Job is worse, aarrrrgg

[elprup]

The small rural clinic I work out is getting worse. When I started there as a new/old grad 10 months ago it was insane. I was thrown into triage and the floor. It was crazy. Well, ten months later it is worse! I am now the only nurse on the floor who knows the most. This is because two long time MA's quit. Also, the medical director stepped down and our nursing supervisor was demoted. I keep asking our executive director when are we going to get a nurse manager and/or medical director? We have been managing ourselves, and it is NOT working.

Last month I wrote a letter to the executive director voicing my concerns about pt safety, Risk management and employee well-being. I spelled everything out. Regarding why they have not hired a medical director - clinic does not have enough money. Director said they are advertising for nurse supervisor but can't find one. But today managers are all happy because they hired a physicians assistant. Um, my first question was what about hiring some certified and experienced MA's/lvn's/Rn's? We cannot keep the floor running smooth, we are exhausted and making mistakes, getting sick, and morale is at an all time low!

So I want to go to the next Board Meeting and voice my concerns regarding pt safety, risk management, and employee well being. Is this something I can do? I know meetings are public. My only concern is If director would feel that I went over her head to board with intention to make her look bad. Let me say that is not my intention. I only want to try to help make things better. Things are really getting bad. Employees tell me morale has never been this low. Clinic has been open for 20+ years.

But then I begin to wonder if medicine can ever change? I am a hopeless romantic. Ya I know.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Elprup

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

OK. I be good not. Promise.

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

OK. I be good not. Promise.

Yeah, OK Yoda, are your fingers crossed?

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

Yeah, OK Yoda, are your fingers crossed?

Oh, dang. Eh, you are not going to believe me but that was supposed to say:

"I be good now."

How fitting........that the typo...............eh, well.

[elprup, BSN, RN]

Nurse2033 thank you.

And thank you to others for your responses.

I feel like I need to do something. Thankfully I have income whether I work or not (long story but basically I made good investment choices during difficult times). I declined the nurse supervisor position because there is zero support and no foundation right now, which I explained to director. Thing is our policies & procedures (what little we have) state grievance protocol "if concerns are not addressed within 5 business days, employee can take concerns to board". I am going to ask HR Monday.

I already tried to walk away once and director would not let me. Now I only work m, w, f. It's really sad that most people say to find another job rather than try to make a difference. I understand why this is said....but until we stand up for what we believe is right nothing will change. Wish me luck

[honeykrown, MSN, NP]

I wish you luck and applaud you for the change you believe in.

[elprup, BSN, RN]

Sadly I feel like I am being sabotaged now for voicing my concerns. That is another story.

What I want to tell you all is that last Friday I was so frustrated from not being able to get my break(s), I emailed a short note to my supervisor and director stating that my coworkers and I, once again were unable to take our breaks. I cc'd myself a copy. (I got this idea from another allnurses op). But get this, someone was there within 15 minutes to relieve us for

breaks and lunch! What a genius idea that gets results because it's the law!

[elprup, BSN, RN]

Update, amazingly, i havent been thrown under the bus yet.....and i keep trying to help make things bettet. I wrote another post because now we do not have a medical director or a nursing supervisor. Which i believe is illegal for a federally qualified health center. Every day is getting worse and worse. I cannot deal with the drama at that job, it is ridiculous, truly. have applied at other jobs. And hoping i find one. Or ill just go back to school for a while maybe.

[elprup, BSN, RN]

Update. Things are even worse. Providers/MA's/Nurses are calling in sick for days at a time, our flow is out of wack because we changed to EHR two months ago, nobody knows who is supposed to be doing what, there are no boundaries/job descriptions, DirEctor tells everyone "clinic can't make payroll" so they laid a major employee off and were going to lay off another employee but supervisor told Director she would walk out if she fired too employeees. Also, MA's do not give a crud about their jobs because the newer MA's are being paid $2more hr without prior experience, patients are really starting to complain, and the best part is our Executive Directive continues to tell the Board of Directors eveything is OK! 97% of our clinic employees are ready to walk and feel our Executive Director is not performing her duties. But being a very rural area this is these employees livliehood (even though their paychecks are below the living wage!). There is a public board meeting in a few weeks. Several employees and myself are going to attend to view what goes on. If the Board asks why we/I am there, I am prepared to tell them it is in reference to the last two letters they have recieved from me and acknowledged.

I will keep you posted if you like. Of course I continue to seek other employment, and had

a few interviews, but I feel like I need to do this. Or at least try my best until I know I cannot make a difference or am fired.

[elprup, BSN, RN]

Cant do it....i gave my two weeks notice yesterday. Then today the executive director resigned! Now there really is zero leadership (no executive director, no medical director, no me/RN, another MA is out sick, one NP is out on medical leave, and others are ready to jump). I feel so sorry for nursing superviser thats starting Nov 1. Chaos!