tonight I learned just how discouraged I am !!

[fairyluv]

tonight I learned that nursing is a lot about cleaning up the previous shifts screw ups. Had a resident that had to have a procedure done at a local hosp. Well come to find out, that hosp had her on the schedule but no order to do procedure, dr's office sent all info to another hosp. so resident does not get procedure done. guess who gets the blame ??? and once again I am having to call dr's to get written scrips for Rx, cause the pharm won't deliver without a script. spent half my shift on the phone with dr's and pharmacies. trying to get one to get a procecdure and the other for the missing meds. Twas not a good night. Didnt get to take a lunch and didn't get to clock out til 1 1/2 hrs after it was time to clock out. Now i hear that we are gonna get wrote up if we don't take a lunch or if we stay over. if we aren't finished with our work then the next shift nurse is to take over. So I guess the next nurse is suppose to do my charting for me ?? Cause by the time I get done with my med passes I still have 10 skilled residents to chart on and 3 who are on ABX. So a total of 13 people to chart on. And I usually stay over atleast and hour just to finish my charting. And I'm not the only nurse who stays over. As hard as I try I just can't get out on time. I suppose I probably could if I cut corners and shortcut my med pass or just chart VS. But I can't in good conscious do that. (that damn conscious again). i am beginning to feel that no matter how hard I try to do the right thing. I still get in trouble for it and it somehow seems to not be appreciated. It's very discouraging for me.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Wow, what a mess. But why would you be blamed? From the information you provided, it seems as though the problem originated with the physician's office. It is obviously a system breakdown that should be addressed via your organization's Quality Improvement efforts.

I would suggest taking a more pro-active approach. Rather than waiting for the 'axe to fall', why don't you meet with your DON and discuss the event & work on a way to ensure that it doesn't happen again (and create another mess for you to fix). It could be addressed as a Quality Improvement initiative. But be careful, if you display too much intelligence & motivation you'll probably end up getting promoted - LOL.

[Talon]

Fairyluv, it's NOT YOU!!! The vast majority of nurses who are doing their jobs correctly have this problem, especially in LTC. There is simply not enough time to do the job period, and since we are responsible for everyone else's job, we're especially screwed. This is what drives the good nurses, the ones who have consciences and truly want to help out of this hellhole "profession". Wish I had an answer for you and myself as well as I have two feet out of nursing at this point. Good luck.