I need to vent

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Specializes in CHF, Med/Surg, Telemetry, Cardiac Care.

Hi everyone, I post in here once in awhile, but I felt compelled to tonight.

As a little background I am a RN in a LTC/Rehab facility in MA. I have been working approx. 6 months and work 11-7.

My administration has been driving me nutty lately. Our census is way down, and for some reason we are not getting any new admissions to our building. 1st floor holds 32 residents (we're currently at 25+1) and 2nd floor has the same (census about 25). I feel that this has caused my administration to go beserk lately, and I feel like I'm possibly being taken advantage of.

It's not unheard of for them to leave me as the only nurse for the 50 some odd residents on the two floors. If their hours are "off" (like they will be tonight and Thurs.) I have to keep running up and downstairs to do meds (albeit mostly PRNs), order checks, and all the other 11-7 responsibilities. I've heard many of my nursing colleagues in the building say they'd refuse to do it, or demand double-time pay. I have been doing neither. I asked my ADON if I'd be compensated and she never got back to me. I'm doing double the work for the same pay.

The thing that absolutely got me this morning was my ADON. After feeling like death from 1-5am and finally pulling myself together for my 6am med pass, I got it done. I did not, however get any assessments or "editing" done for our changeover this weekend. My ADON made me feel like a complete failure, and kept giving me this "what are you thinking?" kind of look. She said 11-7 is the time to do paperwork, but didn't understand that I felt awful, could barely stay awake, had no color to my face for those 4 hours, and had to stay close to the bathroom just in-case.

I just feel like she was so heartless. I realize we're in a crunch, and that 7-3 deals with a lot of care plan meetings and physicians, etc. But come on, I had ONE off night.

This woman told me straight out on Saturday morning "people think I'm nice, well let me tell you, I can be a *****."

Good for you, lady.

Sorry for the long post. Does anyone else just want to strangle administration sometimes? I feel like I'm either doing very poorly in their eyes, or I'm their "angel."

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I would refuse to cover both floors. That is asking for disaster.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.
I would refuse to cover both floors. That is asking for disaster.

amen !!:yeah:

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

I would quit

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I cannot give the advice to quit as others have written, but I would refuse to continue to cover both floors. I would tell them my license is mine to protect, and since this was a short term thing, they need to schedule another nurse to do one floor since you no longer will cover both. I would check the MARs, and other paper work as needed, but I certainly would only do it for one floor too. These people are taking advantage of you. I am sure NONE of the administrative staff would work extra without some sort of incitentative. (A extra day off, a gift card, a reward of some kind).

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Specializes in CHF, Med/Surg, Telemetry, Cardiac Care.

I have been trying to sleep tonight and I can't because I'm so worked up over this issue. If I had other immediate job choices I would give 1 month's notice and get the heck out. What I'd really like to do is get some solid Med-Surg hospital experience, but I really can't find much of it in my area (northeast MA). Most job postings lately are for specialty areas, and especially Oncology units.

I can't get over how my ADON was telling me that she worked a 62 bed unit, did the med pass, responsibilities, and got the editing done. It was like rubbing salt in the wound.

Believe me, I'm looking for work, and I really want to get out of this place. I have a feeling they will probably attempt to cut my hours if they can find a per diem nurse who will do both floors. I did indeed get a phone call from the scheduler today asking if I wanted to work Thursday night... Thursday is one of my regular nights!!!

Ugh. I am way too stressed.

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are you a new nurse? you sound like a new nurse putting up with this kind crap. i had a patient who was about to code and i called don and told her doctor told me to send her to the hospital and she told me to give her a breathing treament and i'm not to send her to the hospital. patient was transferred to the hospital and she died the next day. if something like this happens, don is going to cover her ass and blame a nurse who was in charge of her and the family is going to be after me, not that don. if i were you, i would refuse it or i would quit that job immediately. do you think your managements are going to support you ? i dont think so!!!

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

I like how the DON undermined the doc's order. Makes me wonder how they get away with that.

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Specializes in CHF, Med/Surg, Telemetry, Cardiac Care.

I've been given that kind of advice by my ADON too... I understand exhausting all options in house before sending someone out, but they are so worried about numbers they don't want anyone going out... AT ALL!

And P.S. yes I am a new grad, passed boards in March this year.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

I would find a new job. For a new grad, I think this job is just a bit much. You are putting your license and career at risk staying here. If something goes wrong on your shift, do you think your ADON is going to back you up? NO, they are not. They are not looking out for you. They are looking out for themselves. I would especially be more inclined to leave when a patient is going bad and the doctor wants the patient sent to the hospital but the ADON says that the patient stays. That right there is a red flag.

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Keep looking.

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Specializes in 5.5 years Long Term Care, 0.5 years ER.

WTH...docs orders always trumps what the DoN wants, nuff said.

If a doc orders me to send a person with a little pinky sore to the ER I would try my best to paint the picture for him but if he continues to say send to the ER...baibai~

DoN can yell at me all she likes. If she wants to argue she can argue with the doc. ;)

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