Heavier nurse workload means more pt deaths, study finds...

nightingale, RN · Oct 23, 2002

Originally posted by Youda
Nurses can talk about it,
Doctors can talk about it,
Studies can talk about it,
Congress can talk about it,
But . . .
I don't really think it's going to change until John Q. Public starts feeling it more. Unfortunately, that means more unnecessary or premature deaths.

Right now, Mr. Public has gotten the idea that they are paying for "customer service" instead of health care (let's turn nurses into waitresses in the minds of the public so no one will listen to them).

Right now, I'll take any education of that Public, even if it comes from the local dog catcher.

ditto...

I actually had a Dr. get upset about having to come down to d/c a patient (who was in his Dr. group) and upset about having to come "all the way over to the facility"... he asked, "Why was I not contacted early in the day"? duh... I guess YOUR Dr. Group has poor communication. He, the Dr. was trying to say WE were responsible for contacting him.. geech!

I am a professional who is trained in patient care and I do not often have "time to do my job"... what with horendous work loads, patients on my floor who should be 2 to 1 not 5:1 or 6:1.

And then.. a patient gets upset with me because his water is too hot or too cold... lol.. gotta love em.... :rolleyes:

renerian, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2002

True how true. It does effect the Docs. I know when I worked on the floor we spoon fed our docs. They always listened to what we had to say and let us practice very proactively. Of course there were docs we found to be not very nice but the primary docs were great to work with. Less nurses means more work and oversight by them. Less nurses to catch problems early

renerian

Scavenger'sWife, RN · Oct 23, 2002

This is the #1 complaint in our facility also. Rates even higher than pay. I agree with all the comments here. I believe until the public is aware, we will not really see much change. I had three patients yesterday who were 1:1 obs....but what was admin's solution? Put two of the men in a room together and put the 3rd one by himself (d/t infection) and sit an aide in the hall outside the two rooms! Well, this is NOT "1:1"...and just WHO is watching the guy in one room when the NA is in the other room calming down that patient?? Guess what happened....the guy in the room by himself ended up pulling out a jugular placed central line while the NA was occupied in the other room! Blood all over...and he has c-diff and staph aureaus...not to mention the loss of blood.

Then I get handed a note with an admission for room placement: Pt is 91 Alzheimers, w "change in mental status" (what a garbage diagnosis). Needs a private room near the nurses' station and 1:1!!!! Did I get another NA??? nope

My facility sends out patient satisfaction surveys to everyone. Lately I have been reading comments that say "I got great care, but I felt sorry for my nurse. She was so busy!" or "My nurse had way too many people to care for and it made me late with my medication. This hospital needs to hire more staff!" Maybe now that the public has started reading these studies and seeing them on the TV, we will finally be heard! :rolleyes:

KC CHICK · Oct 23, 2002

DUH!!!

Did it really take a STUDY to figure this one out???

shannonRN, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2002

Originally posted by Youda
Nurses can talk about it,
Doctors can talk about it,
Studies can talk about it,
Congress can talk about it,
But . . .
I don't really think it's going to change until John Q. Public starts feeling it more. Unfortunately, that means more unnecessary or premature deaths.

Right now, Mr. Public has gotten the idea that they are paying for "customer service" instead of health care (let's turn nurses into waitresses in the minds of the public so no one will listen to them).

Right now, I'll take any education of that Public, even if it comes from the local dog catcher.

youda, you rock! you are always right on when it comes to these topics! i agree with you wholeheartedly especially on the customer service part.

renerian, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2002

Chick I love that animal post and heaven. I love animals.......

renerian

mattsmom81 · Oct 24, 2002

Hey, Paul Harvey talked about this today on his radio address...I'm encouraged!!! Maybe the general public will begin to see and care (someday)what's been going on in hospitals.

God help nurses if they EVER murmur loud enough for a patient to hear 'we're working short staffed'...that has been grounds for temination at some facilities.

Why do so many believe it's a shortage of nurse numbers behind the problem (and say we need more nurses trained)

when the deeper reality is there are plenty of nurses, but the hospitals choose to operate bare bones/short staffed for their goshalmighty bottom line...$$$, and this is why so many of us choose to leave the facility bedside roles...

Now if someone does a huge study on this that makes national news wouldn't it be great?

:roll

renerian, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2002

Matt I do know several nurses looking for work that won't go back to the hospital. The hospital I worked at gave me such a good experience. Was very hard but wow I learned alot. I know alot of nurses love home health. I did it for 11 years but for my last job I did for two years our service area was 7 counties and it was not unusual for me to put between 500 to 800 miles per week seeing patients and another 300 to 500 getting back and forth to our office as it was far from my home.

renerian