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HELP!!! I don't know what to do!

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Anonymous back to top	Quote Posted about 4 years ago I know this is long but Please Read….. Ok here's the thing. I work in a LTC that I think has the mind set that it's all about payroll and not patient care. I've only been at the facility a month and a half but I have been unable to find another job. I have 3 to 5 years experience as a RN but before this job I was off work for 9 months with a non-work related hand injury that required surgery. So here is my issue: I work 3rd shift from 10:30p to 7:00a. When I started they had 2 nurses on 1st and 2 nurses on 2nd now they are working one nurse on all 3 shifts. The unit I work in has 28-34 residents – 3 tracheotomies, 4 peg tubes, 8 picc lines, 2 central lines, several that get IV antibiotics, 15 FSBS with sliding scale insulin, 11 that get breathing treatments at 12am and 6am and all this along with charting on all of them (paper charts no computer) and the regular scheduled meds at 12 am and 6am. And sterile dressing changes. That’s not all it’s just the highlights. We are required to clock out for a 30 minute lunch which I have never taken but clocked out for. Now they are saying if you must get done with all your work before you leave and you have to leave at the end of your shift and if you don’t you must leave it for the next shift but you have to be off the clock by 5 minutes after your shift ends. I have noticed that FSBS are not being done, meds are not being passed and charting is being left. And that’s not looking close. I can’t work like that. The unit I work is short stay so we have a high turn over rate, 1 or 2 leave and 1 or 2 new admits a day Monday thru Friday. So I always have new ones I have to learn about and most of the time with out report and without the admit papers being done. I pride myself on being a good nurse for the most part my patients like me and know I’m going to take care of them. I have a fear of losing my license every time I go to work and I get nauseated at the thought of going. So much stuff is not being done by the other shifts because there is not enough time and it’s too much for one nurse to handle so it doesn’t get done. I would never send one of my family members there for any reason. So do I quit and hope I find another job or do I go in and do what I can do and leave the rest (which want get done by 1st shift). I need the money I have a family to support. But if state comes in and catches things the way they are I’m afraid of what will happen. State did come in 2 weeks ago on family complaints and all the office people and administration was there working on carts and trying to fix things to cover up how it really is. So now they are coming down on us because of it. They don’t understand if there was enough staffing to start with they wouldn’t have to come in and fix things but they don’t want to pay to have a full staff. I have to go to work tonight and I really don’t want to go. So please any advise……
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted about 4 years ago I wish I had some words of wisdom for you, but unfortunately I don't have a thing to say other than keep looking for a new position somewhere. deb
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted about 4 years ago In my opinion, think of the family you need to support..............protect your license. I was in a hell hole like you recently..........after I was hired for a medsurg unit working 7p-7a 3 days a week..........Mon-Thursday <that sounded like such a sweet deal>................after starting my job, well actually after I finished orientation for the unit................sudenly they 'discovered' they were shortstaffed and they implemented mandatory overtime, so I was working 7p-7a Mon-Thursday.................prior to me working there, I had been at the same job for years, it was not the hospital setting and I was panicking because I was worried Id lose my nursing skills unless I returned to the hospital, it was in the clinical area in cardiology I shouldnt have left my cushy job, lol. Anyhow, I knew I had to pretect my license and my health <I almost ran off the highway on the way home from lack of sleep..........not to mention I became depressed.......scary depressed. I hated it there so bad I had hoped I would have a wreck on the way to work so I didnt have to hear the bitching' Nothing is worth that. My family was worth more than me getting squished by the ups truck that nearly ran me off the highway going 70mph. So I left, gave them 2 weeks notice and not an hour more than that 2 weeks. I hated to leave my coworkers in a pinch, but I'm important too...........and I lived farther away than they do anyhow. What I have done is join up with a nursing agency, and the money is fabulous.........no benefits, but I choose the days and hours I work................and I'm doing job hunting for full time when I have the time. Good luck to you and PROTECT YOUR LICENSE................and that will protect your family as well.
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted about 4 years ago Thank You! I just hate to work this way.
