Unsafe Nursing

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Ugh, I normally work day shift on an Orthopedic floor, but we are short staffed, so I was scheduled to work night shift.... Well night shifts don't agree with me since I have narcolepsy, but that is a whole another story... I got there and one of the evening nurses goes.. "You almost got screwed".. Of coursed I'm not surpised but I said how... She said they were gonna leave Me (RN) and two LPNS for 23pts... I was like NO WAY.... We have to chart behind our LPNs, so that means I would have had to chart on 23pts, and do all IV pushes and central lines... I was furious.. One that is SO far against our set staffing pattern and two that is just UNSAFE.. I would NOT have put my license on the line for that.. THe evening RN went to bat for me and told them we would NOT be able to do that..

How in the world do hospitals justify doing staffing this way, I understand we might be short staffed, but that is ridiculous

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
how in the world do hospitals justify doing staffing this way, i understand we might be short staffed, but that is ridiculous

let me be one of the first to welcome you to the 'real' world of nursing. sadly, i'm sure every person on this bb could share a similar story, in which we've asked ourselves the same question. and in most places, nights are worse than days, as far as staffing goes. and, as a former ortho nurse, i feel your pain!!these pts are very demanding, even at night. pain meds, bed pans...it never ends

the real answer to your question is, they justify it until something unsafe or detrimental happens to the pt...and then they blame you!! :angryfire

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I think "Unsafe Nursing" should actually be considered a new specialty area.

;)/ :angryfire

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That is very scary. It's no wonder nobody wants to be a nurse anymore. :( Just a vicious cycle...

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I think "Unsafe Nursing" should actually be considered a new specialty area.

;)/ :angryfire

OMG! I nearly choked when I read that.........It is sad but true. :o

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I work in a nursing home and I think it is terrible that on the evening and night shifts there is no RN on duty, just two LPN's, and in this nursing home with two LPN's there are 108 residents. I think that is unsafe. All I can do hope and pray that the other LPN I am working with is experienced, it is a pretty scary feeling.

I think short staffing is an epidemic in this country.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

'Unsafe nursing' is an understatement for that attempted assignment.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
'unsafe nursing' is an understatement for that attempted assignment.

unsafe, certainly; uncommon, certainly not!! :angryfire

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