I am officially broken. Vent.

Nurses General Nursing

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I feel totally beat up and wiped out. I had a full patient load last night, 4 of which were confused. This was my second night like this, I asked NOT to have them all back. So what did they do?

Split them up for the day shift and gave them smaller patient load and gave them all back on night shift plus a fresh post op total care. Sorry we are short? AGAIN? Bed alarms are no good if no one comes when they go off.

The staff is spread so thin everyone is literally too busy to see past their own mess. No one CAN come. I literally can't be in all 4 of these rooms at the same time, forget the rest of my patients possibly calling.

One confused patient, over 6'2 decided to jump out of bed take off all his clothes pull out all lines, ivs, and drains and run down the hall. He spit on me and pushed me out of the way. My forearm is purple from where he grabbed me earlier in the night. Bed alarm going off, no one comes to help.

Then I get chewed out for "letting him get out of bed". I had called the md twice about his agitation and asking for something, md said no. House supervisor came after I called to see my patient load and laughed and told me good luck.

Thanks a lot. I hurt all over and just got spit on, I did not LET him do anything, I am simply not big enough to even come close to getting him back to bed if he doesn't want to. I don't have time to start all new ivs and clean up the blood bath because all my other bed alarms are going off.

I have been trying to keep these people in bed all night for 2 nights and I JUST CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE. Charge nurse had a full patient load herself. I am not superhuman. And neither is the CNA, who is just off orientation. I have a feeling she might not come back at all after the week we have had. I am considering the same.

I can't even sleep and I am so tired. No matter how much you do and how much you kill yourself to get stuff done, all they care about is what you didn't get done. I am sick of the abuse. I am sick of killing myself coming home tired and broken. I have not called in sick in over 4 years, but tomorrow night I think I might need to.

I just can't even imagine going back right now. All I do is work and sleep. I tried to take a vacation in May, but working nights and trying to be normal for a week just made me more tired.

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oh, i am so sorry to hear this. do take that mental health day, and more if you need it. you can get your doc to give you a stress-related medical leave (and have him document that bruise while you're there). after four years you should have enough time in the bank to transfer to another unit, or get near the top of the line for a new job.

it won't always be like this. it'll get better. rest, do something for yourself, cry, meditate, walk in the woods or on the beach... get out of this.:hug:

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I feel so sorry for you, I really TRULY understand your pain! I have been the floor nurse with the night you describe, AND I've been the charge nurse with her own full load trying to help the newbies with THEIR crazy loads....it's all bad.

Only thing I can suggest is to do what I did. Waited for the right opportunity and made a job change. Left for an entirely different working environment, and am much MUCH saner now. Put it this way: I used to get "tight" and sometimes teary ON my WAY to work because I just knew the stress that awaited me there. And now I don't dread going in at all (except for dreading the occasional meeting, lol; at least I know no one is going to be running me down naked today).

Think about a different job, in perhaps a different field of nursing. Med-surg (as you described?) isn't going to get any better.

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You know I have had a crazy week, too! I actually came home today and checked to see if it was a full moon or something. Last night was terrible! Lots of confused patients, lots of er admits. What the heck? I normally don't advocate calling out, but sounds like you need it. You need a stress day. Why are you so short staffed? I love when after the fact the boss asks " how did he pull out his iv weren't you watching?" Yes I watched him pull it out. Now much you can do to stop some of these things even if your standing next to the patient, which is rare, when they try!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

Reading your story and that you got chewed out for "letting him get up" just makes my blood boil. That's the only thing I can offer: some commiseration that it does indeed suck mightily.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

Everyone else has given great advice. I can only add, if you haven't taken a sick day in 4 years--now's the time. It's not just for physical illness, IMHO. Maybe I'm just a bad employee, but I have no qualms about calling out if I need a mental health day. I feel the need to edit--not that I advocate doing so very often, but there's a time when it's appropriate and it sounds like this is that time.

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I too know what you are dealing with. My hospital is severly short staffed also and I am ready to leave too. Although, I am leaving because I want to be in sunny southern California. I couldn't help but laugh when you described your patient pulling out his IV and running down the hall naked...sorry, but I think we all have experienced that to some degree or another lol. I truly don't know why it seems like some hospitals can't seem to hire nurses. My co-workers and I are determined it's because they want to screw us and make as much in profits as possible. This whole patient safety crap most hospitals preach is BS. It really does sound like you need a change to keep your sanity. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

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OH GOD I completely understand what your going through!!! Im a new nurse and had my first shift alone just last week and it's get similar to what you describe!!!!

1. 3 pts pulled out their ivs and ALL 3 were getting iv antibiotics on my shift

2. One really old man who was super sweet earlier got super confused stripped naked pulled out the iv and left blood everywhere in the hall the walls etc while attempting to escape to the elevator AND his family td me he couldn't WALK! Took almost 4 of us to restrain him and I had to call the family to get permission for that at 2am!

3. Got a pt from jail who was being guarded by police and was RELEASED at midnight so they leave without telling me and I'm walk in I'm this fugitive rummaging through a back back

4. Half hour before my shift is to finish one of my pts tells me he's coughing up blood I'm like fabulous!!!!!!!

Seriously the things we go through are nuts and I've noticed only other nurses can understand this. My next night was the same I almost screamed luckily I had the next night off!

Take your day off girl hardly anyone appreciates us anyway

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Thanks everyone. I am feeling a little better, but still can't sleep. I have the worst headache ever, not sure if it is from lack of sleep or stress. I really want to call out tomorrow, but I am terrified of calling in sick, always have been. Oh, and to clarify, I have not called in sick in over 4 years, but. Have only been at my current job for 7 months. The thought of having the same patients back is enough to make my stomach turn.

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I love how so many places (non medical included) respond to concerns about an impossible workload by helping out the day staff (which are usually already outnumbering the night shift)

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Specializes in PCCN.
I truly don't know why it seems like some hospitals can't seem to hire nurses. My co-workers and I are determined it's because they want to screw us and make as much in profits as possible. .

you just answered your own question. it's not can't hire- it's WONT hire.

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Specializes in PCCN.

misslady rn- ive been in this same predicament too. i sympathize. time for an attempt at a new job. this is BS. hugs

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