Does Your Unit Director Do This?

[soundsLikesirens]

I work nights on a very, very busy and very understaffed med-surg floor.

Lately, the unit dir. has started coming onto the floor in the mornings, with a detailed list of the patients' complaints (if any), from that night's shift.

I am just really P.O.'ed that we not only have the take the B.S. we have to take from the patients; but now it seems we are going to have to listen to an "instant replay" from the unit director in the morning and justify ourselves ONCE AGAIN........GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She brings a list of complaints and we give "our" side of it.

Note: this hospital is very big on customer satisfaction - to provide for it, last night we started third shift with 28 patients and our staff was 2 RNs splitting the floor, another Rn and a CNA doing floor work!!!!! Mind you.....we got FOUR admissions!

[JennieBSN]

Yep, my manager (who has a chronic case of cranio-rectal inversion...) is cutting staffing also, after we've already lost 4 full timers to either retirement or moves out of state, and will be increasing our admissions by 70%. Yet we're still expected to 'handle it' and give the same level of patient care we've always given...which is why myself and a lot of other nurses are now turning in their resignations...

So much for 'customer satisfaction.' The 'customer (gag)' will be lucky to get their call light answered...

[soundsLikesirens]

This is the kind of crap I am talking about.

They don't want you to tell the patients you're short-staffed -

so what the hell do they think the patients/family will conclude about why it takes so long to get their needs met -

of course they are going to think the nurse is a *****!!!

And then they have the gall to complain about customer satisfaction?!?!?

Get Real!!!

[yoda4061]

Hello,

I also agree with PRMENRS, that to cover yourself, carry that little notebook....I'm an LVN that worked in a long term care facility that did basically the same thing......the residents knew we were short staffed, but never brought that up when complaining to the higher ups!......so thats when the lil notebook became handy...I took extra time out of my day to stop by the administrators office and let them know we made it through another day... and the book would come out.... I would share with them what happened with each potential complaint and they loved it!! I was soon promoted into admins!!

I try to stay ahead of the game and realize that "most" supervisors are trying to do a job too.....anyway good luck!!

If your truly frustrated at work take a mental therapy moment close your eyes and silently repeat to yourself, over and over:

The Sky is Blue, and the Grass is Green, the sky is blue and the grass is green.......

[Mijourney]

Hi. Yes, I tend to be one of the nurses that would recommend a round about approach to getting problems solved. But, in this case, the manager, if I understand correctly, is using customer satisfaction surveys to "whip" employees. How can your morale stand up to that for any length of time? Supervisors, managers, directors, etc. listen up! Beating up on subordinates is not doing your job. It does not make you a powerful person in the eyes of anyone but yourself. If you have professional pressures or personal problems that are causing you to do this, then you need to take time off and do an introspective examination to see whether you would want to continue in a job that you were required or felt a need to abuse, yes abuse your staff.

If you are required to measure quality by the use of customer satisfaction surveys, then use them as tools to help your employees and patients.