OK here's the deal, I just recently went back to my former hospital to work L&D, I've been gone almost a year. So I come back w/the impression that I'm doing L&D, we actually do LDRP/couplet care at this hospital. However due to SUCH short staffing and the majority of staff being travellers, I have been assigned every shift to our NBN/Level 2 Nursery (I have been recently working NICU at a different hospital). Well that is not a huge problem for me, although, I'm bugged b/k I came back here to specifically do L&D, but THIS is the HUGE problem:
The staffing in the nursery sucks! The usual is: 1, yes 1, RN in the nursery taking care of the level 2 babies, which we can have anywhere from 1 to maybe 3 SCN babies. This same RN is also responsible for ALL the well baby admissions into the nursery..we can get anywhere from just a couple of deliveries/shift on up...last night we had 8 babies on our shift, PLUS a 30 wkr that walked into the ER crowning, plus a drug baby that required O2 and septic w/u, and a mec baby, needing O2 and prolonged stabilization. So I was responsible for the 2 existing level 2 babies, all the new admits, which, of course, include all the problem babies!
There is another nurse "assigned" to the nursery, but she is given a couplet care assignment and does not do any of the admits or Special Care babies. We also have a tech, and they are GREAT, but, of course are limited on what they can do. Also, we attend all c/s deliveries, so we have to leave the nursery, go to the c/s, return w/a baby...stable or not...
I feel like I'm in the middle of a nightmare! The staffing is ludicrous, pt care is unsafe...
I'm not sure what to do at this point, management is aware, believe me all of the existing staff have complained up the wazoo, to no avail. In fact it's so bad, everyone is leaving, after 12/1 there will only be 2 staff people left on the night shift, that's it...to cover 7 nights/wk, 12 hr shifts! And they are including ME in 1 of those 2 staff persons! I've only been back here about 3 wks and feel like getting the h*ll out of there before I lose my license! The stuff that goes on there is so far out of standards of care it's unbelievable!
Sorry this is so long and disorganized, I'm frazzled after 3 horrid night shifts at that h*llhole! Input anyone?
Specializes in Case Mgmt; Mat/Child, Critical Care.
Wow, you guys! Thanks for all the support! It really helps to know other nurses fel the same way. You know, when you're actually at work, and trying to work under those circumstances...and the other nurses just "deal with it"...you start feeling like.."am I going crazy, this is NOT right"...
StrongRN, I do agree with you 100%, and have been wondering WHO exactly do I go to about this situation... I was thinking risk mgmt at the hospital, and I did think of JCAHO, I have NO problem blowing the whistle on that joint!
BetsRN...You are exactly right, true LDRP entails couplet care, including bath, admission/ballard be done in the mothers room; when I questioned why this isn't being done there, it's b/k "the L&D nurses don't want to do it"! This place is so frustrating!
Imenid...that's kind of what I figured would happen to me...I'd make a complaint, and suddenly I would be the "problem child", get written up, etc. I don't really care, I can stand the heat, b/k I have no intention of staying on at this job!
To all of you, I thank you so much for your help and support. :roll
For God's sake, call JCAHO!! The public in general would not want to deliver their babies there if they knew the risk that they were under at your hospital. I would personally not want to work there. JCAHO is the leading watchdog and this place does not have a conscience of it's own, so that watch dog agency needs to be notified ASAP!! Meanwhile, you could ask for a leave of absence, since you are planning to quit anyway, until it seems like the problem is rectified.
Excuse me! The L&D nurses don't do the baby admission/assessment, bath, etc because they "don't want to."
Well, then they aren't doing their job and they need to be written up and start looking for a new job. Does it say in the policy and procedure that part of being a LDRP nurse is to do the Baby as long as the baby is stable? Give me a break. The clinical mgr/coodinator needs to get a backbone and tell them she is the one running the unit and they will do their jobs or they will be written up.
It's time to revisit the conceot of LDRP. If these nurses are not doing their job, then the manager needs to get involved. You have to have a committed manager to make an LDRP run smoothly. That's why we love the LDRP concept so much. You are not truly doing LDRP nursing, then. Still that facility sounds like a nightmare. Time to work at a convalescent home if there is nothing else at this time. That place sounds very scary.
