Questions about getting fired?

Get malpractice insurance.

They would be absolute fools to fire anybody who is willing to come in under those circumstances. I wouldn't worry about it.

I would be more worried about making a mistake that would affect my license than getting fired. You always need to CYA. You can get another job but not another license. That said, I have worked a team like this with 10 patients (1RN and 1LVN). You need to prioritize and make sure everyone knows what their job is and isn't. I don't prefer working as a team but it can be done. If you really do not feel comfortable maybe you can talk to the other RNs for tips etc, if all else fails you might want to look elsewhere. Good luck!

5 hours ago, pecantreechipmunk said:

Hi Allnurese,

I am not fired yet, but I feel unsafe at my work place.

I work on med-surg. We have 6 patients per nurse and charge has 6 patients, too.

1 CNA for entire unit (36 patients)

Half of our nurses are LVNs.

This staffing ratio was not a common thing before COVID, but due to staffing issues (everybody is leaving), we have been like this for a while.

I am an RN and due to the staffing issues, I need to take own vital signs(CNA takes 3 patients' vital signs and I take the rest patients'(3 patient) vital signs) and check own finger sticks for my patients. I need to help LVNs' documentation for things that they cannot legally do.

I love my coworkers my RNs, LVNs, and CNAs have been all good, but just the staffing issues give me an anxiety.

What if I make a mistake due to this unsafe environment and get in trouble?

Would they understand this situation because we have been short staff? or would they just fire me and get my license suspended right away?

Does getting fired affect a lot on getting a new job?

Thank you.

 

File Safe Harbor before your shift. This is in the state of Texas. See if your state has this. 

11 hours ago, klone said:

Get malpractice insurance.

Well worth repeating. Best $100 (or so) you'll ever spend for the peace of mind it gives.

I think you are worrying unnecessarily.  If you are that short staffed, why would they fire you?  You do realize that nurses make mistakes all the time, and unless you are blatantly not following policy and procedures, your chances of getting fired are slim.

6 patients in med surg is typical these days.  At least a tech is getting 3 of your patients vitals.  When I end up getting floated to step down units from ICU, I’ve been given 4 patients, with no tech at all meaning I do absolutely everything.  It sucks, I agree 100%.  But I never thought for an instant I would ever get fired.  4 in progressive is a lot.  

If you are that worried, then you need to be looking elsewhere.  In the interviewing process you need to ask about ratios.  But I will tell you 6 has become the norm.  It shouldn’t be, but it is.  

10 hours ago, summertx said:

File Safe Harbor before your shift. This is in the state of Texas. See if your state has this. 

If you so choose to do this, KNOW what you're doing. Several postings are on AN that can guide you. This is NOT an intervention to be taken lightly.

I believe all states and facilities have some kind of mechanism in place for an employee to formally voice staffing concerns. It's not just a venting or *** exercise. It is a serious,, but effective step. So be ye informed & prepared!

If you're so concerned, perhaps another job is your alternative. But again, today's work environment is difficult most everywhere.

Good luck to you.

Why are you sticking around? Get out of there while you still can!!

We have been bleeding nurses. We are taking up to 8 patients (open-heart, vascular) on my cardiac unit, along with med-surg patients, along with patients that just need a room. Our staffing is horrible and we are running with 1:7/8 ratios. It's incredibly unsafe due to the complexity of the patients. Unfortunately, this is happening everywhere. As long as it's not a major mistake and you own up to it, you should be fine. Myself and so many others have voiced our concerns but nothing happens. They're constantly begging us to pick up extra shifts. I worked 13 out of the last 14 days, each day 12-14 hours. Burnout, physical and mental stress, and emotional fatigue are plaguing the nursing field. Last year we were heroes. This year... ?‍♀️.

When the unit was short or very busy and we were stretched too thin,and they were not even trying to get more staff ,we would call supv informing her we were filling out a UNION  unsafe staffing form in triplicate,every nurse signed it,office,DON,Ceo got copies.It was our only protection if things went sour .We sometimes got harassed big time for signing it ,doctors too[they signed trying to help us].Sometimes help suddenly materialized with the threat of unsafe staffing form.

Hang in there,document the incident,do not discuss with anyone.

On 8/20/2021 at 7:01 AM, CharleeFoxtrot said:

Well worth repeating. Best $100 (or so) you'll ever spend for the peace of mind it gives.

Sadly if you do have malpractice insurance there is a greater chance of being sued as lawyers are looking for money.  They love if they can find a nurse made a mistake as they can go after the deep pockets of the hospital and usually will only sue nurses if they have their own malpractice insurance as otherwise there is not much money to get.

When I was still a new nurse a patient fell, I answered their call light and we lifted this pt to a WC and got the pt to bed.  The pt had a injury and sued the hospital.  Even though I was not the patient's nurse I was told by the attorney the only reason they didn't sue me was because I didn't have malpractice insurance.  We had a deposition with all parties involved and that was the last I heard of it.  I assume the hospital settled with them.

When a family member was seriously harmed by a botched surgery we went to half a dozen law firms and they refused to take the case because they didn't die or lose a limb and there was no mistake on the nurses part, only the Dr.  The explicitly said Dr's are sympathetic and they were looking for a nursing error and the hospital to go after.

On the other hand, many nurses here share stories of being in trouble with the BON whether drug/alcohol/mental illness, patient or employer complaint and can't afford a lawyer to help them.  Make sure that the insurance you purchase includes legal help for such situations as these as well as malpractice.

Take this info for what you will to make your own decision about insurance.  But more importantly if you feel unsafe and what the OP described is unsafe, the best advice I can give is to leave.

8 hours ago, Cardiac-CovidRN said:

We have been bleeding nurses. We are taking up to 8 patients (open-heart, vascular) on my cardiac unit, along with med-surg patients, along with patients that just need a room. Our staffing is horrible and we are running with 1:7/8 ratios. It's incredibly unsafe due to the complexity of the patients. Unfortunately, this is happening everywhere. As long as it's not a major mistake and you own up to it, you should be fine. Myself and so many others have voiced our concerns but nothing happens. They're constantly begging us to pick up extra shifts. I worked 13 out of the last 14 days, each day 12-14 hours. Burnout, physical and mental stress, and emotional fatigue are plaguing the nursing field. Last year we were heroes. This year... ?‍♀️.

I don't believe every hospital has such ratios.  I would be looking for another job.  They don't listen to you or respect you, but are pressuring you to pick up.  Don't work yourself to death!  It increases your stress, lowers your immune system, increases your chance of illness and increases your risk of making a mistake.  Nurses have to learn to say no!  Don't let them guilt trip you into working more than you want.  If you haven't become assertive enough to say NO, then at least don't answer your phone.

They have options.  They can get travelers or agency or hire more nurses.  It is just cheaper to have a few nurses and even with OT and bonuses, still cheaper than travelers or hiring adequate amount of staff in the first place which is why many places do this.

Last year the feds gave billions of dollars to hospitals and this year with the mass exodus of nurses due to poor working conditions, the hospitals are again crying "poor" and state and federal govt are bailing them out giving them millions of dollars to pay for travelers! 

So don't let them use you and take advantage of you!  Take care of yourself, the govt isn't going to bail you out if you get sick or injured and can't work and pay your bills.  Put your own health and safety first.

Get your finances in order start with an emergency fund of $1,000 minimum, and save an F* Off fund so you can always walk away if you want or need to!  Start looking for a better job, read about the health systems in your city.  Read the business journal and local news, research nurse reviews on glass door and indeed.  Talk with and network with fellow nurses that work at other health systems.  I don't believe they are all that bad as the one you are currently working in.