Ack! Losing a nurse!

kadiera · #1 03-03-2010, 08:12 AM

One of our nurses was offered an amazing job (full time in a specialty clinic, normal business hours, well above the type of job an LPN normally can get, but based on her experience and personality, they want to keep her). And (rightfully so) she feels she'd be kicking herself if she didn't take it, so she is.

She's one of our favorites, and I'm sure we'll all cry next week at the end of her last day.

It doesn't leave us completely scrambling for scheduling, because she's only here one or two days a week, but it does leave us a little worried - we are left with 3 day nurses - one fabulous nurse, one who's occasionally flaky, and a relatively new-to-us nurse who's a bit odd, and who is considerably older. That last one has so far only worked Saturdays, because they're our short days, and we're concerned about her ability to keep up with Alexander and his nutty schedule.

Niff · #2 03-03-2010, 01:42 PM

s I know how you feel with having a short supply of nurses. We currently have two - one who works Mon-Fri days and the other works Mon-Sat nights. I've had to ride our agency to get anymore prospects out. It appears Mommy Dearest has gone through all their staff.

It doesn't help that our day nurse will be pulled out of work soon because of her pregnancy.

I hope you're able to to find a good replacement!

lynn · #3 03-03-2010, 02:06 PM

Hope you can get someone to replace her (and maybe even one of the other flaky ones) who is a great fit for your family.

kadiera · #4 03-03-2010, 02:27 PM

Yeah - even with the horrible economy here, nurses are in short supply.

A dear friend of ours is going to nursing school this fall (hopefully); I keep poking him, suggesting that he should go get an LPN degree so he can come stay with Alexander while he's going to school, but he's got plans to keep his current job instead.

Momoffive · #5 03-03-2010, 07:38 PM

Sorry to hear you're losing a good one - that has been our experience in the last few years - two great nurses relocated to other parts of the country due to their spouse's job, and one got her dream job involved with diabetes research, a topic near and dear to her heart which included Monday to Friday daytime hours, and still a component of direct patient contact as she does education for recently diagnosed diabetics. Our homecare has major problems with recruitment and retention and I've found the quality of the nurses has declined. Hope you'll have some success with a great new nurse!

momma3 · #6 03-03-2010, 09:16 PM

Sorry to hear that you are losing a good nurse. Be glad you have more! We live in a small town in Missouri kinda in between St Louis and Springfield and there are no nursing agencies any closer so we go through one out of Springfield. After trials of a couple who didn't work out for different reasons we finally got one we like. I work 2 nights a week 12 hour shifts so she was good enough to come and stay 18 hrs, 12 for me to work and then for me to get a few hours sleep. The rest of the time we do not have a nurse. My husband and I are the ones who take care of her. Lord know our family has no idea how! If it wasn't for her we would be in trouble, I guess I wouldn't work! I hope she sticks around as long as we need her!

kadiera · #7 03-04-2010, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momma3

Sorry to hear that you are losing a good nurse. Be glad you have more! We live in a small town in Missouri kinda in between St Louis and Springfield and there are no nursing agencies any closer so we go through one out of Springfield. After trials of a couple who didn't work out for different reasons we finally got one we like. I work 2 nights a week 12 hour shifts so she was good enough to come and stay 18 hrs, 12 for me to work and then for me to get a few hours sleep. The rest of the time we do not have a nurse. My husband and I are the ones who take care of her. Lord know our family has no idea how! If it wasn't for her we would be in trouble, I guess I wouldn't work! I hope she sticks around as long as we need her!

There isn't even an agency in Rolla that can manage some half-way decent staff? (I grew up just outside of St Louis, in Wentzville, and went to college in Rolla).

We have been extremely lucky, as far as nurses go, really.

In the beginning, there was no way to make it work without nursing - and even now, we need someone here during the day when we're at work. Tomorrow is our first night out without Alexander in the time he's been home (nearly a year).