night shift supervisor with no oncall back up

Published

So, here is my situation..I am a night shift supervisor for a 186 bed facility. Noc staffing is 2 nurses downstairs for 80 residents, and 2 nurses upstairs for 106 residents. There is no difference in acuity on both floors as PEGs and wounds and all the other fun stuff is pretty much randomly distributed throughout the house. (ideally), We get 4 CNAs on the 1st floor and 6 on the 2nd floor. Most nocs its more like 3 down and 4-5 upstairs. The get up list has 45 people upstairs and 20 downstairs and doesnt change regardless of how many CNAs we have that night.

Anyways,,

When a nurse calls in, I have to take their cart for the shift, plus do all my supervisor duties. There is no 'on call' that I can get to come in. I try to get the 3-11 folks to stay over or at least pass midnight meds, then I try to get AM folks to come in early, I call PRNs etc....bottom line, if none of these actions work, I am stuck on the cart.

Recently, I have had to take both carts on the 2nd floor (106 residents) by myself because staffing screwed up and scheduled people that were supposed to be off, or people called in. I have done this 5 times in the last 3 weeks! Plus when the 'man' comes in in the morning, they expect that I have completed my supervisor duties regardless of how many residents I had.

The second night this happened, I attempted to call the unit manager in to come and help...Well, she did not pick up the phone but I got a chewing out in the morning..."Dont ever call me at noc again unless its emergency, Its your job to find coverage for your shift and if you cant well, you just have to work it" I mean 4REAL!!!

This has turned into a vent session...

My question is, how do others handle such issues? I know I probably need to get busy looking for another job coz this is ridiculous, but how do others handle call ins?

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Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

Agree with your final sentiment to find a new job. Good luck.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

One of the nursing homes where I was employed used to call an agency nurse when too many nurses called off. The bottom line is that some managers will use you up, work you to the bone, and spit you out if you let them. Good luck to you. (read: find another job)

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Recently, I have had to take both carts on the 2nd floor (106 residents) by myself because staffing screwed up and scheduled people that were supposed to be off, or people called in. I have done this 5 times in the last 3 weeks! Plus when the 'man' comes in in the morning, they expect that I have completed my supervisor duties regardless of how many residents I had.

The second night this happened, I attempted to call the unit manager in to come and help...Well, she did not pick up the phone but I got a chewing out in the morning..."Dont ever call me at noc again unless its emergency, Its your job to find coverage for your shift and if you cant well, you just have to work it"

One hundred an six residents/patients?:eek: 5 times in the last week! :eek: AND supervise???????:eek:. "Don't call me again unless it's an emergency? and passing meds on 106 residents, by your self, doesn't consitute and emergency and she can't be bothered to at least come in early so you can get YOUR work done?

I'm sorry but you do need to look for another job efore something really bad happends and you lose your license. This is not a safe situation. Time to move on......Good luck

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Specializes in Icu, Corrections, CICU.
:eek::mad:I thought managers had 24 hour responsibility they get payed salary don't they, get out of there fasy.
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Until we all stand up to places like this, another nurse will be ready to take your place in an instant when you leave. I would not do it.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

All I have to say is RUN---do not walk---away from this dangerous and unsustainable work situation while you still have a license.

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This has turned into a vent session...

A vent session....my jaw is hanging open and draggin on the ground...this is no vent session.

(but if anyone has earned one it's you.)

If administration can't get someone else in the building for you....106 Patients!!!!!:eek:

oh my, I am sorry this happened to you. I'd love to see how your nurse manager felt if it were she who was left all alone to cope with 106 residents.:cool:

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