PRN nurses are making my job a living HELL !!

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Specializes in LTC.

I'm a full time nurse at an assisted living facility. There are 3 of us full time nurses and 10 prn nurses that work at the facility. My issue is that I'm constantly having to clean up after the prn nurses. I always offer help and answer any questions they have but there is still no improvement. I and another full time nurse even hear prn nurses talking about how they don't need to follow up or do certain duties because they are just prn. I'm . constantly behind in my work due to following up on things that they don't do. I have to take heat from family members from actions of the prn nurses. They leave holes in the chart. I'm not perfect and I have a lot to work on, I can say that I do my best and care about getting my work done. I would say 9 out of the 10 prn nurses do a half way job. I went to my boss and no resolution. I'm just so tired of this and fustratrated. When I come to work I have to complete my work and theirs ! WHAT SHOULD I DO ?

Whew that vent felt good !

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I would start looking for another job. If they are not going to do anything. You should not have to work in those conditions. I would look around and see what is available and then go from there. And if your boss won't do anything maybe you should go higher. Anyway good luck with it.

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I would keep going to my boss with specific events that should have been done but were not. The squeeky wheel gets the oil, or so my mother says.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

This reminds me of the other post by a L&D RN who has complaints about an LPN/LVN she works with who she believes should be fired. I will tell you the same thing I told her... Don't go to management unless you have specific instances of unsafe practice or where the nurse was acting outside of his/her practice. Inadequate charting will leave a paper trail and if you have already spoken with management then don't bring it up again, they will have to deal with it when The Joint Commission comes around. If you feel that the PRN Nurses aren't doing what they are supposed to be doing then make sure you get specific examples with specific individuals because saying "All of the PRN nurses aren't doing what their supposed to" is way too vague and will most likely be ignored by management. If you find that a specific person isn't doing something that is supposed to be done you might try mentioning it to them and maybe that gentle nudge will be enough for them to smarten up and do it or at least give them a heads up that someone knows that they are not doing what they need to be doing. Good luck!

!Chris :specs:

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Is there an orientation packet for the PRN staff? If not, ask if you can work with the clinical educator to develop one. Make sure it lists very specifically everything that needs to be done on each shift. Then develop a checklist for everyone to use to make sure as much as possible gets done. Pt A had lab work done - Results? MD notified? Charted? Pt B has wound care - Done? Charted? Etc. A good 'brain' helps people stay on track. Best wishes!

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Specializes in LTC, Wounds, Med/Surg, Tele, Triage.

I would definitely document these situations for your personal record. As well as your attempts to inform administration, including who you talk to each time. Obtain a binder or notebook if you have to. Keep the names of the individual nurses and specific events, i.e. dressing wasn't changed, charting not complete, etc. I know... that is the last thing you want to hear, more documentation. But when this many nurses are practicing unsafely, it really puts everyone at risk.

Secondly, the fact that you are keeping a record with names will probably spread fast and other nurses may not be so quick to leave you a mess to walk into just b/c they are "prn" :)

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Specializes in LTC.
Is there an orientation packet for the PRN staff? If not, ask if you can work with the clinical educator to develop one. Make sure it lists very specifically everything that needs to be done on each shift. Then develop a checklist for everyone to use to make sure as much as possible gets done. Pt A had lab work done - Results? MD notified? Charted? Pt B has wound care - Done? Charted? Etc. A good 'brain' helps people stay on track. Best wishes!

I did come up with that idea of an orientation packet but ofcourse it haven't been implemented and my boss refuses to allow me to stay over to work on one.

I guess I'm going to start documenting the mistakes and hopefully we can all come up with a better plan.

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when I worked in LTC - I asked one of the prn nurses why she never did such and such and she said - since she did not want 'a job' at the facility - she was not going to do it and did not need to do certain jobs....management knew..they needed a warm body.

I surely resented having to pick up the pieces but was glad I was not forced to cover those shifts..

LTC s**ks.

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