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted about 4 years ago Anonymous says ... I know this is long but Please Read….. Ok here's the thing. I work in a LTC that I think has the mind set that it's all about payroll and not patient care. I've only been at the facility a month and a half but I have been unable to find another job. I have 3 to 5 years experience as a RN but before this job I was off work for 9 months with a non-work related hand injury that required surgery. So here is my issue: I work 3rd shift from 10:30p to 7:00a. When I started they had 2 nurses on 1st and 2 nurses on 2nd now they are working one nurse on all 3 shifts. The unit I work in has 28-34 residents – 3 tracheotomies, 4 peg tubes, 8 picc lines, 2 central lines, several that get IV antibiotics, 15 FSBS with sliding scale insulin, 11 that get breathing treatments at 12am and 6am and all this along with charting on all of them (paper charts no computer) and the regular scheduled meds at 12 am and 6am. And sterile dressing changes. That’s not all it’s just the highlights. We are required to clock out for a 30 minute lunch which I have never taken but clocked out for. Now they are saying if you must get done with all your work before you leave and you have to leave at the end of your shift and if you don’t you must leave it for the next shift but you have to be off the clock by 5 minutes after your shift ends. I have noticed that FSBS are not being done, meds are not being passed and charting is being left. And that’s not looking close. I can’t work like that. The unit I work is short stay so we have a high turn over rate, 1 or 2 leave and 1 or 2 new admits a day Monday thru Friday. So I always have new ones I have to learn about and most of the time with out report and without the admit papers being done. I pride myself on being a good nurse for the most part my patients like me and know I’m going to take care of them. I have a fear of losing my license every time I go to work and I get nauseated at the thought of going. So much stuff is not being done by the other shifts because there is not enough time and it’s too much for one nurse to handle so it doesn’t get done. I would never send one of my family members there for any reason. So do I quit and hope I find another job or do I go in and do what I can do and leave the rest (which want get done by 1st shift). I need the money I have a family to support. But if state comes in and catches things the way they are I’m afraid of what will happen. State did come in 2 weeks ago on family complaints and all the office people and administration was there working on carts and trying to fix things to cover up how it really is. So now they are coming down on us because of it. They don’t understand if there was enough staffing to start with they wouldn’t have to come in and fix things but they don’t want to pay to have a full staff. I have to go to work tonight and I really don’t want to go. So please any advise…… Well I talked to the DON about my concerns and guess what. They cut my hours. I worked 3 days last week and none this week.
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted about 4 years ago Just a couple of thoughts - First - how can there be a short-stay in an LTC? To me, LTC is 'long term care' or 'long term Acute Care?) You have the option of being a whistle blower yourself - if you truly feel the staffing situation is unsafe, it should be reported. I believe most states have whistleblower protection. You cannot be forced to clock out for a meal break you didn't get to take. In my experience, most hospitals simply dock 30 minutes from your time unless you specifically state you didn't get a lunch. Stating you "HAVE" to clock out for 30 minutes covers their backsides. At the facility where I currently work, they have stopped the practice of deducting 30 mintues - we are paid from the time we clock in to the time we clock out. This change came about as a result of a complaint to the state labor board who agreed not to pursue the complaint and require back-payments if the facility would simply begin this practice. This is great because if you're the RN - you're the ONLY RN - especially at night. Stopping to inhale a sandwich doesn't make you less responsible for the patients during the time you chew. Follow your conscience - maybe the suits will be forced to respond. I find little more irritating than administrators with RN behind their name who count themselves in staffing ratios whether or not they actually provide handson patient care. The State WILL be back - no doubt about it. Once they are made aware of a facility, they tend to watch closely. Combine that with a few chart reviews by your state peer review agency in response to complaints - either from families or staff, and it really tends to get administrations attention. I'm an advanced practice nurse - an adult clinical nurse specialist; I provide bedside care or ER coverage only rarely ... meaning no one else was available, but I see one of the APN's roles to be nurse advocacy - this is a responsibility I will never shy from.
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted about 4 years ago You sound so unhappy there. I would try to find another job.
