This is making me nervous

[reddellrn]

:grn:my hospital is trying to cut corners due to low census. So here is what they are doing. I work on a 10 bed rehab unit. our average amt of pts is 4-7. Now they want to pull my lpn to the medsurg floor from 11-7, leaving the rn by theirself. If the census on the medsurg floor is low they wont pull the nurse. Now even with 4 pts im very uncomfortable and nervous all night long by myself. what if some one codes or im giving meds in one room and someone is trying to get out of bed in another room? And we have alot of pts with dementia, alzehimers and stroke pts with impulse issues. What do yall think? Is this safe? Can they do this? Is it legal?

[reddellrn]

Ok let me clarify myself. We do total care, no cnas on yhr rehab unit. These pts do have med issues, chf, dm, recent mi, seizures, etc. All pts have bed alarms. Some pts learn to turn them off. And sometimes by the time you get there, they r already out of the bed. Most of these pts cannot ambulate by theirselves. They are very unsteady. So that's why I dont like being by myself on the unit. To brown, I did not post to be made fun of. Please keep the sarcasm to yourself.

[reddellrn]

We do not have sitters for 1 on 1. That's not allowed. We work with the bare minimum at my hospital.

[reddellrn]

Sitters cost extra money, ie cutting cost!

[ddunnrn]

Question: Who relieves you when you go on break? Many legal issues if your employer does not provide full relief, if they don't pay you for the time you are working without relief when they say it is your break--this includes holding keys, answering phones, etc.

Comment: this is another reason why all nurses should be unionized.

[maryw1212]

another issue no one has mentioned is the personal safety of yourself. speak with employee health about turning, trying to pull pt up in bed etc. they most definetley do not want to pay the expense of having an employee out on workers comp because of short staffing, they will probably get involved on your behalf. if they mention using devices to prevent injury, those are VERY difficult to use on your own. best of luck to you.

[pers]

Well, I guess then that you are prepared to be fired.

Fired? No. Prepared to protect my license? Damn skippy.

We all take risks and that's one I'm not willing to accept. I refuse to accept any assignment I consider unsafe and being the sole nurse on my unit is not safe. There may be some who are happy to take that on and they can have it. If my employer tried to fire me for refusing such an assignment I'd happily take the unemployment and get another job.

Patients on my unit can go bad quickly and having help is essential. Sure, folks will be there within 3 or 4 minutes to help if my patient codes but I'm more concerned about all the other things that can go wrong. Like when they are circling the drain and as the only person on the floor I'd have to make a choice between being with the patient and being at the phone to deal with the doctor/supervisor/lab/pharmacy/whoever. Or dealing with a confused and combative patient by myself without a reliable way to get help quickly. Or getting slammed with multiple admissions. We don't have a secretary at night so as the only person on the unit I would really be the only person on the unit. That's not happening. Ever.

Fortunately, my employers also think that sort of staffing is beyond stupid and not safe so it's not a situation I'd find myself in. Our core staffing level requires two nurses at all times regardless of the number of patients. It doesn't have to be two RNs but it does have to be two nurses.

[maryw1212]

sorry i forgot one other thing, my sentiments exactly about browns reply. it was mean spirited and basically making fun of your situation. keep smiling

[Tait, MSN, RN]

Sounds like a case for the state to determine safety on. Wouldn't hurt to call and ask their opinion right?

[Mulan]

Fired? No. Prepared to protect my license? Damn skippy.

We all take risks and that's one I'm not willing to accept. I refuse to accept any assignment I consider unsafe and being the sole nurse on my unit is not safe. There may be some who are happy to take that on and they can have it. If my employer tried to fire me for refusing such an assignment I'd happily take the unemployment and get another job.

Patients on my unit can go bad quickly and having help is essential. Sure, folks will be there within 3 or 4 minutes to help if my patient codes but I'm more concerned about all the other things that can go wrong. Like when they are circling the drain and as the only person on the floor I'd have to make a choice between being with the patient and being at the phone to deal with the doctor/supervisor/lab/pharmacy/whoever. Or dealing with a confused and combative patient by myself without a reliable way to get help quickly. Or getting slammed with multiple admissions. We don't have a secretary at night so as the only person on the unit I would really be the only person on the unit. That's not happening. Ever.

Fortunately, my employers also think that sort of staffing is beyond stupid and not safe so it's not a situation I'd find myself in. Our core staffing level requires two nurses at all times regardless of the number of patients. It doesn't have to be two RNs but it does have to be two nurses.

Well, then, it's a moot point in your case isn't it?

[pers]

Well, then, it's a moot point in your case isn't it?

It's not a situation I would find myself in at my current facility, but the OP was asking what people thought about the situation as it is one she faces so I offered my opinion.

[Jenni811, RN]

eeeeeek. Yea i wouldn't like that. Possibly at least have a CNA on the floor with you??? Not saying they are "cheap work" because i was a CNA too but they make less than a nurse

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

If management won't crack, ask them for a panic alarm that you can keep in your pocket. I've worked ER and labor and delivery alone, and you will get help very quickly even if you can't get to a phone.