enmack

I don't think the issue is one of numbers, but instead one of acuity. There should be a system in place that grades the acuity of pts as they walk in the door. Sort of like a braden scale, only quicker. Maybe something with 4 levels. Prn meds, regular meds frequency, family, doctors, and pt condition to be considered. Then each nurse should only have to deal with a certain number total. Ex. Pts 1-6 are level 1 acuity so this nurse can take on a level 3 pt as well. But pts 7and 8 are level 4s so dont give the second nurse more than 2 more level 1s.

get a different job, that sounds horrible. or as least call safe harbor and make them hire someone to help you.

the problem is that the only person the director is willing to sacrifice is me, there are also other things in play that may not have been mentioned in my post to protect identity. One med was given late and one order was entered late.

are nurses allowed to give orders to another nurse that they received from a dr

the nurse that administered lovenox is on the peer review committee

i could never discuss a situation that i was being reprimanded for b/c these things are strictly confidential, but if i were in a situation like this i would need lots of help

They will ask what hours you want to work, what your best and worst characteristics are if you are willing to work weekends and nights and if you are a team player. They will want to know what you expect from the nurses you will work with. Also tell them whatever you want to do in 5 years. I told everyone I wanted to be in Africa in a medical missionary trip, and all three hospitals that week wanted to hire me. One interviewer did tell me that it was a strange response and most ppl said a charge nurse on the floor hiring, but I don't want that. I found that most hospitals want a responsible, dependable, and loyal employee that won't run as soon as they have the 2 yrs exp that every other hospital prefers before hiring.

they had ppl come back in and document late entry notes that describe the dressing as not needing changing, the surgeon said he would help me if he could

Okay hypothetically, I am a nurse of 2+years at a hospital. I relieved a nurse who told me that a pt needed dressing changes frequently and the day shift nurse previous had given her a similar report. 0800 I assessed the pt to have a dry and intact dressing-documented. (when questioned on this later, I told my director the pt may have had bleeding underneath circumfrential wound, but I didn't see any. I told the pt I would do a better assessment upon dressing change later that same morning) 1045-1100 physical therapy notified me that the dressing was bloody underneath. 1045-1100 dressing was changed by me. The dressing was bloody and soaked through to the pillow directly underneath, clots were formed on the kerlix, and when the dressing was removed the wound dripped blood. 1100 I immediately notified the surgeon, who was upset that lovenox had been given that morning, by night shift, and that it took so long for the nursing staff to report the condition of the incision. I reported to him the information I had been given in report and the condition of the pt and he told me that he wanted the incident written up. I arrive @ work, start care of 6 pts, and get called out for a peer review.