New RN over overtime

[rnpediyuh]

I got a job as an acute dialysis RN with one of the big two as a new grad. Never shadowed because of COVID and very thankful they hired me in the middle of this pandemic but oh my god. They have me working almost 48 hours every week. Going in I knew that acutes would be unpredictable and challenging especially as a first nursing job but when I signed up I was told it would be 3 days on and one day on call. Instead I am being assigned patients on the days that I am on call and still expected to be open from 6pm-6am in case of emergencies. Not to mention I am living quite far away from most of the hospitals we're contracted with and have been so overworked that driving late at night has become dangerous for me. I have no idea how to bring this up with management either because one of my closest coworkers (who left for clinics because he said the program was pretty much a mess) said that in the year he worked here he had been very vocal about the dysfunctional parts of it and nothing has ever been done about it. I am only four months in and am feeling super hopeless about everything, and the Winter months are supposed to be when things get even more hectic. 

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I hear from the acute nurses that it's a feast or famine type of position. How busy they are is directly impacted by inpatient hospital census needing dialysis.  I know right now they are pretty swamped with a surge in admissions but a few months ago when COVID was first hitting and all non-vital procedures were being cancelled or rescheduled acute's was really slow.  

Is the chaotic schedule you have now going to be the normal or is it because of a COVID surge? If it's the latter at least you know there will hopefully be some relief eventually. If it's always so busy it sounds like your clinic needs another nurse at minimum. If there's no plans to get in additional staff to help I don't know how long I'd be willing to put up with that situation myself. I don't mind a little overtime but every week like that is a bit much.

[Chisca, RN]

Might want to think about plan b.

[RaiRN, ADN]

I know it’s an old post but what did you end up doing? My job had me work over 80 hours continuously without any day off. One day I had to call in because I had got my second covid vaccine and didn’t feel good and I was also so exhausted to work anymore days. I was going to be off after working one more day but I had to call in. Are you still at your job or found a new job? @rnpediyuh I hope for me, it was because we are short nurses right now but if it happens again, I don’t know. I don’t mind working upto 45-50 hours a week sometimes but if it’s more than that, I don’t think I want that.