I work in a hospital in California (medsurg unit) which has cut us to barebones for the sake of staying within mandated 6-1 staffing. Yes we have 6, occasionally 7 patients now, but in turn we have no CNA's on the floor at all. Not only do we do Heparin protocols and mostly tele patients, but now we must also do complete primary care on six patients..this includes passing trays, feeding patients, etc. I don't mind getting my hands dirty but I am finding this nearly impossible to monitor labs, communicate with physicians, cover IV meds on 4-5 patients for an LVN, and do primary nursing for six of your own patients. Is this what it is coming down to?
Anyone ever feel like presenting your patient/employer with a waiver stating that you will not be held accountable for errors occurring during a major staffing shortage on the floor?
Anyone ever feel like offering to take a 25% cut in pay in exchange for caring for less patients? I wish that was an option.
Our tele/PCU nurses currently have 5 patients with a planned move to 6. The new manager wants to add 'stable' vents, sheaths to be pulled, drips titrated. Plus she has done away with their care assistants...it's total patient care now. Dangerous...and I have gone on record with that.
Her nurses are leaving...and their answer? Mandate the ICU nurses to cover the unit now.
How expensive are a few CNA's here?? That was the final straw for many of the resigned nurses....at least they could have left them some CNA help with all their 'big plans'.
The facility refuses to budge (now anyway) . We shall see what transpires. :stone
I agree. Tenet's current PR campaign (where, BTW, they hired the recent editor of Nurseweek magazine to speak for the "new and improved Tenet") should be taken with a very large grain of salt.
We have all heard this "we've changed our ways" stuff before from political groups and corporations with big bucks.
Hmmmm....thanks sjoe for the tenet links. I'm going to read them thoroughly and take heed to what I learn from others who have worked for them before. I never have. I never even heard of them before I started looking into doing a travel nurse assignment to one of their hospitals.
Wow! Nothing about Tenet is making me feel excited about traveling to work at one of their hospitals. I've already started to look into other places because of what I've read about Tenet so far. What a shame! (sigh)
Well Cheerfuldoer just be careful if you do go to a Tenet facility. There are plenty of other hospitals in Ca to choose from that would probably be better.
Yes- if corporate healthcare is the order of the day it would follow that the corporate nurse would refuse liability for "adverse patient outcomes" occuring when the patient to nurse ratio is higher than that recommended as safe.
Yes- if corporate healthcare is the order of the day it would follow that the corporate nurse would refuse liability for "adverse patient outcomes" occuring when the patient to nurse ratio is higher than that recommended as safe.
Several of my coworkers write 'assignment under protest' letters to management now when we are refused extra help when acuities call for it. I don't know if it protects us legally though.
When I was a young nurse I worked a union area where we would file reports in triplicate if staffing or conditions were bad. And we were not considered bad attitude nurses if we did...where I practice now those that speak up risk a troublemaker label. :stone
If you are not a union hspital, then maybe it is time to think about one. At the very least, a union will make sure you know what your rights are as a worker. The American Nurses Association started a Union called United American Nurses.
mattsmom81
4,516 Posts
Our tele/PCU nurses currently have 5 patients with a planned move to 6. The new manager wants to add 'stable' vents, sheaths to be pulled, drips titrated. Plus she has done away with their care assistants...it's total patient care now. Dangerous...and I have gone on record with that.
Her nurses are leaving...and their answer? Mandate the ICU nurses to cover the unit now.
How expensive are a few CNA's here?? That was the final straw for many of the resigned nurses....at least they could have left them some CNA help with all their 'big plans'.
The facility refuses to budge (now anyway) . We shall see what transpires. :stone