Quit after 2 days

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Specializes in icu.

I had been a critical nurse for 29 years and recently retired because of burnt out . I landed a acute rehab ? job. At the interview, DON painted a beautiful picture, she said most of the patients are mobile and only staying at the facility for 2 weeks (transitional to home). They have fast turn over of patients. This facility is brand new and suppose to be offering rehab in a home-like environment.

Then reality sets in. My first day on the floor with preceptor, we have 15 patients. 4 were on iv antibiotics q2-4 hrs, 4 have BS QID and multiple dressing changes. Each patient also has multiple med at 9am. Nurses are doing VS q8 , documenting them and also upgrading the care plans when they are due. We did not finished med pass till around 12. By the end of the shift, we have another admission and documenting the assessment seemed like eternity. I was on my feet for eleven and half hours. My preceptor was grateful I was with him to get things done . I felt like I was working in a med-surg floor with triple workload. By the time I got home, I was ready to quit. But I do not want to be a sore loser so I told myself to give the job another trial to confirm my decision.

So I went back the second day, and it was any better. We had 13 patients at 7am with multiple medical issues that we had to deal. And by 5pm we had another 2 admissions coming in 15 minutes apart. We had numerous interruptions during med pass, like answering call lights and taking care of patients who almost fall.

This is no way a acute rehab that they claim it to be. Most of the patients are in their 80-90s and wheelchair-bound. Also most of these patients have been in the facility for over three months.

There is also multiple things that I feel I am not comfortable with the situation. So after the second day, I called the DON and I quit.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Totally agree with your sentiment!

Ridiculous workloads like this are indicative of severe work issues at a facility.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

The business is changing rapidly. Subacute units are full of acute residents but the staffing hasn't increased to deal with the increase acuity. I love my facility. We are well staffed, electronic medical records for almost everything, and we have a team attitude. If one floor gets slammed with admissions, a nurse from another unit will come help. Being a nurse is hard no matter where you work. And it isn't going to get any easier.

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Specializes in icu.

Yes, you are right. No matter where you go, it is not going to be hard.

That is why you need support from your management and fellow workers.

The problem which the facility that I left, they pretend there is no issues. You have to suck up everything. Most nurses are not doing for they are suppose to do, such as outdated care plans, meds and wound care. They are comprising the quality of care to these poor patients.

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Specializes in psychiatric nursing.

Yes, I think the way most SNFs are ran these days and so terribly understaffed, it feels like a 3 ring circus. I was surprised that they don't have circus music playing in my building.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... surprised that they don't have circus music playing in my building.

Funny!

OK, everybody sing "Goodbye Cruel World." :singing:

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Specializes in Managed Care/Advisory Services/Transition Planning.

Welcome to the world of LTC! Most nurses have no idea the difficulty this field presents on a daily basis until they are in it. Hope you find a more satisfying situation!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.
Funny!

OK, everybody sing "Goodbye Cruel World." :singing:

No, Send In The Clowns!

[video=youtube;cIqx5_w-dnk]

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I have worked in SNF for 11 years now. Alot of the nurses at the local hospital think its an easy job but now a days its like worrking on a medsurg unit. Its definitely not easy work. Its time consuming, lots of overtime, physically an mentally draining and stressful work. its all worth it though when your 80 year old lady on a fixed income with no medicare days left is finally phisically capable to go home and live independently.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
No, Send In The Clowns!...

OK, that'll be apropos. :)

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Specializes in geriatrics longterm care...Alzheimer's...

Just wanted to say I love being a nurse taking care of old people....the ones that spit and kick are my favorite....

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