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Discussion

Maybe its just the floor but...

Hi all! I'm a new grad-been working on a Med/Surg floor since June and actually love it! I eventually would like to move to ICU and I love the vast experience I get on the floor each day. The trouble I'm having at work is feeling like I'm the only one who cares about my job. PCTs don't get vitals in the computers until 6 (supposed to be in by 3)-and never notify the RN about abnormal vitals, take frequent breaks, never answer call lights. The RNs have become lax and pass on work to the busy 3-11 shift I work. Just yesterday, I had the nurse not notify the MD about a very high K that she was aware of for 2 hours, left a discharge she knew about for 2 hours for me, left a wound undressed and threw me the supplies to dress it, failed to recheck a BGM on a patient after giving insulin (and he was >500!), and failed to get specimens (and was going to leave without pointing them out). Got a new admission right as I came in, PCT was never assigned (and never set foot in the room for 4 hours). Patient supposed to be transferred to another floor, did all the paperwork, called report, told my patient, and informed the PCT patient was ready to go and gave her the room number. 2 1/2 hours later, the PCT comes up to me asking if she could transfer the patient!!!!!!! I feel myself burning out very quickly and don't want to lose my love for nursing by staying on a floor that could make me lose my license. I feel the conditions on the floor are extremely unsafe and don't take any breaks during my shift for fear that something gets missed. Any advice is greatly appreciated:nurse:

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    Have you spoken to your manager about this?

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    • Author

    I've mentioned about the vitals three separate times and her response was "Yeah, I've heard that's been a problem. I've talked to them, so we'll see what happens". She's pretty new herself and almost seems scared to step up to the staff.

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    Your last two sentences are extremely key to your situation. I was in similar straits and kept trying and trying and trying to keep up; long story short I ended up taking "Legal and Ethical Decision-Making",a course mandated by the board of nursing, and have a flag on my license.

    Think hard about staying in circumstances that are perilous to your livelyhood.

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    This is a good lesson, if you want something done right you do it yourself.

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    Maybe it's just the shift (3-11).

    Try days or nights if you can switch.

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    I'm tellin' ya, ETHICS encompasses more than you think it does. Look it up and research it in detail. You are in an ETHICAL DILEMMA, and nobody will appreciate that you 'tried so hard' if you end up in hot water for trying to cover others slacking off; they won't get in trouble, but YOU very easily could.

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    It's too bad you've only been there since June. You need to go to a different unit! I faced many of the same issues you describe, it was very discouraging. Don't let anyone make you feel like you would be better off being less of a nurse. If it's too soon for your facility to allow you to move to a different unit, then I agree that trying a different shift may at least buy you some time. Keep a stiff upper lip and get yourself to a unit where you aren't being set up on every shift.

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    • Author

    Thanks for the advice everyone! My manager said a 12 hour position opened on nights, so once they can hire and train someone to take my position, I'll be moving to that shift (This would probably be at least another 2 months). As for transferring, I'd really like to move to telemetry (we do remote tele on my floor now), but I feared that transferring so soon would look bad on a resume. Is 6 months too short of a time to spend on a floor?

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    Six months was just exactly long enough for me to get the flag on my license.

    MOVE!

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    ChitownRn you typed everything I'm going through right now at my place of employment. I however was told it would be easier to get rid of me than the **** poor staff that commit the offenses.

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    ChitownRn you typed everything I'm going through right now at my place of employment. I however was told it would be easier to get rid of me than the **** poor staff that commit the offenses.

    I have heard other RNs I know say they were told this exact thing!!!

    IMHO it's a warning. Telling you to shut up and put up or find yourself without a job. A little stunning isn't it.

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    Six months was just exactly long enough for me to get the flag on my license.

    MOVE!

    Without going into too much detail can you tell us sort of what happened? It might help others...... So sorry you got burned like that!

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