bad travel experience

Just wondering if any of you have had the same bad experience as I have.

I started a travel assignment and this hospital is extremely short staffed. I live in an area that you really do not see such a shortage (until now).

This hospital has over a 50% vacacy rate on this floor and it is crazy. I went into work and they only had once nurse on the schedule to work nights for 29 patients and they made the other nurses work doubles ( mandatory overtime) to cover.

I felt I could not give safe, good patient care. They did not have nursing assistants on the night shift and the nurses are running around like crazy.
I really felt like it was unsafe. I then worked a day 12 hour shift and it was worse.
They only had one nursing assistant and patients were complaining that they wanted to walk but there was not enough help to walk them and I felt like I could only do so much.. I really felt dumped on.. I could not give my patients the best care possible. The couple of times I was on the floor I really wanted to just walk out-- that's how bad it was.. I have been busy before and I prefer to be busy.. but not so busy you can't even do your job and provide safe care. I do not like to cut corners or short my patients.. My patients deserve to be given great care and I could not provide it because of the staffing situation.. I am a hard worker and prefer to keep busy.. I like to keep busy, but this was ridiculous!!!!!! There were other things I seen that made me sick.. and I really felt were wrong.. I cannot repeat them.. but will say that one nurse basically neglected his patients and drugged his confused and difficult patients so he would not have to deal with them.

I cannot go back to this hospital.. it was awful.. is this wrong????

Any feedback, comments..???

Thanks,

Linda

Ok, you do not have to work in an unsafe assignment. Call your clinical nurse from your company and tell them how you feel and that you can no longer work like this. Be Firm!
Your company needs to know this information.If they are supportive they will assist you in canceling. Most good companies will help you. Don't take "no" for an answer. You already know that you feel unsafe, so, why would you put your license in jeopardy. You have the right to work in a well staffed environment. CALL TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

to my knowldge, most travel contracts have an at will clause. Just as easy as a facility can cancel you, you can cancel your contract as well. If you are practiving in an unsafe environment.. 1) protect yourself 2) post it on the forums about the hospital to help save anyone else who might stumble upon it 3)have your company make the arragments to change your assignment, at no additional cost to you. Even if that means they have to put you up in a hotel for a week while they find another assignment for you. Also, encourage them to pay you for time lost, due to canceling the contract - may be harder and require more effort than you are willing to put in - but ultimately you should not be financially jeopardized because a facility is that far below par and you are unwilling to sacrifice your license.. your livelihood. Protect yourself first.

I have been an RN (working) for 40 years, mostly ER and mangement.
Please, however long you are in this profession NEVER allow any organization to put your license on the line.
When the red flags go up pay attention then go thru the proper channels. If no support appears GET OUT!