This just goes to show how half brained and stupid our management is. So last week when the State Health Dept came for yet another unexpected visit, all the nursing staff on all the units had to move all the COWS (Computers On Wheels), BP machines, and other equipment out of the hallways and into patient rooms. The reason - Fire Code = Needs to be an 8 foot clearance at all times. In theroy I agree, but our unit is a circular layout and in some parts of the unit the hallway BY ITSELF is LESS and the required 8 foot minimum.
Let me go out on a limb here and play the devil's advocate....God forbid there is a fire and all our COWS and other equipment are stuffed in the patient rooms....didn't we just entrap the patient by doing this? We have tiny semi-private and triple bed rooms. Can we move the COWS out of the way? Nope cause its a SAFETY ISSUE.
Now let me be realistic and blunt. If there is a fire, those patients who can run are going to; those patients who cant will be made to, and those patients on life support with least expectancy to survive in general are saved last (sad but true as per hospital policy). The COWS and BP machines should be in the hallways NOT TRAPPING PPEOPLE IN THEIR ROOMS!
"making a big issue again about no food in "pt care areas".
Oh yea, this one always gets me... lots of times you don't have time for a break, but you can't have coffee or a soda at the desk. Of course, you see nasty buggers you work with come out of a room with gloves on, holding a stool sample in a bag, and rifle thrugh the kardex for the specimen slip! Or grab the phone to call the lab to see if a half a container of stool is enough to do all the specimens on.... (ok, off on a tangent here!)
Often our CCU nurses don't have anyone to relieve them for a break, and they end up eating lunch and watching monitors.
we had one infection control nurse who would tape a little plastic bug to your cup or soda can if she saw it at the desk. Just to remind you of the germs. :smilecoffeeIlovecof ok, I'll take my chances and finish my coffee!
I dont drink coffee per say, but Diet Coke, in the bottle with a cap. God Forbid someone touch my bottle of Diet Coke and put some tape on it with some fake bug. That person has no business touching my drink. I wash my hands, I know the importance of good handwashing, I know the importance of gowning .. if for anything to prevent crud from getting on my scrubs. I draw the line when someone touches my drink, with a cap on it. I gets a little personal about my Diet Coke.
This post is an example of how nursing staff blames management for things mandated by the regulatory bodies. I've seen this many times. We went through the same thing before our last inspection. Now we're back to our bad old ways.
This post is an example of how nursing staff blames management for things mandated by the regulatory bodies. I've seen this many times. We went through the same thing before our last inspection. Now we're back to our bad old ways.
Wouldn't it be nice if Managements would each "grow a set" and tell the States and JCAHO, "No we're not going to do that!" Just once. And then tell them why: more safety issues, unreasonable, doesn't make patient care better or safer, whatever it is. But no. Can anybody ever recall a management team actually standing up and supporting staff (to the state or JCAHO) instead of tell all of us to just turn around and bend over? The management at my facility sure never has.
Wouldn't it be nice if Managements would each "grow a set" and tell the States and JCAHO, "No we're not going to do that!" Just once. And then tell them why: more safety issues, unreasonable, doesn't make patient care better or safer, whatever it is. But no. Can anybody ever recall a management team actually standing up and supporting staff (to the state or JCAHO) instead of tell all of us to just turn around and bend over? The management at my facility sure never has.
They have their plates full, and I doubt if they have much say in the matter if they want to keep their facilities open. They are dealing with a myriad of agencies, regulating bodies, government bureaucracies, all of which have the power to shut them down for non-compliance. They can't just thumb their noses at these entities.
The people who can bring rationality into the regulatory process are those who pursue careers in these agencies. Unfortunately, the people who often do so spend much of their time pursuing degrees that are long of theory and short on practical bedside experience. That's at the heart of the problem, in my estimation.
They have their plates full, and I doubt if they have much say in the matter if they want to keep their facilities open. They are dealing with a myriad of agencies, regulating bodies, government bureaucracies, all of which have the power to shut them down for non-compliance. They can't just thumb their noses at these entities.
The people who can bring rationality into the regulatory process are those who pursue careers in these agencies. Unfortunately, the people who often do so spend much of their time pursuing degrees that are long of theory and short on practical bedside experience. That's at the heart of the problem, in my estimation.
While I am sure you are right about that, it still would be nice and a gesture that would indicate support of their staff, if they could at least voice concern or two about how that impacts the care we give, the time in which we have to give it (which dwindles with every JCAHO edict) and maybe even question them for REAL rationals for what they want us to do.
My personal belief about JCAHO especially, is that they have to come up with more stuff every year or their jobs go away. I think they must lay awake at night thinking up ways to make nursing harder to do.
OSHA standard is the eating/drinking at the nurses station thing. that and Infectious disease docs...however, we can have drinks with caps/lids. No food, which I understand, however, I have been guilty of that when I have a candy bar out at 2 am for a sugar rush. It is what it is.
I do not have the power to change management or their styles...I change how I react. "ok, sure, great." and then go right ahead and do it the way that works and is safer in most cases.
OP here....thanks for all the different viewpoints on this situation. Perhaps I should rephrase what I said in the first post. I wish that the state health dept/Joint Commission and all the other powers that be would simply stay out of the hair of the clinical nursing staff. Joint Commission has OUTLIVED their usefullness by far...My work now consists of HOURS paperwork and documentation...and very little hands on patient care (in general). If these organizations TRUELY wanted to make a difference in the safety of patients, there would be Nurse to Patient ratio laws enforced all over the USA.
I also wish that for JUST ONCE, management would side with the nurses and say NO to these regulators that have no idea what is a true safety situation. Granted the hallways should be clear and unobstructed, true, but I should also be able to give care without worrying that my ohter 8 patients are going to code.
Yet another example, and there are many, of the "guys upstairs" coming up with policies to control what goes on "downstairs" - when they have no clue what goes on and what we deal with to just try and take care of patients.
patrick1rn, MSN, RN, NP
420 Posts
I dont drink coffee per say, but Diet Coke, in the bottle with a cap. God Forbid someone touch my bottle of Diet Coke and put some tape on it with some fake bug. That person has no business touching my drink. I wash my hands, I know the importance of good handwashing, I know the importance of gowning .. if for anything to prevent crud from getting on my scrubs. I draw the line when someone touches my drink, with a cap on it. I gets a little personal about my Diet Coke.