Once Upon a Time...

[raindrop]

.....There was a very experienced and competent travel nurse  at a new hospital.  One week in to the new place, and the travel nurse is tired because of a theme she noticed amongst the regular staff RN and CNA team. 

They assign the TN a group of sickly patients in the very back of the unit, but that OK. What’s not OK is  none of them go  to that area whatsoever throughout the night, and the TN is left answering all  the call lights,  bed alarms, doing vitals, passing water, toileting or changing  everyone and their full bed changes.  And then the TN had a question about the charting  after running around like crazy at 2 am on her first night, and  there were 3 RN’s and 2 CNA’s sitting at the front desk with music going, lots of laughing, and having fun. 

The TN then spoke-up as professionally as possible about the need for another warm body in the back, and she was met with resistance and excuses. 

The following 2 nights, which was the TN’s 2nd  and 3rd shift total  , it was  the same group of people, and the same shenanigans. Except now when the TN walks by the front desk during the party time hours , they look at the TN with the big Deer eyed upward glare, while they tuck their chin downward....as if they are afraid that the TM may ask for their help since we are at WORK. And then  the shh’s and whispers begin. 

I am drowning because I’m doing my work and the CNA’s work without any assistance.  And it’s a huge safety factor, I have a couple COVID patients who take a chunk of my time and I’m In Their room  with the door closed. It’s not uncommon for me to walk out an hear bed alarms or bipap’s alarming and nobody is around. 

Should the TN say anything to the manager? The charge nurse is amongst the cronies at the desk, so no help there.  The TN doesn't want to rock the boat, but this is ridiculous.

Last night I had to check a patient’s blood sugar every 30 minutes for 6 hours and then hourly, no help there either, and I did ask. But again, excuses such as, “Ohhhh I’m  going to help Meghan real quick and then I’ll come down and help.” 4 hours later, no help, but then another excuse “I had to sit with a confused patient after I last saw you” or some BS excuse.  Yeah she sat for 10 minutes while Meghan used the bathroom, and then she was free to help me. But noooo.