[Cristina_NS_RUM]

Name 5 things that you think are wrong and should change at the place where you work!

[RNsRWe]

All you have to do is read around the General Discussion board, and it will become obvious quickly

Welcome!

[kiyatylese]

1. They need to staff according to acuity, nut the number of patients we have.
2. I don't like to be floated in the middle of the shift
3. 1 aide and 35 patinets is just not right. When that happens, I feel like quitting.
That's all I can think of right now.

[catslave]

1. Adequate staffing. Often on my 12 hour weekend shift in a SNF/LTC setting with no administrative staff present I have up to 30 residents to pass meds to and do treatments for as well as assist the 2 maybe 3 LNA's with resident ADL's, not to mention answering the phone, addressing visiting family member's concerns and the endless documentation. Inadequate staffing is unfair to all, staff and residents alike. I feel like I'm nursing by the seat of my pants.
2. Equal accountability among staff members. It shouldn't matter if you're not in the "clique", everyone should have to follow the same set of standards.
3. Mutual respect and an attitude of professionalism among all staff members. I cringe when I hear coworkers being viciously berated and feel devestated when it happens to me especially in the presence of others. I come to work to do the best job that I can, not to make friends, if it happens that's great but if not I feel we should be able to get along and work together as a team. Issues need to be addressed with respect. Accusations create animosity.
4. Adequate supplies. It is time consuming and frustrating to have to search for supplies in order to perform a dressing change (for instance) and half the time find there are none and have to improvise, then when you mention it be told it's not in the budget til after the first of the month.
5. Hiring of family members. It breeds nepotism in the faciliity I work in.

[Cristina_NS_RUM]

...wow, i had think hospitals in the US were kind of 'perfect' compared to hospitals in PR but i think now they are all the same
Here, you mention it, (the problems that should change) and people look at you as if You Should Not Say Those Things! some other people just say 'it has always been like that anyways' and i say 'well what are we going to do about it?' It is sad that we don't do nothing about it (at least here in PR, i donk know much of how things are in the US hospitals) we just work Aroud the problems and try not to look at them much, when what we should do is think how to fix it and How Could We Demand that it becomes better.
I guess i graduated with an 'ideal hospital' in my mind and when i did not find it that is why i have not been able to last working at hospitals
Anyway! i kind of needed to say that jiji, keep on if you would like to take it out of your system too !
take care and dont overwork

PD- I Like Smilies!!!

[cotjockey]

1. Adequate Staffing. They need to put at least one more CNA on the day and evening shift. They need to hire housekeeping and laundry staff so that the nurses don't have to do it. They also need to quit giving agency staff the better shifts and quit using staff LPNs as CNAs because they messed up and contracted for too many agency LPNs.

2. Overmedicating. Someone needs to do a thorough med review and get rid of eveyrthing that is not necessary. There has to be a better solution to every problem than a pill. We have a lady who takes over 60 pills a day in addition to eye drops, vaginal creams, ear drops, QID blood sugars, QID insulin, and Ben-Gay around her anus BID.

3. Not Allowing the Residents to Sleep at Night. Some brilliant person has decided to schedule all new orders that she takes on the 2200-0600 shift. We are waking people up at midnight to rub creams on their necks and we have to wake them up again to give them multi-vitamins. Nothing that doesn't HAVE to be done from 2200-0600 should be scheduled for that time.

4. Better Pay for the CNAs. I honestly think that the licensed nurses make a very fair wage. The CNAs deserve way more than they are getting...and they could give them more without having to raise the nurses' wages to compare.

5. Updated Equipment. They need a new whirlpool tub and new shower chairs. They could use a few more wheelchairs and a new Hoyer lift. They also need to get a DVD player...it's really hard to find anything in VHS for our residents to watch.

[melpn]

Staffing. Supplies. Real evals that mean something. Mgmt. backing up the staff when families/ pts. get really out of line and abusive. Scheduling inservices, etc. only at times that are nearly impossible for night shift to attend.