goes out to you. I know how difficult it is to try to perform in such a tight situation. And your at-home stressors are really putting a burden on you. Have you thought about trying to take any FMLA time? I know you said that your mom's situation is improving but you can't be everywhere, taking care of everybody. You do have to remember to take care of yourself cause if you don't, you won't be able to take care of anyone else. I'd also support the idea of contacting an EAP or trying for independent counseling. Even if you can't come up with any solutions, just having someone to listen is a huge help. Take care of yourself.

[jrbl77, RN]

just wanted to let everyone know that i have a job interview with a smaller community hopsital tomorrow. they sounded very interested in me on the phone and i have a friend who works there and suggested me as a new hire. hope all goe well. I have learned from my 20 something daughter that I don't have to stay at the same job forever, it is okay to quit if you don't like what you are doing.

[makes needs known]

Things WILL get better. You are doing the best you can. I can tell you are a wonderful nurse, daughter, and wife.