Annoyed by commercial

[jodispamodi]

Just venting... I heard a commercial this morning that aggravated the heck out of me. My state will be voting to add safe staffing measures to the upcoming ballot.

The commercial was to the effect of "Don't vote for safe staffing, it will cost healthcare billions, nurses should be allowed to decide safe staffing levels (meaning those that have gone to the dark side as staffing specialists).

As someone who worked on a super busy unit with an avg load of 5 patients, occ. six, and on one memorable occasion seven patients., I can attest to the fact that there was a HUGE difference on the (very) few occasions I had 4 patients. When I had 4 patients I felt I could critically think, thoroughly assess, and provide my patients with a good level of care. Five patients meant running all day and feeling guilty over the lack of time I had for the less needy ones.

Geez, if I had several million dollars I'd make my own commercial. Ok done venting.

[Orion81RN]

I'm in California and staffing ratios sure as hell don't apply in LTC. Having 20+ patients is unsafe.

Average is 35-40 here in Chicagoland. My post-acute rehab facility went from a doable 14 to 24 in the 2 years I worked there. Finally, I refused my assignment BEFORE report, and they booted me out of the building.

No, 20+ is still not safe when you take into account dementia, wanderers, high fall risks...sigh. But it's a step in the right direction.

And you know what NEVER has made sense to me? The LTCs I have worked for, ALL of them had a dementia unit for those not needing skilled care and gave the nurses the HIGHEST work loads. FIFTY dementia, fall risk, feces smearing residents for ONE nurse and maybe 3 aides.

[Orion81RN]

Not so. The staffing plan is required to be created by unit councils comprised of staff nurses from the individual departments. Then, the plan must be approved via vote from the hospital's staffing committee, which is comprised of union nurses and an equal number of nurse managers. Whenever possible, the staffing plan should be based on the staffing recommendations of the nurse specialty's professional organization.

Also, staffing committee members cannot, by law, be chosen by management. They are chosen by their peers, with the assistance of the union rep, and voted on.

So what about all the places that don't have unions?

[Orion81RN]

In LTC and rehab, I have seen up to 40 patients per nurse. It is crazy!! I work evening shift. On my unit, we have 8 to 14 pts per RN, We can have multiple admissions ( which takes 3-4 hours just to get into the system and assessed) This is a short term rehab unit that takes care of patients post surgical, IV antibiotics, dialysis (manual and cycler), TPN, PEG tubes, NG tubes, cardiac rehab, and trach care among other things. I get there and I go, rarely get any break. The only "quiet" time when we can get a break is spent calling doctors about lab results and pt issues. Often I am there 3-4 hours after the end of shift to complete treatments and write notes. God help us if there is a fall or an emergency..and all the documentation that follows. we have to do vitals on all the patients (many LTC only do vitals once a week) and we have to write notes on every patient (most LTC only write when needed). On top of this, there is no building receptionist after 7, so we also answer calls and respond to the door bell. All this, while providing excellent customer service to patients and their families. I work hard, walk about a mile every evening and have a good team to work with. we help each other out as best we can. That being said, admin piles more and more expectations on nursing. we can't keep a unit manager because they see how hard we work and try to help us and get frustrated by the unwillingness of the admin to recognize that. The patients even see how hard we work and tell admin we are short staffed. Per their numbers and the state regulations, we are not short staffed. Changes need to come from the state regulators...staffing based on licensed nurses in the building, including DON, ADON and Unit managers in the building is not accurate when they are in meetings and not actually doing patient care.

And family and visitors, and even CNAs think we are just sitting around at the nurse's station. My grandma stayed at my work place for rehab and I honestly want to wrangle her neck every time she talks about "nobody ever helping" her, and "all the nurses just sitting around." The public does not understand that we are working our butts off at those computers not taking breaks. And when the public doesn't understand, we feel pretty helpless. My grandma and Aunt do not believe me when I tell them no one is just sitting around. It makes me furious.

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

I worked a contract at a union hospital that had ratios. Breakfast, lunch, dinner & massage on Tuesdays.

Holy Mother of Dog.

Compared to the rest of the nursing world, I just found the WAY.

Even travelers were treated as staff.

Patients benefitted.

:angel:

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

I was speaking specifically regarding Oregon's legislation. I know that this is pretty rare.

I'm thinking I might like the PNW. I hear housing is tough tho, eh?

:angel:

[TriciaJ, RN]

In LTC and rehab, I have seen up to 40 patients per nurse. It is crazy!! I work hard, walk about a mile every evening and have a good team to work with. we help each other out as best we can.

Do you use a pedometer? From what you described, I would bet you're walking a whole lot more than 1 mile per shift.