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:
I'm actually fixing up my resume as we speak. I got so worried when I spoke with others outside of my floor and really confirmed what I had thought. Does anyone know, if I apply for a transfer to a different unit about how long that usually takes and will my manager know right away (I'm just worried about putting in for a transfer and not getting it, then getting begrudged for even asking)?
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
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!
I'm going to give you the place on here where you can read my posts about my situation; it is just tooooo much to have to recount it. The posts are a little long and it was written before I learned how to make paragraphs (sorry!), but if you can wade through, it gives the details.
On allnurses.com, go to BLOGS.
On Page 6 of the BLOGS scroll down to Verbal,Written Warnings and Termination by madwife 2002, written 6-6-2009. (category prior to title says'from uniforms to scrubs')
My posts are on page 15, the last page, posts # 143, 147, and 149.
In reviewing them, it seems that they are written backwards, but that's because I revealed a little more with each posting, by way of answering anothers posters questions.
Hey Chitown, it sounds like we work on the same floor!! I've only been there since July and have only been doing eves for 2 weeks but every day I feel like I could lose my license!! I've asked to be moved to night shift but my manager (who is very new to management, I'm her first hire) says it wont be possible until January. I'm now in 'should I stay or should I go' mode. I too wonder if and when it's too soon to put in for a transfer?! Ugh! I'm getting so burned out already, and I've only been working as an RN for 3 months! I've been told by nurses on other units that my floor is the worst and to get out as soon as I can but I'm afraid I'm going to get into trouble before I'm able to move forward!! So, just know you're not alone Chitown!! Keep us posted!!
Specializes in Nurse Educator, Culturally Sensitive Nsg.
Chain of command, hon. DOCUMENT issues. Be specific, be non-judgmental. Just the facts. It's not about how this is making you feel, it's about the safety of the patients. Then talk to your manager again. Then talk to your supervisor. "We'll see" is not appropriate, and I don't imagine the hospital ethics board will think so either.
Hey Chitown it sounds like we work on the same floor!! I've only been there since July and have only been doing eves for 2 weeks but every day I feel like I could lose my license!! I've asked to be moved to night shift but my manager (who is very new to management, I'm her first hire) says it wont be possible until January. I'm now in 'should I stay or should I go' mode. I too wonder if and when it's too soon to put in for a transfer?! Ugh! I'm getting so burned out already, and I've only been working as an RN for 3 months! I've been told by nurses on other units that my floor is the worst and to get out as soon as I can but I'm afraid I'm going to get into trouble before I'm able to move forward!! So, just know you're not alone Chitown!! Keep us posted!![/quote']
I too feel burned out, but I keep telling myself I can't be after only 5 months. As for moving to another shift, I was told this would be on the next schedule after they had another nurse to fill my position. Turns out my manager hasn't even interviewed anyone, so this probably won't be for another 4 months (I really don't think I can make it that long). You're absolutely right Rainey, I need to keep pursuing for these issues to get fixed. Where would I document this? My other issue is that the CNAs put vitals in about 3-4 hours late and then change the times in the computer to make it look like they were placed in there hours ago (and if these vitals look abnormal, this could possibly go against my license because it would look as if I had done nothing about them for hours!). Everyone keeps telling me to talk to my manager about transferring to a new unit, but I don't even know how to bring up this conversation with her. Any ideas?
I take it you are in Chicago? I'm scared to ask what hospital you work but this management and all the missed interventions are FRIGHTENING!
