A message to a Adevntist Health System Hospital who doesn't care about staffing

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Hi! Today I'm going to praise my hospital for caring about us and expecting us to give great quality care with little of as staff as possible! In fact, I have a story to share. It was a great experience! Enjoy!

It was on a Sunday, and I came in early as usual. I find out that I'm going to another floor, which is typical, since I float a lot. I clock in, and go to the floor. When I arrive, to my surprise, I found out that I was the only CNA on the floor. To be honest, at first, I didn't think much of it, seeming that it was the weekend and it wouldn't be that bad. Plus, the nurses helped with the blood sugars and all I had to do was to take vitals. Simple, right?

32 patients seemed like a good challenge, since I never had that much before, right?

It was one of the worst experiences I ever had in my life. All day, running around, doing the best I could, but it wasn't enough. Even with the nurses who helped, it still wasn't enough. Here's all the bad things that went wrong that should never happen but it still does, due to supervisors not caring about safety and quality patient care.

1. I didn't have enough time to introduce myself to all the patients. I basically had to go in, say my name, take vitals, and leave. I felt bad, as some patients were cool, but I had to tell them that I had no time to talk because I was the only person on the floor.

2. Five plus more feeders. I didn't have time to feed everyone. How could I? And some of these patients required close supervision, but no. I couldn't do it. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, not to mention charting all the meals made it more rough.

3. Too many incontinent people. Yes. That what was what I basically doing most of the day. I didn't even give anyone a bath. I had to go those rooms to people who needed to be changed. Yeah, the nurses helped, but it wasn't enough. Oh, and I only did one bath because a nurse forced me to help her out. I didn't have time to give anyone a bath.

4. I had a FALL! It was a confused patient who I had to go check on frequently. He had a bed alarm, but still kept trying to get up. How great is that?

5. I didn't pass out waters. How could I? The secretary helped, but asked me "Is there a reason why you didn't pass any water?" Did I really have to ask? Did she not see what I had to do for 12 hours?

6. Another admission. With 32 patients, they decide to bring another one in! And guess what? I didn't bother taking vitals or introducing myself. How could I? I had no time.

7. And with all that time, no one bothered to bring in someone else to help. They just left me there to take care of 33 patients.

After that day, I just imagine what other cnas have to go through with a whole floor on their hands.....

Dear AVHS Hospital,

I really appreciate the fact that you just give us CNAs a whole floor in it's entirety, and not basically doing anything about it. I also appreciate the fact that you give us no appreciation, no recognition for working our tails off to give the best care we can possibly give, and you still expect us to do it with smiles on our faces. I also love the fact that we have managers and supervisors who know the situation all to well, and they don't address it to the higher ups. They just ignore it and tell us to deal with it. They don't care what we have to go through when it happens, especially with the increase on heavy patients recently. What if something happens? Remember, you got people, especially elders who are CNAs who can only do so much. They aren't strong. They can't do as much. Oh, here's my favorite part. There's nurses that refuse to help even if there is one CNA on the floor. They still expect us to do our jobs with no help, and I get that. They don't want to help because they feel they are too go and that they don't need to do anything. Plus, nine times out if ten, they use " I have a degree" card and it works. They get away with it so much! :) So here's the question, why should I give the same care to every single patient? We all know it's impossible, but you have managers and directors who doesn't care about us and expect us to do our jobs. We scream, we yell, we plead, we give our honest opinions, and you tell us not to be afraid to speak out minds, but when we do we get written up for it!

So, here's what i'm going to do. If that ever happens to me again, I will refuse. I will not put my license on the line for a whole floor, I will not over work myself for the same pay, and most importantly, I will not give bad care to people who don't deserve it. If you want to fire me, so be it. It's one more person who you will loose. Sure, you will hire more people, but soon they will realize the truth and bail out. Isn't that why there is so much short staffing? Isn't that why people call off so much?

Maybe a certain amount of people (Nursing managers, supervisors, higher ups of the hospital), need to take a good deep look inside, and see if they are really doing the right thing. If not, maybe you need to change not just for us, but for the sake of giving great quality care. But no, all you care about is money, and barking orders. All this is to you is another cna prick who doesn't have a degree and doesn't know any better. Fine. You are no better than people who walk out and quit. What more can I say, right? Besides, one day I'll find a better place that actually cares about everyone. Until now, I'm stuck with you guys until I refuse to work on a whole floor by myself.

God Bless! (kisses) :)

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But In all seriousness, this is a big issue on this subject. It's no joking matter. This is the one thing that the hospital ignores so much on. I wonder if it even legal on what they are doing. Please, if any cna knows what I went through, at least spread this message around and get the word out. Not just the hospital, but everywhere in healthcare needs to re- evaluate themselves. It's time to stop being greedy. It's time to think about the team. Besides, you guys are NOTHING without us CNAS. If you think you are better with none at all, why not just fire all of us and let the nurses do our jobs?

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Specializes in Critical Care Transport, Cardiac ICU, Rapid.

Chill lol, many of us have experienced the severe understaffing you just did. You take what you can and work with it. Only you can choose how you feel about a situation. CNA's have a crap job, literally, but there also plenty of worse situations for us to be in.

