Surviving hospital overhaul

[MilliePieRN]

I've just been a nurse 1.5yrs working my first job. I'm feeling anxious about facility wide changes and wanted to hear from those who have been through it. All of our management got fired and interim management has come in to "fix" us. They care nothing about the employees and it's creating increasingly stressful work environments. People are leaving like which leaves us more understaffed and overworked. Our dept has not even had a manager in months... This started several months ago and I don't see any end in sight. Since this is a new thing for me, I'm having a hard time trusting that this will pass and everything will work out. The current target for "cutting spending" seems to be the higher paid nurses, which scares me. I feel security in knowing there are people around that I can turn to as a new nurse. When these more expensive nurses are finally pushed out, the stress for those who remain will skyrocket (not to mention pt safety and satisfaction will plummet)..

Any words of advice or reassurance?

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

Unfortunatly this is not a new thing and some places will probably continue to do this in the future. I don't think it will come down to you being the most senior nurse on the floor though. There will usually be someone else you can turn to for advice and bounce ideas off of.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I've been through some tumultuous periods/jobs in the past and I am sorry you are going through it now. It is not fun. It doesn't sound like the new management is going to turn out to be kind, caring, supportive, etc. If you think I am right about that, then I recommend the following: Keep your current job and try to make the best of it ... but keep your eyes open for a new job. If something attractive comes along, then don't be afraid to leave and go to a better place. But don't quit your current job until you have another one all lined up. But ... don't "emotionally" give up on your current job, because you might need to keep it for a while and having a horrible attitude will only make it worse.

I have just survived a tumultuous time. It was a little over 5 years ago that things got horribly bad. It was 2 years of horrible followed by another 2 years of bad. With some changes in leadership personnel, the last year has been and improvement -- and things are currently looking up. I don't regret that I stuck it out because I didn't have any good alternatives and by keeping my job, I have build up my financial situation, gotten some valuable experience, and my employment record is good. I am in a good position to benefit from that experience and professional record now that things are improving. But it was a hard few years and I paid an emotional price for staying.

Good luck to you.

[MilliePieRN]

That's a lot of years of bad, not very reassuring...

I don't plan on quitting and am trying to keep a positive attitude, but the lack of communication is getting to me. The new management is not telling us anything directly. There are 3 small hospitals in my area and I don't believe the grass is any greener at the other two (long term anyway). I'm not ready to leave the hospital environment at this point for several reasons. Biggest pro is that I have a good schedule. I know that the next couple of years is vital for the direction of my nursing career and I am willing to endure as much as I can. Several rn's have left and now the lpn:rn ratio is off which makes me charge 2/3 of the time. I detest being charge with a full pt load; taking care of my own patients is difficult enough.... It is physically and mentally more exhausting that I could have ever imagined. I just keep telling myself "what doesn't kill me makes me stronger"... Sure hope that is true (I can barely stand up straight after my last 3 shifts). It would sure help if I had a real goal. I know I don't want to work ms forever, but I have no real interest in other departments.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

This scenario plays out over and over again in facilities across the country.

Ask not what the facility can do for you, ask what you can do for the facility. (sorry JFK)

Smile.. be upbeat.. make suggestions.. smile some more. When the dust finally settles, you will be remembered as a supportive team member. You have nothing to lose.