Nurscee's Freaking Out!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2005

I'm just a CNA.....

You are an indepensible part of the patient care team.....not "just a CNA".

allnurses Guide · Feb 13, 2005

You can't be taken advantage of unless you allow it. Marla is right. This is nuts. Just say no!

You need to talk with your nurse manager.

Good luck and don't take any guff off of anyone.

steph

nurscee · Feb 13, 2005

I understand how you feel. I am in the same boat. I am a new graduate, had six weeks orientation then on my first night shift alone I had to take 12 patients. I told my manager I couldn't handle it but they didn't care. There is a nursing shortage and alot of patients. I stayed at that job for 5 months and now have a new job where I have 5-6 patients. Good luck :) Hope things better. Are you union?? You can fill out a protest of assignment to cover yourself

No unions here.

nurscee · Feb 13, 2005

No unions here.

I can't sleep. Keep thinking what tomorrow will be like.

I'm already emailing other hospitals to ask about their orientations.

I keep thinking that one of these times I will go in and find someone really hurt or worse.

If it was humanly possible for me to do a better job, I would.

Thank you for all your kind words and encouragement.

nitenurse62 · Feb 13, 2005

Help! I've only been a nurse for a month and a half.
Last two nights I've worked 12 hours (supposed to be 8) that's not the big deal though.
First I had 7 patients alone....won't even go into the hell that was.
Then tonight I had 6 but 5 were on insulin, and one of them was a every hour 20 units of insulin.
That isn't to mention the wet to dry dressings, pegs, brain surgery, and other various and sundrie items.
Not only that but this antiquated hospital still only does handwritten documentation. No computers.
I dissolved into tears. Don't know if I can do this!
YES, I DID ask help. But we have nurses who have 9 pts. They have their own share of problems.
Did you ever feel like you'd freak out????
Did you ever feel too dumb to do this????
Tell me I can make it, or not. Got ANY solutions?
Is my life long dream to be a nurse just a pipe dream?
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been a nurse for a long time, and it's amazing how we treat new nurses. Definetly talk to your manager, but some of the others are right, you should have at least 3 months orientation. It's unsafe to put a new nurse in that situation. Please don't give up, look somewhere else if you have to. Hang it there it does get better.

saskrn · Feb 13, 2005

To Sask in response to the 13 pt load, I am guessing that you may have juggled the pts and tasked out meds, etc. But I seriously doubt as a new grad you were able to give a holistic assessment or have time to even think about foreseeing patients circling the drain before it hit you between the eyes. I'd be willing to bet you look back on that time in your nursing career and think 'Thank God I didn't kill anyone' with the hindsight of an experienced nurse. IMHO.

Actually, I ran my butt off, and was proud of the work I did and my patients were very thankful. I think it's unfair that you are making judgements of my care.

There are plenty of facilities in the US right now that have larger ratios than 7. I have done 13 in the US relatively recently. How long have you been an RN? What kind of patient load are you accustomed to?

I think the most important thing is that you speak up if you are overwhelmed.

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 13, 2005

I don't want to come off as being cold, but when I graduated, I was able to do total care on 13 acute patients. Is seven bad?
If you're having a hard time, I think you should definitely speak with your manager. It is part of professional responsibility and accountability, IMHO.
Hang in there, you'll be ok! :)

Hope I am not hospitalized in a place w/this sort of staffing. I can't believe you really think you can give sufficient total cares for 13 patients, esp 1.5 months out of school. I know that cannot be.

Nurcee...I echo the others; you need more time. 1.5 months is NOT nearly enough to take on 7 complicated med-surge patients right out of school. I would be freaking out in your place, too. Mjlrn gave good reply. Trust Marla, she knows what she is saying. I would DEMAND a more comprehensive and thorough orientation. You patients and licensure may very well depend on it. Too much too soon.

saskrn · Feb 13, 2005

Hope I am not hospitalized in a place w/this sort of staffing. I can't believe you really think you can give sufficient total cares for 13 patients, esp 1.5 months out of school. I know that cannot be.

