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?
Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
Sounds to me like you need some physicians in your corner...what I mean is, some of these attending physicians should take your hospital administrators aside and say..."listen, bonehead, my L/D nurses don't need to be "floated" to other floors to cover for your other staffing issues.
I don't understand why more MDs don't jump in the fray and say "whoa"...what's going on here???? Why is there no one here I recognize that's been here more than 2 years?? (No offense)
This happened here at my hospital in the ICU (Peds Level I )...one of our attending CT surgeons went on a 3 month hiatus with his family and when he came back he didn't recognize a soul on the B shift (7p-7a) shift. Suffice it to say that he woke the hospital president up to voice his displeasure...and voice it he did.
It's sad that there isn't more advocating going around...I guess some people feel like "oh, whatever..I'm getting paid, what do I care?"...That's not good enough.
I'm with other posters here...quit if you wish. I'm just sorry because it's obvious from your post that you love your job and your coworkers.
Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
I'm pretty sure there are some confidentiality issues associated with the way this was done...personally I'd be in HR chewing on someone for that stunt.
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!
Dear Tryingtomakeit...........What a nightmare !! I am sorry to say I work in a similar place, but I am near the end of my career. So many people are in management who have no business being managers. Bottom line is the almighty dollar and we will be stretched to the limit to fill staffing needs. When I started at my hospital, there were 5 people on 3-11 plus a unit secretary. Now we have 1 L& D, 1 PP, and 1 nursery. We do all the secretarial and most times JANITORIAL WORK. In an emergency a nurse has to leave her area ( often with an aide from another floor.......talk about liablilty !!! ) I have been outspoken in the past to no avail. Often we are reminded that our hospital is a "free will " employer..........meaning we can be fired for no reason. Nurses and managers are all writing others up and the morale is in the toilet. I think the profession will never go anywhere as most of us are still women. Teaching got strong and salaries were raised when more men came into the profession and they unionized. I really don't know what the answers are. If I were younger, I would definitely leave nursing or at least get an advanced degree and have some power.
If you don't take care of yourself no one else will. I have 33 years of experience
and NO WAY would I work under those conditions!When disaster strikes (and it will) you will be all alone,administration will not be there to support you.
I don't understand why the docs will tolerate that staffing,you'd think they would be worried about their own license!
I hope you will takes the advice given and find another job.
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!
Childish passive-aggressive behavior.
If anything was going to tell you that management is NOT going to treat you professionally, this is it.
I think the exit lamps are lit, the emergency hatches are open and the rubber exit slides have been inflated and deployed. It's time to bail out of this baby 'afore she explodes. I mean, can't you smell the leaking jet fuel?
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vamedic4, EMT-P
1,061 Posts
Sounds to me like you need some physicians in your corner...what I mean is, some of these attending physicians should take your hospital administrators aside and say..."listen, bonehead, my L/D nurses don't need to be "floated" to other floors to cover for your other staffing issues.
I don't understand why more MDs don't jump in the fray and say "whoa"...what's going on here???? Why is there no one here I recognize that's been here more than 2 years?? (No offense)
This happened here at my hospital in the ICU (Peds Level I )...one of our attending CT surgeons went on a 3 month hiatus with his family and when he came back he didn't recognize a soul on the B shift (7p-7a) shift. Suffice it to say that he woke the hospital president up to voice his displeasure...and voice it he did.
It's sad that there isn't more advocating going around...I guess some people feel like "oh, whatever..I'm getting paid, what do I care?"...That's not good enough.
I'm with other posters here...quit if you wish. I'm just sorry because it's obvious from your post that you love your job and your coworkers.
Good luck.
vamedic4
0242 and miles to go before I sleep