This news STINKS! Calif ratios threatened...

Joe Hill · Dec 3, 2003

Originally posted by NRSKarenRN
Delay sought on California nurse-to-patient ratios

From: Pasadena Star News, Dec. 2, 2003

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors plans to ask Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to delay mandated nurse-to-patient ratios scheduled to take effect in 2004.
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206~22097~1803053,00.html

I know it Stinks but it should not be a suprise in a country that's rapidly embracing the management ideals of worker behavior from the nineteenth century.

This, let us not forget, of course impacts the Pt. Right to adequate treatment, but pts. and nurses are just widgets in the economics of the hospital factory. If the hospitals were serious about about staffing adequately they would have made beaten the deadline. But, for them, it's all about money and profits.

Let us not forget that even now property rights trump individual rights!

Sheri257 · Dec 3, 2003

Originally posted by Joe Hill
I know it Stinks This, let us not forget, of course impacts the Pt. Right to adequate treatment, but pts. and nurses are just widgets in the economics of the hospital factory.

So true, unfortunately.

RNPD · Dec 3, 2003

Originally posted by Joe Hill
I know it Stinks but it should not be a suprise in a country that's rapidly embracing the management ideals of worker behavior from the nineteenth century.

This is so true and so sad. Everyone I know in the business or corporate world agrees that you need to work a minimum of 50-60 hours/week if you hope to get/stay ahead. It is one reason that my own husband keeps turning down promotions. His family life is more important. Not to mention that if you add 10-20 hours a week and then divide it into the salary offered, you usually LOSE money per hour. The overall salary may go up some, but it is not enough to offset the extra hours expected by management.

The way this whole mess was settled originally-with unions and strikes-is what will lead us out of this 19th century mentality and back to the 21st century!

RNPD · Dec 3, 2003

As far as the article that Karen posted-well, it is quite disheartening. Obviously there has been plenty of time to prepare to implement the ratios. The way to do it properly would have been to gradually improve nurse to patient ratios so that by the time 1/1/04 rolls around the hospitals would have been able to hire as well as retain RNs because of improving staffing ratios. Of course RNs aren't going to "magically" appear on 1/1/04. The didn't disappear in a day, so they won't reappear that quickly. The answers-as well as the nurses-are out there. Research proves this. Nurses have been screaming these answers for years now. The hospitals unfortunately have chosen not to listen. And they will do everything in their power to subvert the ratios and repeal the new law if at all possible. This of course will have a snowball effect on all the pending state and federal laws out there. It so disheartens me that I mourn for the profession I once loved and have strengthened my own resolve never to return to bedside nursing where I have to put up with these injustices on a daily basis. A part of me feels like I have abandoned my patients when I abandoned ship, but sometimes you just need to look out for number one and this is that time for me. But I would return in a heartbeat-yes, even on 1/1/04-if the ratios were upheld and enforced. Multiply that by probably about 500,000 more of me and all the hospitals in this COUNTRY-not only California-would have enough RNs to meet the same ratios throughout the USA.

It is my time to mourn, not only for my profession, but also for humanity. Bacause it is a time where profits mean more than human life; where a price is put on human suffering for those profits.

It is indeed a sad chapter in our history and yes, it absolutely does STINK!!!!

Joe Hill · Dec 3, 2003

Originally posted by RNPD
The way this whole mess was settled originally-with unions and strikes-is what will lead us out of this 19th century mentality and back to the 21st century!

I couldn't agree with you more! Now let's start bringing our Profession around to this view. Organize, Organize, Organize!

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 3, 2003

hmmm

why am I not surprised.

the bean-counters and administrators are clever, clever, oh SO clever. where there is a will, there is a way to get around safe staffing ratios. It all comes down to $$$$ after all and the motivating factors did not disappear when the laws passed! there is always a loophole!

oramar · Dec 3, 2003

No doubt they have hired law firms at great expense to find ways to dodge this law.

Gldngrl · Dec 3, 2003

Which is why nursing association and nursing unions need creative lawyers to counter what the hospitals are trying to do:D

askater11 · Dec 3, 2003

Let's band together!!

