I work in a hell hole!!!

Key_ · Nov 18, 2009

Wow that really seems to be way too much. I don't like driving a hour to work but one of the reasons I stay at my job because I am scared of situations like that. You are braver than I. Good luck to you

summerrose_10 · Nov 18, 2009

:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeatheWow!!! That sounds like a BUSY floor. Take a deep breath........

I know from 7p-7a the pts are suppose to sleep, thus, the incontinent ones....aren't :specs: (yeah, right).

However, if, as your post says, it is a 30pt unit, your getting 5 new grads, plus you...that could be a good thing. You assign each grad with 6 pts. plus you have 1 aide to help out. The new grads should have preceptors, so, maybe your load will lighten????

Hang in there, I know it wasn't until after working as a RN for over a year, that I even felt like I knew what I was doing. Time management is always an issue, especially in the first couple years. Ask your fellow nurse for help. Be HONEST, tell them your overwhelmed, you may be surprised at how much help you get. :heartbeat Being able to ask for help is a huge hurdle. I struggled with that, thinking if I asked for help, it was an admission of incompetence. Once I learned to ask...it was given:redpinkhe

I was also asked to be a "charge" nurse, shortly after graduating. I made it very clear, I did not want this extra responsibility. I informed DON, I would help out whenever/where ever necessary. I would take extra assignments, and learn all about medicare/MDS...wound specialty...participate in policy making/writing etc etc...but, was not interested in becoming a charge nurse. I'm perplexed why so many facilities ask this of new grads??????

Let the superiors know, you do not want charge position, and tell them why. COMMUNICATION is key!!!!! Swallow your pride, and let your needs be known. good luck:yeah:

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2009

Well, you've already made it 3/4 of the way to your one year goal, so one option would be to stick it out for three more months. I wouldn't fault you for starting your new job search now, though.

arelle68 · Nov 18, 2009

If you can stick it out, you are going to be one fantastic nurse! I don't know how you are doing that. You must be some kind of miracle person.

Mollypita · Nov 18, 2009

You are correct, this load is NOT safe! You are absolutely risking your license every day. It's fine for the previous poster to say ask for help (I'm all for that) but it sounds like everyone else must be as busy as you are!! Are you short every night, or is this the load you are "expected" to have? (Does it match your matrix or set staffing ratios?) What a mess!! I also started on Med-Surg as a new grad, and after finishing orientation, they limited me to 5 patients for a couple months before increasing the load. Now 6-8 patients is the norm, and I started being charge after a year and four months. Your managers need to wake up and smell the coffee- what sort of hospital do you work in? I know you don't want to specifically identify it, but give us an idea if you can. I really am shocked- and my job is no cakewalk!! I would be looking elsewhere ASAP!!

ohgoodnessgracious · Nov 18, 2009

8:1/30:1 ratio?! WHAT!!! That seems like very unsafe practice to me, especially with the acuity of the patients you seem to get. I can only imagine staffing must be burnt out beyond belief. Aren't there pool nurses you guys can get? Getting 5 grads is always extra help but they're new and will require preceptors thus taking away more nurses from the floor. Keep speaking up, get other nurses from your floor behind you, and follow the chain of command!

hopefulnurse84 · Nov 18, 2009

sounds like you do! Can the nurse manager not help you out? Have you asked her for help, i.e. more staff? I worked in a similar situation, I know i'm a better nurse because of it, not saying it's right or anything. it also sounds like someone didn't care what kind of assignment they made.

LilNurse2b143 · Nov 18, 2009

The thing is these new grads are all just coming off their orientation, thus all the float nurses who were precepting (who are well-seasoned) are heading out, leaving us cut and dry. (Not their fault) Also, even though these new grads are coming on, they are just filling in positions for the nurses that have left. Total of 9 nurses have come and gone within the past year!! Obviously something is not right! As far as expressing my opinion to NR, I was practically scolded by my director for not following chain of command! Just to give an idea of how bad this floor is turning out to be, the first night with 3 new grads and 1 charge nurse (who is new as charge), we had 1 patient death and 2 errors. I'm not saying it could have been prevented completely but it was utter CHAOS! And nothing is being done about it! As much as I want to share this with the hospital administration, I don't want to be looked down upon by not following chain of command again :nono: It's just so much stress and it's getting much worse. This hospital is in central Jersey...

LilNurse2b143 · Nov 18, 2009

ALSO, I did a search on this website on patient ratios and was shocked to see that no one else had as many patients as we do! We are always understaffed..always down 1 nurse and 1 aide..and when asked about it we get the "well according to the grid at 9, you didn't need that nurse...." but let's slam you guys with 5 ERs throughout the night! Ugh I could go on for hours!

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2009

Sounds like you should get out.

Franny RN · Nov 18, 2009

The first thing you need to do is realize what a great job you are doing! And then go to your manager and explain the situation. But the reality is that this is the way some hospitals train their new grads.