Staffing shortage.

[Llred]

I'm a RPN in Ontario, Canada. Working in a retirement residence. We have 2 "traditional care floors"=85 residents and 1 "enriched care floor" = 55 residents. Numbers fluctuate, esp on enriched. Ex:recoup from hosp ad., waiting placement in LTC.... Recently we have had a staffing shortage. Only 8 registered staff for scheduling. 2 nurses for days, 2 nurses for eve, one night nurse and a treatment nurse for 07 - 1100. Medicating for all 55 on enriched and 56 on tradional care floors.Plus orders, phone calls and whatever else pops up! We also have PSW's(so many of them, I've lost count!) 1 PT RPN has quit, they hired a new RPN, she also quit to work at hosp. We have been informed that starting next schedule we'll be working 12 hr shifts(Working 8hr at present) through the summer to give our part time staff (3) = qother weekend off. We have also been informed vacation times will be revoked d/t shortage. :angryfire We have asked they look into hiring agency to fill in the gaps until new staff hired & orient. Anyone else out there have any similar exp/ any ideas??? We could use your help.

[nurseinlimbo]

Same situation here, we just hired a per diem staff to work on evening a week max and that's supposed to help. I tried to quit to return to casual and they won't let me. In the meantime, we are working short almost every weekend and when someone is on holidays the rest have to work their a$$ off to cover. So by the time you get time off you are so baked you don't enjoy it.

It is like this every summer.