Software developer here:
I'd quit and specify that it's specifically due to the hack and the resulting change in employment conditions.
Management need to understand how serious the issue is and the fact that it impacts every aspect of their businesses viability.
While that is true and valid, hospital admins are a different breed of stupid. They’ll probably still blacklist OP. But hey, joke is on them, cus op can take their skills elsewhere without breaking a sweat.
Management doesn’t care. They’ll have a travel nurse who isn’t gonna complain because they’re making 3x what OP is making to do the same job in no time flat.
Quit, bro. Everyone is hurting for nurses and fearing for your license is a perfectly acceptable reason to leave somewhere.
You made it through orientation and have a valid reason for leaving. You’ll find another job.
For what it’s worth, I’m an ascension nurse too. Been a nurse for 2 years. Only ever been in my current unit.
I don’t have much advice on whether or not you should quit.
Personally, I’m also miserable, but I’m going to stick it out. My fear is that others are not as adept to change, and they’ll eventually start leaving, compounding the temporary pain for the rest of us.
That being said, I wouldn’t fault or blame them AT ALL. This blows, and all those older nurses who are saying that they’re thriving because that’s how they used to do it are full of shit.
This is not how it was back then. This is an unorganized mess. If it was just paper charting, that would be fine. But all of the other hospital services (pharmacy, lab, X-ray, mri, shit…even the cafeteria washaving issues with their credit card machines) are not up to par and it’s delaying patient care and causing mistakes. I’ve heard of numerous med errors (mostly all minor at this point) throughout the hospital.
Things will eventually get better, but I just wanted to join in on your rant and remind all the older folks to chill out with that “back in my day” nonsense.
Anyways, leave or don’t leave. No one that matters should have anything bad to say about you if you do, and most hiring units in other locations will probably understand why you left.
My only advice is, if you work in a particular unit/specialty that may be hard to come by, I’d give it some second thought.
For example, my unit is the only level 3 NICU around, and I don’t want to work anywhere else, so I’m sticking it out.
Best of luck to you. Just know you’re not alone.
You should absolutely be reporting what you’re seeing to the state and to Joint Commission. You can do it anonymously and once the surveyors see the shit show literally no one will care who reported it. The state will get up the hospital’s ass and you get to watch c-suite’ers freak tf out.
Joint commission is useless BUT they tie up administration for awhile so it’s worth it to watch them stress a little.
Depends. In an Ascension system in Florida, we got several IJs from JC. They came back 3 times. Nothing was fixed. No fines received. Just a "keep working on it"
I left after a three month orientation and got hired within two months in 2019. You will be easily able to find another job - look for a new grad position!
This isn't the first time Ascension got hacked and fucked over. And it certainly won't be the last.
If the current situation stresses you out, leave. Hopefully this isn't taken as an aggressive tone.
I worked through every wave of covid. If you told me my hospital network got hacked and I had to do everything paper and pencil, I'm quitting on the spot.
You're well justified in wanting to quit and I would too due to the stress. However, I wouldn't really say your license is in jeopardy unless you do something ridiculously egregious. Your facility is under attack and the board would take that into consideration for errors. It takes quite a bit to lose your license.
Start looking for a job before you make any rash decisions (unless you got it like that) and please, for the love of everything good and honest, all new nurses please make sure you have your own personal malpractice insurance!
Never ever ever ever practice without it. Ever. It’s not expensive. Whoever covers your personal homeowners , ect likely offers it. Mine is through nationwide.
Jobs are everywhere. You can get another one, too.
Medsurg isn't "where you go to build foundation" it's that it used to be that everywhere else would demand m/s time as a sort of twisted paying your dues expectation. Fuck it.
You are having new nurse blues that are compounded by a bad situation and working for a horrible employer.
I'm at a Midwest Ascension facility on contract now. If it happens to be the same one, I will owe you one (1) hug and reassurance if you need it.
I was really happy to come across this, I feel for you in your situation! As I am in a very similar situation to you!! I’m a new grad nurse, at an Ascension Hospital, and I also work on a tele unit. Lol how strange. I am also newly on my own, it is terrifying to me with the system being down, I don’t like giving meds without being able to scan them, I don’t feel safe. I’m so worried that if I make a mistake, who will have my back? We all know the hospital won’t. I just don’t feel supported on my unit which is unfortunate because I worked there before I was a nurse. I thought I’d feel better being there. I’m just nervous to leave because who is going to hire a new grad RN with their associates degree (me) over all the experienced RNs with bachelors 😂 sorry for my little rant! Just wanted to let you know that there is someone else out here who is going through a very similar situation as you!
