One nurse to cover 2 locked units simultaneously?

Published

Hi all,

I just started working at a rehab facility that has a chemical dependency rehab and medical rehab. We are short staffed of nurses, and there are no other nurses on my shift. They had shut down the medical rehab for a while, but are now opening it back up. 

I noticed on the schedule that they have the 3rd shift nurses (there are 2 of them) working both units when the other nurse has off, and vice versa. For example, C is off Mon and Tue, so R would work both units on those days. When R is off, C would work both units.

There is no Medical Rehab nurse listed on my shift at all. So how are they going to cover that unit and my unit on my days off? 

Isn't it against CMS regulations and Board of Nursing rules to have one nurse work on two units at the same time (both are locked units)?

Any advice is appreciated.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Get out. There's always work in nursing. If they did OK with one nurse they can do just as well with zero on staff.

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice.

I agree 👍🏻 💯 

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

You can verify the CMS regulations and make an report if you believe violations are occurring. The employer is putting your license in jeopardy when they under staff locked units.  

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Depends on the state and if you are in a rural area or not. Facilities try to evade the staffing requirements (specifically RN staffing requirements) by filling out hardship waivers. Big mistake by CMS to offer these 'hardship' waivers as I am sure facilities really aren't experiencing hardship, they just don't want to pay for nurse staffing and so they fill them out every year just to be exempt. Anything to cheat their residents out of quality care. I am sure CMS doesn't truly check if they are understaffed. 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment