Is this o.k.?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

O.K. I'm a new nurse but I've worked for the same company for 2 1/2 yrs as a CNA. After orientation I felt that they hurried me through it and threw me to the wolves. Another nurse told me it was normal to feel that way, and that you cannot be taught everything you'll ever need to know on orrientation. So now I've been working for a little over a month by myself. And we have recently changed administrators, DONs, and ADONs. The administrator is mad b/c ppl are staying past their 12hrs, and therefore getting overtime. Now as a CNA I was never even called to the office much less written up. As a nurse I work Sun, Mon, & Tues 7p-7a. So after my 12 hr shift tues. I went home and slept for a while, after i woke up and began planning things to do for the rest of the day, my phone rings and its my place of work. I let it go to voicemail (I always screen my calls from work). When I check the msg it was my DON saying I needed to call her back as soon as I could. (this didn't sound good) I quickly return the call to see what the problem was. She explains that the adiministrator had asked her to talk to me, and asks if I can come in (on my day off, 30 min drive there). I asked What was going on. She explained that she felt the need to go over 3rd shift nursing responsiblities with me. I didnt really understand why b/c up til now i had not heard of anything I had not been doing. (other than the whole not beeing gone by 7:15 but ya know I'm still new.) Reluctantly I got dressed and went to work. next thing I knew I was in the DON's office with the DON, ADON, and Staffing Coordinator. (definately not good) It is Brought to my attention that the med reorder sheet that comes out on friday and is to be filled out by 3rd shift (oh joy one more thing to do) had not been filled out this wekend and this was the reason pharmacy sent EVERYTHING, and why I was overcome with meds the night b4.I quickly explained how the last time i filled it out someone else came in the next day and redid it. So I figured that if she was such a perfectionist and had the time that I beeing a new nurse did not have ten she could continue filling it out. ( not to menton what about the nurses that worked Fridaynight, and saturday night were they getting the same speech) Then it was brought to my attention that I had not followed the BM protocol. (funny I thought I did) As it turns out in all the comotion with all the meds I and everything else I had to do I somehow forgot to look at the BM sheets and over over looked a clipboard on the desk with the off going nurses notes fo the day missed the BM list she had made. ( which I thought that was why we gave report so I wouldnt have to search for information on a piece of paper that a nurse had scribbled on all day) So the one night I dont make a bm list and give my mom or enemas Wichever the case may be, I get in trouble then they go into how i have not been clocking out by 7:15, and how working a month and a half bymyself is enough time to get situated and get out on time.( I don't see how this can be said when everyone is different) anyways I get one write up with all the aboved mentioned, then I'm asked if I would like to got to days b/c they feel i wuld learn more and be more confident if i worked days for awhile. However they only have the weekend shift to put me on meaning instead of 3 days a week 36 hrs i would work 2 days a week 24 hrs. they said it would be my decision and to take the weekend to think about it. My question is is it ok to call someone to work so that you can write em up?I think ill take em up on the day shift job just so i can spend the rest of the week finding me a new job. (no im not quiting just b/c I got wrote up its something ive been thinking about for a while)

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Specializes in CVICU-ICU.

Ok....there are alot of words in your post but not a whole lot of info but here is what I think based on what I read. Let me start out by saying I currently do not work in a nursing home and I havent worked in a nursing home for 20 years.

First answer to the question regarding can they call you to come in on your day off in order to get written up. Yes they can call you for anything on your day off however that does not mean you need to go. If they ask you to come in and you don't want to do it on your day off then tell them you have plans but you will be available the next shift that you are scheduled. They cannot force you however if they ask and you go then they havent done anything wrong.

Second regarding reordering meds...I do remember when I worked in a nursing home we had a routine for ordering meds also although I dont remember what it was but you have a valid point...why was it not done on Friday or Sat...do you know when exactly it is to be done or do you know the policy for renewing meds? I think I would have let them know when they brought it up that you was not familiar with the policy however you stated you did do it before but then someone redid it so you let it go for that person to redo however if it wasnt her responsibility and it was your responsibility then you really have no defense by stating you let it for someone else. As far as the BM list goes...once again...did you know this was policy or this was how they passed on the info regarding who needs a lax/supp? If so then no excuse for not following it but if not then you needed to let them know that that routine/policy wasnt one you were famililar with. As far as getting out on time......most employers do insist that their nurses leave on time unless some unforeseen circumstance/emergency happens that can justifiy why OT is needed otherwise if all the other nurses are able to do the same assisgnment as you within the timeframe but you are not then it is a personal problem/time management problem on your end and not your employers responsibility so I would ask for some suggestions from more experienced nurses on how they get their work done in their shift and I would take a close look at yourself and figure out how you can get more organized.

