First of all, I do LOVE this hospice I work for. I've only been there for 2 months, but they are a good group. I work another job 6 days a month, I've rearranged my days at the other job to facilitate seeing patients-my own, and another nurse who is out with a medical situation....
Anywhoo, here is the thing... The hospice first called my home, and my husband said she is on day "6 of 6 in a row, and she won't be home until 7:30pm". Then The hospice text messaged me with "can you call mrs. G, she is upset, her cardiologist said because she was in hospice, he wouldn't see her...she is mad because we haven't been flushing her port, she expects you to see her tomorrow." NOW, I receive this at 4pm today, and I'm working a medical ICU unit and have 4 patients, 2 on cardizem drips, and the other two are confused and in roll belts and wrist restraints. :angryfire
I had a minute and called the hospice, the administrator told me the situation with mrs. g, and ended with "so if you could call her..." I said "NO, i can't, I'm working for the hospital right now, and I barely had this minute to call you...I haven't even had lunch yet." anywhoo, she said "well she wants you to see her tomorrow.":angryfire
Before I was hired, this administrator did visits, and called patients and handled situations...but of course 2 months ago she was called the "director."
It isnt FAIR to ME or to MY PATIENTS to expect ME when I'm on my other critical care job to expect ME to handle these kinds of situations...This happened the other day when I was pulled to the ED, I had 5 rooms, 2 chest pains, and 3 medical ICU holds...and I was asked to speak to the other nurse about a nursing home patients medications....
What do you all think. I mean we have 7 patients right now, we have 2 prn nurses, and i"m one of them...I have 6 patients, and the other nurse has 1 (cause our other nurse is out for her medical stuff.) I don't mind the extra patients, and I do need the hours, but it isn't fair to my hospital or the hospice patients when I can't adequately give my time to either when i'm being spread soooo thin. That is why I NEVER take night call on the days i'm scheduled to be at the hospital...
What would you do. I have to go into the office tomorrow, and I'm going to address this.
