I am new to this forum but found it to be very enlightning and informative, not only have I read some very interesting view points but found the support is incredible.
My question and concern is on the issues of hospital staffing shortages, not overall but on a daily basis. We are taught in the Nurse Practice Act to never except an assignment that we can not "handle" or is unsafe, but yet each and everyday we are put into positions to either take on the assignment or hit the road....and then what kind of reference for a job will you get?
I recently have encountered to such experiences, amongst many others, that have affected the nurses license due to these circumstances....one in which a nurse had a pt load, because of lack of nurses that day, and she was unable to keep up with the charting in a timely manner...the pt's were taken care of no problem there, but she was written up and it was sent to the board of nursing examiners for review and her license is now being looked at under severe scrutiny because she should have not excepted the assignment and her charting should have been done...on time....ha ha ha...how many of us out there have that luxury? When this was explained to the board examiners that it is a very common event, and most nurses don't have the opportunity to keep up the charting because they are busy taking care of the patients, but the charting does get done....her reply was, "well under the nurse practice act it is your responsibilty to make a formal complaint about the other nurses as well....or you could get into trouble for not reporting it" darned if you do and darned it you don't.....what do you do in that instance? The reality is as it is...not to try and make this lengthly but the other day, I work in a Labor and Delivery unit, we had 15 deliveries in a 12 hour period with 5 nurses....3 c-sections, one being an emergency due to the fact the nurse was in a c-section and unable to watch her other pt. there was no one to help, we all had at least 3 pt's which by the way is against the guidelines....and there were other problems as well that day due to lack of staffing and pt load...my main problem with this is of course the poor pt care, but also that these 3 nurses who busted there butts all day, no lunch, no break.....etc. got written up by the supervisor. What the heck is going on here? Who is our advocate...not the hospital, not the supervisor, not the state nursing board, and certainly not the ANA (there to busy deciding who to elect to be treasurer and secretary. What, where, and when do we get the support we deserve....we are professionals for gosh sakes! I just can't seem to understand how this can continue and at the expense of our licenses....who is on our side....who protects us when we stand up and say "no" I can't take another pt. and we get fired and black balled....we are guilty until proven innocent...I feel so strongly in my heart that there has to be a stand! We need to speak out....this is not about money for gosh sakes...I know alot of people who make as much as nurses and they don't have to worry about their licenses being threated, or their jobs, or most of all hurting an innocent pt that can't get the care they need because we don't have enough staff....please if anyone has any input into this matter....and I know your out there, lets speak out....we have that right! Factory workers have louder voices and peoples lifes, licenses, and careers aren't at stake... I would love to hear from anyone with any input whether you agree with me or not...it weighs so heavy on my mind...I just want to scream out! Sammy
We were using "Incident Reports" in our facility to report unsafe staffing levels, but the administration told us that we couldn't unless someone was injured! That is why I recommend the "Assignment Despite Objection" form on the "Florence Project" website. After you fill it out make sure you make a copy for yourself before giving it to your super. ( You give it to the supervisor not put it in the chart.) That way you have proof you notified them.
McPeg
5 Posts
To John_G
We were using "Incident Reports" in our facility to report unsafe staffing levels, but the administration told us that we couldn't unless someone was injured! That is why I recommend the "Assignment Despite Objection" form on the "Florence Project" website. After you fill it out make sure you make a copy for yourself before giving it to your super. ( You give it to the supervisor not put it in the chart.) That way you have proof you notified them.