Distracted from nursing care due to poor staffing

[Jewl]

I seriously need some advice from all fabulous nurses out there.

I am a new grad and am working on a med-surge floor. I love what I do, but I am doing all nursing care as well as all ADL's.

I do not mind changing linen, giving bed baths, taking vitals, ect. However, I am not able to be with my patients and give them the nursing care they truly need, because on a floor of 30 patients, the patient to nurse ratio is 1 to 5 or 1 to 6 and one aid for the whole entire floor.

I am not complaining, but I frustrated and truly need some sound advice about how to manage my time better and prioritize. I find myself running around filling pitchers of water so my patient will have something to take their pills with, or searching for a thermometer, because the supplies are limited at my hospital and there isn't an aid around to delegate to.

For those of you who work at a hospital, what is it like for you? Is staffing and lack of supplies an issue? There are a lot of things wrong at my hospital, and I am curious to know what everyone else is experiencing at their place of work.

Thanks!

Jewl:confused:

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

I did my partnership on floors where this was sometimes an issue. The best advice I can offer is to make sure you have everything you need, or might need, before you enter a room. Anticipate the patient asking for something or a complication coming up and stock the room or your pockets beforehand. Bring extra tape, dressing supplies, saline flushes, IV caps, alcohol swabs, anything you routines use. You can even leave these supples in the room, per your facility's policy, so they are readily available if you need them. You can also bring in clean linen and towels for the patient so that your walkie/talkies can wash up whenever they like and you don't have to run and get some for your total cares.

Do you do bedside rounding with the nurses when changing shift? I would highly recommend visiting your patients with your the previous shift at the beginning of report. Then if the water pitcher is empty or something was left undone, ask the previous nurse to do it before she leaves. Find a thermometer or b/p cuff at the beginning of your shift and carry it with you. It may be a little extra weight, but it means you won't have to go searching for one. Perhaps you can also mention to your nurse manager that there are not enough supplies. Vital sign equipment can be a great way to transfer infections, so each patient really should have their own thermometer and bp cuff kept in their room during their stay.

Finally, learn to say "not right now" to requests. If a patient asks to get washed up and you have to give morning meds to three other patients, explain that you have to attend to some other needs right now but you will return in 'X' amount of time to help them.

[sweetnurse63, BSN, RN]

Jewl, I left the hospital for these exact reasons. Not only is the pay low for new grad nurses at the hospital, but you have to deal with short staffing and running around doing everything and not feeling appreciated by management. Nurses are being stretched to their limits all because employers want to save a dollar.

[CBsMommy]

I am currently working on a floor that you are describing, as a Nurse Extern - acting as the only aide, and it is awful! I try my hardest and run my tail off and I feel like I never get enough done for the patients or nurses! I try to answer all the call lights and try to get the patients settled when I do vitals (first thing I do after report). I, too, would love some suggestions to make the night better for all of us! Thanks in advance!