OMG I hate my job! Vent

Nurses Relations

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Specializes in Periop, ER.

I have been in my current position for about 5 months. I hate it- the dept is severely understaffed. The financial operations are overseen by a business manager that thinks we look good on paper. I am a manager over clinical operations but I am not given any input into decisions that effect staffing. The business manager also oversees what should be a clinical department- sterile processing. I have no say into the operations of the department although my operating rooms are effected by this department. I came into the organization from outside, moving to the area and assuming the role would be similar to my previous director position. I am a glorified nurse manager- all I do is handle HR issues- no input into capital, staffing etc. I have a masters degree in healthcare administration, I believe I am certainly capable of making reasonable decisions regarding our finances. I am now looking at other staff nurse positions inside the system because the benefits are good, so I don't necessarily want to leave the organization.I guess I just feel that the position is not what I thought it would be, and maybe I should just change specialties. I think I would be better off just assuming a staff nurse role if my management experience is not going to be fully utilized. At leastthat way I can work my 12 hrs and go home. Am I crazy? Is this too soon/ too hasty? I have voiced my concerns regarding the reporting structure and been given empty promises that the structure would change (that was about 4 months ago and no changes yet). All I want to do is count down the hours til my work day is over and the weekend arrives. I do not feel capable of giving my 100 percent. Alot of issues need to be addressed at my current workplace and I don't know that I have the energy, or want to give the energy to fix it. I walked into a landmine..

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Specializes in L&D, Women's Health.

I've worked in a large hospital system for ten years now. This last year has been rough and is getting rougher. The financial officer appears to be in charge of everything! Our charge nurses are now called before the next shift to see how many pts are on the floor and then told how many nurses are to come in (or not . . . this week, I worked only one of three nights). They do not care about acuity nor about professional guidelines for staffing (AWHONN for L&D). Even the toilet paper is tightly controlled, like someone really wants to steal that sandpaper! I can only imagine coming into the middle of this insanity, believing you'll be using your degree only to find out that nobody cares or wants to listen to your ideas. Hopefully, management of the units will get back to those who know what is going on clinically, preferably before they're shut down by malpractice suits! Administrators insist patient safety is the hospital's priority, but we all know it's BUDGET. No advice, just an observation. Hope it gets better for you soon.

Alley

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advocate for minimum staffing guidelines backed by state law just like California it might help.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

vivicaq - staffing guidelines did NOT help CA. Many hospitals closed and lots of ancillary staff lost their jobs. Nurses now may have fewer patients but more work. How does that help?

As a supervisor I would go to the CEO with FACTS. Then, look for another job. Or do that first.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

You're in the classic place found in many dysfunctional organizations... a "manager" who has gads of responsibility but NO authority.

Get out. You cannot succeed in such a situation; it's simply not possible.

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Specializes in Women's Health, currently mother/infant,.

For many nurses, it is just part of our nature to think we have to stay in bad situations and try to make them better. There are times when that may be the best road to take, but not if you are beating your head against a wall. My question to you would be simply, can you make a positive change? If not, start looking elsewhere. Life is too short to waste your valuable time and skills. Good luck with your decision.

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vivicaq - staffing guidelines did NOT help CA. Many hospitals closed and lots of ancillary staff lost their jobs. Nurses now may have fewer patients but more work. How does that help?

As a supervisor I would go to the CEO with FACTS. Then, look for another job. Or do that first.

Classic dame I think your statement is an overblown generalization of California. I'd like to see the actual numbers of hospitals that have closed as a direct result of ratios. Where I work we did not lose ancillary staff and we follow ratios and have a break coverage so ratios are maintained. On occasion you have sick calls and you may not have break coverage but it is rare to not have patient assignments that meet ratios. I can think of one hospital that closed in the greater bay area and that was a hospital already operating in the red before ratios.

Minimum staffing ratios are a good thing. There is no way I could take care of 7-8 patients on my floor even with ancillary help.

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Specializes in Periop, ER.

I am truly torn. I feel compelled to stick up for my staff, but also feel defeated. So many things are way screwed up within the organization. Is it selfish of me to decide, that this is not what I want, nor what I can commit 100%to so early in the game.?A close associate of mine in human resources ( the recruiter who hired me) keeps telling me to hang in there, implying that changes are on the horizon. I have told her in all honestly, that I don't know if I can continue giving effort when I don't feel able to give 100%. It just doesn't feel in my heart. Am I being an idiot?

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

Seems to me you now understand why they had to go outside the organization to hire a manager. I can't stand the fact that money is more important to these bean counters than patient safety. I would make sure you document your concerns so when something really bad happens your not the one to take the fall. Good Luck.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.
you're in the classic place found in many dysfunctional organizations... a "manager" who has gads of responsibility but no authority.

get out. you cannot succeed in such a situation; it's simply not possible.

please read this at least three times, then click your heels and head back to kansas. i have been in this fictional facility all of my career. it only gets crazier and before long you'll think it's normal:uhoh3:

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Specializes in Periop, ER.

Thanks for the advice. I met with the senior administrator for my area for over two hours this past week. I brought him a two page typed list of my concerns- and I also kept a copy.

I know they are worried about losing me- and they should be. I have been the only manager ( according to my hard workers) who has been willing to fire a long standing trouble maker and take the heat for it, and after only 3 months on the job. My administrator came out and told me that he was afraid that I was coming to resign. I guess I will wait it out a little bit to see if he address any of my concerns.

If not, I will get out.

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I used to be a bartender and decided that the stress of being a woman in her late 30's competing with barly 20 yr. old's who wore less clothing was too much to bear (no pun intended). Now? I'm seriously considering going back! I got my LPN lic. about 5 years ago and the nursing jobs I've had have been thankless, friendless, and downright harmful to my pyschological well-being. I am punished when I've done nothing wrong and given work assignments that are way too much for one nurse to handle. The people who come after my shift to relieve me are condescending and think they are much more important than me in every way. I have become clinically depressed and it's already begun to affect my social life and marriage. I really really regret going into the Nursing profession. It doens't seem to matter how far up the food chain you get in it, it's damned if you do and damned if you don't!

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