I Need Advice

U.S.A. Ohio

Published

well, let me tell you I AM HOT:( I am currently working out my 3 week notice. I worked mon, and tues and not again until Sat. but at this point and time, I am not so sure I will even go in on Sat. because of what happened today.

There is this charge nurse that I have. We were overstaffed today by one nurse but she kept the other nurse and let her just "help out" all day. She didn't make her take patients or anything. She was worried that we would loose our unit secretary at 3:00. We are a 21 bed unit. So, we had one CNA (one who is not capable of doing blood sugars, foleys, etc.) she basically only does baths. She was only assigned to like 1/2 of the patients.

Well, at 3 - staffing did give us another unit secretary. She kept the extra nurse and continued to allow her to just "help" out.

I had 5 patients at this point. Some of the patients from the other nurses had been discharged and one nurse only had 1 patient left at this point. But the charge nurse assigned the next admit to me and told me that the "extra nurse" could do all of the paperwork on my admission. I said, it would help us out a lot more if the extra nurse would take some of the patients and then no one would be as bogged down as we were. I was informed that this would be fine. But that I would still be the next one for an admission.

I am livid. I work my tail off. I never sat down during this shift. I declined help. I said, no I will go ahead and take my admission and I will not give any of my patients up because i ALREADY KNOW THEM. I am irrate, because this charge nurse delegated wrong as she always does. I would love to know your take on this. please. I feel like anyone who is in charge should be looking out for the patients. When one nurse only has 1 patient and she gives an admit to someone else who has 5 and 3 of the 5 are heavy patients, this is POOR AND UNSAFE NURSING JUDEGMENT.

Saturday is suppose to be my last day. But my last day is today. I will not be taken advantage of in this way.

Please respond. I really am upset right now.

I entered nursing wanting to help people. On top of everything else, my X hospital is trying to reach MAGNET status. It will never happen like this. Please respond.

swannie

10 Posts

Okay, you're angry. But if I read right, you had the option of lightening your load, AND having help with the admission, both of which you ultimately declined. Am I missing something? To quit your job without fufilling your obligations and/ or not giving the required notification is, in my opinion, poor judgement on your part, and a black eye on nursing, in general. Things are not fair--ever, and the sooner we recognize it, the sooner those who will lead this profession can change it. Please re-think leaving, and become part of the solution. Nurses who survive 'living under fire' are few and far between. Learn the lessons that can be gleaned through this experience and grow from them. Good luck in your decision.

Rigby

15 Posts

Specializes in QI, Medical, Adult Psych, Telehealth.

Things are not fair--ever, and the sooner we recognize it, the sooner those who will lead this profession can change it. Please re-think leaving, and become part of the solution. Nurses who survive 'living under fire' are few and far between. Learn the lessons that can be gleaned through this experience and grow from them. Good luck in your decision.

Spoken like a true manager, Swannie. Because it is Managment that perpetuates the propaganda that there is honor in "living under fire". This attitude is what has developed highly trained, educated, responsible professionals into victims. Sure, she should stick it out one last shift, sure, it's too late to complain about the unfair assignment, but don't tell her that she should suck it up and it will make a better nurse out of her. Rigby

suzanne4, RN

26,410 Posts

I would try to put up with the one more shift, just because you never want to burn any bridges behind you if at all possible. Even if you hate the place and swear that you will never go back to it, someone there may be working at the place that you eventually want and you could be turned down because of this one event. Work the one shift and just count down the hours until you are done. Perhaps you will be lucky and this charge person will be the one to call in for the shift................

:balloons:

swannie

10 Posts

Interesting that you would look at my response the way you did. The honor you imply I spoke of would be coming from withing him/herself in knowing that he/she did the right thing by working through her commitment. I have learned at a young age that every man is my superior in that I may learn from him, meaning that even the worst toads of bosses have something that can be gleaned and learned from. This nurse has hopefully learned the importance of fairness and justice, and will treat future coworkers in kind. I am sorry for the way you took my post...perhaps indicative of those who want to be victims, looking for the worst in what people say. A victim is only a victim if they choose to act like one. You should have learned that in psych.

Things are not fair--ever, and the sooner we recognize it, the sooner those who will lead this profession can change it. Please re-think leaving, and become part of the solution. Nurses who survive 'living under fire' are few and far between. Learn the lessons that can be gleaned through this experience and grow from them. Good luck in your decision.

Spoken like a true manager, Swannie. Because it is Managment that perpetuates the propaganda that there is honor in "living under fire". This attitude is what has developed highly trained, educated, responsible professionals into victims. Sure, she should stick it out one last shift, sure, it's too late to complain about the unfair assignment, but don't tell her that she should suck it up and it will make a better nurse out of her. Rigby

Trauma Columnist

traumaRUs, MSN, APRN

88 Articles; 21,249 Posts

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I am a real proponent of not burning bridges. However, I'm starting to wise up in my old age - there is nothing wrong with asking for help, accepting it when it is offered and providing excellent patient care to three patients, versus good patient care to five.

Rigby

15 Posts

Specializes in QI, Medical, Adult Psych, Telehealth.

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As I said, Swannie, you've been brainwashed by management if you actually believe that crap. Anyone who thinks they're going to be part of the solution by following your advice is a qualified co-dependant. You don't need to allow yourself to be treated badly to know the importance of fairness and justice.

Interesting that you would look at my response the way you did. The honor you imply I spoke of would be coming from withing him/herself in knowing that he/she did the right thing by working through her commitment. I have learned at a young age that every man is my superior in that I may learn from him, meaning that even the worst toads of bosses have something that can be gleaned and learned from. This nurse has hopefully learned the importance of fairness and justice, and will treat future coworkers in kind. I am sorry for the way you took my post...perhaps indicative of those who want to be victims, looking for the worst in what people say. A victim is only a victim if they choose to act like one. You should have learned that in psych.

Spoken like a true manager, Swannie. Because it is Managment that perpetuates the propaganda that there is honor in "living under fire". This attitude is what has developed highly trained, educated, responsible professionals into victims. Sure, she should stick it out one last shift, sure, it's too late to complain about the unfair assignment, but don't tell her that she should suck it up and it will make a better nurse out of her. Rigby

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