Wanting to make this nightmare get better

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health, L&D, Nsy, PP.

Ok, taking a long breath...

I have been working L&D for over two years now in a small hospital (approx. 800-900 deliveries a year). When I first started I was scared to death because I was basically thrown to the wolves. I found myself working nights alone with little experience, etc., etc. I went briefly to another hospital, but kept PRN status at my place of employment, hoping things would get better because I did love my area and my coworkers. Also this hospital is much closer to home. Eventually my wish list was granted and I was lured back to full time status with promises of at least two nurses each shift.

Shortly after, the second nurse started getting pulled to other areas. We had all rather not get pulled, but we figured at least there was another L&D nurse in house if an emergency came up. There were a couple of nurses who would do things like holding pt's longer than needed to keep from being floated, but for the most part, we all pitched in and did what we were asked. Then it progressed to the post partum nurse being called off on weekends and the second labor and delivery nurse covering post partum (because of the "few lazy nurses" - management's words), with the post partum nurse being called in if we got really busy. Some of us did complain then because that was defeating the purpose of the second L&D nurse in the event of an emergency. We were told that if there was an emergency, the supervisor could cover untill the PP nurse got there (what if the supervisor was busy with something like, oh, say, a code??!!) Even then I wasn't one of the complainers.

Now we are seemingly being "punished" as a unit for complaining by being told that the second nurse HAS to take patients on med-surge if we are slow. No prior warning this was coming, no orientation to the floor - just BAM! I walked into work one night and was told that I would be working med-surg. Not helping out, but taking patients. To top it off we have been told that if we don't stop complaining, we will all be disciplined. Some of us never complained until it reached this point, but still we have always gotten memos about our attitudes and the memos have always been addressed to ALL labor and delivery staff.

We are constantly told we are whiners, etc. It seems to me that if EVERYONE is complaining, maybe it isn't just a "bad attitude" or whining. People have been quitting to the point that I am the senior nurse in L&D and I have only been a nurse a little over two years.

Honestly, what do you guys think? Our entire unit is coming unglued. Everyone is threatening to quit. I LOVE my co-workers. I love my job. I love the MDs I work with. I have had my second nurse floated when I had three patients, then later got two more and practically had to beg to get my second back to the unit. Even then it took approx. 45 minutes. Are we being whiney? What do you think? Any suggestions?

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I don't think you're being whiney. You signed up to be an L&D nurse - not med/surg. I think you need to weigh what's most important to you - does being with coworkers you like, etc., outweigh the fact that you're being forced to work elsewhere?

I think I would go somewhere else if it were me. It doesn't sound like your management is very supportive of staff on a variety of issues. If they're not willing to listen to staff feedback, perhaps the only leverage you have is to leave. It doesn't sound like they're willing to listen to anything else. Plus, if you go somewhere else, you can find new coworkers you like, and still keep in touch with your current coworkers but on a social level. Don't let management push you around - if they can get away with this, then what else is in the future? Good luck.

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health, L&D, Nsy, PP.

Thank you for your support, anne74. I have been just sick about this. I just needed to hear that I'm not being unrealistic here. Maybe a little orientation would be nice for starters. Also we were told that this will probably be carried over to other areas - ICU, etc. Looooooooooong sigh...

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Sounds like an untenable place to work.

Management can only get away with this type of behavior if you ALLOW them to treat you that way.

It comes down to this: what's the worst they can do? Fire you? If the job is such that it would be better not to work there, then what do you have to lose?

Personally, I spent too much time and effort on my license and experience to be told to 'suck up' dangerous situations.

Shoot, in most of the places I have worked, OB, PP, and NBN were not ALLOWED to float to 'dirty' floors. It just doesn't seem wise to risk colonizing those nurses with MRSWhatever.

Personally, one of my favorite quotes comes from this site:

Being a good employee is NOT always the same thing as being a good nurse.

Do they truly understand that the price they are about to pay in unit cohesion and retention far outweighs THEIR whining about the price of safety? So, make them understand: one way, or another.

