[ozinurse]

Sounds Hideous. I certainly don't envy you. If you are supposed to be the shift coordinator, you can't do it when you are in the thick of it. You need to be objective and available to all the staff.

It sounds like you have pursued most options already.

If your going to stick with it, I'd suggest keep up the safe staffing reports. Make sure you keep a copy of any correspondence that goes up the chain as you may wish to it refer to later. Attatch literaure about 'ED overcrowding and increased mortality rates.' (one published in the last 6 months, but I can't remember off the top of my head which journal)

It is good to know how your department works out its safe staffing numbers, who keeps the stats, and who they get sent to. If it is anything like where I work, actually sorting the staff numbers is a tmely pain staking process. But knowing what evidence you need and who's tree you need to bark up might be useful.

Don't think you will solve it on your own. It will have to be a departmental approach to fixing the problem. Take it to the local authorites and make your case. It is also good to take strategies. If you can give them a reasonable resolution or something that they can negotiate over, you will get further. If they (the department seniors) are not interested then you might be better saving yourself the stress and the risk of an adverse event happening on your shift. (Give them the finger)It's nice just to be able to do your job properly, and there are pleanty more opportunities out there.