Should I quit?Would you quit?

[Elicia.Matthea]

Hello,

I am currently working in a LTC facility that is going under from what im observing. Management is horrible (the kind of management that always points the finger at you kind of management) where it leaves a horrible moral among the care aids and nurses where it seems the majority have quit or are thinking of quitting soon.

As an LPN i was hired into the RN line 4 on 4 off Nights because no RNs wanted the lines and currently there is only 1 RN full time. I was trained as an RN in this line as I am the fire marshal on nights i have a great deal of responsibility however the LTC company wont pay me night shift differentials and I don't even get paid the lowest RN wage... I stll get paid the lowest LPN wage (22.78) and I have been told by the only RN to not say anything about my wages or bring it up until I passed my 3 month probation period.

The care given to certain people is also questionable as the company is hiring care aids from india- people who dont have any care background at all?

not to mention the DR for the majority of all the residents does not believe in medications most the time... so sometimes people in pain cant get a damn acetaminophen.

I want to quit or go casual... would you'?

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

As for the pay, your employers are not required to pay anyone RN wages except an RN. Even then, it is not 'required' because if an RN would agree to work for free, that RN would not receive a paycheck.

As for your being a Fire Marshall, that provides you with an excellent source of experience in regards to responding to emergent situations. However, as you know, a Fire Marshall is not a licensed nurse. Your employers are using whatever is in your background to suit their needs, knowing that they do not have to compensate you for any of it. Your background probably made you one of the better candidates in the competition for the job, but the powers-that-be probably viewed you as a 2-for-the-price of 1 deal.

As for your being "trained as an RN", trust me, you were not. There are certain things an RN can do that you cannot (legally). That's not to say that you're not competent in performing some of those tasks; it's simply saying that if the company (and you) get caught with RN tasks being performed by an LPN, everybody involved will be in so much hot water, that you'll need to call upon your firefighter colleagues to put out the fire. If you are being asked or required to perform tasks outside of an LPN scope of practice, whether you know what you're doing or not, STOP NOW! If something happens and you do these RN tasks, even if you save a life, you will risk losing your license for practicing outside of the scope of practice.

If things are as bad as you describe, find another position. Employers will get all that they can out of you without compensating you one dime for your knowledge and/or skills if you allow them to do so. Certain things that we learn and do over the years look pretty darn good on a resume'. However, unless specific knowledge is negotiated into the hiring and salary expectations during the onboarding process, we can pretty much forgot about those talents becoming part of the quarterly or annual evaluation and salary recommendation process, especially with employers such as the ones that you have.

On another note, if you've not yet reached your 90-day evaluation period, I wouldn't really react to 'what is' at your job yet. Give it some time and give them a chance. Keeping within your scope of practice, prove to them what an asset you are as an LPN, not as a Fire Marshall. If you see something that's 'off' regulatory-wise (acute care nurse with regulatory background here), slip a note under management's door. Point out that blocked fire door, expired fire extinguisher, etc., and how you can improve patient-care delivery with a couple of 'adjustments'. Offer to help with fire inservices and drills on the night shift. Give them what they are lacking and a little time to realize that you are worth more than $22/hr., and then, if you don't get the results you desire, move on.

Good luck to you!

[caliotter3]

If you know that you want to leave, I would wait only so long as it takes to get a firm offer for a new job.

[ponymom]

I would quit and hang these pigs in holy hell on my way out the door. You are apparently their latest doormat. It sounds as if you are not in the states. If however you are, that's even more pathetic.

Good luck...

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

If your screen name is your real name- you ought to change it. Never know when something you post online might be used against you.