As far as being written up.....they can write you up for anything they feel like but that doesnt mean you need to agree. You are allowed and it is within your rights to write a comment on the form that will go into your records and I remember one time I was written up for something that I felt was totally wrong and I refused to sign the form. Some of my coworkers have also been written up for things they didnt agree with and they've written a comment on the form and also refused to sign. No one can force you to sign/agree with their writeups...doesnt mean it wont go in your file but it will show that you did not agree with them.

I know you are a fairly new nurse and I find alot of new nurses just dont want to rock the boat. I've worked ICU for many many years and I do realize that most ICU nurses are extremely outspoken and alot like to push the limits.

As far as switching jobs you need to follow your instincts however if you do need to remember that most of the same situations occur at other jobs. Read alot of the posts on here and you can find many of them relating to not getting breaks, not getting out on time, being written up for what they consider silly things...the list goes on and on. I have never had a problem finishing my assigned duties within my shift on a regular day....only on bad days when my patient decides to code at 0655.

Good Luck

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Specializes in Hem/Onc, LTC, AL, Homecare, Mgmt, Psych.

Yes. work can call you up on a day off to invite you to a write up. Next time just say you are unable to come in at that time and the DON can talk over the phone to you, or during the next work day. I've heard of many people doing that.

Instead of getting defensive just state to your DON the current med ordering system is not efficient and _______ would make it easier for all. Or the bowel sheets are not readily visable in the place they are now, ______ would make it easier for all the noc nurses to implement them.

It's a lot of responsibilty being the only night nurse on and there's no support staff to boot. When I was a night nurse in LTC I would make a grid that had the outline of the important tasks that needed to be done. For instance my first square on my grid for 11pm said: get report from PM nurses, get keys, get pagers, print out midnoc census etc. 12am: make Medicare charting list, get VS, etc. I had a grid square for each hour. Last grid for 7am said figure out suppository list, report off, count narcs. That way you have a little check list to go through during your shift.

Lastly, instead of switching over completely to days, why not just train in for a week or so on day shift and go back to your nights with more orientation under your belt? Make a list of all your questions and concerns and bring them up to the appropriate people. Write down the answers and keep it somewhere you can reference it.

Good luck to you.

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As an EX DON and ADON in a nursing home here is my view. Medication sheets are done on night and yes they have to have a 2nd person on days to make sure they are done correctly that includes making sure all the I's are dotted and all the T's crossed. Truthfully if there are that many errors when she reviews it then I would be having a problem with you. Thank god for a nurse who does it well. If you do not do it then there is no verification because the day nurse is doing it. Yes I can call you in any time you can say no but that I think it is serious enough that I need to contact you you had better be taking it seriously refusing to come in does not bode well. You are on probation and cab be fired at any time.

Federal Survey requires that the BM sheet be carried out and followed through with meticulously. If you go through a survey you will see they take the BM sheet and disect them. If they are ignored you get a discrpency which is never good. You went through it as an CNA wait for it as an Nurse.

I can bet they replaced the DON and ADON because they got a poor survey and need changes. I feel for the new ones who need to deal with nurses who poo poo med sheets and BM sheets. You are still learning maybe you should ask the rationale for these sheets and hopefully you will understand and take it more seriously.

I hope you did not say that you did not do the Med sheets because the day nurse is such a perfectionist with reverification that you think she should do it herself.

I hate to say it but you are a new nurse and show major attitude. Maybe the DON should introduse you to Survey. Hopefully that attitude will be adjusted.

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As an EX DON and ADON in a nursing home here is my view. Medication sheets are done on night and yes they have to have a 2nd person on days to make sure they are done correctly that includes making sure all the I's are dotted and all the T's crossed. Truthfully if there are that many errors when she reviews it then I would be having a problem with you. Thank god for a nurse who does it well. If you do not do it then there is no verification because the day nurse is doing it. Yes I can call you in any time you can say no but that I think it is serious enough that I need to contact you you had better be taking it seriously refusing to come in does not bode well. You are on probation and cab be fired at any time.

Federal Survey requires that the BM sheet be carried out and followed through with meticulously. If you go through a survey you will see they take the BM sheet and disect them. If they are ignored you get a discrpency which is never good. You went through it as an CNA wait for it as an Nurse.

I can bet they replaced the DON and ADON because they got a poor survey and need changes. I feel for the new ones who need to deal with nurses who poo poo med sheets and BM sheets. You are still learning maybe you should ask the rationale for these sheets and hopefully you will understand and take it more seriously.

I hope you did not say that you did not do the Med sheets because the day nurse is such a perfectionist with reverification that you think she should do it herself.

