groan, getting fired up again about articles in nursing mags

[oramar]

There is section in RN magazine called Helpline. Managers send in questions and advice is given, these questions are located on page 26 of April issue. The first question is from a manager who complains about older workers getting negative and nasty in response to change. The second question is about nurses in ICU refusing to volunteer for precepting, the nurses say they are too overwhelmed to take on new task. The advice given to these managers is the usual garbage. It is automatically assumed that the nurses are at fault and all they need is a change of attitude. Mangers are advised to use a little carrot and maybe a little stick to clear up these bad attitudes. Could somebody please advise these managers to sit down with their nurses and talk to them like adults and find out what it really bothering them. My guess is that these bad attitudes are directly related to very real problems these nursing are experiencing in their working enviroment. Maybe those ICU nurses really do have to much to do to take on precepting duties. Maybe the older nurses are nasty because the lift team was eliminated in order to cut cost. Respectful managment would at least look into the facts behind the complaints. The real danger in this bad advice lies in the fact that these distressed units will soon be short staffed because the real problems are not being addressed.

[ceecel.dee, MSN, RN]

mass conspiracy?

Surely you jest:rolleyes:

Pick the info you can learn something from, and let the rest go.....just like with any news program, it's colored by the writer!

[SmilingBluEyes]

ceecee. ah the voice of reason. they all have their merits. we just can pick what works and what does not. the beauty of choice and freedom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...........

[Liddle Noodnik]

re: "Nursing magazines are to real nurses as Cosmo and Glamour are to real women."

This made me laugh SO hard!

Well I notice there are some really fine writers on this discussion board -- submit your OWN articles and then they will become "real-er" ... provided that same management with the wand is not the editor (I know where we could put that "wand"...

[mfdteacher, BSN]

Unfortunately I find that most of the magazines, journals, etc have no clue to reality. Most of the clinical tips are good but the replies to problems are off the wall. Hospital nurses work in horrible conditions, 12 hour shifts, budget cuts, personnel cuts, constantly being asked or forced to work overtime, and little or no recognition for a job well done. There is no nursing shortage, just a shortage of nurses willing to continue to put up with the above. If hospitals wanted to recruit, all they would have to do is make nursing at their place desirable. But the bean counters rule and our associations are full of advance practice nurses that refuse to stand up for themselves or nursing in general. Yes I know it's simplified but tell me it's not true.

[kitty=^..^=cat]

I've never had much use for traditional "nursing magazines" -- occasionally there's a good article that explains a disease process really well or a sample protocol that makes sense, but for the most part, they're gloss and fluff and completely out-of-touch with real nurses.

My favorite publications are the ones that are really specific to my job and don't accept any advertising!! :) There are a couple of wonderful risk management newsletters that I frequently share with the nursing staff, because the content is relevant and realistic. The ED Legal Letter is a monthly publication that our ER staff just loves -- it frequently has great "horror stories" about poor staffing, unsafe floating, incompetent physicians and the trouble those things can cause.

Subscriptions to these can be expensive, but if your facility is getting them already, you should be able to borrow them (check with the Quality Management department) if you're really wanting to read some timely and relevant content.

[RN4jewels]

*SIGH* DITTO TO ALL I HAVE READ AND THANK-YOU FOR READING MY MIND. I WONT READ RN, UNLESS I NEED MY HEART RATE UP. I DO LIKE ADVANCE AND MAY SUBSCRIBE TO AJN FOR THE CLINICAL INFO. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN ARTICLE SUGGEST THAT ADMINISTRATION SHOULD WORK A 12 HOUR NIGHT SHIFT WITH 11 PATIENTS (AND 2 HAVE TO BE ACTIVELY CONFUSED BUT THEN I WOULD HAVE A BAD ATTITUDE AKA REALIST.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by nurse-lou

Someone in my unit decided to post at the bedside (computer) a "did you remember to" list....mouth care, bath, pain assessment, turn, etc.

Instead of the above list, how about posting this at the pt's bedside?

"Patient's and Families: Did your nurse HAVE TIME to do mouth care, bath, pain assessment, etc? If not, please CALL MGMT. (800) 55-staff and tell them that they need to staff better, or get their butts down here and HELP OUT!":chuckle

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Hellllllo Nurse, bang on! Sign me up!!

[SmilingBluEyes]

Helllllooooo nurse, you rock.

[liberalrn]

Print up a couple thousand of those-----I'll post them myself!

[redshiloh]

You folks have time to read?

[Liddle Noodnik]

Originally posted by Hellllllo Nurse

Instead of the above list, how about posting this at the pt's bedside?

"Patient's and Families: Did your nurse HAVE TIME to do mouth care, bath, pain assessment, etc? If not, please CALL MGMT. (800) 55-staff and tell them that they need to staff better, or get their butts down here and HELP OUT!":chuckle

I always tell my patients who are upset due to delays in care delivery that they SHOULD report it! How else will it be known how the shortages affect THEIR satisfaction, and the hospital's bread and butter!