ccunite

Thanks everyone for the moral support - I don't feel like I was out-of-line when I told the Unit Manager that I did not feel that I was giving safe & complete care when I wore 3 "hats" simultaneously. However, since there is a shortage of experienced nurses, I may still end up being Relief Charge on some nights & face the wrath of prima-donna doctors who bask in more attention than I can give.

Have you had to be "acting" (relief) Charge Nurse AND take a full patient-load AND precept a new-hire, all at the same time? With the nursing shortage, I've had to wear the 3 hats several nights & feel like I don't do a good job in any of those roles - either I can't go to the Staffing Meetings or spend more time with my patients' care or accompany my preceptee. In the ICU, with the acuity of care expected, my "lunch-break" consists of covering everybody else's patients while they go on their breaks. AND I still have to stay overtime to catch up on computer charting & giving the day-shift a full report. I feel so frustrated I told the Manager I wouldn't do it anymore after a doctor yelled at me "You're not doing your job" - Hah! Which one, I wanted to ask? AND it's only about a $1 differential for being Charge and/or Preceptor. Is this insane or what? ------------------

Sounds like there's a blurring of two roles here: preceptor and mentor. I have been a preceptor for new hires in the ICU-CCU & been paid about $1 more an hour differential but I have only been an online mentor to student nurses. I think the second role gets cheapened when you think about getting paid cash; personally I get a greater sense of satisfaction as a mentor even though it takes up my "free" time. Also I notice that from the receiving end, preceptees are not as appreciative as mentorees - maybe because they know I'm getting paid to precept them? ------------------