Does anyone know what the hospitals are doing to fix the problem of nursing shortages? I am amazed at the fact there can be 12 patients for one person to take care of! When are hopitals going to wake up and realize without nurses hospitals will not survive (or patients).
One more question; why do doctors get paid so much more when they spend so little time with their patients?
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
"What are hospitals doing to fix the nursing shortage" ? Nothing! They do not see themselves as any part of the problem, so what have they to "fix"? (their perspective). In my own hospital, they are doing all they can to make things worse everyday. Nurse-pt ratios are getting worse, more paperwork is foisted on us every month, and they are making our managers completely miserable in the pressure they put on them to cut costs in ways that are simply unreasonable and dangerous. Even more scary, they are firing/laying off support staff like housekeeping, kitchen staff, lab and others, who, in their words are just "non patient care personnel" (what was actually printed in a local news story about the hospital layoffs going on.
Who picks up their slack as these very important and critical personnel leave? I give you one guess! ( grin)
Listen, this is how it is: IF you dont' recognize or take ownership in a problem, you do not feel you have an obligation to fix it. This is the problem as to why hospitals are not interested in changing things. They are willing to throw away a lot of money to recruit new nurses, but at the same time are doing all they can to get rid of or silence the ones who are experienced enough to voice their legitimate concerns over the issues that are affecting and diminishing quality patient care (that would be nurses). These experienced nurses clearly recognize the proverbial wolves in sheeps' clothing and they (admin) don't like that one bit.
I am sorry this does sound bitter, I do not mean to be. It's just what I see going on, having 10 years' experience and having worked in 4 different hospital systems now. In short, they are doing little to nothing to alleviate a very real and looming crisis that is getting worse by the day. It's not their problem nor fault from their perspective. And that is exactly what they tell the public when concerns are raised as to the quality (or lack of it) in their hospital care. They would love to blame NURSES for this crisis any time they can get away with it and they do when they answer the press as concerns are raised. "Nurses are unreasonable in their demands" is their battle cry.
Anyhow, That is what they are doing to "fix" the problem!
"what are hospitals doing to fix the nursing shortage" ? nothing! they do not see themselves as any part of the problem, so what have they to "fix"? (their perspective). in my own hospital, they are doing all they can to make things worse everyday. nurse-pt ratios are getting worse, more paperwork is foisted on us every month, and they are making our managers completely miserable in the pressure they put on them to cut costs in ways that are simply unreasonable and dangerous. even more scary, they are firing/laying off support staff like housekeeping, kitchen staff, lab and others, who, in their words are just "non patient care personnel" (what was actually printed in a local news story about the hospital layoffs going on.
who picks up their slack as these very important and critical personnel leave? i give you one guess! ( grin)
listen, this is how it is: if you dont' recognize or take ownership in a problem, you do not feel you have an obligation to fix it. this is the problem as to why hospitals are not interested in changing things. they are willing to throw away a lot of money to recruit new nurses, but at the same time are doing all they can to get rid of or silence the ones who are experienced enough to voice their legitimate concerns over the issues that are affecting and diminishing quality patient care (that would be nurses). these experienced nurses clearly recognize the proverbial wolves in sheeps' clothing and they (admin) don't like that one bit.
i am sorry this does sound bitter, i do not mean to be. it's just what i see going on, having 10 years' experience and having worked in 4 different hospital systems now. in short, they are doing little to nothing to alleviate a very real and looming crisis that is getting worse by the day. it's not their problem nor fault from their perspective. and that is exactly what they tell the public when concerns are raised as to the quality (or lack of it) in their hospital care. they would love to blame nurses for this crisis any time they can get away with it and they do when they answer the press as concerns are raised. "nurses are unreasonable in their demands" is their battle cry.
anyhow, that is what they are doing to "fix" the problem!
you've said it all. and i'm happy to see that it's just not those of us who truly are the "old broads" who feel that way. in 31 years, i've never see it this bad; morale is horrible and not just mine.
we just got a lecture last week about how we're a for-profit hospital and "there's no shame in that." while i agree there's not shame in making a profit, i do feel that making it when your staff is struggling is a problem, and giving huge bonuses to management types when the worker-bees are struggling is an even bigger problem.
Shortages are often not about enough qualified people available but about pay and conditions making such jobs undesirable. Consider farmworkers and other jobs often held by undocumented immigrants. It's not that folks born in the US can't do these jobs, but the pay and conditions of such work means that few choose to take the jobs because we have other alternatives. On the other hand, to the undocumented workers, the poor conditions and pay are a better alternative to the job market in their home countries.
