np2b4me

Thank you all for sharing your wisdom. Update... It's a free standing LTAC in Ohio. The CNO actually came to work & they were able to wrangle up one agency nurse. They even offered cash bonuses, but no one else was williing to come in. They've never offered cash bonuses. I'm assuming it was because the CNO was desperate because he hasn't worked the floor in forever. So it was again 3 nurses caring for 19 patients. The most sick one being on hep, levo, amio & i how did i forget insulin gtt w/q1 accuchecks. This was definitely a learning experience. I agree I could've called off sooner. I called to check in with the hopes that the staffing was addressed so that I could come in. I actually wanted to work, just under safe circumstances. When I finally called off, I was honest about the reason. I was told the CNO would be notified of my reason & that I was not being a team player. Hopefully the CNO will get it after working under those conditions. Oh well. Again, thanks for all of your advice!!

Hello all! This situation is weighing quite heavily on me so I'd like to get some advice. All responses, no matter how brutally honest, are much appreciated. Sorry for the long post. Here goes.... My evening consisted of 5 patients of my own (2 vents & 1 on 3 critical gtts). I was also responsible for covering the LPN's 3 patients that all required frequent IVP narcotics, IV antibiotics, am labs, and 1 of hers was on a vent. So I'm responsible for 8 patients. Charge nurse had 7 patients. Several vents/critical gtts. LPN had 7, 3 of which I was essentially responsible for. 1 aide that spent the entire shift in the restroom, breakroom, anywhere but the floor. Administration was called several times. No one returned our calls. We barely make it through the night. I check the schedule for the next night & realize that myself, the same charge nurse, and a LPN are on the schedule. No attempts have been made to contact agency even though scheduling has known for 4 weeks we were short on this night. While leaving the charge nurse informs me that she will not be coming in the next night due to the awful night we had just had. So that leaves myself and the LPN tomorrow that would be responsible for the 19 patients. I call the next day to see what staffing is like. I'm told it's me & the LPN. The charge nurse called off. They left messages for agencies but none have called back. They also left several messages for administration, but they haven't called back either. So I call back 2 hours before shift starts & it's the same situation. So knowing the ridiculously unsafe night ahead of me, I too called off. I've been a nurse for 18 months & the previous night was my worst night. I never let things get to me, but I allowed myself to lose control and cry. I just felt so overwhelmed...I felt I couldn't give my patients the care that they deserve. I couldn't knowingly walk in to the same situation again the next night, especially being a new grad and not having a resource. Am I wrong for calling off? Am I not a team player? I feel sick stressing about this? Please advise. Thanks in advance