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That's what you say now, but what if it keeps going on and on on almost every shift? Look, let's not even talk us. What about the patients? They are the ones who need the care. It's all about them basically, so you can't just say that. To me I want to give the best care I can give, and I can't do that by myself. It's wrong. It's been happening too much and it's a danger not only to us but to the patients. I had to say something because this is an on going issue that no one is doing anything about to fix it. And like I said, if it happens to me again(thank goodness it didn't yet) then I will refuse. I can't be a part of something like that. And if they have to let me go, then so be it. If you want to be a part of giving bad care, so be it. I won't.

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Specializes in Critical Care Transport, Cardiac ICU, Rapid.

Patient safety is always going to be an issue when there are a diminished number of workers on the floor. What're you going to do next time this inevitably happens, refuse? Pretty sure that just adds to more issues of patient safety and errors that the nurses can make. Issues with staffing generally take time and you have to be patient about it, until then do what you need to do at work to keep the flow going. If it is such an issue and call outs continue then just leave right? There's no point in staying somewhere where you believe that your license will be on the line every shift.

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I've been a CNA for a long time. I just can't justify myself to being pressured to take care of so many people. It won't work. Sometimes the best thing to do is to walk away. You are right. But, it hasn't happen to me yet. And what's worse is that people KNOW it's happening and no one is doing anything or addressing the issue. Why should I pressure myself to be bullied and overworked if no one cares? Anything can happen, and I just can't be a part of it. And you are right, it will cause more issues, but people need to understand what we have to go through when we have a heavy burden on our shoulders. It's just not right. The point in writing this article was to address the issue. How long must people ignore the facts? And if I do find another job (which I am in the process of doing), I will leave. Honestly, I don't want to leave, but if I will, then I will. Until then, this is something I fear will happen to me, and whatever happens, all I'm going to say is this. "Well, do what you must."

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

Yeah, this is where I have a problem with no state laws mandating ratios for CNAs/UAPs (at least where I'm at). That is just too much. But, all in all, you did your best. That patient falling is more on the RN than it is on you. They didn't have 33 patients, you did. I'm sure they were just as taxed as you but you all were trying your best. However, shame on facility for allowing it to get to that point.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Sorry OP, but this is nothing new.

I've been in healthcare since 2000; I was a CNA, then an LPN, and now an RN.

Once healthcare became corporate, gone were the perks for all healthcare staff; they have cut and made staff work with less as acuity has shot up in all sectors; some hospitals in my area DONT have CNAs and would LOVE them.

Healthcare reimbursement has instituted policies to force hospitals to do right by pts and tie them to reimbursement and have tried to institute polices that if used logically and with sense would be nurse driven-the MAIN reason why pts are in the hospital-for nursing care, but unfortunately, they have used this as a tool to NOT make it work, while Leadership and Corportate don't miss a beat with having constant COLAs, vacation and retirement packages that if they left their positions today, they would be able to continue to live comfortably without lifting a finger.

What you are going to do against a corporate machine? Talks to you representative? your Congressional rep? Good luck with that-they may be getting money from those same people to NOT improve healthcare-and they can continue to cash those checks and live comfortably and get the top notch care while the rest of us suffer.

Coming on a board and spitting vitriol to people who are suffering the same issue that have MORE responsibility and the buck stops with the one with the higher license-NURSES-is what they want you to do.

You've essentially fell into their trap.

Now, what are you REALLY going to do?

I suggest you peruse the Healthcare Activist section, and ask us who are advocating and are fighting against the machine how to get involved. :cool:

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Yeah, you are right. I can't change their thoughts and minds, and I knew this while writing this. I just wanted to share my thoughts, and basically call them out. Do I expect a big response, NO. But, at least I shared how I feel and the fact that most people go through the same thing. And my way of fighting back, is just to say no. If they want to fire me, I will give them my blessing. I will not be a part of a system where people are treated like that. I don't even care if nurses beg me to stay. The only way I can fight now is to put my foot down. Someone has to speak out, even if their voice won't be heard far, and that's good enough for me.

I know it will be hard for me, but there's more important things to worry about then loosing a job. If I get fired, I will find another one eventually. Yes, it may be hard, but I will find one. I just imagine the head supervisor saying this to me when I refuse.

" If you refuse to stay, I may recommend termination."

"Well, it's be a great ride, but do what you must, and have a great day." :)

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Really? Nurses usually have MORE to care for than CNA's...

Yeah, this is where I have a problem with no state laws mandating ratios for CNAs/UAPs (at least where I'm at). That is just too much. But, all in all, you did your best. That patient falling is more on the RN than it is on you. They didn't have 33 patients, you did. I'm sure they were just as taxed as you but you all were trying your best. However, shame on facility for allowing it to get to that point.
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Yes, this is true, but think in the general sense, we all have the responsibility to take care of the patients. No matter how big or small.

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Specializes in Critical Care Transport, Cardiac ICU, Rapid.
Yes, this is true, but think in the general sense, we all have the responsibility to take care of the patients. No matter how big or small.

Nurses have more to lose than a CNA does, always. Especially regarding their license

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