LPNewbie

Hey everyone. I work in an assistant living facility. Normal shifts are 7a-3, 3p-11 (my shift), and 11-7. My boss asked me to work 3pm-3a. 3-11 was short staffed but enough to be "safe" and the bosses said to not call them. Okay so I make through the shift. We have a RA "Hannah" (basically a CNA without a license) who is notorious for calling off sick, being in freak accidents. She is supposed to show up for her shift at 11pm, but she'll come in at 12a or whatever time she wants. Even one time 4am. Our policy is to mandate 3-11 to provide proper staffing. I called my boss help mandate (I'm agency) and he said I was being paranoid and I could scare the current staff into thinking they have to stay over. Fast forward to 11pm. Hannah does show up. But Hannah is complaining about everything under the sun. Her body, her head, her stomach etc. She wants to go home. Minimum staffing needs 1 nurse, and 2 caregivers. So it's me, Hannah, and another RA. Well Hannah will not stop about how she should be here. The next thing I know, she gets a Uber and leaves! I am calling my bosses over and over again with no answer. I haven't worked this shift before and only volunteered to help!! I don't know what to do!

Context: Assistant living, evening shift We always have a charge nurse. Occasionally it's me or "Gina" or "Thomas". Gina is wonderful. Thomas is not. Today Thomas is the charge nurse. Story: I'm passing dinner meds. When I went into this residents room, I noticed she had painful breathing. Since Thomas is charge, I went ahead and began the process of sending her out to the ER. When I went downstairs to make copies of her MAR and Facesheet, I noticed Thomas was doing absolutely nothing. Mind you, I had a med pass to do, and Thomas has a med passer, passing meds for him. He's literally paid to take care of this. So I put the paperwork in a pile and handed this to Thomas. I told him I did not to VS yet, I just immediately began working on her sending her out. I also told him that her daughter (the residents daughter) was expecting a phone call back. This was at 4pm. At 6pm, I prepare to call the residents daughter to check on mom. That's when Thomas comes in the office and begins calling her too. I told him I'm calling her to see how the resident was doing. That's when he told me he was calling the daughter to send her out!! I was choking on my own words. She's still here?? He didn't go up, didn't get VS, didn't call the daughter until now. Long story short, the resident is fine (thank goodness). I called my boss to complain about this and she told me "you're a nurse too". To which I replied "yes, I am. But so is Thomas. And he had a med passer. I did not. I also followed up with Thomas to figure out what's going on, and he told I'm not his boss". Am I wrong here??

First, I'm not one to call off. The last time I called off was July of last year. I truly feel guilty calling off. I had to take a mental health day. Of course I lied and said I was physically sick. I felt so bad going through the process. This job has gotten to a point where I feel like they're trying to set me up. I've never in my life been apart of so many investigations (all obviously came out good, but the stress remains). The last investigation involved a resident (I work at a SNF), who accused staff of being rude and mean to him. Irregardless of doing everything this man asked, he lied and said no one touched him, or helped him all night. He lies to his family about our care. Now mind you, I documented EVERYTHING. What happened, what was said, what we did, what time we did it, and how we did it. I left more than 6 detailed nursing notes in the records. Yet the next day, my immediate supervisor, the DON, and the head RN called me in a conference call asking about what happened. Mind you, this call was at 10 am and I work 6p-6a. So I was awakened, and scared by this conference call. They wanted me to come into the office. I told them I was out of town, so they asked me "what happened last night". Really?? You want me to come into work, after working a 12 hour shift? For that? When it's throughly documented and the doctor was on board with proper med changes??? I get a call back 2 days later saying they found nothing in the investigation. I'm sick of it. The paranoia is too much for me. So I called off for a day. I feel guilty but I really cannot face that place right now. My contract is almost up there. Good thing I already got my evaluations done because they might hate me now. I still feel guilty however ?

How have you guys done with transitioning to a higher acuity of care? Super nervous...

Hahahaha touché

This isn't a bad idea. As silly as it sounds, I've never considered advocating for myself. I really like this idea. Thank you!

