Hello out there! This is my first time posting and I will try to be as concise and objective as possible :-)
The Backstory
I work for a corporate hospital in rural Wyoming. In 2014 our hospital merged with its "sister" hospital that is 30 miles away. Many departments have gone to a Market Director approach to management which means that there is one director per department for BOTH hospitals. Inevitably doubling the work load for the director and leaving the department staff short changed when needing immediate unit director intervention- be it with inner staffing issues, floor concerns, etc. I work nights on the Med/Surg floor and strive to be very proactive with direct and objective communication and leadership. My hope for posting this thread is to gain guidance, insight, or words of wisdom about how to continue on with my job when it feels like "all of the rats are leaving the sinking ship".
In the last 90 days...
We have lost our fifth DNO in three years time.
The Med/Surg floor has had eight nurses quit in one month.
The Rehab and PACU/OR unit directors were invited to resign do to poor ethical violations.
On the M/S floor we are required to take up to six patients per nurse and in the evenings it is almost guaranteed that we will NOT have a CNA or assistance to help attend to patient needs- often resulting in a negative patient experience.
Things are feeling pretty dismal.
All of these issues (plus a few personal ones) leave me feeling pretty crappy. I try to tell myself that it gets worse before it gets better... It's always darkest before the light... But it KEEPS getting worse.
If anyone out there has seen their hospital suffer through some growing pains I'm open to recommendations of how to be an effector of change. Or stories to let me know that I am NOT alone.
What I have done...
I have spoken with one of my directors... who may not be my director now... about my goals for employment- wanting to precept and work with the college students. I used to have open communication with one of our directors but I hardly see her anymore because of schedules. I have spoken with seasoned nurses on this floor and they all tell me that I need to keep marching on and ride the tide.
When I first started working on this floor, I knew things were going to be tough. Staffing, pay, nursing ratio, the lack of leadership or teamwork, the threat of an inner circle between nurses and directors. But I was exhilarated to be doing something powerful for my community. Now I just feel blah. I continue to work hard for my patients because that is part of my moral fiber but... damn.
I'll stop here. I know I/we can go on and on about the thankless job we have signed up for but my biggest issue is that it feels like the ship is sinking and there is nowhere else to work.
Thank you for reading and thank you for any advice :-)
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Last night your original post had over two hundred views within minutes. Those were search engines and possibly the bots that corporations have to scan the web looking for negative comments on social media.
Not long after I posted I had a pop up that read allnurses wants access to your location and the buttons to accept or decline. That has never happened before.
I apologize for sounding harsh. My intent was to prevent you from being targeted for termination either for being identified for writing the original post or writing anything about even entertaining the idea of forming a union at your hospital.
Union busting is a billion dollar industry. Their tactics are unconscionable. Never discuss unionizing at work. Even a rumor about talking about a union is enough for HR to start progressive disciplinary action to make an example of the nurses who try to organize.
I suggested the NNOC because of your commitment to your community rather than this corporate entity.
How do you see how many views your post has? That's pretty scary that she had that many views.
I have a personal interest in this thread as my "ship" has been sinking for months. Advice as to leaving is harder than you think. With almost 20 years at my facility, and 36 months until earliest retirement, I'm between a rock and a hard place.
My working conditions are miserable, and are only going to get worse, if the current trajectory continues. What do I do? Transferring in house seems pointless, as all units are pretty much run the same.
My personal panic is that I've been floated to critical areas.
I'm sorry to hi-jack BtoM RN's thread, but I'm closely following posters for advice too.
I hear what you are saying but the truth is we really need to make calculating decisions and attempt to keep ourselves from being beholden to our employers. Its not easy for some to make a move but for me I can't imagine having my entire family's income and future riding on one institution especially when the writing is clearly on the wall. In my experience things do not get better, they get worse. It is so important to remain current with skills, education as well as keeping expenses low so we are able to be flexible with changes as needed.
Specializes in Infection Prevention, Public Health.
Well, it may sound lame, but the best you can do in this situation is "create your own weather." Having 36 months till retirement is actually a really short period of time. Congrats on your successful career.
You can leave a legacy of integrity. Continuing your work with students is a great way to share your knowledge. Focus on something you do have control over and that management won't sabotage. Something like revamping a broken clinical process can be rewarding and attainable.
The cool thing is that 36 months will go by so quickly and...just think how much fun you can have when you are 2 days away from retirement and can yell from the rooftops whatever your truth is.
Rural hospitals have been struggling and some have even closed across the nation because they were in the red. I don't think there is anything you can do to change the situation. Your best bet is to look for a different job somewhere else where staffing is better. If you stay things will continue to be the same or worse and you might find yourself laid off when and if the hospital closes. So if you are planning on staying start saving some emergency money in case the hospital closes. But a better choice would be to look for a new job before that happens as you will have less competition! Good luck!
Specializes in Postpartum/Lactation/Nursing Education.
Do not under any circumstances discuss unionization attempts anywhere in your place of employment or around anyone who may run and tattle on you to management. Doing so will do nothing more than put a target on your back. Most managers at such facilities will smile to your face while they stick the knife in your back. While I applaud your desire to change the facility for the better, you don't stand a chance. Keep your head down, do your work safely and effectively, document everything, and start looking for a different job asap. Good luck.
I have a personal interest in this thread as my "ship" has been sinking for months. Advice as to leaving is harder than you think. With almost 20 years at my facility, and 36 months until earliest retirement, I'm between a rock and a hard place.
My working conditions are miserable, and are only going to get worse, if the current trajectory continues. What do I do? Transferring in house seems pointless, as all units are pretty much run the same.
My personal panic is that I've been floated to critical areas.
I'm sorry to hi-jack BtoM RN's thread, but I'm closely following posters for advice too.
You are being forced to work in an area that you are not trained for. That is jeopardizing your patients and your license.
There is no excuse for taking it laying down. There are many employment opportunities available.
Is this the nautical version of:[ATTACH]19343[/ATTACH]
"Polish proverb"? I'm Polish-American but don't recall this one, perhaps someone can enlighten me :) Love it (in LVN school, no shortage of drama queens)!
OCNRN63, RN
5,979 Posts
How do you see how many views your post has? That's pretty scary that she had that many views.