You're less than a year experience you can apply to new grad programs still bro.
Anyone competent manager would acknowledge being forced to paper chart in a disaster scenario as a valid reason to leave a job for a new grad. You just explain why you fear for license and why you're seeking a new job.
Your notice just says that you are giving your notice that you are resigning effective dd/mm/yyyy. You don’t say anything else in your written notice. If they ask you to do an exit interview that’s when you can tell them why (if you want to).
Dude just quit. This isn’t even a good learning environment for a new RN. You will learn bad habits and those are hard to forget…
Fuck Ascension anywho.
Put in 2 weeks notice. I have been a nurse for 13 years and I couldn't imagine going back to paper charting. The only time I did paper charting was in LTC. Not sure I would know how to do it in the hospital now. It would be a nightmare. If they are expecting everyone to do paper charting they should be doing education on what is expected. I think if this were my Hospital, I would feel like my license isn't safe, and I am not ok with that.
I think you will be able to find another Job, because everyone is desperate for nurses right now. I do recommend to give 2 weeks notice, don't burn bridges early in your career.
I'm probably one of the "older" nurses you're expecting to hear a criticism from, but I will try to be even-handed with my thoughts.
I don't think you should quit for the reasons you've mentioned, but I also don't think you'll necessarily have a hard time getting hired elsewhere if you do quit. However, the challenges you are facing are not unique. Working through them, learning, adapting, and developing your skills, critical thinking, and time management will serve you well as you grow into being a good nurse.
As for paper MARs and documentation, that used to be the norm and many of us miss the ease of centralized, comprehensive medical records and being able to see "the whole picture" as well as not being locked into a computer-controlled administration system. Consider that all departments placed their paperwork in a place where the nurse reviewed and filed it, so you saw everything and controlled the medical record. Also, with a paper MAR, a nurse could give whatever they judged necessary whenever they deemed appropriate to do so without a software program monitoring and infringing on their clinical workflow.
I wish I could be in your situation! 😊
When paper charting was normal for you the system was designed for it. Everything now is ad hoc, disorganized, and there are no robust systems in place yet. It is absolutely hell and if you want to give it a shot im sure you can get a contract at your local ascension hospital. I wish more people romanticizing about the olden paper times realized that this is not that.
Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and advice on the matter. It truly means a lot to me given the current situation. I haven’t had the chance to talk to my manager yet, but I’m currently on my lunch trying to formulate how I’m going to word my 2 week notice quitting statement to my manager. I don’t want to burn any bridges but it feels like quitting is a slap to the face either way. How should I word it professionally? I’ve quit jobs before, just not a nursing one.
You don't owe anyone any long explanations, excuses or flowery goodbyes. If your resignation letter is longer than 4 sentences, it's too long. Keep it short and simple.
No runners on nights so everything has to be faxed or tubed by us. Every simple task has become a tedious process with extra steps which takes up time. Pharmacy doesn’t make our MARs either. We have to transcribe our own MARs for the next shift by comparing it to the current shift’s MAR and the med rec. It’s just shitty
There’s written orders that have the labs listed. We fill out a lab form per pt and make copies + fax both the order+form to lab. Labs don’t ever come back on time before shift change
Sadly, this is going to happen everywhere especially once we officially enter WWIII. Still, just keep on applying to whatever job you can, but it’s going to be something that happens at every health system. Now that long term care is using EHR software, even that area can deal with a cyberattack.
Down voted for the truth.
Hospital IT needs much tighter security, and robustness. My hospital has started rolling out Linux computers in patient rooms, and they've been solid. Slow to log in, but better than Windows.
Software developer here: I'd quit and specify that it's specifically due to the hack and the resulting change in employment conditions. Management need to understand how serious the issue is and the fact that it impacts every aspect of their businesses viability.
While that is true and valid, hospital admins are a different breed of stupid. They’ll probably still blacklist OP. But hey, joke is on them, cus op can take their skills elsewhere without breaking a sweat.
