New Grad. OR RN needs advice

[mondragon]

I am a new grad.RN working in the OR.I am in South Carolina.I asked management if I could see the count policy,and was told they did not have one,but were working on it......since April.I had a few scrubs refuse to count,or said "We can count later",then they draped and handed the knife to the surgeon,even though the count had not been done.I also had a scrub who was going to draw up Narcan,she had the vial & syringe in her hand,and was inserting the needle into the vial when I caught it,I told her no,then took it from her.I also have scrubs who will take the safety strap off the patient,then walk away from the bedside.I have talked with management,the reaction I got was,"What is wrong with them helping " ?. And everyday I have scrubs telling me how to do my job.The scrubs will open a pack for the backtable,then scrub in,and have me or other nurses run and get supplies they should have gathered for the case.The manager's response was,"Well,they just don't care because they do not have a license to lose". That was all I got,she has never taken action to address these issues.I was also told," We have had no luck in hiring good scrubs and we would like to keep the ones we have".I am on edge everyday,and nothing is being addressed by management.The scrubs also tend to disappear between cases,so I am ready to bring the next patient back and I have no scrub,and no supplies are open.I would appreciate some advice.

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

There are some pretty serious problems here. I think that if you have talked to management about this and they refuse to do anything about it then you are really out on a limb. Unless you are willing to PO your manager and go directly to the lawyers at your facility about what is happening (ultimately the issues you raise have enormous liability implications) then I don't see anything else you can do but leave. Ultimately, this job is not worth losing your license over - I'd rather lose the job. Of course, you can write these people up every time they do something, but if management doesn't have your back you are stuck.

Good luck.

[mondragon]

I am thinking in the same direction,that I need to move on,before something happens,like losing my license.Another issue is we do EGD's on the floor,and the RN's do the sedation,I have verbally requested and in writing,that I need a RN preceptor when doing these cases,for at least 6 cases.But that has not happened either.The 1st time I had to go do an EGD,I didn't even know where the charting forms were,what the practice & policy was,and at that time I was not ACLS certified.

[carluvscats]

Wow, it is soooooooooooooo unfair what they are doing to you! Not to mention unsafe to you and your patients. Unbelievable!!!! Please *do* get out before something really bad happens..... you do NOT want to be the one holding the bag.

Stuff like this really makes me angry. I'm so sorry you are having to leave a job, especially in times like this.

Best of luck to you.

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

You need to get familiar with your State's scope of practice (usually available free from your bon) fast. You may well be practicing outside of your scope of practice, way outside of your scope of practice. You really need to cover your own back.

What you describe is just going from bad to worse. You don't need me to tell you that someone could get very seriously hurt here. If you perf someone's esophagus doing an EGD you're not supposed to be doing and they die because this hole-in-wall facility doesn't have the ability to handle such an emergency, when "it" hits the fan is this facility going to have your back? Yeah, right. Sure they will...

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

I just re-read my post and realized that it sounds harsh. Understand I'm not trying to be mean to you, I'm just really concerned for you right now. It makes me angry when I see someone getting taken advantage of, especially a new grad.

[mondragon]

TakeTwoAspirin, don't worry,I did not think your post was harsh.Everyday that I go in the OR,I am stressed over all the things that go on.I have tried to get scope of practice info. from SC BON,I guess I'm not looking in the right place,I'm having a hard time finding it on the BON website.I'm going to look again tonight.I actually think I'm going to give my notice tomorrow,this job is not worth my license.

[Argo]

I doubt that he is doing the egd himself. I would guess he is sedating the patiend while the gastrointerologist does the case. I think what is going on is inappropriate and unsafe but it will continue to happen unless someone stands up and does something.

[mondragon]

On Friday I spoke with the OR Administrator,I informed her that I had made verbal request several times,a written request,and had a meeting with the Nurse Manager,OR Educator & RN charge nurse,asking for a RN preceptor/orientation for EGD cases,but my request had not been met.She said she would be following up on the issue.So later that day the 5 of us had a meeting,my Nurse Manager kept asking me why I went to the Administrator that morning instead of going to her, uh?, I had gone to the Nurse Manager,(verbally,written & the meeting).She said I was 50% responsible for the situation since I did not go to her again.I told her I didn't get it,I verbalized my concern several times,then put it in writing,then I had a meeting with them,how many more request was it going to take before they acted on my request,she had no answer.The Nurse Manager was running around and making phone calls,prior to going into this meeting with the administrator,trying to find the EGD procedure & policy's to print out,she didn't even know where they were.I'm sure the NM will retaliate,so I am looking for another job,however,I was able to insure that another RN would be present on all EGD cases until I say I am comfortable.Does anyone feel this situation warrants getting rid of the Nurse Manager ? I just don't see how Administration can justify in keeping the NM.

[jessrene, LPN]

As unfortunate as this whole situation is for you, at least you have the grit to say something and hopefully prevent someone else from going through this if/when you leave. Plus, you are advocating for current and future patients' safety. This nurse manager sounds like she has been sleeping on the job and she just got caught:eek:

[mondragon]

Well,I don't regret taking a stand against unsafe practices at this facility,however,since doing so the Nurse Manager has tried to make things miserable for me.I was already working in an unsafe situation,scrubs refusing to count,which she always found an excuse for,no count policy,which she said she was working on,no MH emergency cart,and on & on.I have asked to read the OR policies,well,that has not happened either.So I cleaned out my locker yesterday,I can not risk losing my license anymore.I feel a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders.I just don't know how this facility can allow this to go on.In the past 6 months,11 nurses have left,and numerous complaints have been made against this nurse manager,not only from within the department,but also from other departments,including a Nurse Supervisor.This is a facility that JACHO should do an un-announced visit to,it would definitely hit the news.

[jessrene, LPN]

pat yourself on the back and wipe the sweat off your brow lol