Hospital Profits Over Patient Safety: The reasons you should not be a nurse

[KalipsoRed21]

I saw this and it just spoke to me in a thousand ways. I want hospitals to be profitable enough to be stable, and to expand services, but the goals for profit are FAR beyond those meager goals. Your healthcare sucks because of capitalism. And the reason you shouldn’t be a nurse: capitalism = nurse abuse and poor patient outcomes. 

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

13 hours ago, mnj7351 said:

 If you can't make sure hourly rounds are made, then some better decisions need to be made by your facility. Do it sound safe to you?? 

That’s literally the point everyone is making. No “it do not” (sic) sound safe to anyone. 

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

On 1/24/2022 at 7:10 AM, KalipsoRed21 said:

I want hospitals to be profitable enough to be stable, and to expand services, but the goals for profit are FAR beyond those meager goals. Your healthcare sucks because of capitalism. And the reason you shouldn’t be a nurse: capitalism = nurse abuse and poor patient outcomes. 

Self reflection :have you visited/worked in hospitals that have no profit,no donations,no funds??Have you examined their equipment,supplies,continuing education,certification classes.Medical staff education ,certifications,mal practice insurance?

Do you know which hospital Bezos ex wife uses?The one for billionaires or the on across the dirt road staffed by MD  specializing in tropical disease instead of Cardiology?

[KalipsoRed21, BSN, RN]

17 minutes ago, Leader25 said:

Self reflection :have you visited/worked in hospitals that have no profit,no donations,no funds??Have you examined their equipment,supplies,continuing education,certification classes.Medical staff education ,certifications,mal practice insurance?

Do you know which hospital Bezos ex wife uses?The one for billionaires or the on across the dirt road staffed by MD  specializing in tropical disease instead of Cardiology?

Yes. HSHS Saint Joseph’s in Highland, IL is a good example of fiscally responsible, adequate technology, good care institution. The only “problem” I have with their institution is that since it is catholic based it did not provide fertility care or parent planning options. But overall I felt they were working for an income to go back into their people and facilities. Their CEO did not make a shot ton of money when compared to others in the same relm. 

Look, capitalism is not terrible and neither is socialism. I think a combination of the two builds the best society, BUT capitalism is BUYING out the socialist parts of our society. It is leading to worse care and outcomes for people who are actually paying their entire livelihoods for subpar care. My argument isn’t that those who have the money should be able to pay to cutting edge medicine. My argument is that a healthcare system based heavily in capitalism has lead to less innovation and poorer care for everyone with a higher cost. Healthcare, in it’s current state, is a market failure.

Your example is kinda stupid, which you would know if you have been at bedside lately. Bezos wife wants to go somewhere they are competent. I have worked for wealthy hospitals with marble floors that don’t meet the measure of competent and responsible. I’ve worked at places with older tech, laminate floors and supremely competent staff.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

On 2/1/2022 at 4:45 PM, mnj7351 said:

1st, someone should be visibly checking on you at least once an hour, even if it's just cracking the door and peeking in. Usually nurses make a round one hour and the tech makes a round the next hour. 2, I know you're frightened. I would be as well. But to say that's incredibly irresponsible is incredibly irresponsible in itself. Times are different right now and the way we operate right now is different because it has to be. Because it's the responsible thing to do. 3rd, if you're going to have a minor surgery and wind up dead.....well damn. Me personally, I'm not going to a hospital that I already know gives their nurses 8 pts. That's despicable. Nope. Would never. That should not be allowed. It is unsafe. I don't care If they're short staffed. Your pts aren't getting the proper care when you have so many. I don't care what anyone says. However many patients,  they should all have someone round every hour at the very least. I'm just going to say this too. That paragraph you wrote makes you sound like one of the more dramatic patients that I get. Just saying. You'll be fine though. 

Except that doesn't always happen. My husband had a long hospital stay a couple of months ago for a complicated surgery. I was thankfully allowed to be there and was there all day every day. There were plenty of shifts that went between MD's  from multiple specialties being there non-stop during their rounds to crickets...not a nurse or aid in sight for sometimes several hours.  They were as understaffed as every other floor. After a few days all the staff knew I was a nurse so maybe they felt more comfortable leaving him under my watch?  Don't get me wrong, the nursing staff there was beyond excellent and never let on when they were in the room that they might have somewhere else they needed to be. 

[CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN]

8 hours ago, kbrn2002 said:

...not a nurse or aid in sight for sometimes several hours.  They were as understaffed as every other floor. After a few days all the staff knew I was a nurse so maybe they felt more comfortable leaving him under my watch? 

I know it is probably not good practice, but I have a tendency to avoid rooms with family in them. I figure if the patient/family need something they will use the call bell. Sometimes it feels that each family member is like adding a patient. Even if it is simple stuff like information/education, it can be a huge time suck. And families that are constantly criticizing/demanding everything may as well be plague carriers. Sadly some patients get neglected because doing things like cleaning incontinence (which patients may not inform visitors) and other needs may get postponed.

[mnj7351]

On 2/2/2022 at 6:26 AM, CommunityRNBSN said:

That’s literally the point everyone is making. No “it do not” (sic) sound safe to anyone. 

Yep, and I made it as well. What's up??

[jobellestarr]

On 2/5/2022 at 12:21 PM, Leader25 said:

Self reflection :have you visited/worked in hospitals that have no profit,no donations,no funds??Have you examined their equipment,supplies,continuing education,certification classes.Medical staff education ,certifications,mal practice insurance?

Do you know which hospital Bezos ex wife uses?The one for billionaires or the on across the dirt road staffed by MD  specializing in tropical disease instead of Cardiology?

I worked on a reservation for 20 years. Our patients received great care because people cared. The docs were great, internists and family practice. Their skills were excellent (as were the nurses) because they had to take care of all diagnoses. Money, great equipment isn’t everything. Actually looking at the patient can make you a good diagnostician. 

1 hour ago, jobellestarr said:

I worked on a reservation for 20 years. Our patients received great care because people cared. The docs were great, internists and family practice. Their skills were excellent (as were the nurses) because they had to take care of all diagnoses. Money, great equipment isn’t everything. Actually looking at the patient can make you a good diagnostician. 

You've made an excellent point here.  

High Cost =/= quality or competence

[Take No Chances]

One entity of 'capitalism' does not encompass all issues, participating in the nursing care difficulties, rendering satisfactory patient outcomes. Sensitivity training of management, administration and staff, would promote awareness of the job(s), as nursing care comprises a multitude of duties. 

Sensitivity training, time provided for routine meal breaks& breaks, staffing ratios- including acuity plus deleting staffing ratios per the Joint Commission and regulatory staffing mandating, what will be paid for the quota of staff. This is always a MINIMUM staffing ratio put forth as hospital and nursing home funding. 

Due to the RN expectations to keep all afloat, as the RN is expected to, with his/ her training, "Can do everything" attitude. Staffing plus administration issues resolved, can make the Nursing care affordable, profitable and give quality care. The American health care has become top notch, with drive, competition.

50 minutes ago, Take No Chances said:

Due to the RN expectations to keep all afloat, as the RN is expected to, with his/ her training, "Can do everything" attitude. Staffing plus administration issues resolved, can make the Nursing care affordable, profitable and give quality care. The American health care has become top notch, with drive, competition.

Was this your opinion or a quotation from an article?

American health care is NOT top notch aeb health outcomes.  American health care  is unsustainably expensive and fractured.