I will try to be brief here, but there is a lot to tell so bear with me.
Since March I have been prn status for M/S and ER averaging 2 days a week at a very small and struggling rural hospital in a neighboring county. I was hired prn with the understanding that I would be a day shift employee, and would be willing to perhaps fill in an OCCASIONAL night if it worked with the rest of my schedule. (I am also in a MSN program for what it is worth).
In early May the manager contacted me and asked me if I would do a few nights to help fill a hole from a recent resignation until someone new could be oriented. Since the semester was over, I agreed to a total of 4 nights - 3 one week and one the next, with the understanding that this was a temporary thing only and I could not do regular nights. Those nights I did and a couple of them were pretty hairy but nothing horrible.
This hospital has come under new ownership as of 8/05, and is struggling as mentioned before. Supplies are at a bare minimum with even tape being rationed. I have been alarmed to find that there were no needleless syringe equip. available on a regular basis even though our tubing had the ports to accomodate needleless devices; and our sharps containers just have a big hole at the top that a small wrist could fit through. there is also not a post-exposure program in place. Get the picture? I did and I filed an anonymous complaint with OSHA for occupational hazard. They were very interested and were to immediately investigate.
Fast forward and I haven't worked there in 3 weeks. I was called with a looong list of nightshifts wanting to know if I could work, and when I replied back to my managers' voicemail telling him politely that I could not work any nights but please let me know any days available, haven't heard a peep since. Not even a call back to say "I just dont have any day shifts available" etc. It doesn't make sense for a facility that is chronically understaffed especially with RNs. I have been able so far to make up the time with other work but am having to scramble to do so. For a month and a half I was guranteed the two days a week at this place. There are no problems or incidents with my performance - so why have I been dropped like a lead weight?
I can't help but wonder if they found out I made the OSHA complaint, and even though there is supposedly whistleblower protection, how could I prove anything? I am still an active employee...as a matter of fact am still receiving regular pay stubs with nothing as the amount.
I really would like to hear some opinions on this. I wasn't trying to make trouble for anyone, just have a safer work environment.
How about this old but relevant analogy "Don't crap where you eat". You mention several trivial things but did not bring this up to your supervisor, instead opting to anonymously report this to OSHA, and you actually expect to be asked back to work?
As the primary breadwinner for my family I can assure you that I did not willingly "crap where I eat", if I must state so in such crude terms. But I also, as primary breadwinner, wife, and parent, do not want to place myself at risk for a needlestick injury and possible sequelae.
I am just curious what your background is...then I might be able to better understand this animosity I am sensing. But I do not regret making the report, and yes, management was aware of the issues...I even showed them a sample of needleless devices I have used in the past that work really well.
How about this old but relevant analogy "Don't crap where you eat". You mention several trivial things but did not bring this up to your supervisor, instead opting to anonymously report this to OSHA, and you actually expect to be asked back to work?
These kinds of things are not trivial, small nor minor. These are all MAJOR workplace violations. The things mentioned in the OP are enough to get a facility's certification revoked by JACHO.
The facilty's owners have placed all of the staff and patients in DANGER by not supplying the appropriate equipment for the sharps.
The key word is ANONYMOUSLY. That means that OSHA doesn't reveal your name, only that a compalint has/had been filed.
I think you did the right thing. I really wouldn't work there any more. It sounds like a bad environment. It also doesn't sound like a reliable source of income. Maybe they are struggling because of poor management and poor working conditions. If the conditions are that poor, then you are probably not the only one who has complained.
Unless you are stealing narcs there is no issue of being at risk for needle stick injuries according to the OP. What I have a problem with is someone complaining about a place being so rotten but wanting to contnue working there? I am amazed you don't see the irony in this. If your hospital reported you to the SBON for something unsafe would you want to go back to that place and work? Of course not, but you think employers should be at any employees whim. You cannot assure me of anything that management knew because you don't work there and we are only hearing one side of the issue. Is till say if it's such a rotten place with al these safety violations why does the OP contnue to want to work there.
Lack of the most basic patient care supplies is not trivial. Working conditions that place staff members at risk for needlestick injuries are not trivial. The lack of federally mandated after-care for employees exposed to hazardous bodily fluids is not trivial. The OP did the right thing to protect herself, her co-workers, and her patients by making a report to OSHA.
I don't know whether the OP spoke with management about these issues before going to OSHA, but regardless, I can assure you that management knew about them. Who do you think created and condoned the circumstances the OP described?
I am curious as to why you show such disdain for an employee who is simply requesting safe working conditions.
Not all facilities are required to utilize JCAHO smaller hospitals can utilize their state boards of health if they choose. Yes, a lot of the complints were trivial such as the needless systems and the small openings at the top of the sharp's containers.
These kinds of things are not trivial, small nor minor. These are all MAJOR workplace violations. The things mentioned in the OP are enough to get a facility's certification revoked by JACHO.
