On the verge of quitting...

interleukin · Mar 28, 2009

First, stop answering the phone(unless it's emergent) when you're passing meds

Second, always prioritize your work. This gives you strong ammunition to repel any critique when you are told to do B when you know A must be done first--and they will know it too.

Third, if you can't get done all that needs to get done--despite your best safe efforts--the system is broken and you need to tell your DON that.

This DON will make yo hate yourself and the job. Be strong and competent and nothing can stop you(But they'll still try because that's what little minds do)

oramar · Mar 28, 2009

This morning truly (and unfortunately) made me realize how miserable I am becoming in my job.
My ADON has been on my case about editing this entire week. There has been WAY too much going on during my 11-7 shifts, and I barely finish my charting before day shift gets in, let alone try to finish my summaries and try to get more than 2-3 edits done.
The 3-11 nurse got a big chunk done last night, although I'm not sure how thorough a job she did on them.
Anyway, so I heard the phone ringing about 3 different times this morning. Couldn't get to the phone because I was doing the med pass and always in a room when the phone rang. On the 4th call, one of my CNAs picked up and handed me the phone as I was coming down the hall. The ADON asked me how a meeting went with a CNA tonight, then asked me how edits were coming along. I told her that the evening nurse got a good chunk done, and that I got 2-3 done. She asked how many altogther, I told her at least half (out of 32 residents) but that I wasn't positive.
She proceeded to GO OFF on me saying that she was relying on me and the evening nurse to do the editing, since day shift doesn't have time, and "I've told you this before, this is unacceptable. We are WAY behind!" in her flat, condescending tone. I told her that I did the best that I could with the time that I had, to which there was silence. I also said that I would try to get some more done before I left that morning to which she said "yeah, you should." After having her "yeah" me with banter about having to go, I finally I said to her, "I have to go finish my med pass, goodbye," gave it a second, and hung up the phone.
If I could afford to quit this job today, I would. I do not need to be checked up on on a Saturday morning, in the MIDDLE of passing meds. I do not need to be made to feel like an incompetent worker because I have no extra time during my shift. It's not as if I twiddle my thumbs and watch TV all night, I am go go go all night long. I especially do not appreciate this tone of hers, especially after I told her I would willingly come in Monday (my day off) to finish any editing that wasn't done by then (I wouldn't be in OT either, I only do 32hrs/week).
My work is a mess right now, and I am so livid that I don't ever want to see this woman's face again.
Thanks for letting me vent.

If this woman can call you and give you a hard time she can get off her duff and come in and do them herself. Every single job I ever left I left because of management and things like this. Start looking for another job. So your ADON might as well wait and ask the new nurse she is going to hire to replace you to do the audits because you don't have time.

Ruffles 1 · Mar 28, 2009

I think the ADON needs to be "Fired". If she has time to harrass you while you are working she can come in and help you. It sounds like this may be some of her responsibility if she is giving you and the evening nurse such a hard time.

I would confront her and tell her she will have to help you with these charts. When I worked in a nursing home, we would try to get 8 charts done on each shift. Do not let the day shilft get out of charting on patients. I know there is probably 2 nurses on the day shift or more. If everyone takes 8 charts you could have the charting done in no time....The ADON needs to help her staff.

debRN0417 · Mar 28, 2009

I agree with other posters, If the ADON has time to call, she has time to help. In my opinion, instead of calling she could have come in and evaluated the situation before laying you out about not being done. In reference to the phone call, since that was her chosen method of contacting you, then she should have asked you how she could help you. You need to speak with the DON, and ask her for some assistance in resolving the problem. Ask her what advice or assistance she can give you in order for you to do your job as they expect, but be ready with facts and figures- do a time study one night- it doesn't have to be anything complicated, just carry a piece of paper around and jot the times you do stuff and how long it takes...then present your lack of time to the DON- if by edits you are talking about the changeover for MARS/TARS, then the DON and ADON should be aware of what a nightmare that is. For some strange reason some people think that residents sleep all night and that the night shift has "little" to do. Granted the med pass is not as extreme and there are less visitors, but the other duties and the waaaaaay less staff...well need I say more. I know this is not helping you right now and I truly can understand how frustrated you feel, but do a mini time study- present your findings....see what happens...oh yeah and I'd certainly say something about the way the ADON spoke to you- sounds unacceptable to me....

