The other day I had to call a rapid on a patient at shift change. I stayed for the rapid (I was the primary nurse) and gave a stat med that was ordered after the patent stabilized. By this time, it was nearly 1 hour after shift change. I gave report to the oncoming nurse, asked her if she needed me to stick around then left when she said no. I had to return that night so wanted to get home to sleep.
I got an e-mail from my supervisor asking why I didn't stay to transfer the patient. I didn't stay because at that point, the patient didn't have a bed on another unit and as the patient was stable, I didn't see a reason to wait around. Apparently, I should have stuck around and waited the 30min before they got a bed.
I feel like a colossal screw up right now. I have been a nurse for 4 years but only 2 of those have been in acute care (I worked LTC for 2 years) and I do struggle with RR's and Codes. I am now second guessing myself. Today I just want to curl up and cry, not go into work. I'll go because we are short staffed.
I have thought for a long long time that if hospitals would make staffing their priority, nurse job satisfaction would skyrocket. There would be less burnout. Less burnout means less turnover. Less turnover saves hospitals money. Better staffing also means fewer medication errors. Fewer medications errors translates into fewer lawsuits, which saves hospitals money.
But no, they never seem to grasp this simple concept. STAFFING.IS.KEY.
The only priority a hospital has a MONEY. They could care less if a nurse calls in sick & the unit has one less nurse to work with. As long as the work gets done, patients send back positive surveys & nobody files a lawsuit, they're happy.
The days of hospitals/employers treating nurses/employees like they care are LONG GONE.
Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
Update: I spoke with my manager and he gave me a "coaching" about staying. I also found out that the primary MD put in a report on both the on coming nurse and myself. They were claiming that we didn't give the patient the meds they had ordered. The problem with that was that the primary didn't come to the rapid, she showed up afterwards. We got orders from the two residents who attended the rapid and then orders from the primary. The patient got his meds, the first set of meds that were ordered. the lack of communication between the residents and the hospitalists is astounding. None of this would have happened if the primary had called the unit when I first called her, or showed up at there rapid. Lesson learned. Don't ever trust her. (I am fortunate that I only have to work with her one week out of the year.)
Other than that, it's settled and done. Thank you all for your support!
True, but it they would improve staffing, they would save money in the long run. They could have their cake and eat it too if they would understand that having happy employees actually does help the bottom line.
Horseshoe, BSN, RN
5,879 Posts
I have thought for a long long time that if hospitals would make staffing their priority, nurse job satisfaction would skyrocket. There would be less burnout. Less burnout means less turnover. Less turnover saves hospitals money. Better staffing also means fewer medication errors. Fewer medications errors translates into fewer lawsuits, which saves hospitals money.
But no, they never seem to grasp this simple concept. STAFFING.IS.KEY.