Published
Not because it was bad, but because tonight I had to go from new med nurse to charge LPN. And I didn't even expect it.Not only was I charge nurse, but I had an orientee with me. and an agency nurse. Making things a bit more challenging but they were awesome to work with.
I felt bad I had to do things the real way and not by the book way for the orientee. I was so strapped with time it wasn't even funny. I had her do fingersticks while I did meds. I sat down to chart at almost midnight. I made my notes short and sweet.
I also had my head bitten off by an on-call doctor. Hes known to do that but I just said it was policy and I have to inform you of this. It wasn't even that late at night. I wasn't upset. Not one bit. Not much could upset me tonight.
At least the pharmacist was nice to me when I had to call about something they didn't send. :redbeathe
You know, my heart goes out to you. I was faced with the same thing as a new NP, 2 of us on a 32 bed ward with 1 NA; and a charge nurse who had graduated 1 year before. We made it through the shift, and looked at each other afterwards, and said "If we could do this, we can do ANYTHING! Now that I know better, I would have refused the assignment and walked off the floor before I could be made an accomplice to a very unsafe staffing assignment.
Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN
1,261 Posts
Not because it was bad, but because tonight I had to go from new med nurse to charge LPN. And I didn't even expect it.
Not only was I charge nurse, but I had an orientee with me. and an agency nurse. Making things a bit more challenging but they were awesome to work with.
I felt bad I had to do things the real way and not by the book way for the orientee. I was so strapped with time it wasn't even funny. I had her do fingersticks while I did meds. I sat down to chart at almost midnight. I made my notes short and sweet.
I also had my head bitten off by an on-call doctor. Hes known to do that but I just said it was policy and I have to inform you of this. It wasn't even that late at night. I wasn't upset. Not one bit. Not much could upset me tonight.
At least the pharmacist was nice to me when I had to call about something they didn't send. :redbeathe