Too Many Hats, Not enough heads

[hospicevet 20, ASN, RN]

Hi All, While I am considered a strong hospice nurse, and have gobs of experience, I have come up against a wall. I just resigned from a position with a for-profit corporate focused hospice, that is branched off from a home care company. When I was hired, there were two other RNs, an LPN, three CNAs, a chaplain and a SW. One of the RNs quit when her father became ill, another was fired for lousy performance and paper visits, leaving me and the Clinical Director as the regular RNs, plus one PRN fellow who helps out when he can (he has a full time job running a farm). One of our CNAs had a baby and left. Rough, but doable. Then two months ago, my clinical director gave notice that she had to move out of state with her husband for health reasons. I was offered the Clinical Director position by the Executive Director, and after thinking about it, agreed, on the condition that at least one other RN is hired ASAP. Everyone was in agreement. Right before my CD is to leave, the ED was fired. I spoke with multiple people at Corporate, from the Division VP to the Director of Operations, everyone agreed that another nurse will be hired, and I had lots of promises that there would be an ad placed, etc, yada, yada. I would get a bonus, and they appreciated everything I was doing, keeping the place held together, I was the glue, etc.

No ad was placed. For three weeks, I was the only RN, the CD, and the ED. When I left, I was threatened by the VP of Hospice that she would turn me in to the Board of Nursing for abandoning my patients. I'm not really concerned about that, but I'm just so angry that people can treat others so badly. It has shaken my faith in hospice, and in the people in hospice. This has been my passion, and I am embarassed to be in the same field as these mercenary scavengers. Any suggestions?

[tencat]

For profit and hospice will ALWAYS clash and really don't fit together well. I think you absolutely did the right thing by quitting, and instead of threatening you they should have been A LOT more supportive as now they're in a huge pickle due to their lack of foresight.

I work for a for-profit, and at times I get VERY irritated with the business side of things. I don't know if non-profit is better, but maybe. On the whole I do love my job, but I DO NOT want to be in charge of anything as I think those in charge are more concerned with the bottom line than good patient care because the company encourages them to be this way.

[hospicevet 20, ASN, RN]

Penny wise, Pound foolish, as my granny used to say. They have had to import a nurse from out of state, put her up in a hotel, rent a car, and pay for all meals. What really chaps my hide is that she doesn't know the patients or their families, doesn't know our city (which can be difficult even with Mapquest), and doesn't know the team. This is not quality care, and the people I worked with deserve a lot better. It just would have been so much simpler to hire another nurse when they said they would. I guess a lot of my frustration is based on a certain level of self-righteousness, but I hate being lied to, and I hate bad care.

[Hospicetex]

Penny wise, Pound foolish, as my granny used to say. They have had to import a nurse from out of state, put her up in a hotel, rent a car, and pay for all meals. What really chaps my hide is that she doesn't know the patients or their families, doesn't know our city (which can be difficult even with Mapquest), and doesn't know the team. This is not quality care, and the people I worked with deserve a lot better. It just would have been so much simpler to hire another nurse when they said they would. I guess a lot of my frustration is based on a certain level of self-righteousness, but I hate being lied to, and I hate bad care.

Which is why I am now employed elsewhere. I too have worked for a company with similar values and our patients do deserve so much better than that!

[caliotter3]

Apparently you were told what they thought you wanted to hear in order to accept the position. It is not your fault they reneged. Common sense dictates that another nurse should have been hired. Hope you find another job soon.

[tewdles, RN]

for profit hospice is most definitely not my cup of tea either...

good luck.

[systoly]

Not a well run company, was it? The VP made that clear with her completely false interpretation of abandonment. Hospice services are like extended care, some are awful, but some are a blessing to the patients and families.

[hospicevet 20, ASN, RN]

Have had a few interviews, and a couple sound really good. (the good news!)

Had lunch with one of my former teammates last week, and she said the new plan is to have the RN only see the patients every other week, and the LPN will see patients & families the rest of the time. It does fit the very minimum level of care for the COPs, but I personally believe patients in hospice need more attention. As the VP told me, "It's not about what makes you feel good." Apparently so, I guess it's about profit margin. The LPN isn't paid as much as an RN, and thank God she's an extremely competent nurse, for the patient's sake.

BTW, they haven't paid me my last paycheck or over 90 hours of PTO that I'd accumulated, and that was due last Friday. I guess I'll have to make a formal demand with the Labor Board. If they continue to balk, the state will hit them with a fine of up to three times the amount owed. It truly is a very poorly run company.