I have worked in Nursing homes for most of my career. I have had some really good workplaces and some that were less than desirable. When I think about the ones I liked I come up with a short list of characteristics--lots of teamwork, adequate staffing most of the time, nurses spent time together even after work sometimes, rewards to staff when we did well on state survey, a boss who showed no favoritism, supplies adequate, and a few other things. The list of what I hated about the bad ones is too long to enumerate.
I have a friend who is job-hunting and I'm thinking of these things.
I'm looking to get out now after being at my facility for a year and a few months now and here's why:
1.) Toxic environment.
2.) Lack of teamwork. -The managers don't come to the floor and beg workers who are on 14-20 day stretches of regular shifts to fill in open spots. The laundry isn't doing their work, it's like pulling teeth asking maintenance and housekeeping to do their jobs and CNAs have crappy attitudes.
3.) Overall admission of inappropriate patients. I am sick of my half of the facility being called rehab. Over 70% of the people on "rehab" are actually long term care and there are very intense psych issues going on with a few individuals.
4.) RN/LPN abuse. This one is self-explanatory. The RNs and LPNs working here just get the butt end of everything. Patients having monetary issues? Social worker isn't available 90 percent of the time. Your patient had an accident and needs to be cleaned? Good luck finding your aide! They place 20-25 very intense patients on us for 8 hours and expect everything to be done in 8 hours. I'm talking bad wounds, pain management that needs hourly assessments, breakdown, failure to thrive, psych, addictions, strokes, gtubes and vents!! seriously!!
5.) Communication SUCKS-I broke down and cried while a usually calm resident broke down as well yesterday...because of the lack of communication and coordination of team members she had not gotten changed or her food for several hours. I am very upset in the lack of care due to communication issues right now.
I am sorry you are going through this experience. I have been there; so I know what you're talking about. Many times if the managers would simply communicate honestly with staff, and allow staff to come to them with suggestions, then make some of the changes suggested, the environment would be immensely more tolerable. I suggest that while you are conducting a job search for your next position, you allow yourself to vent as needed. This forum seems to be a great place to honestly share your heart. Get all the emotional disappointment and anger handled before any of your upcoming interviews. The most you want to say is that your previous job didn't meet your needs, or something very general. ALSO, do your due diligence before accepting a new job, research them on the internet, look at their survey results, talk to people who work there. During your interviews ask specific questions about the areas that you mentioned above, ie. "how do you handle," or "what do you do in the case of, etc."
I love nursing and really hate it when one of us is so disillusioned and hurt. I pray you find a place that deserves and appreciates a caring nurse like you. Please get out of this terrible situation before you lose that ability to cry for and with your patients. People need tender-hearted people like you when they are sick and vulnerable.
snow22
32 Posts
I'm looking to get out now after being at my facility for a year and a few months now and here's why:
1.) Toxic environment.
2.) Lack of teamwork. -The managers don't come to the floor and beg workers who are on 14-20 day stretches of regular shifts to fill in open spots. The laundry isn't doing their work, it's like pulling teeth asking maintenance and housekeeping to do their jobs and CNAs have crappy attitudes.
3.) Overall admission of inappropriate patients. I am sick of my half of the facility being called rehab. Over 70% of the people on "rehab" are actually long term care and there are very intense psych issues going on with a few individuals.
4.) RN/LPN abuse. This one is self-explanatory. The RNs and LPNs working here just get the butt end of everything. Patients having monetary issues? Social worker isn't available 90 percent of the time. Your patient had an accident and needs to be cleaned? Good luck finding your aide! They place 20-25 very intense patients on us for 8 hours and expect everything to be done in 8 hours. I'm talking bad wounds, pain management that needs hourly assessments, breakdown, failure to thrive, psych, addictions, strokes, gtubes and vents!! seriously!!
5.) Communication SUCKS-I broke down and cried while a usually calm resident broke down as well yesterday...because of the lack of communication and coordination of team members she had not gotten changed or her food for several hours. I am very upset in the lack of care due to communication issues right now.
*sorry had to vent sorry*