ChicRN

In my current job I have worked as an inpatient nurse case manager (midshift) for the past 5yrs. My schedule has always been harsh working by myself for the entire hospital and scheduled every single Friday to work. I have voiced frustration for a fair shift in the past multiple times, but management never helped at all. I obtained my graduate few yrs ago & I’m at the point where I feel like I’m ready to look for a new challenge. Honestly, like everyone else the pandemic just completely paused any plans I had these few yrs ?. Few weeks ago, my boss asked me something unexpected. She proposed an idea of fixing my schedule that would better fit my needs since my opposite shift is leaving. I’ve waited so long for management to help me that I’m not sure how I feel about a schedule change. I kinda want them to leave my schedule as is at this point since changing my schedule will take away my already approved annual PTOs LOL. I have this poll up to see how others feel about Monday vs Fridays since I’m deciding whether to entertain a schedule change idea.

SF Bay area nurse. I am currently working in a MCO hospital in acute care and also have years of experience working for the state hospital. I am at a crossroads on which healthcare organization for my long term. I have some family friends retired from Kaiser that had very poor pensions and fortunately worked for county hospitals (2nd jobs) that funded greater reward in the end. For example, Kaiser 401k employer match is 1.25%! For those working at Kaiser, VA, UC healthcare etc. I appreciate your feedback.

I’ve been a nurse for over 10 years.

Currently, I am an RN acute care inpatient case manager. I have been in this role for the past 3 years and have prided myself on being efficient & effective; however, this job has become extremely draining in a shift role where I’m the only one responsible for all patients for multiple units on my own. I feel that I am getting burned out, bouts of depression and anxiety nowadays. With Covid, management has increased my workload to become even more overwhelming proportions. Honestly, I always go the extra mile everyday for my patients and our care teams w/out appreciation from my dept LOL. For nurse case managers who left acute case management - what was your next job? I think its time for me to consider a different job role because this is not a healthy position in the long run. My experience includes 3 additional years as an outside facility (acute inpatient, ED, long term) and internal nurse case manager, Public health nurse, care management ambulatory care and direct patient care in community care facility setting. I also have a BSN and MHA. Thank you in advance.

Does anyone know of any good & affordable PALS, NRP, & EKG courses? I've heard of combo classes where a few are provided at a discount rate, but have been unable to find one. Even an all online simulation course with inperson skills tests would be okay. Thank you in advance for your responses.

A Gay or straight coworker really doesn't make a difference to me. What's important to me is the worth ethic & ability to get along with coworkers lol. I respect a good nurse, an efficient nurse, a team player! I enjoy hearing about my coworkers lives/activities (i.e. their kids bday, how's judo class, new recipe, new movies, how has their vaca/moving, etc..nothing too personal or long though). It just shows caring & creates stronger team bonds.

I did try to call a few times, for a few days after that rejection email. I ended up emailing her about it & she never replied back. She cut all connection after the survey i guess? Lol..oh man.

I feel your frustration! I was doing pretty well during my hiring process for a recent application, phone interviews with the director, etc..she actually told me"i would love to have you work in our hospital" & she said the next step was just my results on a survey that she emailed after our convo. I got on my computer right after & filled out the online survey, the next morning a generic rejection letter! They loved me, but reject me because of a personality test?..oh man lol. i was thinking...should i have selected "i am not a passionate nurse" & "i prefer being alone, than teamwork"?! Lol.

Does anyone know any Nurse recruiters willing to hire a new graduate nurse in the SF Bay Area? I'm an RN with a BSN, ACLS, BLS, PHN, & other certifications. I have been on the job hunt since last year with no avail (I graduated Aug 11' and passed Nov 11'..). I apply from NorCali to SoCal, follow-up by phone call & email with no luck. Often times when I call, HR they will say "don't call, check online. If we want you, we'll email you or not. check your spam mail" or my email to the director is forwarded to their assistant & they tell me to "apply online", even though my email starts off with "I submitted my application for XXX on XXX". *sigh* It hurts every time after taking my time to research the company and position, putting all that effort to email or call... The major hospitals like Kaiser, Sutter, etc. wont even let you get close to talking to a director to make an impression; LTC, home health, & hospice agencies here want 1 year experience. I'm currently loading up on Mollen clinics and trying to not give up hope? I'm sorry if I sound so discouraged, I'm a very positive person..its this job hunt that is frustrating and I'm not sure whether to cry or laugh on most days lol. Any advice/tips are welcome, but please no negative talk. Let's keep it positive.

I am RN in that position right now! We don't have a med aide or a shift supervisor or desk nurse! It's the most stressful thing i have ever tried to overcome..i'm great at multitasking, but i have 25patients..not sure how to even handle that much!..i want to quit so bad, but i'm a new grad w/no experience elsewhere..i dont know what to do. Theres a few other new grads in my position & we all feel stuck..not to mention tricked by what this place "pretended" to offer & treat their staff! It was just all pretty & smiles at the front door, but on the floor is a different story w/the nurses. LTC/SNF need tougher regulations to protect staff members! At our place, the cna have union but the licensed nurses do not! Weird how the facility has it that way.