Okay, it's good to know I'm not alone in this haha

Warning: This is a rant So I had a lot (LOTS) of growing pains as a new nurse. I made mistakes and I haven't been the best employee 100% of the time. But with self-reflection and self help, it's an odd feeling when conversations with managers are no longer entailing that dreadful sentence of "maybe this isn't a good fit for you" to... I guess regular nursing things?? This is what I'm getting at: I don't feel recognized at work. Due to my past, I'm very insecure about my work. I love asking about my performance and what can I do better. But every time I ask for a review from my supervisor, she just tells me I'm doing very well. Which annoys me. Why, you ask? Well, everyone at my job feels the need to announce what they did, and how someone else screwed up and how THANKS TO THEM they fixed it. They have to brag about getting a new order for nystatin powder and how THANK GOODNESS THEY SAW THE RASHES WHEN NO ONE ELSE DID. And I HATE THIS! I've never been the type of person to announce my work. My documentation should be adequate... right? I mean, if I see an issue, I take of it. If someone made a mistake (obviously not a grave error) I fix it. I never make a huge deal out of things... but maybe I should? The "Heros" who fix and notice things and make everyone aware are praised by managers. They get employee of the month. It's kind of disheartening. Obviously other factors may come into play as to why they are getting these achievements but during our employee meetings, they're always praised for "Doing so much". And I just think... hey. I do that too. I just don't make a big deal out it. I don't know. This was longer than I hoped...

Thanks Wuzzie ? you're my favorite !

I feel like the post I made doesn't really reflect me as a person. You're right. I get it. My past sucks. The only person who knows about these med errors and my uncertainty is myself and all of you here. My current employers don't have a clue. They wouldn't even believe me if I told them to their face that this was me. I try to give myself a pat on the back for that. I AM uncertain. The past just haunts me. Whenever I'm feeling lazy, I snap out of it saying "I DONT WANT TO BE THAT NURSE AGAIN". My coworkers really admire me. I feel like a sham though. I think I was over exaggerating that day of the post. My brain sucks. But I promise I'm not that same person.

Im sorry you view my posts as "attention seeking". Unfortunately this forum is the only place I can turn to at times. I'm the only one of my friends that is a nurse and no one really understands what goes on. Maybe I'm just a whiny 20 something I don't know. But the tough love here has gotten my career on track and even though a few think I'm looking for attention, I'm really looking for advice.

This. There are a group of people who tend to overcritize and purposely put others down. Including myself. And as someone who had worked so hard to change and take my career more seriously, their remarks are just so hurtful.

No i get what you're saying. I love nursing. I was saying to a few others here, I'm not the nurse I was before. Before... to be frank, I didn't take it seriously. Which is awful. I put my blame on others. I didn't accept responsibility. I then had a mental breakdown after I got fired and realized this it's ME. And if I can't shape up, I must go find another patch. So I did. My bosses love me, which is new for me. I take my job seriously. I ask questions. I take criticism and always thinking of how to improve. I just don't know how to believe that I'm a good nurse.

I understand where you are coming from. I've spoken to a lot of veteran nurses and they said if someone said they never made a med error, they're lying. I've always been very honest with myself and my life. I made a lot of errors. A lot of them were stupid like not giving an eye drop. I mean... not stupid because a med error is a med error. My bosses praise me and when I wanted to quit. They told me that I was a wonderful addition to the company. But because of these mistakes, I can't believe that I'm doing "well". I'm so neurotic with my med pass. I check and double check. I make sure they are given at the right time. I just have this voice in my head saying that I'm awful and I can't shake it

I had a moment of stupidity and wasn't thinking properly. I went to work and everyone wasn't as bad as I pictured in my head. I wish I weren't so dramatic at times. My twenties are just kicking my butt big time

I read all of your comments and of course Wuzzie life coach I never had and told me to put my big girl panties on and face the situation like an adult. So I did. And I had a really good day. I have bad outburst sometimes and tend to make haste decisions instead of thinking. I'm glad for her.

You are absolutely correct. I'm sorry I didn't reply sooner. I have a lot of insecurities as nurse because of my past. My employers praise me up and down but I keep thinking of my performances in the past (as documented here) and just am so insecure and have a hard time believing that I'm doing a good job

Thank you. I will be writing my two weeks notice today and finish my job. Thank you.

Thank you for your advice. You're right. Thanks for telling me this.

Thank you for you advice. I will suck it up and come to work. You're right. I'm feeling emotional and want to just quit on them. It sucks but i will come to work even though I can't stomach the thought of coming in.

Today is my first day back to work after a 6 day vacation and I already feel tightness in my chest and anxiety. I've never felt this way at a job before. In my life. I absolutely hate it here and the way this company is ran. I start my shift at 3. I tried to call off today to think since I had a death that has affected me recently but they will not let me call off. I am seriously thinking of quitting right now. I'm worried about job abandonment and what should I do. Thank you.

I'm glad you guys have a good relationship now. I never pick up his stuff. He thinks it's funny but I don't ever help him clean up. I keep telling myself "it's only temporary"

You are absolutely correct. I'm doing what I can to find another job. Thank you!!

Yes I'm definitely looking.

Yeah I feel completely helpless. Our staffing is awful so I guess they don't have much wiggle room to fire him.ugghhh thanks for letting me vent