[BrokenRNheart]

Keep this going.

Also, don't forget that you can edit that message. Add what is important to you. I added that the nurses need more protection about speaking up.

I also sent a story stating that funding for new nurses is not the answer....getting the environment to change is.

I posted an article that I found that specifically stated that based on surveys they have plenty of available nurses that could return to the field if the environment would change. We need to push for that.

The nurses are out there. Trying to stay in this profession is not easy. Bedside care is going down the tubes.

I think they need to give the hospitals incentives for retention and penalties for losing employees. If an employee leaves due to negative circumstances they should be penalized. That would put some real limits on some of the abuse. Turn that power right around. With a national shortage, why not hold the hospitals and management responsible? The nurses know who caused the damage.

I also think that managers should have to get out and work the floor and should have a minimum of floor experience before they manage. This is getting out of hand. Most of the good managers did have floor experience. And I have worked with managers that would stop by a room while walking by and help with a transfer. My most recent management experience was an asst. manager that couldn't prioritize and organize as a floor nurse. She is the first one telling you how to get things done.

As patients....start asking where that manager is. Chances are they are on the floor VERY part time.

[Ms.RN]

Done, Done, DOne.. Thank you for letting us know.
:bdyhdc lp:

[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

For those of you who want to read more about the nursing shortage, you might want to check these links out:

Linda Aiken, PhD, FAAN, FRCN, RN http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/faculty...le.asp?pid=107

Suzanne Gordon:
http://www.suzannegordon.com/

Patricia Benner, RN, PhD, FRCN, FAAN:
http://home.earthlink.net/~bennerassoc/patricia.html

Bernice Berush:
http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/about...ce_buresh.html

[JustaPatient]

Originally Posted by BrokenRNheart

Ya, maybe our own patient survey?

Originally Posted by Angie O'Plasty, RN

Not to go off-topic or anything, but would you rather hear us lie to you and tell you "we have the time" when we don't or would you rather we told the truth and said, "Gee, I'm swamped right now, but I'll get it as soon as I possibly can" ??

A lot of the issues here are that nurses are taught to be honest and have good morals and lots of integrity and then we get coerced into saying things to patients that we feel are out-and-out lies.

I'm interested in your opinion on these management initiatives, JustaPatient. As a patient, what would you prefer? That we tell you the truth or that we stonewall you with scripted messages?

You guys want my opinion? I am flattered. I would much rather you be honest with me. If I am asking you for a ginger ale and you have a patient down the hall puking their guts out or actively in the process of dieing and there is either something you can do to save them or should be doing to try to save them then of course that person is going to take priority. I realize that you can not give that type of info but saying something like, "I am having problems with another patient I will get to that as soon as I can", and the DOING IT. Or if mine is something semi important like say I needed to go to the bathroom, if you were to come in maybe you could unhook the IV before you leave then have the CNA come and bring me to the bathroom, or if it is over the call system say "I can not get there to disconnect you right now would you like a CNA to come with a bed pan?"


But that is just me.


And scripted messages, you can usually tell when someone is saying something they have memorized. Especially if you hear it shift after shift. That would make me mad.

[JustaPatient]

To add I would like to say that I would rather you put something on the back burner that I asked for and then I know that if need be you would (hopefully) do the same if I was in trouble.

[BrokenRNheart]

"And scripted messages, you can usually tell when someone is saying something they have memorized. Especially if you hear it shift after shift. That would make me mad."

Kinda make you think we didn't mean it?

When I speak to my patients I speak from my heart and not a script. The script tells you there is a problem in that area and that is administrations way of covering it up rather than fixing it.

It's a desperate effort to address poor ganey's coming from someone so far from bed nursing that they have no clue.

I don't have a problem asking if there is anything I can do before I leave. That has been very effective. I don't feel I need to say "I have the time." I don't want them to think I have nothing to do but be up their "bippies." I am not bored. I have things to do. But, before I walk out of their room, what can I do for them at that moment.

[JustaPatient]

Originally Posted by BrokenRNheart

"And scripted messages, you can usually tell when someone is saying something they have memorized. Especially if you hear it shift after shift. That would make me mad."

Kinda make you think we didn't mean it?

When I speak to my patients I speak from my heart and not a script. The script tells you there is a problem in that area and that is administrations way of covering it up rather than fixing it.

It's a desperate effort to address poor ganey's coming from someone so far from bed nursing that they have no clue.

I don't have a problem asking if there is anything I can do before I leave. That has been very effective. I don't feel I need to say "I have the time." I don't want them to think I have nothing to do but be up their "bippies." I am not bored. I have things to do. But, before I walk out of their room, what can I do for them at that moment.

And if my nurse asks me if there is anything I need when they are leaving I feel more comfortable calling and asking for something. I feel comfortable like I know I will be cared for well that shift, like my nurse cares. And this does seem to carry out. The nurse who told me she could not help me off the toilet because I would "Rip her arm out of the socket" I never once called her for anything after that. I waited till the next shift. I was afraid to ask for anything because she was very short with me and did not help me when I needed it.

By the way I was having trouble getting off the toilet because I was a post-op patient, am right handed and the place they had put my IV was on my right wrist so I could not push myself up because my left is generally weak and even more so after surgery.

[JustaPatient]

Originally Posted by BrokenRNheart

"And scripted messages, you can usually tell when someone is saying something they have memorized. Especially if you hear it shift after shift. That would make me mad."

Kinda make you think we didn't mean it?

When I speak to my patients I speak from my heart and not a script. The script tells you there is a problem in that area and that is administrations way of covering it up rather than fixing it.

It's a desperate effort to address poor ganey's coming from someone so far from bed nursing that they have no clue.

I don't have a problem asking if there is anything I can do before I leave. That has been very effective. I don't feel I need to say "I have the time." I don't want them to think I have nothing to do but be up their "bippies." I am not bored. I have things to do. But, before I walk out of their room, what can I do for them at that moment.

I wish I recieved a press gainey. I have not had one to fill out. If I did then I would VERY carefully word it so that my nurses could not get in trouble.

[ingelein]

DONE!!!! Brokenheart, are you broken hearted no more?

[Piki]

Done. Thanks for posting this link.