I used to work in private community hospital in Chicago as a first hospital job, new grad and it SUCKED. PCTs were better than you described but otherwise missed a lot of things, like abnormal vitals. RNs would pass things off to night shift and things were bad but not as bad as you described. Management was terrible, no one EVER filed an incident report. I once put in an incident report because we had a trached patient and we didn't have any more continuous pulse ox monitors left and protocol necessitates a continuous pulse ox, so I ended up HAVING to use a dynamap with a pulse ox, at the patients bed side. I wrote an incident report because frankly when we only have 2 dynamaps on the unit, now were short 1, PCTs cant adequately take vitals, it isn't proper care of the patient, and we should have more cont. pulse ox monitors considering how many vent and trach patients we get! I also wrote an incident report for a missed medication dose by a previous RN, and one when a blood transfusion order was written for 10 am and passed off to night shift, and one for when an RN didn't transfuse the 2nd unit of blood because she thought you could only do one per shift, I mean i wrote them like crazy and NO ONE EVER followed up, the supervisors even said "um, I don't think you need to write an incident report for this". OF COURSE YOU DO!
I got a better job, better pay, better bennies, extremely competent management. Now if anyone makes one mistake, there is a write up, the SMALLEST mistake, the SMALLEST delay, and while it is stressful its outcome is optimal patient care and accountability. When mistakes are made, they are brought up in an calm and understanding way and my manager is extremely knowledgeable and understanding. You deserve that!
Hey all, I know this post was from a few months ago, but just wanted to let everyone know what happened. I finally met with my manager one more time and discussed the issues that kept occurring and how unsafe of a floor it was to work on. She said she would address the issues, but a month later, things are still exactly the same. So, I put in for a transfer..and got it! I'll be moving to Telemetry/Step down unit and be on 12 hour shifts. After meeting with my new manager, I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders. Accountability. Reliability. :hpygrp: Thank you everyone!
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
Hey all, I know this post was from a few months ago, but just wanted to let everyone know what happened. I finally met with my manager one more time and discussed the issues that kept occurring and how unsafe of a floor it was to work on. She said she would address the issues, but a month later, things are still exactly the same. So, I put in for a transfer..and got it! I'll be moving to Telemetry/Step down unit and be on 12 hour shifts. After meeting with my new manager, I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders. Accountability. Reliability. :hpygrp: Thank you everyone!
YYYAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY! I can't believe how relieved I feel for you!:ancong!::dancgrp::rckn::anpom::anpom::anpom::anpom:Good going!
Too bad you couldn't have thrown those wound supplies right back at that nurse and told her she better finish up and chart on it too! I sure would have. How can a nurse leave the wound open for another nurse to finish!?! Crazy and Congrats on the move!!!
Too bad you couldn't have thrown those wound supplies right back at that nurse and told her she better finish up and chart on it too! I sure would have. How can a nurse leave the wound open for another nurse to finish!?! Crazy and Congrats on the move!!!
LOL trust me, I wanted to, but I kept telling myself you're the low man on the totem pole, so suck it up and just stay on top of my game. Thank you so much guys-I really can't tell you how excited I am for the new job!!! :redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe
I got so worried when I spoke with others outside of my floor and really confirmed what I had thought. Does anyone know, if I apply for a transfer to a different unit about how long that usually takes and will my manager know right away (I'm just worried about putting in for a transfer and not getting it, then getting begrudged for even asking)?
I've been told by nurses on other units that my floor is the worst and to get out as soon as I can but I'm afraid I'm going to get into trouble before I'm able to move forward!! So, just know you're not alone Chitown!! Keep us posted!!
You're absolutely right Rainey, I need to keep pursuing for these issues to get fixed. Where would I document this? My other issue is that the CNAs put vitals in about 3-4 hours late and then change the times in the computer to make it look like they were placed in there hours ago (and if these vitals look abnormal, this could possibly go against my license because it would look as if I had done nothing about them for hours!). Everyone keeps telling me to talk to my manager about transferring to a new unit, but I don't even know how to bring up this conversation with her. Any ideas?
:ancong!::dancgrp::rckn::anpom::anpom::anpom::anpom:Good going!.thumb.jpg.421493329dd1f136a4222fe8e9399213.jpg){kind=small}
CrunchRN, ADN, RN
4,556 Posts
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!