Biggest issue nurses face?

I'm in program at work called RROHC. We are currently changing our way of shift report to more of a SBAR format that will hopefully be quicker and also will yield more information and less stories.

The program has made me read a lot of different eye opening issues that affect nurses and can cause sentinal events. Shift report being one of them.

Another is an article called Silence Kills. An eye opener and very informative. Google it.

You could look at the high patient loads to nurse ratios. You could also look at the differences between 8, 10 and 12 hour shifts and the impact it has on patient safety, nurse satisfaction and it's health effects on nurses.

Implementing Evidence Based Practice to provide quality patient care through practice, education, and research.

I think the biggest issue is nurse/patient ratios and SAFETY. For instance in California they have a law 1 nurse to 5 patients. Don't forget to look at whether the nurses have access to a CNA or Tech. I worked as a traveler and always went to California because I knew exactly what was going to be required. Good luck

i think a semi big issue is staying neutral. you might not believe in the samethings as the patient but you still need to give them your best

You could look at hospital violence (lots of violence in the ER) or work-related stress....lots of that to go around.

Getting a job after graduation.

Assertiveness v. aggressiveness regarding patient advocacy working in a multi-disciplinary facility.

how about dealing with difficult families?

Working with docs who look down on nurses? Unfortuately this still exists, luckily not where I work.

Here's one that got me the most......the transition from student nurse to RN. It's was a huge issue for me, something that was never talked about at all in school.

Biggest issue facing nurses:

Burn out secondary to unsafe staffing levels and patient ratios; disrespect from families, patients, and the interdisciplinary "team;" inadequate and unsupportive management; lack of a strong, centralized professional organization to advocate for nurses and set national professional standards; and professional insecurity. Also, low pay and poor educational standards.

IMO.

Care Giver Fatigue.

New verbage for a sort of burn out...

It's not that you don't care, it's just that no matter what you do, or how well you do it, you can't do it as well as you WANT because you STILL dont have the time - equipment - staff , or the charting is too burdensome, or the outcome wasn't optimal, you are continuously functioning in a crisis mode, and you are fighting the SAME fight AGAIN for patient safety, and it's true that things WON'T change until you have a SENTINEL event - and then all the stuff youve been fighting for and the changes you were screaming about are given to you on a platter - for about 3 months - then it goes back to same ol' same ol'. sigh

I find Care Giver Fatigue really defines it well.

Understanding Advance Directives and DNR and how to explain this to family members. Or explaining medical issues to families and helping them understand.