What would you do...

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Hello,

I have been an RN for about one year. I would like an honest opinion of this situation and my response to it.

I work the 7p-7a shift. I clocked in and am told that there are 17 patients (7 are post-ops) between 2 nurses after 11p. From 7p-11p, there will be 3 RNs and 1 LPN. The nurse manager is on vacation and the next in charge has been there all day and was fully aware of the situation, but left at 5p. The 7a-7p charge nurse says they have done all they can do, but there is no one. The nurse giving me report, says that someone needs to do something, b/c if we keep taking these patients short-staffed, then they will continue assigned them as so. The other nurses who are leaving for the day are saying it is not safe and they wouldn't take the other patients at 11p. The 7p-7a charge nurse is not making any attempt to correct the situation. The nurse giving me report calls the nursing supervisor and explains the situation. I then call the nursing supervisor, telling her that I don't think this is safe. She agrees and says that she is trying to get a nurse. The other nurses are saying that I am just starting trouble with management and nothing is going to be done and I won't get a nurse. About an hour later, the nursing supervisor comes on the floor and says that we will get a nurse at 11p. The night goes well. I send a e-mail to my nurse manager explaining the situation.

The next day, the charge nurse from yesterday is getting report from me and proceeds to tell me that what I did was wrong and it will make her look bad and managment will think that she didn't do her job.

Did I do the right thing by calling the house supervisor?

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You needed to find help and you did what you needed to do. Where I work, if we can't find anyone to cover a shift we go right to the supervisor to help us out. They're not supervisors for nothing, they usually have ways to help, contact the float pool for us, look at staffing on other floors to see if there's anyone that can be pulled, etc., and they sometimes have suggestions to help us out.....it's partially what they're there for. That's what they tell us, anyhow. lol I think you did the right thing to keep patients safe. If the other nurse is worried that you'll make her look bad and make it look like she didn't do her job, then it's because she knows she didn't. She wouldn't worry about it if she had done her job, IMHO. Good for you for getting the help you needed! :)

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Specializes in Acute Hemodialysis, Cardiac, ICU, OR.

Kudos to you for taking the initiative to get something done -- there are many who would do nothing more than accept the assignment (right or wrong) and complain loudly about it. Clearly, if you were able to contact the House Sup with a single call and obtain additional assistance, the Charge Nurse DID NOT do her job.

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

7 post-ops plus 10 other patients for two nurses! :nono: Thats a crazy ratio and you did the right thing to get more help. You are just being an advocate for patient safety when you demand adequate staffing. Good job!

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You did what you needed to do to make sure the staffing was safe. Enough said!

Missy

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The next day, the charge nurse from yesterday is getting report from me and proceeds to tell me that what I did was wrong and it will make her look bad and managment will think that she didn't do her job.

Wrong for who? Sounds like the charge nurse is feeling a little guilty.

You stood up for yourself, co-workers and your patients. If I was one of your co-workers I'd be thanking you. You did the right thing. While I agree that we shouldn't go to work looking to make trouble we should also do the right thing no matter the consequences.

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

Absolutely you did the right thing. And if the manager didn't find you help...then the next thing would be to file an unsafe staffing report.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Good for you for taking action and fixing the situation. Don't sweat the other charge nurse. She left you with a dangerous staffing level, and could have stayed to help you out.

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

Remember you are the patient's advocate.

You did what you had to do to maintain patient safety and care.

Congrats on stepping up to the plate and voicing your opinion. Better that than complaining after the event.

I am impressed. Do not allow your Manager to make you feel any thing less than you did a GOOD JOB. Why didnt she stay and help you?

Onya!!:yeah::yeah:

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Hello,

I have been an RN for about one year. I would like an honest opinion of this situation and my response to it.

I work the 7p-7a shift. I clocked in and am told that there are 17 patients (7 are post-ops) between 2 nurses after 11p. From 7p-11p, there will be 3 RNs and 1 LPN. The nurse manager is on vacation and the next in charge has been there all day and was fully aware of the situation, but left at 5p. The 7a-7p charge nurse says they have done all they can do, but there is no one. The nurse giving me report, says that someone needs to do something, b/c if we keep taking these patients short-staffed, then they will continue assigned them as so. The other nurses who are leaving for the day are saying it is not safe and they wouldn't take the other patients at 11p. The 7p-7a charge nurse is not making any attempt to correct the situation. The nurse giving me report calls the nursing supervisor and explains the situation. I then call the nursing supervisor, telling her that I don't think this is safe. She agrees and says that she is trying to get a nurse. The other nurses are saying that I am just starting trouble with management and nothing is going to be done and I won't get a nurse. About an hour later, the nursing supervisor comes on the floor and says that we will get a nurse at 11p. The night goes well. I send a e-mail to my nurse manager explaining the situation.

The next day, the charge nurse from yesterday is getting report from me and proceeds to tell me that what I did was wrong and it will make her look bad and managment will think that she didn't do her job.

Did I do the right thing by calling the house supervisor?

ABSOLUTELY....ask a lawyer.....nursing has to be practiced safely or the nurse and the patient will end up in court....the patient is the PAYER of care and remember there are STANDARDS OF CARE and safety is absolute ! your license is on the line at all times and you have to remember that....in the older days we staffed/the charge nurse stayed over/the supervisor came in/the director would come in/ and generally we did not use formulas or look at the money side for staffing (we looked at the number of people it will take to handle the sick patients with the best care !!!!!!!!!!! have a good day, mary

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Specializes in midwifery, gen surgical, community.

Just ask yourself one question "Who would be working in an unsafe environment"?

The answer - you. You absolutely did the right thing. I would expect the charge nurse on the previous shift is now feeling guilty. If she feel she has been shown up by you, that is her problem. She should have done her job properly.

Mind I am jealous. When I worked surgery we used to have 1 RN for 14 patients!!!Now that was dangerous, but it was all we where allowed.

Be proud of yourself, you stuck up for your patients, your colleague and also for yourself.

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