E-mail/Write to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger--plead to stop the delay. If these work condition's continue patients lives will be affected. With the nurse patient ratio's as they are NOW nurses will only continue quitting or lowering their commited hours to work.

mdfog10 · Dec 3, 2003

All California RNs please contact the governor and urge him to uphold and enforce the law!!! We all know that this is one huge step to better working conditions. Many of the nurses I have worked with in med-surg have moved on to the ICU, where there are mandated staffing ratios!!

call: Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30 (916) 445-2841 and press 1 to leave msg.

email: [email protected]

Make your voice heard for patient safety!!!!

pickledpepperRN · Dec 3, 2003

Originally posted by mdfog10
All California RNs please contact the governor and urge him to uphold and enforce the law!!! We all know that this is one huge step to better working conditions. Many of the nurses I have worked with in med-surg have moved on to the ICU, where there are mandated staffing ratios!!

call: Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30 (916) 445-2841 and press 1 to leave msg.

email: [email protected]

Make your voice heard for patient safety!!!!

My letter is written.

The County hospital situation is really rediculous because we voted an increase in our property taxes in Los Angeles County that the majority of Supervisors claimed would be enough.

They have known about the ratios since October 10, 1999.

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Here is a different take from a newspaper.

http://www.sgvtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,205%257E12238%257E1802527,00.html

Article Published: Monday, December 01, 2003

Work to fill nurses void

Today we conclude our series on keeping our hospitals healthy with a look at staffing and how hospitals can begin to bridge the gap in trained personnel.

HEALTH officials have warned of a nursing shortage over the past decade. Little has been done to undo the damage that resulted from the '80s push to downsize nursing staffs and mandate overtime to fill the gaps created.

Those working conditions sent thousands of nurses streaming out of hospitals and the state.

Now that state-imposed nurse- patient ratios are about to take effect (Jan. 1), hospital administrators are saying they simply can't meet the mandate. Los Angeles County officials are seeking a delay from the state.

That ought not to happen, even if it means recruiting registered nurses from overseas, perhaps the only lifeline available short- term. That and state grants and other incentives similar to those offered beginning teachers.

Long-term, the state must be a pivotal player in increasing the number of licensed RNs by encouraging education programs.

Because while the need for registered nurses is critical across the country, it is acute in California, the nation's most populous state.

California employs only 566 nurses per 100,000 population, far below the national average of more than 700 per capita. Compare that to the District of Columbia with the best ratio of 1,675 per 100,000. Guess it pays to have Congress a heartbeat away from the ER.

Health-care planners are predicting California alone will require an additional 67,440 RNs by 2006.

Don't hold your breath. That need isn't likely to be met without a massive recruitment program by hospitals, some of which have turned to $10,000 signing bonuses to lure nurses who can make up to $70,000 annually.

A 2000 California Strategic Planning Committee for Nursing study indicated that half of California's RNs received their education out of state or out of country.

That may be no surprise as many state universities have shut down their bachelor's degree nursing programs, including UCLA and USC. But it's a shameful situation nonetheless.

The community colleges stand in the gap with a two-year associate degree program and supply most of the area's nursing graduates. But they are not able to meet the demand.

The need for more training sites must be met. What we'd like to see are separate campuses for nursing and other adjunct medical personnel such as lab and X-ray technicians, physician practitioners, etc.

Having several such schools across the state would go a long way toward meeting future staffing needs at hospitals not only in California, but across the country. The United States is predicted to face a 12 percent nursing shortage by 2010. Why not meet that need through training in California?

Gov. Schwarzenegger, a strong education proponent, ought to call for creation of such schools, perhaps through public/private ventures and for increased funding to expand existing nursing programs.

That's preferable to rescinding the nurse-patient ratio as some have suggested he do.

Giving these medical professions a boost is badly needed to encourage young people to once again make nursing and related medical professions career choices. Dedicated education sites is one sure way to tell youngsters that these caring professions count.