JUST LET ME VENT

[Laura0821RN]

I have been a nurse in AZ for 12 years, and 15 altogether going to School back East. This was a dream I always felt I would never be able to accomplish, but I did.

The last two years has been a disaster in jobs here in AZ. I am terrified of loosing my license. I have been through many jobs in the past two years, Agencies, Hospitals and Rehabs. Before working and having long gevity and so happy.

I left my Hospice Job after 4 years because of a corporation buying them out and changing everything, including firing LPN's CNA's and some RN's, Supervisors etc. I was not fired but felt between micro managing and demands they were making on the RN's, were so unrealistic and again 'FOR PROFIT COMPANY" .

I quit after 4 years because of the stress from the job, how unethical they became and also My Dad dieing didn't help and I felt like I needed a break from Hospice.

After this and a short break I have been at about 6-7 small Hospice Agencies, a Valley Hospital and now a Rehab.

I have never even gotten a warning in my past years, but the last Hospice I worked for, I found out the Executive Director who Hired me at my Hospice I was at for 4 years, had a terrible reputation, especially with nurses who were intelligent and who actually did the job by the Nursing Practice Act. She had been fired from 3 Hospices and

now this one and making everyone's life miserable. In three months I cryed almost every day, every other day she fired someone, and having that 6th sense I know I should have quit, but because of errors she made she made rediculous allogations to board about me and fired me with false cause.

Okay so with all the job layoffs and losses, I was now in deep debt, loosing my home and just exhausted, I decided I would try a rehab, although I knew this one didn't have a great reputation, I was desperate. In the past 6 months I have taken two days off, worked multiple shifts, and going the extra mile. The administration were terrible, no management, people got away with anything they wanted to do. Calling off, I would report unethical or neglect, not showing up for work, and nothing was ever done. We were understaffed and I would work with 30 or more patients by myself. I worked nights, was good kept me away from the drama of the

dysfunctional DON and ADON.

Then the Company fired the administrator, who brought in the DON and MDS coordinator, and there is a woman acting as a social worker without a degree in social work, a dietician working without a license. The diets for these people are inappropriate.

Okay to get to my point, on January 15th, I was on 7am to 7pm after 2pm I would be by myself. I begged for nurses to over lap, but until the new big guns came in we worked by ourselves. That night I had a birthday party to be at at 8pm. A nurse if you want to call her that, who is always late, decided she wouldn't come in that night.

I called the DON and the ADON who not surprisingly told me they couldn't relieve me and I needed to get replacements. ME get replacements. This is not even funny. At the same time while I was trying to find a replacement at 7:30 pm I got an admit at 4:30pm and I had a family called me to ask if they could take their mother off of the Namenda and Aricept. I told them I would call the doctor. I called the Medical Director said it would not be a problem with taking her off the med, she is late stage Alzeheimers and I said, do I have to ween her off and he said no. I then called the family and told them what the doctor said and they agreed to take her off the medication.

Today I got a call that a nurse practitioner who I didn't realize visits the patient and that she was under another doctor, and of course I assumed it was our medical director, was livid that I didn't call her. She said that the patient needed to be weened off, which I know is not true because I have been working with Alzeheimers patients and I was told that especially late stage alzeheimers patients would maybe just get a little agitated.

Here is the other bad news. Because of all the confusion and getting interrupted by this nurse who wasn't going to show up, I forgot to write the order and a note. But I know the medical director should remember this. It is under investigation and I just want to stop crying. I called many pharmacists and looked on the internet and nothing says there would be a reaction to stop these medications. Also the family is aware that I called the doctor even though it wasn't her doctor because I said his name, hopefully will vouch for me.

Needless to say I am devastated that they will report this to the Board of Nursing. Everyone tells me they will not, but I just have no faith in this company. I guess I could meet with the new administration. Or should I just resign. Someone please help me feel like such a terrible nurse. I have gone 14 years without a warning and now

all this is happening. My friends had kept on warning me to take a break.

I am loosing my home and I am just so depressed because of the debt I am in, I just feel I am backed up against the wall.

Can anyone help me? Even if it isn't good news.

[caliotter3]

Well, I don't know. Since things seem bad, maybe you should try to ride it out, only to get as many days pay as you can get before the end. Maybe you should, with earnest effort, seek the next job. I believe you need to get another job immediately, before you are fired if you can help it. Don't let the worries about the Board stop you. There is little you can do about that from your end. Try to consult an attorney for assistance with all of this. And see your doctor about your health. You most likely need some rest. Prayer might not be a bad idea. You have our sympathy. Maybe some others can come up with better strategies for weathering this storm.

[Laura0821RN]

You just made me feel so much better. I had the day off and before I got the news about this today I went for a really great job as a Case Manager. I loved it and I think they loved me, but speaking about prayer, I am praying for help and I know I need to get out of here. I wont here about the job till next week, and I am suppose to hear from my boss tomorrow. I just think that this came up unexpectedly the job I mean. I went and then heard about my error.

I will keep you posted, but thank you so much.

[caliotter3]

I hope your boss is reasonable about this. If everyone got fired every time there was a problem, nobody would have a job very long. Just take it easy. One day at a time, like the 12 steppers say. Good luck tomorrow.

[Laura0821RN]

Okay and now you made me cry. I love this nursing site, I am new at it and feel I am no longer alone. Just keep me in your prayers guys. And yes one day at a time and praying is all I can do. You are helping me stay in the moment. Thank you so much.

[caliotter3]

OK. Here is another idea. Home health agencies offer flexibility for those who want to do extended care, or shift, work. Sometime soon, like Friday, or Monday, take your resume and work documents to one of the local home health agencies and put in for a job. You can start out for one shift a week, two on the weekend, or as many shifts as you can work around this job, and/or the other job once you get hired. That way, you will have a backup in case the new job doesn't materialize, or the first job in fact lets you go. Second job, more money. Get caught up on debts and house payments, until you can get out of house or get it together. You can work on today to keep calm, but plan for the next day to keep yourself moving forward. Now get some rest!

[Laura0821RN]

:) Yes Mam I will do, and now I feel I can sleep. "first things first"