Help What Is A Nurse To Do?

[jstbg1s]

I have been a nurse for two years this month. I like to think I have been a good nurse with a strong moral conscience and the will to always uphold my patient needs above all other problems. But as of late I feel as if I am no longer able to do my job and help my patients as I should.

I work for a small town hospital which has been bought and sold so many times I'm not even sure who owns us right now. We are now to the point that it is a good day if there is soap, papertowels, and water all at the same time. So you can imagine how little patient equipment we have on some days. I spend so much time looking for supplies.... So many nurses have abandoned ship that our staffing is to the bones. When we get new hires, they last maybe three to four weeks and leave due to the conditions. BUT, I don't want this to be about complaints, we all have them.

What do you do when you know you are no longer able to care for your patients in a safe and secure environment? When you know you aren't doing all you can because you just don't have the resources? AND no one around you will stand up for themselves despite how bad the conditions are?

I just keep coming to work day after day hoping it will get better. I have complained with suggestions to every level of management. The only thing that seems to matter is making sure we make money at the expense of patient care. I come to work everyday wondering if this is the day I lose my license. But if I leave it would just be that much worse for all involved, patients and nurses alike. WHAT DO YOU DO? WHO HELPS US?

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

My advice: you are fighting a losing battle staying in this place. Vote with your feet - leave.

[Guest717236]

My advice: you are fighting a losing battle staying in this place. Vote with your feet - leave.

Immediately!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jo Dirt]

I'd take my purse and keep stepping. I don't have much respect for a lot of those smaller hospitals, anyway. They tend to be extremely clique-ish among the hens there, and not interested at all in welcoming different people.

Leave them to wallow. Broaden your horizons.

[ern91]

My advice: you are fighting a losing battle staying in this place. Vote with your feet - leave.

my sentiments exactly. it won't get any better

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Nursing is kind of like gambling. "You got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, and know when to run".

Good luck.

[Lacie, BSN, RN]

Sounds like you have rolled the dice long enough and still not getting ahead under the circumstances. I realize you may care very much about patients and thier needs but you will be of no good to them if you end up being the one with major burnout in the end. Personally, run dont walk, dont pass go and get the h-e-double hockey sticks out. Find another place to work. I have worked for small places in rural Kentucky after my husband was transferred there. I am originally from Miami and used to large well supplied hospitals. What I seen in the rural hospital was absolutely pathetic considering it was a "For Profit" institution (you see thier advertisements on tv almost every day in every state). 95% of the patients were medicaid or medicare and it gave a great example of how lousy the system can be to those who cant afford it. Cliches, limited amount of updated educated medical staff and docs, and limited supplies. Staff that you watch on a daily basis that you wonder how they ever even made it through school much less remain in the work force. Not all small rural hospitals are this way but in some areas it's a way of life and patients dont know any different so it never gets changed. Find somewhere you will be satisfied with being a nurse at even if you have to drive abit further to get there. You'll find down the road it may be the best decision you ever made. You alone wont be able to change the hospital so come to the decision and start seeking other employment before you need the care yourself.

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

I agree with the above posters, and I know that is absolutely heart breaking! I too have worked for a facility that was only in it for the profit, treated their employees like servants that have no other place to go, and pt's were dollar signs not human beings!

I waited through some of the worse of the facility falling on its head in debt and lack of funds, worrying my head off about the poor victims, the patients, that have no choice but to stay aboard a sinking ship. Then I thought about it...some of the residents didn't have to stay, and I encouraged them to speak to their families and have the families check out the sitatuation...but alas, most families felt it was the best place and did NOTHING!

So I did what I could, but had to go.

BUT...karma does work, and I see my residents at the local hospital I am working agency for, and I now take care of them in a facility full of strangers, strange sites, sounds, and tests. I am an anchor for them, and a friendly loving face!

SO it turned out! And I feel I am doing more for them here, than I ever did there!

A change may be a favorable one! :)

Good luck!

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Vote with your feet, but I would also call/write the health department or whoever inspects that facility.

Also they probably accept Medicare so a small call/letter to the state US Attorney will probably at least generate interest.

How close is the next facility (better one)? I commuted a looong distance, for a looong time in order to avoid just such a situation. Those poor patients.

[justavolunteer]

This sounds like the hospital I used to volunteer at. EVERYBODY had to spend a whole lot of time scrounging for supplies, wheelchairs, etc. There was never enough of anything. I stuck it out because I'm a volunteer & the nurses appreciated me so much. Finally, the management 'geniuses' decided to lock up what little supplies there were from me. (Makes it hard to do your job when you can't get the things you need.)

The place I'm at now is a polar opposite. They have plenty of everything & the administration is much more supportive. If you can find somewhere like that, go there & don't look back.

[llg, PhD, RN]

People who stay and tolerate horrible conditions are NOT helping -- they are giving management the justification to keep making the bad decisions. Some administrations will only listen when enough people leave to make it impossible to deny the reasons behind the resignations.

If you really want to help your patients -- leave -- and report the bad conditions to the proper state authorities and to anyone else who will listen.

llg