Hello From The Bluegrass - What Is A Safe Ratio For Nurses In The Hemodialysis Unit?

[MZNUBIANNRS]

Hello, Everyone............new To Allnurses.com.just Want To Say Howdie............dialysis Nurse From Ky. Want To Know What Is A Safe Ratio For Nurses In The Hemodialysis Unit. Do We As Nurse Have A Say As To When It Is Safe Or Not??? What Can I Do As A Nurse To Protect Myself As Well As The Patients? Help Me Out.

I Really Like What I Do...but I Am So Frustrated At This Time..........

Mznubiannrs

[nosonew, BSN, RN]

Well... let me say ONE THING! It is YOUR license on the line!

This happened to me today! I was told that Monday 10/3 that I would open with 11 patients with 2 staff members. We have NO reuse tech, no water person, no secretary, just 2 people. Me (RN Charge) and a tech. Period. I said NO WAY! If there are not at LEAST 3 people to OPEN (5a-8:30a) I refuse to put the patients on. Period.

Amazingly they found help. Our 4th persons will arrive by 8:30am Monday.

I am speaking to our Medical Director about it this weekend. I am sick of it.. my patients whom I have know some for almost 7 years, and the newer ones DO NOT DESERVE to be put in this position. Myself and the tech do not deserve to be put in this position. MY COMPANY doesn't deserve to be put in a position like this (law suits galore if there was an emergency!).

I stick to my guns and speak my mind... appropriately however. I REFUSE and will continue to REFUSE to give care under-staffed to the point I FEEL my patients could be in jeapardy.

It is YOUR responsibility as a nurse to be the patient advocate! YOUR license is on the line. Document everything and I suggest you keep it all in writing if possible (email), if you discuss this issue in person, as soon as you leave, document it... in a Word doc. with date, time, etc. Keep a running log of issues. Be prepared to act on that, and inform the higher ups as needed. IT IS YOUR JOB AS AN RN TO DO THIS!