The math doesn't add up

[noyesno]

I'm a math person, so it really bothers me when my manager asks us to do an additional task or duty without subtracting a current task or duty. The math doesn't add up.

Our current duties take up a full shift. If you add something more, something else needs to be eliminated.

For example:

When my manager says, "I'd like you to provide the patient with handwritten thank you cards. These cards will take about 2 minutes to write and distribute per patient." She should also say, "therefore, you no longer have to complete care plans for your patients, as those take about the same amount of time. From now on, I will write the care plans for you."

[trueblue2000]

Obviously, there a different opinions on this issue. My hospital system sends thank you cards to patients and none of the nursing staff seems bothered by it. Actually, on our post discharge telephone surveys, patients mention the card and say they appreciated the gesture. I have never heard any of my colleagues complaining that signing those cards it is too much work or it is an asinine idea. I don't know, maybe we are just not bitter about our professional choices and happy with our work. Relax people, it is OK for nurses to disagree on issues.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Wouldn't a follow up phone call a few days after discharge from the charge nurse make more sense? They could go over discharge instructions and make sure they were understood. They could answer any questions. Adress any concerns. Stuff like that. Or do they want this AND a thank you card?

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Obviously, there a different opinions on this issue. My hospital system sends thank you cards to patients and none of the nursing staff seems bothered by it. Actually, on our post discharge telephone surveys, patients mention the card and say they appreciated the gesture. I have never heard any of my colleagues complaining that signing those cards it is too much work or it is an asinine idea. I don't know, maybe we are just not bitter about our professional choices and happy with our work. Relax people, it is OK for nurses to disagree on issues.

Well, if it's just signing a card, yes I'll do that if I have to. That's not a big deal, time wise. But it IS asinine, make no mistake about that.

[Mully]

I recently heard of a hospital automatically sending a thank you card to a patient who had died their. I'm sure that boosted his still living wife's satisfaction survey scores...

[Guest343211]

The worst part of the thank you cards included a tear off piece where you could name the best nurse you had during your stay.

If it was your name then you got a $5 bonus for each one, it was soooooooo embarrassing plus there were nurses who would actually 'force' the pt to write their name so that they would get $5 plus if they had the most at the end of the month they got a bigger bonus!

It was almost like prostitution I felt

Really? Wow, that's just. . .eeewww, as in yuck. . . as in tacky, tacky, tacky. . .

[Caffeine_IV]

Next they will include a coupon for 5% off your bill if you send in survey within a week of discharge and refer 2 patients or maybe a free bag of normal saline next stay.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

You could always write the thank you notes in whilst sitting on the potty. I'm surprised management hasn't tapped into that.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

. I don't know, maybe we are just not bitter about our professional choices and happy with our work. Relax people, it is OK for nurses to disagree on issues.

It's ok to disagree, but apparently if we disagree with you we're whiny, lazy and bitter about our professional choices?

You could always write the thank you notes in whilst sitting on the potty. I'm surprised management hasn't tapped into that.

I'm always too busy answering my phone when I'm on the potty. :)

[MJB2010]

I REFUSE to answer my phone on the potty, the hucs yell at me all the time about it. But seriouslly, I am lucky if I get to pee 2 times on a shift and those 2 minutes are mine.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

One nice thing about LTC.... I don't miss those stupid cell-phone thingies I had to have as an aide in the hospital.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I'm a math person, so it really bothers me when my manager asks us to do an additional task or duty without subtracting a current task or duty. The math doesn't add up.

Our current duties take up a full shift. If you add something more, something else needs to be eliminated.

For example:

When my manager says, "I'd like you to provide the patient with handwritten thank you cards. These cards will take about 2 minutes to write and distribute per patient." She should also say, "therefore, you no longer have to complete care plans for your patients, as those take about the same amount of time. From now on, I will write the care plans for you."

Oh. My. Gawd.

THANK the patients for being patients?? Whatever happened to a patient thanking the NURSE for providing excellent care?

Me, I think if forced into this silly situation you describe, I'd be writing "Sincerely, Mickey Mouse" and "Best Regards, Wyle E. Coyote".

Absurd.

How about suggesting that the money spent on those cards AND the cost of POSTAGE for all those cards instead be given to the staff for a REAL "thank you"!

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

There are pts that are a gift to nursing. Those that I truly feel make me a better person.

I think I had one last year.

I didn't have to sign a card to let them know I was glad I was their nurse.