N
Nurse in FL
Guest
I left an OK nursing position for a position for a high volume hospital based office. I accepted this job due to a work schedule suitable to me...3 days requiring 11 to 13 hr. shifts and 2 half days. This was ideal for me to continue education (courses). Within 2 days on the job I discovered that this was an untrue schedule and the half days were not possible due to workload. There are no medical secretaries to actually speak with patients, so each nurse has voice mail (and my doctor received @ least 40 calls per day for me to triage, pull charts, and chart plans and advice. We were overhead paged as well to pick up for pt. phone calls while doing a clinical schedules, so calls were taken and advice given without the benefit of charts or patient info...a malpractice suit waiting to happen. We also handled for our assigned Dr. the tracking and follow-up of all lab and other medical reports (again locating charts which often could not be located). Perhaps this involved 50-75 pieces of reports and correspondance daily. We had clinical patient hours averaging 38-40 hrs. per week. Did I mention I also did all the necessary requisitions and actual blood draws (phlebotomy)? This job requires an easy 60 hrs./wk. packed into 5 days. After speaking with the office manager several times and telling her the job was not even close to what was promised by her and HR (employment office for the hosp.), with no results, I finally told her she could have my badge and keys at the end of the day. I have a professional license in jeopardy which I have managed to retain without malpractice for 25 years and intended to keep that way. Can the hospital retain my paycheck for 7 days pay (approx.63 hrs) because I did not give 2 wks. notice? Also any recourse in FL for these pre hiring lies since I am now without work? I felt I had to leave due to the stress, physical exhaustion, and unsafe (legally speaking) environment.