totally useless today

I went to a hospital I had never been to before today for agency I work for. They were short 3 nurses, and I don't know how much other staff. I couldn't find anything anywhere. I was told to ask staff to put orders in computer since I can't. Several times they didn't do it. No one told me when I had new patients in my rooms.

It took me so long to take care of the few patients I had that I feel totally worthless and useless.

In my home ER I am considered quite efficient.

This was only my 3rd time out to any hospital. Did not have the same problems at the other places. They seemed to have a much better system for everything and I did not feel as lost.

I need a pep talk.

Dear Gonzo1, You are still very efficent, and capable! When you are basically parachuted into, a totally unfamiliar, battle/work zone, and you have no backup to speak of, consider it a victory, to complete the assignment, no matter how long it took! I would definitely, put that particular, hospital down, as a( I pass) the next time, the agency gets a shift there. I wish you all the best!

Thanks for the words of encouragement. The staff there was nice, but you could tell they were beat to a pulp. I was able to handle it for the eight hours. Am so glad I didn't sign up for my usual 12.

Obviously there is a reason they are so short. I am proud of you for staying and doing as well as you did:monkeydance: . When I was a lab tech, I went to a temp assignment that was so bad I called the lab director to come relieve me and I left..not the best feeling- it was so frustrating, but I could not begin to fix in 12 hours what it had taken years of neglect to cause.

Hi everyone,

i have done registry here and there and have a list of hospitals that i will only go to. i work only nights med surg. One day i went to a very short staffed night shift had 5 of my own plus 4 more with an LVN. i should have left right away, instead i needed to money badly and stayed, it was so disorganized and confusing and nurses were rude speaking in their own language about me in front of me. From that day on never again.So i feel you frustration too.

you are still the organized and efficient person

that found yourself in a unfamiliar setting

and it was not staffed as was needed

please realize that you are valued.

I had a chance to talk to my agency today and she said that there had been reports of this hospital not being very nice to do agency at. Now I wonder how they compare, are they just a little bad, or really bad.

She said they didn't call in to say I couldn't ever come back.

Any other per diem horror stories out there.