How to leave unsafe situation?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2015

Each nurse previously had about 19 patients and now the only nurse will have about 38. Mostly medical rehab and a few LTC.

A medication pass for 38 residents in post-acute medical rehab is not outside the realm of possibilities for that setting, especially if it is in an LTC facility. It's not necessarily unsafe; however, I wouldn't want to do it either. After all, I'm too lazy to hustle like that.

I'd immediately submit my two-week notice of resignation and trudge through my final days there. Two weeks of remaining there might seem hellish now, but it will be water under the bridge when you reflect on this situation several years from now. Good luck to you.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 5, 2015

I'd immediately submit my two-week notice of resignation and trudge through my final days there. Two weeks of remaining there might seem hellish now, but it will be water under the bridge when you reflect on this situation several years from now. Good luck to you.

I agree: if you are not comfortable with this, give your notice ASAP and start looking for something else. Quitting without notice might get you out of there faster, but might also leave you tagged a Do Not Rehire (which may not be a bad thing this time) as well as with a less-than-ideal reference for your next job. This can hurt your job hunt, especially if you're a new nurse and this was your first/only nursing job.

Best of luck whatever you decide!

ProgressiveActivist, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2015

Call out. Spend the day applying for jobs elsewhere.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Dec 5, 2015

One does NOT hustle through a med pass. The greedy corporate masters have decided to pocket the wages of the nurse that has been cut.

Agree with calling off, look for something else while doing so. Use your FMLA if you can, use your medical provider otherwise. You are simply too mentally upset to function in this LOUSY money grab.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Dec 5, 2015

Well this stinks out loud. I feel for all the nurses who were "cut". And for you left holding the bag.

In a LTC setting, you may find that everywhere this is becoming more and more the norm. It is bad enough with the giant med pass and treatments...I am not sure you (or definitely not me, but I am old and crabby) could get all of that in on any given shift on a good day.

What is the big ole red flag for me is the part where you also have to deal with emergencies, falls, send outs....you can't be everywhere at once. And if your med pass/treatments have to be put aside to deal with stuff, that's an issue. And if you don't immediately respond to stuff that is an issue.

And a cornucopia for error.

Food for thought--They scale back to one nurse. It becomes a "one nurse can't do all this!!" Then it gives management a reason to go to parent company and negotiate for medicine aides, a tech who is even an EMT that does treatments, and a newer grad nurse RN/LPN who takes care of the emergencies/send outs/etc all wrapped up in a bow, and with significant savings to the company. Sometimes even at the cost of 2 experienced nurses who have been with them over time.

HOPEFULLY, before the nurse screws up due to conditions rather than outright neglect/grave error and is let go (and can be debatable, but there is a little clause in unemployment about being let go for "patient safety issues"

I would start sending out resumes as well, but perhaps to home health or hospice. Same kind of longer term care nursing but with a primary aspect to it.

Best wishes!