tls RN

Sorry to hear about your co-worker. I work in a small hospital that opened a little under a year ago. I was the only L&D nurse in the hospital for the first 3 months that we were opened. Probably because I did M/S for a few months almost 9 yrs ago. Our L&D unit is small with 4 LDRP's. When we first opened, the M/S manager told me that we would be expected to float and that we WOULD take a team of pts, after being told when I interviewed that we would only be expected to help. Our nurse mgr fought the floating and finally said that we would float but be would take a small team of pts with the lowest acuity, or pts that were being discharged. Well that didn't happen. We were constantly given high acuity pts. At that point I decided to return to the hospital were I came from. After being back at my hospital for 6 months the girls at the other hospital kept trying to get me to come back. I finally agreed after promises of "things have changed" and needing to change my schedule to weekend nights I agreed to transfer back. (The hospitals are owned by the same company). Well guess what things hadn't changed. I really don't have a problem going to M/S to help when they need it, I have and will continue to help. But I will not go over to take a team of pts when I do not know what I am doing. Since we have finally started getting busier, and we have very few staff as it is and after threats of everyone leaving the nurse mgr and CNO have finally said that we don't have to float. Maybe now we can get some staff hired. I still get nervous when I come to work, since I am here by myself most of the time. I am always afraid that they will try to pull me. I don't want to refuse but I don't want to risk my license or the pts either. Anyway, I hope everything works out at your hospital and for your friend.

Nights can be just as busy as days. I have seen some nights that are actually busier than the day shift. I agree, be nice to your techs. Their awesome.

I work in a new hospital (open just under a year) with just 4 LDRP's and a C/S OR. I work weekend nights, and almost always by myself. We don't always have a person on call to come in if I have a pt show up which has happened a few times. It's scary and frustrating. The house supervisor will come to help if needed, and make phone calls as necessary. There are also many nights (usually Fri.) and most weekend day with no nurse scheduled. Aministration is aware of this, as well as the OB doc. OB doc has mentioned to nursing staff, Mgt, and administration that he wants 2 nurses here at all times. But that very seldom happens, including day shifts. I have worked days and nights to cover shifts. It's very scary at the thought of what could happen. I have considered going back to the hospital I transferred from but the staffing there isn't much better.