Specializes in Case Mgmt; Mat/Child, Critical Care.
Originally posted by dawnc87
Excuse me! The L&D nurses don't do the baby admission/assessment, bath, etc because they "don't want to."
Well, then they aren't doing their job and they need to be written up and start looking for a new job. Does it say in the policy and procedure that part of being a LDRP nurse is to do the Baby as long as the baby is stable? Give me a break. The clinical mgr/coodinator needs to get a backbone and tell them she is the one running the unit and they will do their jobs or they will be written up.
I agree completely! I can not believe the mgr is accepting this nonsense! Especially since 90% of the staff is "new" or travellers...within the last 8-10 mos. So the excuse that it's a group of die-hard nurses that are resisting change is not the case.
The only thing I can think of is that the nurse mgr is kind of a "middle-man"...she is basically afraid of her own shadow, but I still don't get where they get off jeopardizing patient care! Too lazy to initiate the change, make the rules/policies, and enforce them perhaps?
Oh well, I really have no intention on staying there...appreciate the support!
Specializes in Case Mgmt; Mat/Child, Critical Care.
BetsRN...You're right, I would rather work in a convalescent home if there weren't any other options! Luckily, I DO have a few other options, and plan on making full use of them. My only dilemma is this: Do I do the professional thing and give a 2 wk notice? I feel that I should, but, on the other hand, I think what if something really bad happens one night, jeopardizing my license...? Do I want to take the chance of working 2 more weeks...6 shifts, hoping and praying that something doesn't happen?
I've only been there about a month, so technically still on "probationary" status, and in the new employee paperwork, I read something to the effect that during the 1st 6 mos, either party can terminate without repurcussion, but I don't know how this would work...?
Not too sure how to asnwer that one. I guess the professioal thing to do is gove two weeks notice. I would make darn sure I have an exit interview and site exctly why you are leaving. I would talk to the hospital's risk manager also.
Specializes in ER - trauma/cardiac/burns. IV start spec.
RUN RUN as fast as you can. Your hospital sounds like my former emp. No amount of complaining will change anything. They are trying to meet budget and doing it on the backs of their emp. Ours once stated that it was cheaper to pay off claims than to hire more staff.
Several of LDR nurses have "been let go" after they refused to falsify VS on newborns. I know one personally she left and went to nearest hospital in next town and hired same day. And she told new emp what happened.:roll
RUN RUN PROTECT YOUR LIC. AND RAISE AS MUCH RUCKUS AS YOU CAN to try to get the public to be aware of this problem.
Specializes in ER - trauma/cardiac/burns. IV start spec.
RUN RUN as fast as you can. Your hospital sounds like my former emp. No amount of complaining will change anything. They are trying to meet budget and doing it on the backs of their emp. Ours once stated that it was cheaper to pay off claims than to hire more staff.
Several of LDR nurses have "been let go" after they refused to falsify VS on newborns. I know one personally she left and went to nearest hospital in next town and hired same day. And she told new emp what happened.:roll
RUN RUN PROTECT YOUR LIC. AND RAISE AS MUCH RUCKUS AS YOU CAN to try to get the public to be aware of this problem.
gypsyatheart
705 Posts
Wow, you guys! Thanks for all the support! It really helps to know other nurses fel the same way. You know, when you're actually at work, and trying to work under those circumstances...and the other nurses just "deal with it"...you start feeling like.."am I going crazy, this is NOT right"...
StrongRN, I do agree with you 100%, and have been wondering WHO exactly do I go to about this situation... I was thinking risk mgmt at the hospital, and I did think of JCAHO, I have NO problem blowing the whistle on that joint!
BetsRN...You are exactly right, true LDRP entails couplet care, including bath, admission/ballard be done in the mothers room; when I questioned why this isn't being done there, it's b/k "the L&D nurses don't want to do it"! This place is so frustrating!
Imenid...that's kind of what I figured would happen to me...I'd make a complaint, and suddenly I would be the "problem child", get written up, etc. I don't really care, I can stand the heat, b/k I have no intention of staying on at this job!
To all of you, I thank you so much for your help and support. :roll