Insubordination

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I've been a nurse at muy current long term care facility for 4 years. I currently work weekends, and I've never seen our staffing so bad. It's to the point where we have our DON and administrator demanding we manage an entire unit alone, with 1 or 2 aids in addition to managing another unit we can't possibly be on. It's exhausting and impossible. Some staff have spoken of refusing to take another unit, but fear this could be insubordinate. Ive nearly killed myself working 32 hours in 2 days because to me the moral duty is patient's first. I personally habe been extending beyond this demand because i want my fellow employees happy and stress free. I strongly believe my administrator is pushing us to see what we will minimally run with, and just get by. but it's bad caste and it's unsafe. She waited to late to get agency. Is this insubordination to say ill cover my hall only?

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Specializes in Nursey stuff.

If you refuse because what is demanded of you is unsafe, unethical, or illegal does not mean you are being insubordinate, it means you are covering you're a**and your nursing license.

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Thank you, this had been my opinion all along, but because i want my residents to get the care they need I've been working an entire unit of 38 residents as the only nurse, while covering a personal care unit, with both units having only one nurse's aide! We finally habe agency helping; however, i realized my administrator truly is trying to see how much we'll tolerate when our on shift only shows openings for the present day. During the week however openings are shown days out. So staff don't know there are holes to fill desperately. All units running 1 nurse and 1 to 2 aides for 16 ours and nobody covering PC constantly.... it's dangerous

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If the working conditions have exceeded your willingness to comply with management requests, perhaps it would be best for you to look out for yourself by looking for a new job.

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Thank you

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

Many nursing homes try to do things on the cheap. When I relocated, my first job was in long term care. The facility paid $2-3 per hour below the area average, and they wondered why they were short staffed. I got out after about 90 days as the only RN on a 120-bed unit on swing shift. About the only positive things I can say about the job are that it allowed me to qualify for the loan on my house, and it gave me the opportunity to make a contact that I needed to get my next job.

When they offered me the job, they didn't even ask to see my license.

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Nice Picture. Get a new job. Where you are at sounds like hell

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Tricky: You know, I'm kind of in a similar situation. Staffing is really bad, they can't get anyone in, and when they do the people don't stay once they see the problems in the facility. It's so frustrating. I love the people I work with, and I really love the patients; I feel they need and deserve the best care from people who understand and care about them. People like me. But I've been used and abused, written up for stupid things no other place would write a nurse up for, been flat out told that even if I'm sick and haven't slept all night I need to suck it up and get in to work, no matter how unsafe I think that is. The nurses are generally great, but administration sucks. I'm so tired, and I have worked every single holiday in the past 7 months, and I am scheduled to work Christmas eve, Christmas day, and New Year's day. I am so angry and so tired of the lack of consideration. But, I'm a nurse. What else did I expect?

Seriously, though, best of luck. I keep on where I am because of the patients. But there may come a point when you can't take it anymore, and that's when you should leave. I know I'm close to that place. If and when you get there, trust me, it's OK. You have to take care of you and your license. Hang in there, by all means, but when it's time to let go, just do it. Peace.

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Thanks i appreciate the feedback. I fear LTC will only get worse as it is more corporately driven. I love my employees and patients and would hate to leave, but I've heard our administrator say, "if you don't like it go somewhere else.

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If conditions really are like this, maybe worthwhile to notify the state, about regulations for minimum staffing in ltc. There is no way patients can be getting safe care, and most places limit the number of hrs a nurse can work, if you worked 32hrs in 2 days they are most likely in violation of that. I would never work LTC again. Sorry for your situation.

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Thanks i appreciate the feedback. I fear LTC will only get worse as it is more corporately driven. I love my employees and patients and would hate to leave, but I've heard our administrator say, "if you don't like it go somewhere else.

The feds and private attorneys are slowly beginning to crack down on ltc facilities, I have a friend who is a malpractice attorney, the first thing he does when he gets a case is get the staffing records.

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Sooo been there and soooo not having it anymore. I wanted to cry reading your post. I just posted about having 72 residents and some in a locked unit. ( see abandonment) I,too care about my residents, but i also care about myself. If you dont stick up for yourself management will always try and slide by with the minimal. Safety is preached all the time and should be, but never practiced except on paper. Nursing is not nursing anymore. Its money, bodies and computers. Oh lets not forget phones!

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