Nursing Shortage

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I'm a nurse on a med/surg floor in a local hospital. The heat from the nusing shortage is obviously hitting hard...and fast! To suppliment the regular staff, agency nuses are being brought in...some who haven't worked in the hospital setting in years. There patient care to say the least is frightening!

I've spoken with my unit manager regarding the level of care these nurses provide and was basically confronted with "beggars can't be choosers." I've tried giving these nurses the "easier" patients and smaller patient loads, but it doesn't seem fair that someone who is bring home a killer paycheck should get away with doing less work.

Any sugesstions for dealing with this delema would be greatly appreciated, or any personal experiences with agency nurses. Does anyone know where all the nurses are going? Is there some miracle nursing jobs out there that I'm not aware of?

The problem is that the hospitals and long term care facilities are getting away with unsafe staffing. There seem to be no rules. They seem to be able to staff anyway that they want. I started a petition to mandate safe staffing levels its at http://www.e-thepeople.com/affiliates/national/index.cfm?PC=PETFV1&PETID=360310

but nobody seems to be signing it. I don't understand why. You can also see the context of the petition on my post here thats titled: UNSAFE healthcare. I would think that nurses would be signing it in droves, If anybody can tell me why people aren't signing it I would sure appreciate it. Thanks.

Originally posted by Anonymous Registered Nurs:

The problem is that the hospitals and long term care facilities are getting away with unsafe staffing. There seem to be no rules. They seem to be able to staff anyway that they want. I started a petition to mandate safe staffing levels its at http://www.e-thepeople.com/affiliates/national/index.cfm?PC=PETFV1&PETID=360310

but nobody seems to be signing it. I don't understand why. You can also see the context of the petition on my post here thats titled: UNSAFE healthcare. I would think that nurses would be signing it in droves, If anybody can tell me why people aren't signing it I would sure appreciate it. Thanks.

I dont think anyone is signing because they dont know who you are and what or where you intend to uise this petition.

Specializes in CCU, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Tele.

Anonymous Registered Nurs,

Most people dont fill out such detailed forms asking personal information as your petition ask for. I also agree with boomer's comments.

Originally posted by boomer:

I dont think anyone is signing because they dont know who you are and what or where you intend to uise this petition.

Thanks Boomer, I appreciate your reponse. I am a Critical Care nurse in a Rural, not for profit hospital. I just became so upset about the unsafe staffing that is going on in my hospital, that I felt that I had to do something. I heard that California passed nurse to patient ratios and thought that if it was National that alot of patients could benefit from it. I had seen a websight were you could start a petition so I went there and started one. It is going to be sent to George Bush and Al Gore only. Thanks again for your response, I really appreciate it.

Originally posted by bshort:

Anonymous Registered Nurs,

Most people dont fill out such detailed forms asking personal information as your petition ask for. I also agree with boomer's comments.

Thanks for responding, I didn't even think about that form, that the website asks you to fill in. I have signed other petitions on that website and did find it annoying that they asked for all my personal information. I totally understand if people don't want to sign for that reason.

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