What do you have to lose? Aren't you already at that point, anyway?

One of my HR directors had this saying: "I just don't understand nurses in it for the money." Well, I for one, very well understand why I don't work there anymore.

Simply put, TPTB need YOU more than you need them. . .

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health, L&D, Nsy, PP.

Thank you so much Timothy. I'm smiling for the first time today I think. Now, after reading your post I wonder why I wasted an entire wonderful day thinking about these people. You're right, I am to that point and I do know what I need to do. I really just needed a little reassurance that I wasn't spazzing.

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Specializes in Nurse Manager, Labor and Delivery.

I can't believe they just keep one person around, doing that many deliveries a year. We do almost 1000 a year and when we are slow we are REQUIRED to have 2 nurses there, and one in house on call, and another on call. (we have 4 nurses staffed at all times) Seems to me your facility is playing games that can cost dearly if something goes wrong. Pulling to other units is a game they play also, but seems when they try it, something inevitably goes wrong on our unit, so they really don't try to do it, only as last resort. I know you like it, but I would find another place if it were me. You gotta be happy in what you are doing.

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Specializes in high risk OB.

Do you augment patients with pitocin or use epidurals? If you do then maybe administration needs to take a look at safe staff to pt ratios. During the week we staff at least 4 RNs and 1-2 OBTs. On weekends we have at least 3 RNs and 1 OBT. I personally would refuse to work any L&D without at least 3 nurses and a OBT. I work on a "high risk" unit and anything less than the above staffing is unacceptable.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
People have been quitting to the point that I am the senior nurse in L&D and I have only been a nurse a little over two years.

This statement sums it up. EVERYONE with the experience to know how dangerous this unit is has already left! (Except you.)

It takes a MINIMUM of 2 years to become an expert RN in L&D. You are the sole RN on your unit with that amount of experience, which means that you are endangering your license and livelihood every time you go into work. No one should work on ANY unit that has less than 50% experienced staff members. It is patently dangerous for patients and staff alike.

Please go. It is not possible for this situation to be fixed any time soon. Leave on good terms so that you can return in the future if you see solid evidence that the conditions on the unit have improved.

If you stay, please purchase personal and keep the insurance carrier's number on speed dial. You will most definitely be using it.

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Specializes in SICU.

Please get out of there as soon as possible. Give two weeks notice and leave on good terms. Then for the nurses still left there call JACHO. JACHO really dosen't like what your hospital is doing. The only thing your administators will understand is a higher administrator handing out fines.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Timothy's post said it perfectly. Where I used to have to float, we did not take patient assignments, just did basically CNA type work...that way, if OB got busy, we were sent back and did not have to "abandon" pts to the unit to which we floated.

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I would definetely leave. I worked L&D for two years back in the 70's.....Show's how ancient I am. I left because of similiar staffing issues at that time. One week after I transferred to the OR a mother coded. There was only one RN on at the time and the hospital was sued BIG TIME! I never did regret leaving. Take care of yourself.... no one else will! is a good idea... I have been an RN for 36 years and would not practice without it.

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health, L&D, Nsy, PP.

Welll, shortly after I posted this thread I confronted my nurse manager about things. The next day I worked, I was approached by the supervisor (in front of the offgoing shift, an MD and other coworkers and told (out loud, in front of everyone) that I was to be escorted downstairs for a "random" drug test.

As I said, our hospital is very small and everyone knows everyone. I asked the lady in the lab, who was doing my screen, if they did a lot of random tests. She said, no, but they were supposed to start doing them. It sounded as if I was the first. A bit odd after a confrontation, huh?

I don't have anything to hide and didn't make a fuss, but I was humiliated! There was no confidentiality, just a supervisor announcing in front of everyone that she was escorting me to be drug tested. She then turned to my coworker and told her that she had to stay and watch the patients, but then would be floated to med-surg (we had three patients on the unit), GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

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