I need some professional advice on this situation

mom4josh · Mar 10, 2010

If your new boss seems to be approachable, I would sit down with her and discuss your concerns. Tell her that you don't feel that this is a safe environment. After all, it is your license on the line. Be ready to give specifics about days and assignments.

As far as the shift wars, I would also talk about those issues with her. You may get the "I've tried to fix it" speech, but if you come into the meeting with some positive suggestions on ways to help, she may be open to hearing it.

If she does not take your concerns seriously, then you have your answer about staying or looking elsewhere.

monicanurse · Mar 10, 2010

Thanks for your advice. I forgot to mention that almost all the patients they get are not even oncology patients but more medical patients or whatever they get in the ER. They failed to also tell me that. I just feel like Ive been played for a fool!

On a positive note, some of the nurses are friendly and nice.

I will approach my manager and see what happens.

caliotter3 · Mar 10, 2010

I would never expect to be told anything negative during an interview. After all, their purpose is to get new hires, not scare people away.

itsmejuli · Mar 10, 2010

Did you walk around and observe the unit before you took the job? Did you pay attention to the employees, see who was doing what, look at the faces for signs of whether they were happy or stressed?

monicanurse · Mar 10, 2010

I respectfully disagree. I think you should be somewhat upfront and honest. The hospital is not doing the person or themselves a favor if that nurse does not stay there. They waste alot of money on training that nurse. I personally dont think it is fair to that person. I do understand your point, though. If they had been bluntly honest with me, I wouldnt have taken the job.

monicanurse · Mar 10, 2010

itsmejuli:

I usually do observation days before I take a job. I honestly must have walked in on a good day. I actually spoke to a new nurse there and she assured me the work was manageable. I am the first one to say...I probably should have asked for observation days before taking the job. Most jobs have no problems with that, but I felt confident enough to take it. I honestly didnt feel I asked enough questions. So , I will admit, it is also my own fault for not asking the right questions.

On that note,....what kind of questions do you guys ask when taking a job?

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 10, 2010

I'm totally up front about my dealbreakers. I need to be able to have fluids during the workday, I'm not receptive when getting mandated for overtime unless the boss is there helping too, and I need to have supportive team members. If they have a sniping backbiting group I'm wasting their time and mine by hiring me, because I'll be gone within the year. I make the statement towards the end of the interview, just to let them know I value a good fit between employer and employee, and have so far gotten an appreciative response.

I also ask about patient/nurse ratios, and how they handle sick calls or understaffing during the interview. If they are calling around for a replacement, how often can they find one, and how often do they just work short? Do they ever shut down beds or mandate floating? What about mandatory overtime, or a hospital wide staff shortage? You'll get some answers that are concerning, but the devil you know is better than the one you don't. You'll be able to make an informed decision.

monicanurse · Mar 11, 2010

Thanks canoehead!

I am in total agreement. I did ask about the ratio. But I did not ask about the staffing situation. It is one of the worst Ive seen as a nurse ( in the past 7 years). I know from Human Resources that they are working on hiring new people. They already hired one RN. I think alot of the questions are not raised because people are too afraid to ask.

If things dont change , I dont see myself there for longer than 6 months. That is what Im concerned about. Then again, with the economy, I dont dont if I should jump ship this soon. I might transfer out in 6 months if things dont change.

marielina85 · Mar 11, 2010

Hi all,
I just took a job in a general inpatient oncology floor. I missed working with oncology patients and wanted to work with those kinds of patients again. I had been working on a surgical floor previously.
Im sure some of you have had this situation. You interview. You think you have asked all the right questions. Then....two weeks into orientation....this is what happens: No nursing assistant at all on weekends....nurses do everything. changed beds, give baths...6 patients per nurse, by the way. Then first day of orientation, we get one patient on restraints, one getting blood, one patient who is a high fall risk ( has fallen in the hospital 5 times), and the other fresh admits. I have even seen a nurse cry the other day after one day of a bad assignment. She left home crying.
I wish I had know this but I was never told they were so short staffed in the interview. I was never told they dont have Nursing Assistants , except one nursing assistant every other weekend. From what I hear , they are hiring new people , some RNs and one NA to fill in some gaps.
I just dont feel very safe in the way they make assignments here......oh...and I forgot to mention.....on top of all of that....there is the constant bickering between night and day nurses.....who didnt get what done...whether a sticker was missing from such and such.
IM just so FRUSTRATED. I dont know what to do. I feel like getting out of this job and not staying. I feel somewhat trapped right now. I feel awful because I just took this job and hate to disappoint my boss by giving up on it. SHould I wait and see if things get better? or Should I be looking for another job NOW?
Please help! I dont know how to handle this situation.

wow this sounds horrible....makes me wanna forget about pursuing a rn and changing careers

marielina85 · Mar 11, 2010

Hi all,
I just took a job in a general inpatient oncology floor. I missed working with oncology patients and wanted to work with those kinds of patients again. I had been working on a surgical floor previously.
Im sure some of you have had this situation. You interview. You think you have asked all the right questions. Then....two weeks into orientation....this is what happens: No nursing assistant at all on weekends....nurses do everything. changed beds, give baths...6 patients per nurse, by the way. Then first day of orientation, we get one patient on restraints, one getting blood, one patient who is a high fall risk ( has fallen in the hospital 5 times), and the other fresh admits. I have even seen a nurse cry the other day after one day of a bad assignment. She left home crying.
I wish I had know this but I was never told they were so short staffed in the interview. I was never told they dont have Nursing Assistants , except one nursing assistant every other weekend. From what I hear , they are hiring new people , some RNs and one NA to fill in some gaps.
I just dont feel very safe in the way they make assignments here......oh...and I forgot to mention.....on top of all of that....there is the constant bickering between night and day nurses.....who didnt get what done...whether a sticker was missing from such and such.
IM just so FRUSTRATED. I dont know what to do. I feel like getting out of this job and not staying. I feel somewhat trapped right now. I feel awful because I just took this job and hate to disappoint my boss by giving up on it. SHould I wait and see if things get better? or Should I be looking for another job NOW?
Please help! I dont know how to handle this situation.

thats the way i feel sometimes just wanna quit but id hate to be a ungrateful person but then i remember it is my license and if something were to happen its my butt:confused:

marielina85 · Mar 11, 2010

Did you walk around and observe the unit before you took the job? Did you pay attention to the employees, see who was doing what, look at the faces for signs of whether they were happy or stressed?

thats some good advice...ima make sure and do that in my next job=D