Wound Care Nurse-LPN

[nurseonfire]

Hello,

I work in an LTC unit attached to a hospital/clinic, rural setup, as an LPN. I have worked for this company for 7 yrs starting as an Aide & TMA. I've been an LPN for 4 yrs. Being young and new to the field, I have taken many extra shifts, stayed late, worked back to back... etc. Even filled in at the clinic/urgent care when clinic nursing is the last thing I've ever wanted to do. I also ran the medical dept at the county jail with little help/supervision from an RN, had to set the whole thing up from the beginning because they hired the company to take over their medical concerns...Whatever... that's the life of a nurse...

Here's my question:

At our last LTC state inspection, we got fined and lost our 5* status due to losing a WOC RN and not having proper policies in place for wound care. They were looking to send an RN to a PESI intensive course for wound care, but none were interested. So I said I would since I'm almost thru my RN training. The course was like 5-600$, but since I was a student it cost the company 100 to send me to this course. I came back with a ton of ideas to help fix our errors and improve wound healing. (they barely cover wound care in nursing school!) My DON never sat down with me to go over these. Then continuously called me the wound care specialist, pulling me off my assignment to care for patients of other nurses assignment that needed wound care. I was like 9 months pregnant at the time, and struggling to get through my day without the extra assignments. So forward my maternity leave happens and is over...

My DON says at a staff meeting that I am to be the exclusive nurse for documenting and measuring wounds. So I cracked a joke about getting a raise then and she told me to talk to her later. I'm thinking maybe I'm going to get a raise since this is extra work and liability and she probably wanted to wait til after my maternity leave to discuss the position.

Well, she says that I as a young nurse just need to be firm with my coworkers in asking them to exchange a task of mine while I go do the wound care/care plan/measuring/documentation for them. Are you f'ing kidding me? Am I ridiculous for thinking this is not ok? I'm getting paid on the low side of the payscale for an LPN too. I don't think exchanging pt assignments is acceptable compensation for my work. What do you think? Should I refuse unless I get a raise (even a small one) or seek another job? Advice please!