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Discussion

Shift Assignments (?)

Wanting to understand shift assignments a little better, and I'm left confused. I've been an RN for 6 months now. When I was a student in all my clinicals, the charge nurse from the shift PRIOR would assign the oncoming nurses to patients.

Where I work now, the current charge nurse makes the shift assignment for us. Since I have the least seniority, they 'dump' on me with difficult (psych issues), or high acuity patients that they don't want. (it's a very tight knit group of nurses, and I'm still on the outside of the circle of trust) I think they see it as a 'rite of passage' or something, but this is so discouraging.

How do your units assign nurses to patients? Am I silently grumbling for nothing?

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    that is not uncommon, what you need to do is speak up and refuse some patients. Many times they will walk all over you until you stand up for yourself. If you are not comfortable refusing an assignment talk to your unit manager and go over procedures for your unit and let them know what is going on.

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    talk to the manager. Senority exists only in paychecks, not duties.

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    :redpinkheOK.........where in the world is the manager of that unit. She is allowing you to be set up for failure. While I agree you need to gain experience and build on your foundations, to assign you to the most difficult patients is just WRONG. Absolutely talk to the manager not after a shift, make an appointment to see her/him when you are rested and not so frustrated. If that doesn't change assignments, your institution must have a chain of command. Escalate the issue. DO NOT as otherwise advised refuse the assignment as it can be misconstrued. On my unit we don't give the newer nurses or float nurses the "most" difficult assignment . Newer nurses do have to learn but to dump on them will only cause frustration for the nurse. This should not be a rite of passage. That's why that old addage "Nurses eat their young" still exists.

    Now let's talk about the patients. Is it fair to the patients to get an overwhelmed new nurse who is struggling while more seasoned nurses are not as burdened. Is it safe, are they getting their meds on time, are they being fully assessed. Your manager is leaving herself open to potential problems. Talk to her/him, I'm sure it will be well received and appreciated.

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