Should I quit my job?

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I am currently working for a facility that is not safe for patients or my nursing license. They are always short staffed to the point where I will have anywhere from 20-58 patients in one shift. In this time I am expected to hand out all meds in an hour (which is impossible since no one takes pills whole), do treatments, vitals, assessments and all the charting. I cry everyday I work there. More than half the time I have no supervisor on staff so I'll be completely by myself.

Should I quit this place and move on? I'm absolutely miserable and always afraid of messing up or hurting a patient somehow. The problem is I'm still a new nurse and desperately need the experience.

I'd also like to add that I do not get any kind of benefits or time paid off, and they are so short staffed that I work almost everyday and most of them are double shifts. I've met other employees that have had to work three shifts in a row......

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Only you can make that decision. If conditions are as bad as you say, I would guess that the "experience" that you're gaining is not worth the risk.

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Specializes in ICU.

Nail something else down first. The job market now SUX! :facepalm: (you probably know that already).

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That is not gaining experience.

That is trying to survive in the seventh circle of hell.

Get out before the inevitable happens and you have a mark on your license.

Any future employer will recognize the facility and it's reputation....most likely respect your choice to move on.

Good luck, let us know how it's going.

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I would absolutely get out. I worked too hard for my nursing license to lose it or get a mark on my record for something crazy. I went into this profession to take care of people. There is no way you can give proper care to that many people at one time!

Do give a notice though.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Make moves to get a new position; if you can; if not, do what you have to do.

In the meantime, minimize working a double; the more hours worked after a certain amount of hours during the week increases the risk of errors.

The red neon sign is flashing, especially if you state there are nurses who are working all three shifts-just no... :no:

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The problem is this place has a good reputation- with the exception of people who have been patients there. Unless you work there an a RN/LPN or aide, no one really knows how bad it is.

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Are the patients being neglected or harmed in any way? Maybe it's time to anonymously call the state for an inspection or the local Ombudsman to alert them of the dangerous nurse to patient ratio.

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Specializes in hospice.

24 straight hours working? :eek:

EMR*LPN, I can't see how the patients AREN'T being neglected if some of their nurses are working 24 shifts with no sleep and most are working doubles every day of the week.

Call the state, OP. Dear Lord.

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