I'm an RN who just started working at a SNF and I feel all your pain! I didn't know so many places operate in the same way. I love nursing, but everyday since I started working I feel anxiety ridden & unhappy to go to work. In our short stay one nurse gets 4/5 patients & the other 1/5 plus desk nurse role. It's unfair since the one w/the patient workload still has to do all the paperwork desk work for all 4/5 of the patients. In a regular day I have 25 patients, passing meds, assessing, calling MD, admits, discharges, charting on all 25 pts, talking to fam/other HC providers regarding patients, faxing, putting in orders, doing treatments, coc, etc etc. (some places have a med pass nurse who also just charts- i would be soo happy to be in that position, i do that plus EVERYTHING else as an RN!! We don't even have a desk nurse..so imagine it all..). Weird since we have echart/emar/etar, but they're that tight w/saving $ to help staff. We don't take breaks, lunch is not lunch..it's clocking out & in 30 mins later while working like a dog to attend to 25patients in 8hrs..I can barely eat my power bar! A good day is staying extra 2hrs & a bad day 4-5hrs (w/no pay!! Just to finish work! And no, its not just the new grads! Its everyone!). The administration discourages overtime, so you work like a dog for free..& not approved unless your doing back to back shifts even under many circumstances. All the nurses call in sick or are just so stressed you can feel it throughout the stations. I was a new grad trying to get a job somewhere, but now I wish I didn't look the SNF route. The staff is treated so poorly. Everyday I'm forgetting the reason why I went into nursing, it's impossible to give all 25 patients the care they deserve. I was recommended to this place by a fam friend & now i wish i never even applied. Currently, i'm still on my 90 day probation period. I have 2months left. What would be appropriate steps to resign? I already feel myself getting burned out and I feel this place is very unhealthy for me...it's so hard because you don't want to burn any bridges, but at the same time your license has to be protected. And its even more difficult because new grads need to have experience to get hired anywhere. I found out us new grads at the facility are getting paid way below the minimum around the area compared to other smaller places too. I wish there were more laws governing LTC/SNF. All my patients are basically medsurg, but X5 the ratio...i'm usually a very upbeat, positive individual but these days not sure how I get by each day being here..

I just started working at a SNF and I feel your pain! I love nursing, but everyday since I started working I feel anxiety ridden & unhappy to go to work. In our short stay one nurse gets 4/5 patients & the other 1/5 plus desk nurse role. It's unfair since the one w/the patient workload still has to do all the paperwork desk work for all 4/5 of the patients. In a regular day I have 25 patients, giving meds, assessing, calling MD, charting on all 25 pts, talking to fam/other HC providers regarding patients, faxing, putting in orders, doing treatments, etc etc. We don't take breaks, lunch is not lunch..it's clocking out & in 30 mins later while working like a dog to attend to 25patients in 8hrs..I can barely eat my power bar! The administration discourage overtime, so you work like a dog for free. All the nurses call in sick or are just so stressed you can feel it throughout the room. I was a new grad trying to a job somewhere, but now I wish I didn't look the SNF route. The staff is treated so poorly. Everyday I'm forgetting the reason why I went into nursing, it's impossible to give all 25 patients the care they deserve. I was recommended to this place by a fam friend & now i wish i never even applied. Currently, i'm still on my 90 day probation period. I have 2months left. What would be appropriate steps to resign? I already feel myself getting burned out and I feel this place is very unhealthy for me...

I feel your pain! i just started at a SNF & we have to be the nurse who: assesses, passes meds, charts, makes appointments, follows up, calls the other members of the HC team who work w/ the patient, etc. The amount of stress is incredible!!

At the place i'm orienting at we dont have a desk nurse like your ADON. The licensed nurses manage all the patient care, charting, inputting orders, appointments, labs, desk work, med pass, etc. I think if we at least had that the nurse(s) would be a little less stressed w/the patient workload. There needs to be some change in the way LTC/SNF are run. Some patients are at a med/surg level nowadays, not traditional/stereotypical nursing home.

Omg after reading this I have realized this is me! I started orientation at a "fancy looking" snf & the office staff directors were soo warm, etc. I never really paid attention to the staff on the floor until orientation, but now yes..i notice they just run around the best they can to finish their work, they're burnt out, they do try to smile...but who can w/soo much to do! They don't even have a desk nurse or secretary on their stations and do all of that too. Not sure how to get out myself since its been so hard to find a job as a new grad, but this place seems unhealthy for my well being. The directors don't listen to staff & worry about how to make they're facility look better! I obviously got tricked from the appearance of the place! The comp charting, cna smart charts, & updated facility. i'm hoping everyday i find a job asap because i am getting depressed and this much anxiety is overwhelming..