I hate to say it but you are a new nurse and show major attitude. Maybe the DON should introduse you to Survey. Hopefully that attitude will be adjusted.

jess, she isnt talking about mars, she said med reorder sheet......

and talking 'bout 'tude! yours is showing big time!

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

Were you shown the med reorder sheet and bm sheet during orientation? I like the other poster idea of taking a week of orientaion on days.

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Specializes in med-surg, telemetry,geriatrics.

How about this is a fairly new nurse with a lot of responsibility. How about ooops she forgot. lets remind her to be more diligent. But a write up over these things in LTC,,,,excuse my frankness,,,,BUT PLEASE. Alot of LTC is the same so I'd look for a new job but do not expect it to be much different.

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Specializes in med-surg, telemetry,geriatrics.

and frankly it wouldn't surprise me if some weekend nurse on days started wanting off that have their nose up the DON's posterior side and they thought ah here is a way for us to manipulate this new nurse to get what we want. SEEN it happen with all sort of politics in nursing,,,,

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I feel your pain. I've been a LTC nurse since December now and when I first started all I could get done in my 8 hours was my med pass, period. Charting, treatments and so on had to be done after I gave report to the oncoming nurse and most nights I stayed 1-2 hours over because of this. I wasn't a bad nurse- I was new. I'm telling you right now- it gets better. Week after week and month after month you'll be ablo to handle more and do more and better understand the policies and paperwork of your facility. You're so new, but beleive me- it does get better!!

As for your post, it is appropriate, but annoying, to be called in on your day off, especially is you work the night shift and the DON would not see you otherwise. Secondly, it sounds like there issues are legitimate. For whatever reason, which I'm sure were legitimate reason, you couldn't get these things done or you did not do so correctly, so they're right, I think the meeting without the write up would have been more appropriate for a brand new nurse, but that's just me. It sounds like they care enough to take time to sit down with you and to offer you other options, even if you don't feel like it now. I agree with another poster about doing a little time on the day shift but not switching if it doesn't work for you.

I know it's hard being new and working your butt off to do your best and then being told you forgot something or did something wrong, but it happens. Try to take this opportunity to learm from any mistakes you have made and move forward. BEING GREEN SUCKS! God Bless.

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Allnurses posters-

She has been a nurse for 1 month!! I think some of these posts are very negative, some toward her, others toward nursing in general. She's new, she's upset- it happens. Please let's try to remember what it was like being this green and give her good information and encouragement. Let's be part of the solution and not the problem people. :twocents:

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I am with you, as a new Nurse its not easy but Nursing cannot be learn as an overnight job, not only the protocols in that certain hospitals but you need to learn different attitudes of people from high positions to lowest rank. Take it as a challenge and say to your self I,m a Nurse because I,m strong , i can handle this its okay, everything well be alright.The only golden attitude that i have and i can surely share to you is that Nursing is a "Take it or leave it Job"....just live one day at a time...you,re there to control the situation dont let the situation control you....Good luck:bugeyes:

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
As an EX DON and ADON in a nursing home here is my view. Medication sheets are done on night and yes they have to have a 2nd person on days to make sure they are done correctly that includes making sure all the I's are dotted and all the T's crossed. Truthfully if there are that many errors when she reviews it then I would be having a problem with you. Thank god for a nurse who does it well. If you do not do it then there is no verification because the day nurse is doing it. Yes I can call you in any time you can say no but that I think it is serious enough that I need to contact you you had better be taking it seriously refusing to come in does not bode well. You are on probation and cab be fired at any time.

Federal Survey requires that the BM sheet be carried out and followed through with meticulously. If you go through a survey you will see they take the BM sheet and disect them. If they are ignored you get a discrpency which is never good. You went through it as an CNA wait for it as an Nurse.

I can bet they replaced the DON and ADON because they got a poor survey and need changes. I feel for the new ones who need to deal with nurses who poo poo med sheets and BM sheets. You are still learning maybe you should ask the rationale for these sheets and hopefully you will understand and take it more seriously.

I hope you did not say that you did not do the Med sheets because the day nurse is such a perfectionist with reverification that you think she should do it herself.

I hate to say it but you are a new nurse and show major attitude. Maybe the DON should introduse you to Survey. Hopefully that attitude will be adjusted.

I honestly don't feel that I had an "attitude" with them or with my job. As far as the change in ADON goes they went to a sister facility that was having problems at corprates "request" I do understand the importance and seriouseness of my job believe me. I even think i'm getting an ulcer from worrying about doing my job right and taking care of my patients. I understand the seriousness of the BM protocol and even though this really was my first offense in this area I guess they did have a point.

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