I don't know which situation to be more concerned about...

Being laid off, or NOT being laid off.

They're trying to work skeleton crews. Not filling positions. Now the talk is cutting the support staff. Please oh please oh please mr CEO don't take my nursing assistant away. I can barely take care of the nine acutely ill patients I have WITH her!

I really honestly am afraid for the direction this is going to take. I don't know which is going to be worse - to be given the boot, or to be left behind after many others are gone. How am I going to do any more than I do? I'm already not getting a break on a shift, not able to truly do my job well. It's getting scary. And no place is hiring.

Document, document, document.

If your not given enough staff to perform your duties safely then write incident reports, refuse to take assignments etc. If you have no choice but to do your job then prioritise and do the most important things first and if some things aren't done...well then that's the fault of the HCF not yours. And most importantly.....did I mention you should document?????

I so know where you're coming from. Same thing happening at my hospital. I swear that TPTB are using the recession as an excuse to make cuts that aren't relevant to it. So wrong. Best of luck.

even if you don't have the applicable forms to document on, create them on your own.

i know that cna's typically have flow sheets, but it really is critical for you to prioritize your duties and document the amt of pts, care given and/or not given...

ea and every shift you work understaffed.

i'm with scrubby 100%.

leslie

just do your best and document to cover your self and write incident reports. hang in there and realize that youare not super-nurse and take care of yourself.

LilyBlue,

Your concerns are so valid. It's scary. It's sickening how many employers, not just hospitals, are taking advantage of their employees and using the economy as an excuse.

even if you don't have the applicable forms to document on, create them on your own.

i know that cna's typically have flow sheets, but it really is critical for you to prioritize your duties and document the amt of pts, care given and/or not given...

ea and every shift you work understaffed.

i'm with scrubby 100%.

leslie

Someone posted a link to a nurses website that had forms for nurses to use when understaffed or refusing an assignment that where great! But I can't seem to find them. Anyone book mark the site?

Here's one site: http://www.uannurse.org/resources/objectionform.html

and here's another one: http://www.dcna.org/DCNADOWNLOADFORMS/ASSIGNMENT%20DESPITE%20OBJECTION.pdf

This is a horrible situation to be in. First of all, I can't believe that you have 9 patients. I am not sure what I would do. In these economic times you can't quit your job unless you to you already have one. Do you mind if I ask? What state are you in and what kind of hospital do you work at 1. private for profit 2. Private non for profit 3. Public hospital?