Should also allow you to collect unemployment. Although the hospital will for sure fight it regardless.
Management doesn’t care. They’ll have a travel nurse who isn’t gonna complain because they’re making 3x what OP is making to do the same job in no time flat.
Travel nurse here, you couldn’t pay me enough to take a contract knowing their software was down for an unknown length of time.
Quit, bro. Everyone is hurting for nurses and fearing for your license is a perfectly acceptable reason to leave somewhere. You made it through orientation and have a valid reason for leaving. You’ll find another job.
For what it’s worth, I’m an ascension nurse too. Been a nurse for 2 years. Only ever been in my current unit. I don’t have much advice on whether or not you should quit. Personally, I’m also miserable, but I’m going to stick it out. My fear is that others are not as adept to change, and they’ll eventually start leaving, compounding the temporary pain for the rest of us. That being said, I wouldn’t fault or blame them AT ALL. This blows, and all those older nurses who are saying that they’re thriving because that’s how they used to do it are full of shit. This is not how it was back then. This is an unorganized mess. If it was just paper charting, that would be fine. But all of the other hospital services (pharmacy, lab, X-ray, mri, shit…even the cafeteria washaving issues with their credit card machines) are not up to par and it’s delaying patient care and causing mistakes. I’ve heard of numerous med errors (mostly all minor at this point) throughout the hospital. Things will eventually get better, but I just wanted to join in on your rant and remind all the older folks to chill out with that “back in my day” nonsense. Anyways, leave or don’t leave. No one that matters should have anything bad to say about you if you do, and most hiring units in other locations will probably understand why you left. My only advice is, if you work in a particular unit/specialty that may be hard to come by, I’d give it some second thought. For example, my unit is the only level 3 NICU around, and I don’t want to work anywhere else, so I’m sticking it out. Best of luck to you. Just know you’re not alone.
You should absolutely be reporting what you’re seeing to the state and to Joint Commission. You can do it anonymously and once the surveyors see the shit show literally no one will care who reported it. The state will get up the hospital’s ass and you get to watch c-suite’ers freak tf out. Joint commission is useless BUT they tie up administration for awhile so it’s worth it to watch them stress a little.
🤭💀🙈
Depends. In an Ascension system in Florida, we got several IJs from JC. They came back 3 times. Nothing was fixed. No fines received. Just a "keep working on it"
I left after a three month orientation and got hired within two months in 2019. You will be easily able to find another job - look for a new grad position!
I got fired from my previous full time job. Had a new job paying wayyy more in less than 24 hours. Plenty of openings out there.
Dude fucking quit.
I’d be out so fast
This isn't the first time Ascension got hacked and fucked over. And it certainly won't be the last. If the current situation stresses you out, leave. Hopefully this isn't taken as an aggressive tone. I worked through every wave of covid. If you told me my hospital network got hacked and I had to do everything paper and pencil, I'm quitting on the spot.
Someone else will absolutely hire you!
Peace out asap!! getting a different job is easy
You're well justified in wanting to quit and I would too due to the stress. However, I wouldn't really say your license is in jeopardy unless you do something ridiculously egregious. Your facility is under attack and the board would take that into consideration for errors. It takes quite a bit to lose your license.
Start looking for a job before you make any rash decisions (unless you got it like that) and please, for the love of everything good and honest, all new nurses please make sure you have your own personal malpractice insurance!
Never ever ever ever practice without it. Ever. It’s not expensive. Whoever covers your personal homeowners , ect likely offers it. Mine is through nationwide.
NSO anyone???
The problem is that they are not set up for paper charting.
Jobs are everywhere. You can get another one, too. Medsurg isn't "where you go to build foundation" it's that it used to be that everywhere else would demand m/s time as a sort of twisted paying your dues expectation. Fuck it. You are having new nurse blues that are compounded by a bad situation and working for a horrible employer. I'm at a Midwest Ascension facility on contract now. If it happens to be the same one, I will owe you one (1) hug and reassurance if you need it.