The facilty's owners have placed all of the staff and patients in DANGER by not supplying the appropriate equipment for the sharps.
The key word is ANONYMOUSLY. That means that OSHA doesn't reveal your name, only that a compalint has/had been filed.
Unless you are stealing narcs there is no issue of being at risk for needle stick injuries according to the OP. What I have a problem with is someone complaining about a place being so rotten but wanting to contnue working there? I am amazed you don't see the irony in this. If your hospital reported you to the SBON for something unsafe would you want to go back to that place and work? Of course not, but you think employers should be at any employees whim. You cannot assure me of anything that management knew because you don't work there and we are only hearing one side of the issue. Is till say if it's such a rotten place with al these safety violations why does the OP contnue to want to work there.
Go back and read the OP very carefully. She stated that there is no post-exposure protocol in place, never did she state that the only way to get a needle stick is by stealing narcs. One sentence segued into another, that's all.
What is your problem? Haven't you figured out yet that if you're the only one who sees a problem in the OP, that maybe YOU'RE the one with the problem?
The OP stated that the sharp's containers had an opening that small hands coud fit in(I'm sure she was referring to a child, but who knows. Because a hospital does not have an exposure control plan does not increase your risk for a needle stick injury but sticking your hands in the box to steal wasted narcs does, that was my point. I don't have a problem, but I ain't the one not working am I? So who has the problem here. My point is be careful what you wish for you might just get it. They offered the OP night shifts she didn't want them and she complained about the facility. If I was her employer and found she complained I would review every single chart she was involved with anything remotely serious I would report it to her SBON and let the chips fall where they may. And then all of you would bemoaning how cruel it was for your employer to do this and you should get a layer and blah, blah, blah. The point is the OP made her bed and now she is reaping her just rewards.
Go back and read the OP very carefully. She stated that there is no post-exposure protocol in place, never did she state that the only way to get a needle stick is by stealing narcs. One sentence segued into another, that's all.
What is your problem? Haven't you figured out yet that if you're the only one who sees a problem in the OP, that maybe YOU'RE the one with the problem?
Unless you are stealing narcs there is no issue of being at risk for needle stick injuries according to the OP. What I have a problem with is someone complaining about a place being so rotten but wanting to contnue working there? I am amazed you don't see the irony in this. If your hospital reported you to the SBON for something unsafe would you want to go back to that place and work? Of course not, but you think employers should be at any employees whim. You cannot assure me of anything that management knew because you don't work there and we are only hearing one side of the issue. Is till say if it's such a rotten place with al these safety violations why does the OP contnue to want to work there.
The idea that the OP would only be at risk for needle-stick injuries if she was attempting to steal narcs from the needle disposal box is ridiculous. First of all, the proper way to waste narcs is to squirt the excess into a sink or needle box with a witness present. Therefore, there should be no retreivable narcs in the needle box, and no reason for anyone to deliberately stick a hand into one.
Secondly, she stated that the opening of the needle disposal box is unacceptably large, meaning that a nurse could inadvertently stick herself if she were distracted and not watching carefully while she was disposing of a sharp. Another poster correctly indicated that patients, especially children were also at risk for needle-stick injury due to the poor design of these boxes, which are probably improvised.
The OP also clearly stated that there were no needle-less devices present in the facility, a basic safety measure that has been in wide-spread use for at least 8-10 years in most facilities. In a subsequent post she indicated that she brought in examples of needle-less systems to show to her manager, who apparently chose not to provide them for the protection of the staff and patients. She voiced her safety concerns, which went unheeded.
Lastly, the lack of follow-up care for needle-stick should be of great concern for any healthcare employee, especially those who work in facilities with such lax safety.
I can understand your puzzlement over the OP's concern regarding her lack of scheduled days. I would not want to continue to work in such a facility. But I have always had the good fortune of a second income in my family that has allowed me to walk away from lousy jobs. I understand that not everyone has such a luxury, and understand that the OP may need the hours to provide for her family.
The idea that an employee should expect or tolerate retaliation for reporting unsafe conditions is simply unacceptable to most RN's, and is illegal in states with whistle-blower protection laws. I certainly hope the OP resides in such a state.
Hi there. I've worked prn for most of my career, in fact I haven't had a staff job as a bedside nurse in 14 years. I can tell you that these things do go in cycles, perhaps a regular staff member who needs overtime is volunteering to work or someone is able to float and cover and for a while you will not work the way you used to. A lot of my prn colleagues always get nervous and take personally when they get cancelled a lot but it just goes that way. They will need you again, trust me, they always start calling again.
Unless you complained about the sharps containers to others and the next day OSHA showed up, how could they know you were the one who blew the whistle? I doubt that is why you are not being offered the shifts you are used to but it is possible. At any rate, you did the right thing.
JBudd, MSN
3,836 Posts
[MOUSE]Yeah, what Jolie said[/MOUSE]