[TRichter]

I think we need to remember the patients that are waiting in the emergency room and/or awaiting surgery due to the lack of nurses. How would each of us feel if our loved one was very sick or in pain and was told there was no bed available because of the nursing ratio. There are special circumstances in all cases. Yes, we are over worked but we joined the profession to help people. However, I do think that the govenor overstepped his legal limits and needs to be reminded that this is a democratic country.

Originally Posted by brian

Sacramento -- Two weeks after branding them "special interests" and bragging he can "kick their butt," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was sued Tuesday by California's largest nursing union as it moved to uphold landmark hospital staffing ratios recently blocked by his administration.

The lawsuit, filed in Sacramento Superior Court by the California Nurses Association, attacks the governor's suspension of a 1-to-5 nurse-to-patient staffing requirement that was to become law next week, in part by charging his action illegally subverts the Legislature.

The bill, a first-in-the-nation mandate to ensure patient care would not suffer from overburdened nurses, was passed in the Legislature and signed into law in 1999 by then-Gov. Gray Davis.

In its lawsuit filed Tuesday, the 60,000-member nurses' association reiterates its claim that failure to further lower the number of patients assigned to each nurse on a general medical floor endangers care. But the group also charged that Schwarzenegger's move fell short of the legal requirement for issuing an emergency regulation -- and that the governor had abused his discretion in doing so. "There was no emergency," said Rose Ann DeMoro, executive director of the nurses' association. She called Schwarzenegger's act "a special interest payoff" that typifies a period of leadership "when corporations really do control a government."

Full Story: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl.../22/NURSES.TMP

[NurseGuy_in_06]

Originally Posted by TRichter

I think we need to remember the patients that are waiting in the emergency room and/or awaiting surgery due to the lack of nurses. How would each of us feel if our loved one was very sick or in pain and was told there was no bed available because of the nursing ratio. There are special circumstances in all cases. Yes, we are over worked but we joined the profession to help people. However, I do think that the govenor overstepped his legal limits and needs to be reminded that this is a democratic country.

And how many times are we supposed to roll over and take it because of the tired mantra "we joined the profession to help people therefore we deserve what we get"? I have been there before in other professions. Any time nurses talk about more pay or better staffing ratios management runs to the press saying we are greedy and don't care about the patient. But do they ever reduce a patient's bill because of insufficient staffing?

[TRichter]

I am not saying that I don't agree with the ratio law, I just don't understand what is to be done with the sick and injured that can't get into a bed, Here in California many hospitals are closing doors, especially to ER and trauma rooms. I don't thinki there is any easy fix to the problem.

Originally Posted by NurseGuy_in_06

And how many times are we supposed to roll over and take it because of the tired mantra "we joined the profession to help people therefore we deserve what we get"? I have been there before in other professions. Any time nurses talk about more pay or better staffing ratios management runs to the press saying we are greedy and don't care about the patient. But do they ever reduce a patient's bill because of insufficient staffing?

[pickledpepperRN]

I wonder why they can afford new buildings, gardens, fountains, lobbies, and art for the walls but no the NURSES who provide the nursing care. Nursing care is the reason for a hospital. Period. Nothing else.

A little information on hospitals, expenditures, and choices.
http://radicalfusion.org/files.calnu...ncilreport.pdf
http://radicalfusion.org/files.calnu...extreport1.pdf
http://radicalfusion.org/files.calnu...ingRatios6.pdf
http://radicalfusion.org/files.calnu...harmaStudy.pdf
http://radicalfusion.org/files.calnu...ahear31103.pdf
http://radicalfusion.org/files.calnu...chart31103.pdf

[stevierae]

Originally Posted by TRichter

I am not saying that I don't agree with the ratio law, I just don't understand what is to be done with the sick and injured that can't get into a bed, Here in California many hospitals are closing doors, especially to ER and trauma rooms. I don't thinki there is any easy fix to the problem.

Oh, there's a solution--eliminate the big bonuses for management and administration; get rid of middle management entirely, and hire enough RNs to staff the hospitals according to state LAW--AB 394--that hospitals have had YEARS to come into compliance with. Also, RNs need to say "NO" to mandatory overtime and unsafe staffing conditions--put the responsibility on MANAGEMENT, where it belongs.

[lee1]

Originally Posted by stevierae

Oh, there's a solution--eliminate the big bonuses for management and administration; get rid of middle management entirely, and hire enough RNs to staff the hospitals according to state LAW--AB 394--that hospitals have had YEARS to come into compliance with. Also, RNs need to say "NO" to mandatory overtime and unsafe staffing conditions--put the responsibility on MANAGEMENT, where it belongs.

Yes, someone remind me just WHY we need middle management who in my experience for the most part DISTORT the information that is passed to upper management to make themselves look good. Beyond scheduling and ordering supplies for the unit what is their purpose?? Most do NOT want to help out with covering breaks, meals, educational inservices, committee meetings. Staff meetings where info is passed along from upper management could be given directly, clinical educators who educate, not spend time writing up bogus policies that we are drowning in. Put more responsiblitiy on the upper management who spends all their time holding meeting for the lower management. Just give the info directly. Hire a few more good administrative secretaries which cost half the money as a nurse.

[Jonty45]

The really scary s*** is that it was actually suggested that Schwarzenegger might be eligible to run for Presidency in the future...if that's the case I guess we should put our heads between our legs and kiss ourA??? goodbye...

[bluesky]

You go Cali nurses!!!

[SmilingBluEyes]

Originally Posted by spacenurse

I wonder why they can afford new buildings, gardens, fountains, lobbies, and art for the walls but no the NURSES who provide the nursing care. Nursing care is the reason for a hospital. Period. Nothing else.

A little information on hospitals, expenditures, and choices.
http://radicalfusion.org/files.calnu...ncilreport.pdf
http://radicalfusion.org/files.calnu...extreport1.pdf
http://radicalfusion.org/files.calnu...ingRatios6.pdf
http://radicalfusion.org/files.calnu...harmaStudy.pdf
http://radicalfusion.org/files.calnu...ahear31103.pdf
http://radicalfusion.org/files.calnu...chart31103.pdf

Thank you, as always, you cut to the chase, Spacenurse!

[lpn2bee05]

This is really a huge step for nurses as far as bonding together and fighting for what is ethically right--patient safety and meaningful, quality, and holistic care. If we have no time to do all the charting, how are we ever going to find the time to ....well, hold a hand and listen?
As a student--and truly in diapers/pull-ups as far as nursing is concerned --I feel that the CNA is fighting for me too--all the way here in NC. I got really emotional reading about Schwarzenegger's comments and the CNA's response. I think we do need far more press and publicity--because the average person has no idea about what is going on.
I know it sounds silly, but someone call Oprah!