Amethyst Veralyn · Mar 28, 2009

Try a place with a smaller work load.

Try working for a home nursing agency. The agencies always have nurses who complain about facilities and the work load in them.

DC267 · Mar 28, 2009

I know where your comming from, i too have a heavy work load and little time, but as soon as its time for my shift to be done i finish up my work and head home and if they dont like it they can do it themselves...first of all night nurses do MORE than day nurses at my job, but we're labeled easier because the ladies labeling us DONT WORK NIGHT SHIFT!!!! sad part, we work 12 hr shifts here! ARGGG! anyways, im looking for another job myself.....wish you luck on the choice you make!!! God Bless!

tuesday4 · Mar 28, 2009

I think before you quit go both to the DON and the Administrator. Next I would go to the owners or heads of the corporation. I would explain the situation in a calm manner. I believe this may help you see some changes. I think all nurses have to try at least to change the the toxic work climates that have emerge over the past 8 yrs or so. I am presently looking for a different type of nursing due to the negative climates I have been exposed to. I love nursing but so dislike what is happening to nursing over the past 8+ years. We all need to try to save the nursing profession!!! Stop the abusive work places.

Midwest4me · Mar 29, 2009

I truly feel for you. How very frustrating! :banghead: I would've been very stern and said the following to that ADON: "I CANNOT get my med pass(OR ANY OTHER TASK) completed on time if I'm answering the phone every few minutes--if I don't get the med pass done on time, I risk being out of compliance and then hearing about THAT. We need someone at the desk answering the phones EVEN ON THE WEEKEND."

evilolive, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2009

Thank you all very much for your support. I have been looking for a new job on and off for the past 3 months, and have put in applications but have not heard anything back.

I don't know if my ADON is getting heat from our new DON or what. Since I am a supervisor at night (basically just for the extra money), I am required to go to a supervisor's meeting on Tuesday afternoon (and I have to work Tues. night). I don't know what will come of that meeting, but I will present my workload to the management. We have a new administrator as well, who I haven't met (haven't met the DON either) and I'm not sure if she will be there.

However, the last time I wrote to my administrator (about being basically required to work two floors at night because they would cut an 11-7 nurse due to census) I heard back from my ADON the next day saying not to go to the admin. because "she is not nursing, come to me if you have a problem."

The work environment is just not conducive to being respectful and productive. I hear more negative comments than positive. I don't appreciate the "motivation by intimidation" scheme that they've played for at least the year I've worked here. It's old, and I don't need to be made to feel that I'm a poor nurse because I do not have the time to get paperwork done. I realize that the paperwork is important, but it's not my main priority at night. My resident's come first before a stack of papers.

If they feel that I'm not to their standards, then let them fire me so I can collect unemployment at the very least. I'm just so disillusioned it's unreal.

evilolive, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2009

And as an addendum, I actually did do a "time log" the other morning after work. I thought back through my night and wrote down everything I did. I might try to print that out and bring it with me to the meeting on Tuesday if they try to come down on me.

freddiebear · Mar 29, 2009

I have no idea what editing is but it sounds unreasonable to have such a large number of them done in such a short period of time. One would know that a licensed nurses priority would be carrying out the MD orders (meds, treatments, weekly summaries, daily charting,), supervising CNA's, doing resident rounds. This does leave little if any time for taking care of residents. Calling you on your shift and supervising you over the phone is micro management. This expectation of editing sounds like it could either jeopardize your ability to take care of residents safely or cause you to have to work over time. Staffing usually decreases from the day shift to the night shift and wouldnt leave you to have time for this either. I think you might need to take to the DON and tell her how many charts you can safely edit and if more needs to be done then the DON might need to authorize overtime so you can either come in early before your shift begins or go home after it ends to get it done. Might also want to do a time and motion study and let the DON know how long each one of your tasks take such as passing meds, charting, treatments, summaries and to edit one chart so the DON can get the picture.