My Unit Is Bleeding Staff & Morale...Vent!

That sounds awful!! I'm trying to imagine what kind of administration is running your facility. I don't know how anyone could survive that kind of chaos, including the patients. What's up with your manager? Sounds like they're needing a massive overhaul. What about saving yourself and considering another position elsewhere sooner than six months? Life is too darn short!

I can relate with that 'fed-uppedness' and also this summer had the experience of taking a 'break' from nursing, a deliberate break of about five months. Granted, I was fortunate to have been able to do this. But in that 'break' I feel like I came back a bit better than ever, and my previous job was NOT the nightmare you describe. We have to take care of ourselves, however we can, and sometimes just getting a different J.O.B. is enough to break the chronic stress. Good luck to you :)

Was anyone offered more money to stay?

I've worked on units like this, and there is no amount of money that will make it worthwhile.

I've worked on units like this, and there is no amount of money that will make it worthwhile.

Agreed. But if OP is staying anyway..

I feel sorry for the unsuspecting public who believe that they will actually receive reasonable nursing care in that facility. Someone ought to tell them so that they can arrange to spend time in the facility if a loved one is hospitalized to insure that they are not harmed by the level of indifference that is apparently widespread though the organizational management.

I recommend a change....the cath lab or interventional radiology (in a different hospital if possible) can be exciting and intellectually challenging! They would LOVE your experience there. think of this as an opportunity to branch out!

I've worked on units like this, and there is no amount of money that will make it worthwhile.

True. Well unless they pay me $120k/yr and that's not happening.

The director made it clear during the interview that it was a challenging place to work. She hired almost 25 new nurses in the form of full time/per-diem/agency but staff has still been dropping like flies. She's pretty much pleaded with us to stay and when I went to her with a particular concern, she literally said ''please don't leave I promise it'll get better''

ugh.........

I recommend a change....the cath lab or interventional radiology (in a different hospital if possible) can be exciting and intellectually challenging! They would LOVE your experience there. think of this as an opportunity to branch out!

I'd love cath lab and I've been trying to secure a cath lab position for 4 years. I was offered a EP lab position and then it was retracted... I was so bummed about it so I took whatever I could get after that, but I really want cath lab or any ICU to be honest. I'm just so tired of job hopping but after working in two dangerously busy and high acuity ED's in the same city I think I'm sadly done with ED.

I could start putting out applications just in case though...

Do you work in my hospital's ED??? Kidding!! Sort of.

My med-surg unit is like this too though! People transferring to other units or quitting left and right. It's very, very disconcerting to have co-workers ask you while still on orientation if you are planning on quitting.

I know the feeling, when I was on orientation one of the per diem but very senior RNs asked if I was full time or not and when I replied yes, he then said....'' full time????? you're crazy!!!!!!!!!.. no one works here full time'' then he moved onto said that most of the new RNs wouldn't last 6 months.. and sadly he was right...most of all the part-time/per-diem RN's were former full timers.

I have prior experience in a busier/more complex ED so I thought coming to my current job would be a piece of cake but the place lacks organization and structure, it makes my last ED look like a cake walk.

I mean you know it's bad when the attendings and residents are beggin for more nursing and support staff.

The problem with this place goes beyond staffing, it's a ED flow and financial issue. The hospital is losing money or just staying afloat and the ED structure is antiquated not to mention physical space is so limited it makes it impossible to properly manage patients .

Do you work in my hospital's ED??? Kidding!! Sort of.

My med-surg unit is like this too though! People transferring to other units or quitting left and right. It's very, very disconcerting to have co-workers ask you while still on orientation if you are planning on quitting.