I have been working on my new job on a sub-acute unit since May 24th. I really love it ! Great patients and it requires much more skills. However, I was told once I get off orientation I will be the only nurse for 15 patients for 3-11shift with 2 aides. There is a RN supervisor but she does not work the floor ( much understood). I honestly don't feel comfortable with this. These patients are sick ! Trachs, g-tubes, wound care, IVs, DM, ESRD, post-op, new admissions, discharges, medicine pass, and charting !:eek: I don't mind the patient load only if there was another nurse working with me. I feel much more comfortable with another set of hands and eyes just basically any resource. I talked to other agency nurses and they told me this facility never keeps a full-time 3-11shift nurse due to the work load.
I want to grow in my skill set, however I also don't want to set myself up for failure. I'm still on orientation and will be on my own next week. I'm going to send the staffing coordinator and DON a email warning them that if they assign me to a patient load that I feel is unsafe I won't accept it the assignment and will clock out and go home. I have a job interview next week for substance abuse at a teaching hospital, I just may accept if it looks appealing. I'm a LPN and between now and December I'm just trying to work here and there until receiving my RN degree.
My question is : How soon after being hired have you quit a job and what was the reason?
I see your concern, but PLEASE watch how you word your letter/email to the DON. It seems like you will have an attitude toward him/her. If you give someone an ultimatum, they will most likely retaliate. And you don't want to leave on bad terms. Take a deep breath.... Kindly ask for more orientation before being on your own. Are there a few more tasks of yours that you could delegate to your aides?
I have the same scenario it will be my third day today thy didn't even tell my job description it was so hard because they put me in all different shift am a new grad and am going to work in sub acute and my position is nurse supervisor and u don't have experience at all . am so worried because they only goin to train me for three days and am on my own . I don't want to lose my license . Pls help advice me. When they hired me my first day of orientation thy never told me my job description al though and even my salary thy just put me in although they mention that the position will be nurse supervisor . I don't know where am getting into pls help pls help
They wanted me to start this morning and still hadnt told me what my starting wage was. The last position I had with a company called A didnt tell me my wage either and I needed a job so I took it.quote]
I have heard nurses on here say this several times...it it TOTALLY acceptable and expected that you will ask what your salary is once you are offered the position. You don't want to ask about it until the position is actually offered to you as that will look bad on your end. But once they offer you the position it is time for the negotion about the benefits, salary and anything else of that nature that hasn't been yet discussed. I was this way when I interviewed for my first few job positions until I realized that I am being interviewed but I am also interviewing THEM as to whether or not this is the place I want to work, this is information you will need if you are interviewing at several places so if you get several job offers you can make the best decision for yourself.
Specializes in Cardiology, Management, Community Health.
Here is some advice NurseLoveJoy88. Learn how to shop for employment. Get a simple book like '101 Questions to Ask at your Interview'. Learn how to make sure that you are going to get orientation by asking about it, ask about what their turn over rate is (and do some investigating about the place first). When you are interviewed, ask to speak to some of the nurses, ask what happened to the person who held the position prior to you. Get as much as you can in writing before you take on the position as well.
I am confused. It says here you love the position.. but you're going to send out a warning email? If you need/want more orientation then ask for it. Heres another thing that confuses me.. do you know anything about nursing liability? In most facilities like SNFs when you clock in you have accepted the assignment. It could be considered patient abandonment if you clock in, refuse your assignment, clock out and leave. If you continue on your course of action, you will have no defense in front of a Nursing Board and the facility will simply point out your juvenile email and behavior as more nails in your coffin.
Something else - you love working at a subacute unit and rather than communicate clearly with your supervisors you are listening to disgruntled nurses there and are going to leave it for a substance abuse position in a teaching hospital. What is it that you want to do in nursing? Counseling, clinical, SNF, hospital? Do you think it wise to burn bridges in an unprofessional manner so early in your nursing career (from your post I gather that you must be young in the workfield..). Healthcare is a small field. If you live in a small town and behave in such a manner, your name will be flagged quickly.
Talk to your supervisors. If you love the position let them know that you would like more orientation/would like the supervisor to be more available to you when you need questions answered and what is the best way to reach her when you do. Make sure that you get what you need in writing. If you are in a meeting, after the meeting send a professional email reiterating the meeting objectives.. "Just to follow up on today's meeting..." If they are uncooperative then give two weeks notice. No job that you interview with does not understand when you tell them that you need to give two weeks notice to your current position before you come aboard. They will respect you much more.
One more thing: stay far away from disgruntled Negative Nellies! Their attitude and words are a poisonous cancer that should be avoided. There may be other reasons why there are no 3-11 nurses. This is a position you stated you love. Dont let their words turn you. Make an informed decision before you blindly follow the blind. Dont believe for a second that you wont find the same situation in a new position. Its how you handle these situations that makes the difference.
We are professional nurses. Lets behave accordingly. Good luck.
:eek:
llbCCRN
39 Posts
I see your concern, but PLEASE watch how you word your letter/email to the DON. It seems like you will have an attitude toward him/her. If you give someone an ultimatum, they will most likely retaliate. And you don't want to leave on bad terms. Take a deep breath.... Kindly ask for more orientation before being on your own. Are there a few more tasks of yours that you could delegate to your aides?