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted about 4 years ago Anonymous says ... Just a couple of thoughts - First - how can there be a short-stay in an LTC? To me, LTC is 'long term care' or 'long term Acute Care?) You have the option of being a whistle blower yourself - if you truly feel the staffing situation is unsafe, it should be reported. I believe most states have whistleblower protection. You cannot be forced to clock out for a meal break you didn't get to take. In my experience, most hospitals simply dock 30 minutes from your time unless you specifically state you didn't get a lunch. Stating you "HAVE" to clock out for 30 minutes covers their backsides. At the facility where I currently work, they have stopped the practice of deducting 30 mintues - we are paid from the time we clock in to the time we clock out. This change came about as a result of a complaint to the state labor board who agreed not to pursue the complaint and require back-payments if the facility would simply begin this practice. This is great because if you're the RN - you're the ONLY RN - especially at night. Stopping to inhale a sandwich doesn't make you less responsible for the patients during the time you chew. Follow your conscience - maybe the suits will be forced to respond. I find little more irritating than administrators with RN behind their name who count themselves in staffing ratios whether or not they actually provide handson patient care. The State WILL be back - no doubt about it. Once they are made aware of a facility, they tend to watch closely. Combine that with a few chart reviews by your state peer review agency in response to complaints - either from families or staff, and it really tends to get administrations attention. I'm an advanced practice nurse - an adult clinical nurse specialist; I provide bedside care or ER coverage only rarely ... meaning no one else was available, but I see one of the APN's roles to be nurse advocacy - this is a responsibility I will never shy from. When I say short stay I mean they are only there for 3 to 6 weeks then they go home or they are moved to one of the long term halls. Like for surgery rehab or IV antibiotics or a broke leg/hip and are unable to use a walker and they have no one at home that can help take care of them. The tracheotomies are new and they stay with us until a long term bed opens up or the family is able to get a sitter or other means of care. And yes most of the administrators are RNs and they do count themselves in the staffing ratio - that's is the reason they gave for cutting back hours that for the number of residents they had to many nurses on the clock and they stated they are only allowed so many RN hours a month and when they come close to running over that number they cut hours. If you stay late to finish your work or don't clock out for lunch it's your hours that get cut they give you extra days off or in my case for going to the DON I got a whole week off. One of the RNs I work with went to the DON before I did and they cut her days from 5 to 3 a weeks also. She's been there longer than I have so I guess they decided to cut all of mine. I'm online everyday looking for another job and putting in apps. I hope to find something soon - real soon....
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted about 4 years ago Well I have an interview for a Med/Surg postion this week. Wish me luck.
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted about 4 years ago Anonymous says ... Anonymous says ... I know this is long but Please Read….. Ok here's the thing. I work in a LTC that I think has the mind set that it's all about payroll and not patient care. I've only been at the facility a month and a half but I have been unable to find another job. I have 3 to 5 years experience as a RN but before this job I was off work for 9 months with a non-work related hand injury that required surgery. So here is my issue: I work 3rd shift from 10:30p to 7:00a. When I started they had 2 nurses on 1st and 2 nurses on 2nd now they are working one nurse on all 3 shifts. The unit I work in has 28-34 residents – 3 tracheotomies, 4 peg tubes, 8 picc lines, 2 central lines, several that get IV antibiotics, 15 FSBS with sliding scale insulin, 11 that get breathing treatments at 12am and 6am and all this along with charting on all of them (paper charts no computer) and the regular scheduled meds at 12 am and 6am. And sterile dressing changes. That’s not all it’s just the highlights. We are required to clock out for a 30 minute lunch which I have never taken but clocked out for. Now they are saying if you must get done with all your work before you leave and you have to leave at the end of your shift and if you don’t you must leave it for the next shift but you have to be off the clock by 5 minutes after your shift ends. I have noticed that FSBS are not being done, meds are not being passed and charting is being left. And that’s not looking close. I can’t work like that. The unit I work is short stay so we have a high turn over rate, 1 or 2 leave and 1 or 2 new admits a day Monday thru Friday. So I always have new ones I have to learn about and most of the time with out report and without the admit papers being done. I pride myself on being a good nurse for the most part my patients like me and know I’m going to take care of them. I have a fear of losing my license every time I go to work and I get nauseated at the thought of going. So much stuff is not being done by the other shifts because there is not enough time and it’s too much for one nurse to handle so it doesn’t get done. I would never send one of my family members there for any reason. So do I quit and hope I find another job or do I go in and do what I can do and leave the rest (which want get done by 1st shift). I need the money I have a family to support. But if state comes in and catches things the way they are I’m afraid of what will happen. State did come in 2 weeks ago on family complaints and all the office people and administration was there working on carts and trying to fix things to cover up how it really is. So now they are coming down on us because of it. They don’t understand if there was enough staffing to start with they wouldn’t have to come in and fix things but they don’t want to pay to have a full staff. I have to go to work tonight and I really don’t want to go. So please any advise…… Well I talked to the DON about my concerns and guess what. They cut my hours. I worked 3 days last week and none this week. DOCUMENT THIS, AND EVERY COVERSATION YOU HAVE ABOUT THIS..." CHECK INTO THE LABOR BOARD", IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY....