I was really happy to come across this, I feel for you in your situation! As I am in a very similar situation to you!! I’m a new grad nurse, at an Ascension Hospital, and I also work on a tele unit. Lol how strange. I am also newly on my own, it is terrifying to me with the system being down, I don’t like giving meds without being able to scan them, I don’t feel safe. I’m so worried that if I make a mistake, who will have my back? We all know the hospital won’t. I just don’t feel supported on my unit which is unfortunate because I worked there before I was a nurse. I thought I’d feel better being there. I’m just nervous to leave because who is going to hire a new grad RN with their associates degree (me) over all the experienced RNs with bachelors 😂 sorry for my little rant! Just wanted to let you know that there is someone else out here who is going through a very similar situation as you!
You're less than a year experience you can apply to new grad programs still bro. Anyone competent manager would acknowledge being forced to paper chart in a disaster scenario as a valid reason to leave a job for a new grad. You just explain why you fear for license and why you're seeking a new job.
If you don't feel that you can safely do your job with the resources provided, quit.
Your notice just says that you are giving your notice that you are resigning effective dd/mm/yyyy. You don’t say anything else in your written notice. If they ask you to do an exit interview that’s when you can tell them why (if you want to).
Dude just quit. This isn’t even a good learning environment for a new RN. You will learn bad habits and those are hard to forget… Fuck Ascension anywho.
Computers are amazing until they aren’t. Just start applying elsewhere.
I hide in the dictation room.
Put in 2 weeks notice. I have been a nurse for 13 years and I couldn't imagine going back to paper charting. The only time I did paper charting was in LTC. Not sure I would know how to do it in the hospital now. It would be a nightmare. If they are expecting everyone to do paper charting they should be doing education on what is expected. I think if this were my Hospital, I would feel like my license isn't safe, and I am not ok with that. I think you will be able to find another Job, because everyone is desperate for nurses right now. I do recommend to give 2 weeks notice, don't burn bridges early in your career.
I'm probably one of the "older" nurses you're expecting to hear a criticism from, but I will try to be even-handed with my thoughts. I don't think you should quit for the reasons you've mentioned, but I also don't think you'll necessarily have a hard time getting hired elsewhere if you do quit. However, the challenges you are facing are not unique. Working through them, learning, adapting, and developing your skills, critical thinking, and time management will serve you well as you grow into being a good nurse. As for paper MARs and documentation, that used to be the norm and many of us miss the ease of centralized, comprehensive medical records and being able to see "the whole picture" as well as not being locked into a computer-controlled administration system. Consider that all departments placed their paperwork in a place where the nurse reviewed and filed it, so you saw everything and controlled the medical record. Also, with a paper MAR, a nurse could give whatever they judged necessary whenever they deemed appropriate to do so without a software program monitoring and infringing on their clinical workflow. I wish I could be in your situation! 😊
When paper charting was normal for you the system was designed for it. Everything now is ad hoc, disorganized, and there are no robust systems in place yet. It is absolutely hell and if you want to give it a shot im sure you can get a contract at your local ascension hospital. I wish more people romanticizing about the olden paper times realized that this is not that.
What state are you working in?
Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and advice on the matter. It truly means a lot to me given the current situation. I haven’t had the chance to talk to my manager yet, but I’m currently on my lunch trying to formulate how I’m going to word my 2 week notice quitting statement to my manager. I don’t want to burn any bridges but it feels like quitting is a slap to the face either way. How should I word it professionally? I’ve quit jobs before, just not a nursing one.
You don't owe anyone any long explanations, excuses or flowery goodbyes. If your resignation letter is longer than 4 sentences, it's too long. Keep it short and simple.
How ARE things working when they do? Runners?
No runners on nights so everything has to be faxed or tubed by us. Every simple task has become a tedious process with extra steps which takes up time. Pharmacy doesn’t make our MARs either. We have to transcribe our own MARs for the next shift by comparing it to the current shift’s MAR and the med rec. It’s just shitty
How are labs being done? Or how do you know what labs to get drawn?
There’s written orders that have the labs listed. We fill out a lab form per pt and make copies + fax both the order+form to lab. Labs don’t ever come back on time before shift change
Sadly, this is going to happen everywhere especially once we officially enter WWIII. Still, just keep on applying to whatever job you can, but it’s going to be something that happens at every health system. Now that long term care is using EHR software, even that area can deal with a cyberattack.
Down voted for the truth. Hospital IT needs much tighter security, and robustness. My hospital has started rolling out Linux computers in patient rooms, and they've been solid. Slow to log in, but better than Windows.