Impossible job expectations

[annmariern]

Last week, handed a booklet detailing my job expections; I work 7am to 7.30pm on a surgical/tele floor.

7am meeting huddle, 5 -10 mins, mostly on what more we need to do; then get assignment, paperwork, do walking rounds, check all lines, answer lights, be on top of meds, phone calls, escort any pt with a chest tube, heparin drip. etc, to various tests, chart your assessments on 5-6 pts, mostly post op, within two hours.

We have CPOE, which means the docs enter their own orders, except they enter nursing comunictation orders, which mean i have to enter them. Check every pt hourly and sign a sheet. We take high dependency type pts, despite being med/surg floor.

The Unit secretary, and LPNs, can no longer imput orders, check orders do admits, give narcotics., and all post op pts must have a full history and admit done on arrival. Discharges must be done within 60 mins. Meanwhile Im supposed to give pts the best experience ebver by sitting with them, making eye contact etc.

Is this normal now? Just wondering what other facilities do. Been a nurse for 20+ years, and I can't handle it.

[workingharder]

This kind of stuff will proceed until the economy improves, at which time people can move into more leisurely professions. Like becoming a crash test dummy.

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

That's why I left the hospital, and I swear I will never go back.

Agree with pp, when the economy does improve (and we see signs), there will be the most massive (hospital) nursing shortage ever as experienced nurses will leave in droves for greener pastures - or start their long-overdue retirement - at age 50!

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Wow...just wow....

CPOE: Why do you have to imput orders? We have CPOE and our docs do notify nursing and we just have to read them. I'm lost on that aspect.

What is the duty of the LPN? They can't give pain meds? They seem rather under utilized, IMO.

As for your d/c's do you need to have them done and the pt out the door in an hour? As someone who's job is largely doing dc's, I know that if home health is needed or any outside services set up, that a discharge in an hour won't happen or happen well.

I really feel for you. What they expect you to do isn't very realistic.

I should show this to my co workers. I do their admits, dc's, med recs and all they have to do is take care of their 4-5 pts with a cna.

[sapphire18]

Sucks, but sounds pretty normal for me. As for the 60-minute discharges though, that could be pretty tricky. Good luck :)/:/

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

Sounds like my floor.

Bring on the crash tests!

[elprup, BSN, RN]

Exactly why I am not on the floor. It killed my health, my sanity, and left no time for my kids (I'm a singke mom). I have no idea how others maintain in such enviornments and for such a long time? Guess I have always been a weird one, and thought a career should not KILL me!

[ryrn59]

Last week, handed a booklet detailing my job expections; I work 7am to 7.30pm on a surgical/tele floor.

7am meeting huddle, 5 -10 mins, mostly on what more we need to do; then get assignment, paperwork, do walking rounds, check all lines, answer lights, be on top of meds, phone calls, escort any pt with a chest tube, heparin drip. etc, to various tests, chart your assessments on 5-6 pts, mostly post op, within two hours.

We have CPOE, which means the docs enter their own orders, except they enter nursing comunictation orders, which mean i have to enter them. Check every pt hourly and sign a sheet. We take high dependency type pts, despite being med/surg floor.

The Unit secretary, and LPNs, can no longer imput orders, check orders do admits, give narcotics., and all post op pts must have a full history and admit done on arrival. Discharges must be done within 60 mins. Meanwhile Im supposed to give pts the best experience ebver by sitting with them, making eye contact etc.

Is this normal now? Just wondering what other facilities do. Been a nurse for 20+ years, and I can't handle it.

No this is not normal. This is the way how Nursing has become because RNs who went up the Chain of Command forgot how they got there. They do not think about patient acuity, workload, RNs are human beings and do get tired. These so called Directors or Managers are just interested in their bonuses? This has to stop. ryrn59

[Palliative Care, DNP]

Sounds about right only I work on a med/surg-oncology unit. These reasons coupled with the fact that patients now believe the hospital is the Burger King drive through where "you can have it your way" are why I am getting out. I am changing status to prn in April and beginning a NP program. I am done with floor nursing:twocents:

[canchaser, BSN, RN]

It will not get better, soon 30 percent of hospital reimbursement will be based off pt satisfaction scores. So your burger king will soon be the Hyatt and you/ everyone will be catering a whole lot more to get a good score.

[BearishBob]

I just quit my hospital job for all the reasons above. Tired of working the impossible task so that my manager can be assured her yearly bonus for meeting budget. Tired of trying to do a job without basic supplies because they 'are too expensive'. I'm not just talking about electrolyte fluids, but blankets. I can't tell you how many times I've had to tell patients and family members that we were 'out of blankets', with no recourse to get more. Then upper management is shocked when the Press Ganey scores are low. Then, its somehow my fault, like I was supposed to weave more blankets out of 4x4's while Im taking care of 7-11 patients.

I found a wonderful niche though, where I can actually do my job of helping others, instead of being a task drone micromanaged for every dime.

[interleukin]

Unless you enjoy being a blue collar monkey, get off that med/surg floor as soon as you can.

No, there's nothing wrong with blue collar.

But when you are warned to be safe, then are warned to get everything done, then are warned not to stay overtime, and then are warned because the patient's visitor did not get his coffee warmed in a timely manner, ...well, you get my drift.