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Discussion

Just resigned from RN Supervisor - right reason?

So, I have been thinking about a job I recently resigned from. I was hired as a RN Supervisor in a 180 bed facility. I recently resigned after 6 months due to the facts that:

I was hired as a RN Supervisor and found myself filling in as a float nurse on a week to week basis ... filling in 3 or 4 days a week if not the whole week. I was filling in for LVN (LPN) nurses whom, due to experience as a (LPN) nurse, sometimes made more than I per hour and I was expected to be the "problem solver" (RN Supervisor) as well as the (LPN) nurse on the hall: passing medications and treatments out to approx. 30 patients during an 8-hour evening shift.

I had the responsibility of the whole building, including housekeeping and laundry - and if I was advised of anything going on with the patients I was (by law) responsible for whatever issues/problems a nurse was having so I had to deal with it. And finish a hall (which with the amount of patients, meds, and treatments - was virtually impossible to complete in a timely manner.

There are 3 nursing supervisors on day shift that share the responsibility that I do on evening and I only made 19.87 per hour. These nurses on day shift NEVER worked the hall and were paid substantially more (12k a year more).

I resigned. I did this after voicing my discontent with both the salary and expectations of "killing 2 birds with one stone" with me as the Supervisor AND Float Nurse. I understand that a Supervisor may have to fill in occasionally on the hall, but on a regular basis the level of stress and impossibility are ridiculous.

Anyway, I feel guilty.

Was I being taken advantage of? Or, do I have the wrong perception?

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    • Featured Replies

    Sounds like you were being taken advantage of. They should have hired more LPNs or gotten rid of the whoever was calling in so much.

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    Sounds to me like you were justified. You were being way underpaid for the amt of work and the responsibilities you were carrying. I mean, geez, new grads at my hospital make more per hour than you did... and that's ridiculous considering that you were the RN supervisor.

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    Oh sure, you were being taken advantage of. Did you and the other supervisors ever think of confronting your manager/employer as a group and voicing your dissatisfaction? Regardless of "experience" issues, the supervisor carries more responsibility and consequently should be paid more.

    As regards filling in for other staff, it is something that we as nurses sometimes have to do, but if it happens too often, the company clearly has a staff shortage. Sounds like a case of profit pursuit.

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    • Expert

    Nah- you did whatcha needed to do.

    I worked in a similar circumstance, Supervising Medical Services at a Mental Health Clinic and the Methadone Clinic. I had to carry a caseload of over a hundred Clients and fill in if one of the LPN's called off or needed a day off. I was hired at salary to work 35 hours a week. The only week I ever put in 35 hours was on the 12th of Never. I usually worked 50 hours a week, sometimes up to 60.

    The difference in our exits was that I was terminated by the Medical Director, who I had trained. I trained him, and two other temporary Doc's before him.

    I was glad to go, anyway. The next door that opened after that one closed, not hitting me in the behind, had better pay and conditions.

    I hope your story comes out the same. The best to you, KentonpeacockRN.

    Dave

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    yes, you were being taken advantage of.

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    +1 here.

    They were using you. You did the right thing.

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    I work in a 160 bed facility and the nursing supergiants are responsible for only nursing. They would never dream of floating.... There is too much for them to do as it is!! You are worth so much more! You can find a job anywhere that will be less stressful. Good luck super nurse:)

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    Yes they were using you. Good for you for realizing it and sticking up for yourself. I wouldn't feel guilty it all. If they were that concerned about you they would have given you a raise and spread out the responsibility.

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    You absolutely did the right thing. Don't let them guilt you into feeling like you didn't. One of the things we nurses like to do to our young (and elders, and lateral employees) is remind each other that we all have to put in our share, and pitch in, and that nursing is a 24 hour job, blah blah blah. We just shift the repsonsibility and blame around. If you have to fill in on the floor once, that's fine. But excuse me, how can you supervise the entire hospital if you are taking care of patients? It is unsafe, plain and simple. And I won't even get into the (lack of) compensation you are receiving for it. That's just insulting.

    Being a supervisor is a tough job as it is. Having a patient assignment on top of that (modified or not) is just unreasonable.

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    yikes! please do not feel guilty. employers and even families take advantage of nurses because they know we have that caring attitude imbedded in to our training and practice.

    by leaving, you saved your patients and the institution from potential lawsuits. i applaud you for recognizing that notwithstanding the compensation, the role is detrimental to you and your patients.

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    • Expert

    They took advantage of you!!!!! As a new grad, hired as a supervisor, they walked up and down your back with high heels on!!!! KUDOS for finally having had enough and standing up for yourself.

    As a supervisor......they would have gotten away with it once........just once........before I would let them know that I would NOT do both. I will cover for lunches, breaks....I will pass meds to help out....but to be incharge and have an assignment? NO....I am one or the other well done and good luck!

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    • Expert

    Sounds to me like you were being taken advantage of. And that pay is low for LPNs working in LTC. I hope you have moved on to a better job.

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