My license on the line, not theirs

mustangsheba · May 13, 2001

Seven patients is too many. I don't know how one can take care of 10 tele patients. That's less than one hour per patient. Forget about ever going to the bathroom! Unsafe!!!!! There were four codes Tuesday on the tele floor I worked the other night (not Tuesday). They all survived. How do you suppose that scenario would have gone if the nurses on that floor had ten patients? Who is making these outrageous decisions? Let's get them in a dark alley.

sharann, BSN, RN · May 13, 2001

moonshad and mustangsheb, it's good to be understood.I'm not sure why these clowns who are making decisions on our staffing are thinking(if they are in fact thinking at all).It's insane.I agree that 7 tele pts is real bad,but 10 is asking for disasterous outcomes.Even if we had monitor techs(which we don't)and a unit sec after 11pm(which we don't),it still stinks.I just think that if nurses would refuse unsafe assignments or as in my case,quuit, the unit would have to close and then the hospital would be crying all the way to the bank.I think that as long as nurses continue to stay in unsafe situations,the administrators will keep pulling this B.S.

Yes,I am out of that place.I'll update in a couple weeks on the new job(if I don't get a bad recommendation from here...).

Stacey Tortorice · May 13, 2001

I would get out of the mess you are in have you suggested to the director that they get monitor techs.seems that would help a lot.If this is something that they are not willing to do then it is time to leave.Their was a time that I had over 16 patients and this was in a nursing home and was expected to do everthing including ever one else work while they were on break on the phone and what not call lights going off like crazy let me tell you I had to get the h out of their was not going to get hung because they could not get their act togather and when I said something to try and work things out I am the one who had the problem. [email protected]

Jason-ACNP · May 14, 2001

I was wondering if it was me being "weak".

Nope...that is you being strong. As a previous post said...you are nothing more than a warm body to these people. Additionally, it's your license and THEY DON'T GIVE A DAMN. You are doing the right thing.

-jt · May 14, 2001

forget the leave. hand in your resignation & tell the manager, the staff & everyone else who asks exactly why you are leaving.

Just what you said there...you worked too hard for your license to continue that way... & when you have your exit interview with human resources tell them too.

And remind them that theres a nursing shortage and you dont have to put up with this.

Good luck in your new job at the hospital in your neighborhood.

sharann, BSN, RN · May 15, 2001

You guys are making me feel soooo much better about my decision to GTHO (get the hell out)of there.

Update: This facility near my home just offered me a per diem part-time position working days(my desired shift!) :) .For 7 dollars an hr more than I make now!!

I only have to wait for the "background check" which can take 1 wk to 10 days.Do I need to worry about this? I have no criminal history at all,my credit is great,and I have no problems w/my license(this is why I left the old job,remember,to preserve the license)

What are they REALLY checking? It's called Infolink I believe.

Thank you all very much.I am feeling like things are looking up finally.

P_RN, ADN, RN · May 15, 2001

That's the WAY TO GO!!!!!

sharann, BSN, RN · May 15, 2001

Thanks P RN.

How is your back injury? Are you in much pain?And did th hospital ever pay or still fightin?That's the most shameful thing I have ever heard,after 22 yrs of dedication!!

Overland1, RN · May 17, 2001

Originally posted by sharann:
I am now driving 45 minutes one way to work,$50 a week gas prices, and literally FORGOT my phone # yesturday.Scared the heck out of myself.Is this story familiar? I feel some obligation to the hospital for training me,but then, do they feel any obligation to me? No,I don't believe they do.
Sorry to go on. Any thoughts?

Sharann,

Forgot your phone number? Heck, Albert Einstein was said to have not known his own phone number; his reason was that he never called it so he need not remember it .

Seriously, the job closer to home may be the best way to go, provided all other factors are considered.

I started working as a nurse about 20 minutes (12 miles) from home, then took a job an hour (45 miles) away at a higher stress place so I could further my cardiac experience. This change was just not for me and became very expensive despite the extra $2.00/hour the more distant place paid me. I am now doing per-diem at the first hospital and full-time at a place which is 20 miles (30 minutes) from home. So far, all is going reasonably well.

There is more to this situation than gas prices. What ever you drive, be it a Yugo or a Freightliner, your cost/mile will be at least 30-40 cents per mile. That quickly eats up the extra money paid by the more distant employers. I turned down an opportunity (?) to work 55 miles from home in a cardiac unit because of this.

The short-staffing where you now work is not an "issue"; it is a problem (and a severe problem at that), and we need to refer to it as such. Issues get discussed and left as they are.... problems can be addressed and solved.

You owe your present employer very little if nothing at all. They may have offered and provided some of your training, but they are doing nothing to retain you as a good employee. Any good business knows and respects the value of employee retention. Hospitals seem to be unable to grasp this concept (serves me right for working in business so many years before becoming a nurse :eek: !), and unions, etc. do not help much in this area. You need to be responsible for your own success and happiness, as well as for your own achievements. Those achievements are not granted to you by the government, an employer, or any organization; they are earned by you.

If the offer from the nearby hospital is that good, write a clear and concise letter of resignation, and 'boogitate' ASAP.

Let us know how it goes, and (of course) best wishes. I wish you well.

Jerry

[ May 17, 2001: Message edited by: Jerry Falletta ]

Overland1, RN · May 17, 2001

Originally posted by sharann:
I only have to wait for the "background check" which can take 1 wk to 10 days.Do I need to worry about this? I have no criminal history at all,my credit is great,and I have no problems w/my license(this is why I left the old job,remember,to preserve the license)
What are they REALLY checking? It's called Infolink I believe.

Probably the usual stuff... history of murder and mayhem, political affiliations, etc.

sharann, BSN, RN · May 17, 2001

Jerry, you crack me up!!!

I agree with you,the staffing PROBLEM is a problem.The hospital close to home has offered me the job (at 7 dollars/hr increase in pay).Just waiting for my murder and mayhem check to clear!Thanks for your detailed response. My feeling is that one doesn't need to stay where one isn't happy or treated well.Gee,retention of existing employees..that's quite a concept eh?

I am not the first and I know others wil be following me out of there shortly.Talk to you later. :)

LynniegirlRN · May 18, 2001

Hi Sharann,

Here I am on the east coast fighting with a similar battle. Fortunately, ours is not quite as bad as yours. We are a tele unit- 24 beds, and to cut costs, our boss is changing our ratios from 5 to 6 on night shift. This is a floor where we actively rule in MI's, cardiac drips, do ECV at the bedside, have no monitor techs, rarely have a secretary, and on top of it all, are supposed to be providing quality care. RIGHT!!! It doesn't happen, that is the biggest problem. Nurses without adequate experience and preceptorship are turned loose. They are not capable of evaluating certain situations appropriately due to a lack of experience, which jeopardized that patients stability. There is no support for the staff, morale is poor, there are many arguments which have come close to physical engagement, and its getting to the point where I hate my job, and I am only PRN! My point is to let you know others are struggling as well. For me, I am very resistant to change. I have furthered my education over the past few years, and I am intending to leave the whole profession by August. It's terrible that this is what the profession has become, but what options do you have? Stay and be miserable or leave and hopefully find something that is more manageable. Good luck with you in your new hospital. I certainly hope things are better, and remain that way.