Upset with delegation

[lovaza]

I work as an RN in medsurg/tele unit in one of the hospital in Illinois. When I came to work last night I was surprised and upset because charge nurse put me as PCT. There were 4 nurses on night shift plus our charge RN and one PCT. There are 16 patients on the unit but only 1 PCT available. That's why they put me as second PCT on the floor. I was upset because they could have devide the 16 patients to 4 nurses including me, then give 8 pts to PCT and 4 RN's would take 2 pts for complete care. I feel like being bullied in my work place and my patient the other night when I work as RN was asking me if was demoted. Is it fair assignment or do I need to talk to my manager about this matter. Please advise. Thank you.

[SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN]

I can understand why it would be annoying but as long as your getting paid the same as an RN, enjoy the break! My only apprehension would be if they were to ask you to do RN duties while working as a PCT because that could be confusing for everyone involved.

[the_murse_factor]

So you were getting paid a nurses salary to be a PCT? For 8 patients? You didn't have to worry about assessments, med passes, doctors orders, decline in pt function, possible codes, and all the RN charting, and were getting paid well over $20 something a hour (I assume) to do it.

That's called bullying? ummmmmmmmmm

[lovaza]

So you were getting paid a nurses salary to be a PCT? For 8 patients? You didn't have to worry about assessments, med passes, doctors orders, decline in pt function, possible codes, and all the RN charting, and were getting paid well over $20 something a hour (I assume) to do it.

That's called bullying? ummmmmmmmmm

It's not about money. It's about "Respect " of nursing profession. If your co-RN's don't respect you, it's like they don't have respect of their own profession.

[DowntheRiver]

Next time this happens, you need to speak up. If it doesn't go in your favor, you need to listen to the above advice and speak to the charge and then the DON if nothing changes. Prior to speaking to them, make sure you have your thoughts written down so you can go over it with them. It never helps to go into a meeting angry and babbling nonsense unable to make your point.

I suspect that part of this may be because you're male as well, and maybe because they possibly want to pass off those lifting duties to you. Yep, I said it. I've seen it happen. I've seen male nurses assigned heavier patients because it is assumed they will be able to handle them easier. Doesn't make it right, but it makes me wonder - are you the only male and is that influencing their decision?

[AliNajaCat]

As an aside, even though your assignment is PCT, in the case of an emergency or a change in patient condition, legally you would be held to RN standard of care for assessment or response. And they have to pay you your regular rate of pay for all the hours you work, anyway. It makes more sense, then, for the hospital to staff with the extra RN to divide up the patients between the extant RNs and the one PCT who they have.

If they don't see the wisdom of that, then I agree, it's time to start the log book for taking turns for both being PCT and floating, if that happens.

[Glycerine82, LPN]

This was common practice when I worked at the hospital and we were short a CNA. I think it's completely fair as long as next time they delegate a different nurse to fill in for the PCA.

Everything a PCA does is something nurses would have to do if we didn't have PCA's/CNA's.

I keep wishing they would do this in my facility so some of the "holier than thou" nurses would get a taste of exactly how hard the aides work.

[Glycerine82, LPN]

That was my 2nd PCT job in two weeks. I was expecting assignment rotation;at least other RN's could have experience the same thing. But never happened.

In this case, yes they are taking advantage. I can think of a few nurses who probably wouldn't be chosen to function as a PCT, but that's due to age/physical ability. Aside from those select few cases, every nurse should have their "turn" at functioning in this role.

As an aside, if you're a new nurse you may really enjoy it and get some experience with the PCT type tasks that nurses aren't as skilled at compared to seasoned PCT/CNA's. Just a thought.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

You got paid nurse wage? Id call that a bonus.

Obviously there's some bad vibes between the charge and you, so you might want to bring things up,

And they should know better if you are still toileting a high fall pt, that you cant do nything else til they are safely bck in bed/chair. If they couldn't see that, then yes not so much bullying as just being a jerk.

eta- you know, the more I think bout it, chrge would hve been better off to hve you s the "helping hands " nurse so you could help with other tasks too.Like I said , if charge put you as tech to demean you ( which may/may not be the case), something needs to be nipped in the bud...

sorry- have sticky keys