Tonight I worked a pm shift on my child and maternal health unit.
15 post natal mothers..2 on Synto for bleeds, one post op caesar, 1 having platelets for throbocytapenia. 3 bubs in special care...caesar bub with TTN and pre terminal trace with bradys and desats...phototherapy double lights and a hypoglyciemic bub on dextrose. 2 mums to be in labour and 1 new admission to do for
inductions. 2 mother craft bubs with reflux.
4 post op hysterectomys.
How many staff on ?
3
How unsafe was that ?
We nearly lost a bub at 9pm failed vac extrac...forceps mec liq apgars 2 5 8 flat for 5 min emerg buzzer going trying to get help.
GRRRRRRR.
We just got a pay rise but not soon enough to attract more people into nursing.
As a new nurse looking for work l have noticed and they admit themselves that the employ as little as possible and preferably those with less qualifications, as they are cheaper.
This really scares me as l wonder what will happen in an emergency and how many people will have to die before something is done about staffing.
Unfortunately profits come before patients and the staff.
I take my hat off to you and the other staff members, but that's not the point is it, that is just outrageous........what kind of risk management/quality dept. does that hospital have in place??
Try reading post on nursing shortag article. You don't get by, you barely get by if you are lucky. And my family wonders why I left hospital nursing altogether... (sigh)
WOW !!! rn fom Oz...sounds like conditions Down under are as bad as here in the States... As I really don`t how or to whom you need to complain can`t really offer advice...but DO complain in writing to someone...that shift was a diaster waiting to happen...You and your coworkers did a marvelous job...my hat`s( Stetson) off to you !!!!!
That is down right dangerous and just PLAIN WRONG! I am a L&D RN and I also work postpartum, and that sounds like a nightmare from hell! Are you a float RN or is this the floor that you always work on?
I was wondering if you had a charge RN on your shift that night? Did you have any LPN's on staff or any CNA's to help with patient care?
If I were you I would be calling house supervisor, or your unit director next time your staffing does not match your acuity.
Do you have an integrity officer at your health system, that is who we call for situations such as the one you described.
I was also wondering if a report needs to be filled out on your baby with the apgars of 2/5, we have to do a "peers" report on incidents such as the one you described, and it is reviewed by administration. This type of situation is a law suit waiting to happen, I would find empolyment in a another facility with appropritate staffing based on acuity.
:eek:
leeca
62 Posts
As a new nurse looking for work l have noticed and they admit themselves that the employ as little as possible and preferably those with less qualifications, as they are cheaper.
This really scares me as l wonder what will happen in an emergency and how many people will have to die before something is done about staffing.
Unfortunately profits come before patients and the staff.