better staffing better care

CoffeemateCNA · Mar 27, 2010

I don't know specifically about NY, but usually the state sets the ratios. It's up to the individual facilities to schedule enough employees to meet that ratio.

makes needs known · Mar 28, 2010

OK This is my problem. We have 40 patients and 1 med nurse on 3-11 shift. I am unable to pass meds in a 2 hr time frame. When I get to work I have to help the 7-3 shift put narcs away before we can count them and then get report, When I do get started I have requests for 3-4 patients asking for pain pills. We have new admits that the 7-3 shift have no idea what they are being admitted for. Family members are constantly approaching me about so many concerns that my 4p med pass does not end until 7p. I am running my butt off. I went to my nurse manager and told her I need help with my 4p med pass. She said the other nurse has to finish the paperwork that she can't finish. She said I have to defer family members to after my med pass. She said our facility needs to be run like a 4 star hotel. She told me she spends alot of time helping us and smoothing over complaints from people who aren't getting their care or their meds as fast as they want.

tookdaddy · Mar 28, 2010

Nurses have options for where they work. Let your manager know this. If nothing changes, find a place to work where you can enjoy what you are doing.

-Evan RN

Info(RN)matics · Mar 31, 2010

We have an average of 9-10 high-acuity patients to a nurse on nights on Med/Surg. We can't refuse admissions even when there are 10 patients to a nurse, and two of them were admissions on the shift.

And we're just lobbying for a staffing 'disclosure' law according to this article: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/storyprint.asp?StoryID=916990

Is disclosure without regulation going to improve conditions for nurses and patients?