[JustaPatient]

Originally Posted by NurseCherlove

Meg, this upsets me. People like you are THE REASON we became nurses to begin with! It's not your fault that hospitals are too greedy to staff properly! Remember that please.

Originally Posted by NurseCherlove

I do the very same thing. It truly hurts my heart when I go in to check on one of my patients and they are in pain or having some problem. When I ask them why they didn't call me right away, they tell me stuff like, "Well, I know you're busy.".

Then, we have a long talk right then and there about proper pain management and I let them know that yes, we are incredibly busy, but that they are my priority and that they had better not be worrying about me. Funny...almost like a "don't let me catch you having a problem and not calling me right away about it."

Excellent post BTW. I will indeed write a very thoughtful email later on tonight.

It was a nurse like you who originally got through to me. That made me eel even semi comfortable calling for anything. I still when I get a new nurse, feel embarrassed calling. Sometimes even when I am told to call for something or tell them something I don't.

For instance I had my wisdom teeth out on Thursday. I had met this doctor twice. One of them about 12 years ago and then a few weeks before she removed them. She said TELL ME if you feel any pain. When I did I said nothing but she just knew, and asked me if it hurt and I was honest. Sometimes though I just say no and suck it up.

I do these things because I do not want to look like a complainer.

Also your replies made me cry. You are the type of nurse I LOVE having.

[BrokenRNheart]

Originally Posted by JustaPatient

It was a nurse like you who originally got through to me. That made me eel even semi comfortable calling for anything. I still when I get a new nurse, feel embarrassed calling. Sometimes even when I am told to call for something or tell them something I don't.

For instance I had my wisdom teeth out on Thursday. I had met this doctor twice. One of them about 12 years ago and then a few weeks before she removed them. She said TELL ME if you feel any pain. When I did I said nothing but she just knew, and asked me if it hurt and I was honest. Sometimes though I just say no and suck it up.

I do these things because I do not want to look like a complainer.

Also your replies made me cry. You are the type of nurse I LOVE having.

There is no reason for you to go without having your needs met. Another thing that I tell patients like you is that if someone is nasty (like the nurse about ripping her shoulder) you remember that it is not you. It is her problem and who knows what she is bitter about. It might just be a lack of sleep, fed up with that job...but it is NOT YOU.

Also, when I pass a patient like you on in report, I let the next nurse know that you won't ask for much so be sure to check on you.

See....this is what breaks my heart. I would never treat you poorly and there is no appreciation for this type of care in the hospital. I see poor staff keep their jobs all the time and I just can't give any more than I have given. Not to the hospital any way.

I want to be able to reassure my patient and their family that I am available and I do have the time. I have even told patients that were miserable that I get paid good money to take on what ever they have to dish out...as a joke to get them to relax and not worry about how busy I am. They love that. It lightens the atmosphere for the elderly patient that is having accidents for the first time or is not used to having to ask for help.

[JustaPatient]

Originally Posted by BrokenRNheart

There is no reason for you to go without having your needs met. Another thing that I tell patients like you is that if someone is nasty (like the nurse about ripping her shoulder) you remember that it is not you. It is her problem and who knows what she is bitter about. It might just be a lack of sleep, fed up with that job...but it is NOT YOU.

Also, when I pass a patient like you on in report, I let the next nurse know that you won't ask for much so be sure to check on you.

See....this is what breaks my heart. I would never treat you poorly and there is no appreciation for this type of care in the hospital. I see poor staff keep their jobs all the time and I just can't give any more than I have given. Not to the hospital any way.

I want to be able to reassure my patient and their family that I am available and I do have the time. I have even told patients that were miserable that I get paid good money to take on what ever they have to dish out...as a joke to get them to relax and not worry about how busy I am. They love that. It lightens the atmosphere for the elderly patient that is having accidents for the first time or is not used to having to ask for help.

It is nurses like you I do not mind calling. Unfortunitally by the time I have identified you as a caring nurse, who does not mind being called, the shift is almost over.

[BrokenRNheart]

I found a link for Michigan Nurses through MNA

It is another campaign to contact our reps.

I talked to John Armelagos - chair of MNA union and he said that ANA is mostly executives and the ideas from the MNA are more for the nurses. I don't care which route we take as long as we get the message to the reps that safe staffing is a serious concern

Senator Granholm wants MORE people before she will even address it. OK, I will zip my lip right there....but here are the links and they are also under the political heading.

http://www.minurses.org/spc/indexNEW.shtml

I am adding this here because it goes with this topic. It is also located under it's own heading - Michigan Safe Patient Care

[BrokenRNheart]

Originally Posted by JustaPatient

It is nurses like you I do not mind calling. Unfortunitally by the time I have identified you as a caring nurse, who does not mind being called, the shift is almost over.

What you can do is let your nurse know at the beginning of the shift how you don't like to bother them because they are busy but sometimes you do need a pain med. If you are feeling unsteady, ask her how she wants to handle your safety. Most likely, even a bitter nurse will not be able to resist making sure you are comfortable calling on her. The fact that you acknowledged how busy nurses are will most likely turn around a nurse who is frustrated with the job. I'm sorry to anyone that gets us when we are crabby.

[JustaPatient]

Originally Posted by BrokenRNheart

What you can do is let your nurse know at the beginning of the shift how you don't like to bother them because they are busy but sometimes you do need a pain med. If you are feeling unsteady, ask her how she wants to handle your safety. Most likely, even a bitter nurse will not be able to resist making sure you are comfortable calling on her. The fact that you acknowledged how busy nurses are will most likely turn around a nurse who is frustrated with the job. I'm sorry to anyone that gets us when we are crabby.

That is actually a really good idea. I will try that next time I need to be in the hospital. I realize that nurses can be in a crabby mood. I just never wanted to add to an already bad day with requests they think are stupid. Thank you guys for helping me to see that I deserve to get what I need.

[medsurgrnco]

Why don't doctors join in with addressing unsafe staffing levels for nurses?

[crb613]

I just noticed that there has been 46 replies out of 800+ views.....kinda sad....

[medsurgrnco]

This great article discusses the cost-effectiveness of staffing levels:
http://www.massnurses.org/News/2005/08/new_study.htm

Many of those viewing this website may not be registered users. Therefore, they cannot post but hopefully they are joining in the cause.

[marie-francoise]

Originally Posted by crb613

I just noticed that there has been 46 replies out of 800+ views.....kinda sad....

I know... I must admit I'm kind of disappointed at the non-response, too. And many of those 40-something replies are from the same people.

I mean, submitting the ANA letter is "solidarity lite". If nurses can't even form that kind of solidarity, how can they band together for more difficult kinds of solidarity? Not to sound provocative... although if that works in engendering response, so be it...

Re-pasting the link to the submittable ANA letter:

http://www.safestaffingsaveslives.org/default.aspx