Working short staffed -- your stories

[Diuretic Junkie]

What are some bad experiences you have had when you have been forced to work a shift and are short at least one RN?

Or, when you've already worked a full shift and have had to stay now for a second shift because there is no one else to work?

Any and all responses welcomed!

Thanks

~Diuretic Junkie~

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

I have a lot of experience w/ this, but frankly, I will get all stressed-out if I go over it enough to post about it.

[nurseygrrl, LPN]

I always enjoy it when I drive into work at 6:30am in the thick of a snowstorm and get mandated to work 3-11 because although the roads are plowed clear now, most of the staff have called in.

[littleun]

Unfortunately this is an all too common thread in healthcare no matter what type of facility you work in. In LTC we often have to work hours beyond our normal 12 hours and then when it comes time to finally go home, alas:eek: no one shows up to relieve you. This is the last straw when you have just completed 12 to 14 hours of working with a patient (client) load averaging 45 residents to one nurse and 2 or 3 CNAs. Believe it or not, that is the common staffing ratio ( have actually been told that this was "overstaffing")

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Yep, I can relate.........which is why I quit LTC and will NEVER go back unless things change for the better. Short-staffing is always a disaster waiting to happen: a nurse who's been running for 14-16 hours at top speed is overtired, overworked, overstressed, and mistakes are going to occur no matter how conscientious he or she is. Frankly, I'm shocked that our elders, who paid into the system for their entire working lives, aren't raising more of a stink about this........after all, it's their money, and they are NOT getting the services they've paid for and deserve!!

But that's a soapbox for another day. Gotta go to work now.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I was a new grad, about six months experience, and the floor couldn't be staffed from 7-11. I had 11 patients, on a medical floor with no CNA.

One of the patients decided to have an MI. I took care of his issues and orders and neglected the other then.

When help arrived at 11pm there were about five patients I hadn't laid eyes on. I gave report on patients that weren't assessed, didn't get their meds and never had a nurse. I was almost in tears.

When I think back on it, how dangerous that was. What a child I was back then.

[javm-oldone]

hello, I am new to all nurses but I have been working in nursing for almost ten years. This is the shortest we have ever been:( How are others hanling short staffing? We use team nursing which helps, but when there are less than the bare minimum of staff nothing can help:o