Politics in Nursing... HELP!

[sparkybear808]

Hello everyone,

I am a new nurse and about to finish my first year of experience as a nurse. Currently I am working at a nursing home and would eventually like to move into an acute care facility. I love love love nursing but the politics that come with it are such a headache.

The main problem I have at my current job is that the staffing is horrible. I understand that not as many people apply to Nursing Homes because they are understaffed and the benefits aren't as nice, but when they start to put people that don't work any more on the schedule just to fill up the spaces, I start to get worried.

Recently I spoke up to the administration about their staffing problems and from there everything went downhill. I suddenly started to float to all the floors and sometimes find myself going home when I was supposed to be scheduled for the day. I've spoken to my supervisors about this and they are aware of my situation, but they just tell me to stay quiet.

I am so frustrated and unsure of what to do. I really want to make one year with this place because it would look great on my resume, but at the same time it feels unsafe to stay. I am currently applying to new places, but get overlooked because I don't have the acute care experience that everyone wants.

I would gladly appreciate any advice on this matter.

Thank you !

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Start looking now and as soon as you hit the magic 1-year mark, vote with your feet.

[Sour Lemon]

I'd bet my life that you're not the first one to complain about staffing. And as a new grad with no experience, you're probably not difficult to replace. Make the best of it until you can move on. There is no solution beyond that.

[oncnursemsn]

I'm so sorry you have experienced short staffing- as you know, not unusual. But you have done it! You have completed a year and now can move on to the acute care setting you desire. You didn't say if you have ASN or BSN or what city/town you live in. It can be challenging so I advise you to perfect your resume and get good references in order. Is there an area you would like to get certification? Obtain certification in your area of interest and put on your best professional face. I promise it does get better when you find your niche!

[missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN]

How short staffed are they if they are sending you home before your shift starts?

[HalfBoiled, BSN, RN]

How short staffed are they if they are sending you home before your shift starts?

My guess is that they are retaliating in response to OP's concerns.

Honestly, I would start looking for another job (even another SNF).

They are short staffed anyway, you'll bound to get hired.

If management asks, just tell them "Differences of opinion."

[Crush]

My guess is that they are retaliating in response to OP's concerns.

Honestly, I would start looking for another job (even another SNF).

They are short staffed anyway, you'll bound to get hired.

If management asks, just tell them "Differences of opinion."

Also having a professional update your resume will be helpful in a transition from SNF to acute care. Esp as a relatively new nurse.

Sounds like retaliation to me too.

[sparkybear808]

Hey guys, thanks for your comments. Turns out the staffing coordinator personally had it out for me. When I approached the Director of Nursing about this issue, she was furious!! It was a little sad how someone could be like this in a professional setting :\

[AutumnApple]

My guess is that they are retaliating in response to OP's concerns.

Honestly, I would start looking for another job (even another SNF).

They are short staffed anyway, you'll bound to get hired.

If management asks, just tell them "Differences of opinion."

Not how nursing homes retaliate in my experience.

As everyone knows, nursing homes run with bare bones staffing. So much so that they'll hold onto some pretty toxic workers just to keep a warm body on the assignment sheet. Even if they decide they don't like you, they don't send you home.

Day in and day out they'll hen peck you to death, coming at you from every direction possible. But they'll always stop just short of what it takes to make you walk away. Kind of like the theory about jumping in boiling water versus stepping into warm water and slowly raising the temperature.

Trifle write ups, the worst assignments, constant criticism about documentation and the time it takes to pass meds, nothing but the least desired shifts. The list of ways they peck at you is endless. But, again, they know when to stop.

OP, if they're sending you home, it's more than just a feud about a few staffing complaints you had. I'd leave before they get to you. The sabotaging won't end after you leave. Whatever you did to get on their radar like that, learn from it and move on.

[AutumnApple]

Hey guys, thanks for your comments. Turns out the staffing coordinator personally had it out for me. When I approached the Director of Nursing about this issue, she was furious!! It was a little sad how someone could be like this in a professional setting :\

Oh gee, why didn't I read this first. Never mind. Glad it worked out.

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

I would still start looking for a new job. First, the place sound horrible. Second, once you swim against the tide in poop river you are considered the problem even (especially) if you are right

[Flatline, BSN, RN]

I am glad things are sorting out.

Let me understand something here though, so the "administration" that you approached to speak about the staffing issues which started the reprisals was only the staffing coordinator?

Sweet summer child, if you have problems go your manager or director. Not the supervisors, not some glorified secretary, but go to the people who actually hired you.