chi1099

Omg, so normal for a med-surg floor to have organized chaos going on at most times! I don't know that the constant push & pull decreases but you do get better at handling it the longer you're there.

I work nights on a 30 bed med-surg/ortho unit and it's normal for us to have 8 patients and at times when we can't get help from the float pool, I have had as many as 10. Some have had 11 at times and it is very stressful to say the least. It's a myth that patients sleep all night so it justifies lower staff numbers. We rarely have 2 pct's working because they are harder to get than nurses. If you need a sitter you have to use your pct which makes all your patients total cares. Complaints about safety go unaddressed. There's usually a "we're in the process of hiring more help" response so we've basically adjusted to moving at warp speed for 12 hours at night. Add onto that no secretary, being charge nurse, chasing IV pumps and keeping up with all the duties that a pct would handle if you had one and it's a miracle everything gets finished (charting twice a shift on that many people, passing meds all night and doing your own blood draws, vitals and cpm's, assignments for day shift, admissions, etc.) There is also a 1 hour of over-time per person per pay period rule to keep the budget in check. Exceed the 1 hour rule and it's a mandatory written reprimand. I knew a med-surg floor was challenging but this is true craziness. However, I have developed wild organizational skills.........and plantar fasciitis!

Geographic location: Iowa Pay rate: $24.40 (w/shift diff) In which area / specialty do you work? Med-Surg What type of license do you have (RN or LPN)? RN What type of degree and/or certification do you have? BSN How many years of experience do you have? 1 yr. Are you full-time, part-time, or casual / per diem / PRN status? Part-time What shift do you work? Nights Do you receive any shift differential? Yes, $3.00/hr. Are you a manager or supervisor? No

Anyone taken Nursing History NR390 at Chamberlain in the RN-BSN online?

$21.40 for new grads in Iowa w/$3/hr. shift diff. On busy nights I've had 8 or 9 patients...that's a lot for a new grad. To get everything done on time with that many patients, there are no breaks............period! Since I'm new and need the experience, I just tell myself to keep my head down and motor through it and don't complain......