I gave good care, but worked like a dog to do it. You don't "know" that cannot be, that is your opinion. You don't know me, you have never worked beside me, don't judge me.

BETSRN · Feb 13, 2005

Help! I've only been a nurse for a month and a half.
Last two nights I've worked 12 hours (supposed to be 8) that's not the big deal though.
First I had 7 patients alone....won't even go into the hell that was.
Then tonight I had 6 but 5 were on insulin, and one of them was a every hour 20 units of insulin.
That isn't to mention the wet to dry dressings, pegs, brain surgery, and other various and sundrie items.
Not only that but this antiquated hospital still only does handwritten documentation. No computers.
I dissolved into tears. Don't know if I can do this!
YES, I DID ask help. But we have nurses who have 9 pts. They have their own share of problems.
Did you ever feel like you'd freak out????
Did you ever feel too dumb to do this????
Tell me I can make it, or not. Got ANY solutions?
Is my life long dream to be a nurse just a pipe dream?
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you have an adequate orientation? if not, you need to go back to the education department and ask for help and further orientation. Speak to your nurse manager. If thinghs do not improve, I would suggest looking around: either for another unit in your present facility or at another hospital.

BETSRN · Feb 13, 2005

I don't want to come off as being cold, but when I graduated, I was able to do total care on 13 acute patients. Is seven bad?
If you're having a hard time, I think you should definitely speak with your manager. It is part of professional responsibility and accountability, IMHO.
Hang in there, you'll be ok! :)

I have been a nurse for 20 years and I could NEVER do total care on 13 acute patients. Who are you kidding? You don't sound "cold", you sound ridiculous! If I were a manager interviewing you, you would immediately be crossed off my list of eligible nurses if you made the statement above.

saskrn · Feb 13, 2005

I have been a nurse for 20 years and I could NEVER do total care on 13 acute patients. Who are you kidding? You don't sound "cold", you sound ridiculous! If I were a manager interviewing you, you would immediately be crossed off my list of eligible nurses if you made the statement above.

If you were a manager, I'd hope you wouldn't judge your staff or call them names like "ridiculous". Just because you don't like or agree with what I posted, the fact of the matter is that these working conditions do exist. I didn't say I liked taking care of that many patients - it's exhausting - but I did it because I didn't have a choice.

My first experience with these patient loads was in KS. I also experienced it in TX and in ME. I think new grads need to know that not every place has good ratios.

IMustBeCrazy · Feb 13, 2005

Sask, I'm sure you feel as though you are being attacked, I think you are probably a very nice person. However, nice people have lapses in judgement too.

There is no room for ego in healthcare. When ego or even just plain inexperienced judgement gets in the way, people get hurt. We learn critical thinking skills early in our nursing training. 13 patients for a new grad is too many for a seasoned nurse, let alone a new one. Where did I come upon this 'truth' you may ask? I chatted with some friends that, between them, have over a century of experience in healthcare. One of which has 10 years med surg and 20 years CCU experience. To quote this nurse, "that person may believe they gave adequate care, but I would stake my 30 years that was not the case. The amount of charting required alone would preclude adequate care."

You mentioned that you ran your butt off. I believe you. I think someone could run their butt off just to toilet 13 people on a shift, let alone provide sufficient care. Those days will follow you forever, too. Heaven forbid should one of those 13 patients get the notion that they had some ill effect during that hospital stay. I can't even fathom trying to defend your assignment in a court of law. You would be chewed up and spit out, and lose your license besides.

I remember reading some research last year about how nurses handle conflict. The number one method used by staff nurses cited by 4 separate studies was avoidance. Avoiding the problem doesn't mean that there isn't one. We don't have to be 'nice girls' or 'boys' and accept whatever management throws at us. We need to stop passively accepting this type of treatment. We need to speak out when someone accepts an unsafe assignment.

A friend of mine once said, "There are no Supernurses, just Superegos'. I think she's right. :)

I wish you the best in your career.