As nurses, we all need a bit of "power" or energy, per se, to get through our shifts. This includes both physical and mental power.
Lately, I've been finding that my mental power has significantly decreased. I still want to do well for my patients, but honestly, the more they complain, yell, and demand, the less I want to do for them. I'm worried this is dangerous thinking and want it to stop so I can make sure everyone's needs are met.
Really, my brain is so overwhelmed by all of the requests I get on a daily basis. Whenever I get asked to do something else, I'm not motivated to complete it right away. Instead, I put it off for a bit because it just makes me want to shut down, not help.
I'm sure things haven't actually changed or worsened lately. I just don't have as much tolerance for it anymore. I actually come into work later and leave earlier now just to get away from it all for as long as possible. The increase in sleep hasn't helped, though--my body is greedy and always wants more.
Any tips to get through work shifts when your brain is in pain? I just want to make sure I'm able to care for everyone and want to move away from my brain wanting to shut down every time someone needs something
This message applies to all nurses in every healthcare setting. We need to stand up for ourselves, set boundaries and leave toxic jobs. So many of us have put up with too much and we deserve better! As I said before, what would you say to a loved family member or friend if they told you they were dealing with abusive working conditions. Then be that kind to yourself!
It took almost all day yesterday to recover from Thursday. Normally, I wake up constantly, worrying about what is happening at work. Yesterday, I slept too hard to even care. With that said, maybe Thursday was meant as a wake up call or something. It was definitely a reminder of how it feels when you can't get any help. On a positive note, it did show that I'm perfectly capable of performing many of the tasks that I tend to delegate to others or avoid if at all possible. After all, there was no one else to do them. In a strange way, it was almost nice to get away from the SBAR-writing and assessment documentation that usually consume my time, and instead do things for people that are actually important.
Thursday was definitely a historical moment in nursing history. Usually, I write more SBARS than all the other nurses combined in my facility. On Thursday, I wrote the fewest. In fact, I wrote zero. I'm sure the providers were relieved.
It took almost all day yesterday to recover from Thursday. Normally, I wake up constantly, worrying about what is happening at work. Yesterday, I slept too hard to even care. With that said, maybe Thursday was meant as a wake up call or something. It was definitely a reminder of how it feels when you can't get any help. On a positive note, it did show that I'm perfectly capable of performing many of the tasks that I tend to delegate to others or avoid if at all possible. After all, there was no one else to do them. In a strange way, it was almost nice to get away from the SBAR-writing and assessment documentation that usually consume my time, and instead do things for people that are actually important.
I left Thursday feeling like I had failed but there were a couple of positives: no one fell and no one was sent to the hospital
You didn't fail, your employer failed you and the patients because they didn't have back up, contingency plans for call ins, such as pool or agency. I'm sure you're going to tell me that they won't use agency or they claim they can't afford agency. I hope the rest of the management/admin staff helped you and the patients out, but I suspect they didn't. I'm glad state was there to see the chaos and disrepair upper management allowed to occur by not having basic contingency plans in place for call ins. I hope some good comes of it and corrections are made so this never happens again to you or anyone else!
Silverbells, I have been a longtime lurker here. I did register a couple of times but always forgot my password, LOL. I enjoy reading your posts. You seem to be able to get along well and create some interesting posts. That being said, I would like to offer some wisdom oe advice from this old LTC nurse.
I have been an LTC nurse for many years and though I have never been in management _(because I really couldn't handle it) ... I have seen what the managers go through.
It's not pretty to watch an ADON or any other nurse suffer a complete breakdown due to all the stress and work that the powers that be do to them. Yes more money is made but when you are salary and working like you are you are making peanuts per hour and for what. So they won't have to hire more people???
You are young. Your future is bright. There are many other nursing homes around.
If you truly cannot let go of this job then please set some boundaries. You are not doing yourself any favors by working this much. You have. a DON right? Or administrator ? Go to them and tell them that you are unable to continue working these hours. Set limits. Say how much you are willing to work and have to have off at least some time. Obviously they have other staff as you were able to stay home for one day
Believe me ...they will use you up then fire you for simple mistakes and not blink an eye.. .and you will make mistakes if you keep working like this....especially if state comes in and inspection is failed. You will become the scapegoat. And the will hire someone and give them more pay.. I've seen it happen multiple times
OK enough preaching as others have told you the same things
Ob another note and you don't have to answer me but think about it.. Why do you want to be away from home for so long?
You didn't fail, your employer failed you and the patients because they didn't have back up, contingency plans for call ins, such as pool or agency. I'm sure you're going to tell me that they won't use agency or they claim they can't afford agency. I hope the rest of the management/admin staff helped you and the patients out, but I suspect they didn't. I'm glad state was there to see the chaos and disrepair upper management allowed to occur by not having basic contingency plans in place for call ins. I hope some good comes of it and corrections are made so this never happens again to you or anyone else!
One aide was gracious enough to float over to help shower a patient on my unit who was threatening to report us to state if we didn't comply with her request, but she couldn't stay because her unit was also short. Other than that, the answer was no every time I asked for help and I can't really blame the other staff--they were strapped with their own problems. It's funny that you mention agency staff. We've been using them a lot and they've actually caused more problems than helped. They are responsible for over half of the call ins or no shows, and when they do come, they are late and/or leave early or take extended breaks. In fact, it was because the agency staff didn't show up on Thursday that I ended up working the hours I did. And we're never given the phone numbers to ask where they are, so we end up stuck when they don't show.
One aide was gracious enough to float over to help shower a patient on my unit who was threatening to report us to state if we didn't comply with her request, but she couldn't stay because her unit was also short. Other than that, the answer was no every time I asked for help and I can't really blame the other staff--they were strapped with their own problems. It's funny that you mention agency staff. We've been using them a lot and they've actually caused more problems than helped. They are responsible for over half of the call ins or no shows, and when they do come, they are late and/or leave early or take extended breaks. In fact, it was because the agency staff didn't show up on Thursday that I ended up working the hours I did. And we're never given the phone numbers to ask where they are, so we end up stuck when they don't show.
A couple things come to mind. First how dare the rest of admin refuse to help you! How dare they! I would have quit for that alone, the total, absolute disrespect leaving you to hang out to dry, while they sit in their offices. That is too much! I'm sure it made quite the impression on state!
Second they need to hire more staff. In the meantime they need to find a different agency. If they had enough staff in the first place you wouldn't be working 20 hour shifts salary. They are ripping you off, working you to death and laughing all the way to the bank! There is no excuse that you should have to work 20 hour shifts because you have more work than one person can do in 8 hours! Please see the light and give your 2 week notice. Heck I would have quit without a 2 week notice after what you just went thru. Please value yourself enough to stop this abuse!
Yeah, I feel like I need to really think about what I want and/or should be doing. Maybe last Thursday was simply a very bad shift; in which case, I am unsure if it would be wise to quit simply because more and/or different tasks were expected of me. At the same time, I kind of doubt that it was just last Thursday alone; this job has been negatively impacting my body for a long time. I'm torn between not wanting to give up while also being unsure how sustainable any of this is.
brandy1017, ASN, RN
2,910 Posts
This message applies to all nurses in every healthcare setting. We need to stand up for ourselves, set boundaries and leave toxic jobs. So many of us have put up with too much and we deserve better! As I said before, what would you say to a loved family member or friend if they told you they were dealing with abusive working conditions. Then be that kind to yourself!