I've realize most of all the places I've worked have had high turnover, but my current job takes the cake. In the six months I've been employed here I have seen 10 nurses come and go or reduce their status from full to part time or per diem on day shift alone, nights is worse. I've seen both new and experienced nurses quit while on orientation, or interview and not take the job. A few doctors even jokingly begged me not to leave as that nurses and docs just came and went.
Nurses who just came off orientation who are already proclaiming how much they hate it. The medical residents are stressed and have been openly complaining about their concerns, the attendings are detached. Techs could care less and don't work together.
Staff both RNs and ED techs are burned out from working short which leads to increased sick calls.
I've never seen such a mess of a unit. I'm calling out tomorrow for the 3rd time in 6 months and I feel awful but although its so early in ...I'm tired of being dumped upon. Last few shifts I've had full ICU, intubated patients with at least 7 other ED patients, 2 of which were potential strokes and another possible sepsis.
Equipment doesn't work... 3 of our 4 defibrillators stopped working and still have not been replaced.
Working ED in this town is rough. Less hospitals, terribly high acuity, and atrocious nurse turnover numbers. And yes there have been multiple meetings with administration and on the nightmare goes...
I think I'm sadly thru with bedside nursing after about 9 years. I'm just hoping to stick it out another 6 months here, then hopefully transfer to any ICU adult or peds/PACU or OR/Cath lab heck anywhere but the ed which I really do love. After that advanced practice here I come. It won't be easy but at least it'll be less physically demanding... sigh.
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.
Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.
The problems at that facility did not created overnight, and won't be fixed overnight either. It sounds like there are multiple issues going on: sub-par technology, poor morale and an abundance of part-timers.
Since the hospital is barely staying afloat the chances of having the tech upgraded are pretty slim, unless the hospital is willing to dump cash in the ED to try and attract a buyer. While the manager is saying please stay it will change, maybe it will but I would ask her if there are plans on the table to upgrade technology and put a plan in place to build morale so the part time staff will move to full time. If there is no plan....then consider leaving.
Well the manager has shared some of her frustrations with me, and to be honest even though she has some faults and areas I think she could really work on... I feel bad for her sometimes, after all she is just as new as me. She recently let out to me that her boss the DON spoke to her about not moving certain metrics fast enough and that the medical director wasn't easy to work with. She doesn't really have a hard-set strategic plan because I believe she is between a rock and a hard place and doesn't have much autonomy. She has not lived up to the person I felt she was when I interviewed but I understand being in management is rough too.
She has been asking around to all the agency RNs to come on per diem and the part-timers to come F/T but many declined, only a few took it... smh.
I was actually thinking of going P/T this month and picking up extra shifts at my other slightly less stressful job. I'm beginning to develop anxiety when going into work again. I can't live like this for much longer.
The problems at that facility did not created overnight, and won't be fixed overnight either. It sounds like there are multiple issues going on: sub-par technology, poor morale and an abundance of part-timers.
Since the hospital is barely staying afloat the chances of having the tech upgraded are pretty slim, unless the hospital is willing to dump cash in the ED to try and attract a buyer. While the manager is saying please stay it will change, maybe it will but I would ask her if there are plans on the table to upgrade technology and put a plan in place to build morale so the part time staff will move to full time. If there is no plan....then consider leaving.
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
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.........
Nasty place to work. I don't blame you for wanting to leave. I took a 4 1/2 year hiatus and it saved my sanity. Best thing I ever did for myself.
I've worked in places that were always understaffed and where they didn't order supplies until they were completely gone and where they were bringing in people with no training and where there was no team work and almost no communication. I was told that when people call the state on them that they just pay them off to keep them quiet. I had to quit these places.
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
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 .
I worked on a floor where only 2 nurses were full time. Both had desk jobs.
Don't let your sympathy for your manager get in the way of your life. If it's as bad as you're saying, if she's smart she'll move on too.
The only way change will come is if it's supported by upper management, beyond a unit director's scope. She can attempt some positive change, but those above her have to be willing to change.
I'm impressed you've lasted this long. I'd be looking for a new job. If sounds like a scary and awful place to work.
All4NursingRN
377 Posts
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 .