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted about 4 years ago Anonymous says ... Anonymous says ... Anonymous says ... I know this is long but Please Read….. Ok here's the thing. I work in a LTC that I think has the mind set that it's all about payroll and not patient care. I've only been at the facility a month and a half but I have been unable to find another job. I have 3 to 5 years experience as a RN but before this job I was off work for 9 months with a non-work related hand injury that required surgery. So here is my issue: I work 3rd shift from 10:30p to 7:00a. When I started they had 2 nurses on 1st and 2 nurses on 2nd now they are working one nurse on all 3 shifts. The unit I work in has 28-34 residents – 3 tracheotomies, 4 peg tubes, 8 picc lines, 2 central lines, several that get IV antibiotics, 15 FSBS with sliding scale insulin, 11 that get breathing treatments at 12am and 6am and all this along with charting on all of them (paper charts no computer) and the regular scheduled meds at 12 am and 6am. And sterile dressing changes. That’s not all it’s just the highlights. We are required to clock out for a 30 minute lunch which I have never taken but clocked out for. Now they are saying if you must get done with all your work before you leave and you have to leave at the end of your shift and if you don’t you must leave it for the next shift but you have to be off the clock by 5 minutes after your shift ends. I have noticed that FSBS are not being done, meds are not being passed and charting is being left. And that’s not looking close. I can’t work like that. The unit I work is short stay so we have a high turn over rate, 1 or 2 leave and 1 or 2 new admits a day Monday thru Friday. So I always have new ones I have to learn about and most of the time with out report and without the admit papers being done. I pride myself on being a good nurse for the most part my patients like me and know I’m going to take care of them. I have a fear of losing my license every time I go to work and I get nauseated at the thought of going. So much stuff is not being done by the other shifts because there is not enough time and it’s too much for one nurse to handle so it doesn’t get done. I would never send one of my family members there for any reason. So do I quit and hope I find another job or do I go in and do what I can do and leave the rest (which want get done by 1st shift). I need the money I have a family to support. But if state comes in and catches things the way they are I’m afraid of what will happen. State did come in 2 weeks ago on family complaints and all the office people and administration was there working on carts and trying to fix things to cover up how it really is. So now they are coming down on us because of it. They don’t understand if there was enough staffing to start with they wouldn’t have to come in and fix things but they don’t want to pay to have a full staff. I have to go to work tonight and I really don’t want to go. So please any advise…… Well I talked to the DON about my concerns and guess what. They cut my hours. I worked 3 days last week and none this week. DOCUMENT THIS, AND EVERY COVERSATION YOU HAVE ABOUT THIS..." CHECK INTO THE LABOR BOARD", IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.... DO THEY HAVE A ETHICS LINE??? DON'T JUST LEAVE AND NOT DO ANYTHING, THAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH NURSING...NO ONE WILL STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES...COVERING UP STUFF IS "FRAUD"...CONTACT WHOEVER THE STATE REGULATORS ARE WHO OVER SEE TLC IN YOUR STATE...THE PATIENTS DESERVE IT!!! AND SO DO YOU. STAND TALL AND DO THE RIGHT THING...THEY CAN'T FIRE YOU FOR REPORTING THEM," WHISTLE BLOWING LAW", IF YOU HAVE TO, I AM SURE ANY ATTORNEY WHO GLADLY REPRESENT YOU....
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted about 4 years ago WHY DO NURSES SAY THINGS LIKE, "THINK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, FIND ANOTHER JOB, IGNORE IT, BLAH, BLAH BLAH...COME ON PEOPLE 'DO THE RIGHT THING, HAVE SOME COURAGE AND REPORT THIS BS.....
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted about 4 years ago You worked way to hard to obtain a nursing license & it sounds as though it is on the line every time you walk in the door. Continuing to work in this atmosphere allows unsafe care to continue. Look into the whistile blower laws in your state- if there are no repercussions, do it! If something happens to a patient under your care, you will held responsible, not the facility. They will protect their own interest & not yours. In the mean time, document everything! Good luck in finding another job in which you can practice the holistic nursing care you were trained to provide!
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted about 4 years ago Move to Pennsylvania....we have a law that states NO MANDATORY OVERTIME for nurses, it's great!!!
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted about 4 years ago But who wants to live there???LOL
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted almost 5 years ago I'm not going to just let it slide I will report all this as soon as I find another job. I have a fear of being black balled or fired if they were to find out and I do have to think of my family. But I will find a way to report it all. Starting with calling the employee complaint line and work my way up.
Anonymous back to top	Quote Rate Rate This \| Posted almost 5 years ago Anonymous says ... I'm not going to just let it slide I will report all this as soon as I find another job. I have a fear of being black balled or fired if they were to find out and I do have to think of my family. But I will find a way to report it all. Starting with calling the employee complaint line and work my way up. CHECK INTO YOU LEGAL RIGHTS IN YOUR STATE...THIS KIND OF STUFF NEEDS TO STOP...REPORT IT AND COVER YOUR ASS, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING...PEOPLE THERE ETC...BE BOLD AND BE PROUD...

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