I am a nurse at a small hospital. Today i went in to work, expecting a good day since yesterday was good.. but instead I have 10 patients on a busy unit, and the other girl that I'm working with is a fresh graduate nurse who just got off orientation herself. She needs help with some stuff since theres things she hasnt done yet. No lunch break today and hardly time to pee. By the end of my day, i was so upet that I just wanted to cry. I had 10 of my own, plus helping the other girl out with her things, plus the wonderful family members.. Its too much to handle. My manager said that she's sorry, but sometimes these things happen and theres nothing we can do. I think that we need to find a better solution because things are getting so much worse that I am ready to leave the profession, and its a job I love very much. Am I wrong for being this upset? I only have 2 yrs experience myself so its frustrating. Any suggestions how I can talk to my boss?
2006-09-13 10:48:04 · 14 answers · asked by kinndee 4 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
I have no problem with the girl fresh out of school. We were friends long before today, I have no problem helping her. But this is NOT the first time this has happened. Its just very frustrating to know that the patients aren't getting what I should be giving them.
I am still under contract (they paid for my schooling) for another year. IF I leave now, then I'll have to pay all that money (which I dont have) back.
its not about breaks. I skip lunch all the time if my patients need me. They come first in my mind...thats why I do what I do.
2006-09-13 11:04:52 · update #1
We have talked to my boss a few times in the past about the poor staffing that we have, and she says that theres 5 open positions for RN's on my floor, and 4 for LPN's. We have ppl apply every day, but she never hires anyone. Its not in her "budget".
2006-09-13 11:08:18 · update #2
That is totally wrong 10 patient.. I would lose my God loving mind. Your state should have a quota for patient to nurse ratio and i am positive that it is not 10. I think thats ridiculous and you have all right to be upset. Not only is it endangering the patient but also your own health. I am sure some of your patients had medication to be given at the same time and other care they needed. They need to hire more staffing and your boss is wrong there are days like that but not when one nurse is taking care of 10 patients. I have 5 and i'm stressed, i could only imagine. Talk to your boss and i hope tomarrow is a better day.
2006-09-13 11:01:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ahhhh... I work in long term care. 4 aides plus me, one nurse, LPN. Find a way to relax and blow this day off. It's just one day. It will be better. Don't give up your profession. Those people in the hospital need you. You've had a bad day and that's all there is to it. The other nurse will find her way in time. Be patient. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Now get back in the game and go talk to your boss, blow some steam off. It's frustrating whatever you do.
2006-09-13 17:59:12 · answer #2 · answered by b's wife 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since you said yesterday was a good day, I imagine you have some good days and some bad days. Everyone has days when they feel overwhelmed, whether they are a nurse, waitress, mother...in any job. The health professions are especially hard these days with the shortage of nurses and doctors. Your boss is probably frustrated too at the shortage of nurses. There's probably nothing else she can do. You can only do the best you can, and try not to let the things you can't control bring you down. I'm glad you love your profession and I hope you stay in it. We need more caring people like you.
2006-09-13 18:01:27 · answer #3 · answered by _me_ 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would like to suggest that you transfer to another department. Med/surg is a nightmare anyway, but 10 on days is just unacceptably dangerous to the patients. The most I've cared for were 9 critically ill in a large teaching hospital, but I work nights. I'm in stepdown now and we have 6 on night shift and even that's dangerous. Management doesn't care about the patients, they are simply concerned with the bottom line. I really wish California's mandatory staffing laws were mandated nationwide. Now is not a good time to be a hospital patient. I feel for you. I'm getting ready to head into work now, and I'm not looking forward to it.
2006-09-13 18:12:21 · answer #4 · answered by Lola 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talking to boss may or may not stop this from happening again, I am not sure if you are aware that there is a NATION WIDE SHORTAGE of nurses and not enough instructors in universities to keep up with the demands. If you feel you cannot handle working in a large hospital or clinc situation then you should try smaller clinics or practices. Just be aware that you may face a pay cut.
2006-09-13 17:58:31 · answer #5 · answered by Hawaii808 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I feel your pain. I am a pharmacist at a large hospital in Tulsa and it is busy...much more than most years in August. Ten patients is too many; our nurses usually have 5-7 on the regular floors and fewer on intensive care units. Do talk to your boss, but stress patient care, not your lack of breaks; they worry more about the patients than they do about us. Good luck.
2006-09-13 17:54:07 · answer #6 · answered by Dino4747 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you'll get used to busy days. I am in the health profession and days like that DO happen! But as you gain more experience, the faster you'll be able to work and soon days like that will no longer bother you as much. Of course you will have super hectic days but that comes with the job sometimes. But you have every right to be upset right now. It is only natural. If this is not the setting for you, in the future, you have plenty of opportunity to work in a different location, more suited to your work habits. But stick with it! We need the help of nurses like you.
2006-09-13 18:01:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds overwhelming. Try to find the place inside you that gets excited about dealing with multiple things all at once. That can be a tremendous rush of excitement.
Taking pride in what you do will help. You have a very difficult job that not many people can do. You should see that as your mission in life and among the things that you can do to make the world a better place.
2006-09-13 17:57:07 · answer #8 · answered by united9198 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You aren't wrong necessarily, but you aren't exactly right either...
No matter what profession you get into, you are going to have bad days, sometimes bad weeks and yes, even a whole month can be crap...it's just part of working.
On days you pretty much just want to strangle the world, you need to find 5 minute to yourself, even if it means sitting in the stall of a bathroom & just calm your nerves. Remind yourself that you have days that are equally oppositre and good, and that it all balances out in the long run.
Come up with things to papmper yourself after a long bad day when you do get home, so it is something you can look forward to later...a hot bubble bath, buy a massage mat for your chair and sit in it for 30 minutes after you get home, buy one of those portable spa things for your feet and soak them...indulge in a pint of ice cream...or a glass of wine...
everyone has bad days, you just have to no let them sour your life. There isn't anything your supervisor can do to make things any better...it's just the way hospitals are sometimes...
2006-09-13 18:00:50 · answer #9 · answered by allrightythen 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no you aren't wrong...she should know what to do fresh off orientation...
give up the hospital and work in a nursing home...still doing a job you got educated for and taking care of the elderly is very rewarding...then you wouldn't have to talk to this boss about this problem
2006-09-13 17:57:52 · answer #10 · answered by bigmammarush 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