[fergus51]

Even when staffing ratios are good some nurses won't take the time to do the extras that they b*tch they never have time to do.
We are in the middle of an overtime ban so elective surgeries have been cut. We have about half the number of patients than normal and nurses are sitting at the nursing station rather than giving backrubs or talking to the patients. I gave a woman a backrub (been on bedrest for almost 6 weeks, can only lay on her back for long periods, has a LOT of pain) and she hasn't had one from a single RN or LPN on the floor. The only people doing this for her are students. It's sad that even when the ratios are low some won't take advantage of it.

[Ectopy]

In an effort to stave off the union, our unit did reduce patient loads to 4-6 on days and 5-7 on nights. HOWEVER, on any given day, each of 6 nurses has at least one VRE and/or MRSA precaution patient and often as not they each have one OR MORE destructively confused, postop patient. To complicate things further, we have two LVAD patients awaiting heart transplant. Their nurses can't go into the precaution rooms. I don't know if this is a temporary trend or if nursing is just going to get harder and more complicated. Seems like you gain a little ground and then slide back down the hill.

[nanablue2]

There are many exscuses for the current nursing shortage but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know it is ALL about money. Two of my children, high school graduates only, make more than most nurses working as front desk receptionists M-F at high tech companies that offer full benefits at no cost, stock options, on-site daycare and free happy hour on Friday's.

[tiger]

the only reason i checked no on the survey is because it is not the nursing shortage that has caused our patients not to get better care it is the fact that our administration cut our nurse patient ratios. we have nurses wanting full time positions and also nurses being called off because our numbers have been cut drastically since i started at this hospital 10 years ago.

[Lisamulti]

Originally posted by nanablue2:
<STRONG>There are many exscuses for the current nursing shortage but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know it is ALL about money. Two of my children, high school graduates only, make more than most nurses working as front desk receptionists M-F at high tech companies that offer full benefits at no cost, stock options, on-site daycare and free happy hour on Friday's. </STRONG>

DANG--where are those jobs????just kidding, but if the nation wants to get more nurses into school---graduated and working., They pay needs to be WAY up--supported mandatorily by state and fed...this is the only way.Any ideas on how to start ball rolling to gov and state on this?

[sWolfie]

I work in the lowest paid nursing home in our county. We have always been short on help, so it's no drastic change. The nurses get treated like crap and work their butts off. Anyways, I believe the residents aren't getting the proper care they deserve. We had to leave a nurse go because she was abusing the residents. Sad to say, but they are getting so stressed out that they do this to the residents. It makes me sick. The heads won't call any agencies so we can atleast get some help because that is how cheap they are.

It's sad to think what the future is going to be like. Will there be any nursing homes left for the next generation?

[Charles S. Smith, RN, MS]

Originally posted by bshort:
<STRONG>This months survey question:
With the current nursing shortage, do you feel that patient care is compromised at your facility?

Please take a minute to answer our yes or no survey at the bottom of the allnurses.com homepage

Please reply to this post and give us your more detailed responses.</STRONG>

Compromised patient care generally falls into the realm of "adverse events". Look in your facilities and check to see how many patients are experiencing falls, how many nosocomial infections (pneumonia, phlebitis, wound infections, etc) are cropping up, how many patients are readmitted because they were not compliant, check out your facility motality rate, the rate of secondary complications occurring, the rate (not the number) of medication errors reported (under reporting is about 30-40%), the increase in ventilator days, pressure sores/decubitus ulcers (not a very good indicator anymore since most patients are not in the hospital long enough to develop them), success rate of appropriate documentation by nurses and nurse satisfaction. Patient satisfaction is a fair indicator, but most patients are well satisfied if they get out alive and in better shape than they came in.

Just some concrete thoughts for you to think about.
regards to all
chas

[CEN35]

I cannot speak for the ER, because we have not had problems with our staffing, as well as getting help. Inside the hospital, there is always CCU/ICU/RNF/tele bed openings. Currently, there are three openings in the ER d/t increased census, and additional rooms added.

I will let ya know what happens!

Rick

[Cafe]

I have seen on the unit I am on now, IMCU and previous unit (gnl floor), that there is no flex in staffing depending on acuity of patients-- it is by the numbers allowed- nurse/patient ratio per hospital policy. Now when JCAHO is going through, let me tell ya, we all feel like we are over staffing because we finally have time to give care on a more personal level rather than putting out fires. So many times we send patients out to the units and you know they can't watch as close as they may need, which means they will be back. We have done a lot of mandates, voluntary doubles on our unit and nurses call in sick due to burn out and needing a mental health day off. The floors are even worse. I know we all give our patients the best we can, that is why we are in this business, but after enough crazy shifts, doubles; we all also know it affects the care we give, the time and information we give with teaching to the patient and the family, and I could go on and on. But if JCAHO could only visit more often, wow, staffing would finally allow a little more time with patient care, be it emotional support, back rubs, or in general completing what needs to be completed in one shift. NOw I didn't even mention the paperwork!!!!!!!!!!

[majic65]

Compromised? Yu bet--and I can sum up management's response to the situation in one sad little story. Working days on a busy L&D--they transfered 2 very sick ante-partums in, reaquired almost 1 on 1--not near enough staff, very scary. Worked my butt off making sure we had extra help for the next shift, so they wouldn't be in our position, then E-Mailed the nurse manager to let her know the situation and how I covered it. Her reply? "If you had enough time to E-Mail, then you could not have been short of help." I left 2 weeks later--somebody is going to die there, and I don't want my name on their chart!!! Most nurses working 4-6 12 hour shifts per week, because nurse-manager refuses to fill FTE's (not even interviewing--)No breaks, no meals, no nothing--except management who says we are not "team players" if we dont'work 50-60 hours a week. I will NEVER go back to a hospital--waiting tables would be better.