But to pay more for the workers in order to make the jobs more appealing mean that the goods/services will cost more... and most consumers will opt for the lower cost alternative. Nursing care, then, is similar in that no one wants to pay more for their health care. To have the staffing that would make nursing jobs more appealing would mean higher costs to all. Or much lower wages for nurses.
You've said it all. And I'm happy to see that it's just not those of us who truly are the "old broads" who feel that way. In 31 years, I've never see it this bad; morale is horrible and not just mine.
We just got a lecture last week about how we're a for-profit hospital and "there's no shame in that." While I agree there's not shame in making a profit, I do feel that making it when your staff is struggling is a problem, and giving huge bonuses to management types when the worker-bees are struggling is an even bigger problem.
You've put it very clearly. Thank you.
I am disgusted that the management gets these big bonuses (probably get rewarded for cutting costs, i.e. nurses). As an up and coming nurse
what can I do to help change this so called nursing shortage? Should I write letters to congress, the board of nursing? Even as an LNA I can see the insanity on the floor and it really makes me question my desire to become a nurse. I can not even give my patients the time they deserve because of the workload. Our floor is only budgeted for 2 LNAs and a monitor tech and it is not nearly enough. I have never had a day that I felt I gave good care to all of my patients even though I run for the entire 8 hours I am there.
How do we go about getting a safe nurse to patient ratio enacted into law (ie, California)? This insanity needs to stop before patients gets hurt and staff ends up having to be medicated due to stress.
Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
I just saw something that is NOT a help to the shortage. The Clarian Health System in IN is "fining" employees who are not healthy (overweight, high cholesterol, smokers). They offer some wellness programs and want to "encourage" employees to take advantage of them by docking the pay of those who do not attend. One commentator on the Today Show brought forth the very valid point that hospitals often create a stressfull work environment that does not foster their employees good health. It makes me very mad. I am all for the health promo programs BUT it should be voluntary and having something like weight watchers is of little use if it not able to be attended by those who need it due to a busy unit or poor staffing (happens all the time where I work, but the folks in offices are able to go). I hope nurses tell Clarian to shove it. What's next? Will they dock you for unsafe sex or not taking a vitamin. How about more staff, lower nurse: patient ratios, more scheduling options, more $$$ to retain nurses and other staff and ditch the BIG BROTHER attitude?
I watch the same thing. And it reminded me of something I had watched in 2002. A company, that was connected to the health care industry, decided that none of their employees could smoke, at work, in their cars, or at home. And none of their family could smoke, at home. If they were caught smoking, they would be fired. A group of employees took their employer to court citing that their employer was intruding in their personal life. Guess what, the court agreed with the employer. It found that the employees behavior was having a negative impact on their work production, and so wasn't their families.
It appears that our Court systems have switched sides. Anything an employer feels impacts negatively on their production, including behavior a way from work, is fair game. I'm glad I can't work. I am an insulin dependent diabetic, Type 2. Dr. Bernstein believes that I could control my Type 2 by eating 32 carbohydrates a day. Whatever or not I could is my business, not an employer's. I do not suffer from any of the complications and Ido not believe an employer has any right to tell me how to treat a disease. It smacks of an insurance company denying me a treatment because it may cost them too much money.
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
"What are hospitals doing to fix the nursing shortage" ? Nothing! They do not see themselves as any part of the problem, so what have they to "fix"? (their perspective). In my own hospital, they are doing all they can to make things worse everyday. Nurse-pt ratios are getting worse, more paperwork is foisted on us every month, and they are making our managers completely miserable in the pressure they put on them to cut costs in ways that are simply unreasonable and dangerous. Even more scary, they are firing/laying off support staff like housekeeping, kitchen staff, lab and others, who, in their words are just "non patient care personnel" (what was actually printed in a local news story about the hospital layoffs going on.
Who picks up their slack as these very important and critical personnel leave? I give you one guess! ( grin)
Listen, this is how it is: IF you dont' recognize or take ownership in a problem, you do not feel you have an obligation to fix it. This is the problem as to why hospitals are not interested in changing things. They are willing to throw away a lot of money to recruit new nurses, but at the same time are doing all they can to get rid of or silence the ones who are experienced enough to voice their legitimate concerns over the issues that are affecting and diminishing quality patient care (that would be nurses). These experienced nurses clearly recognize the proverbial wolves in sheeps' clothing and they (admin) don't like that one bit.
I am sorry this does sound bitter, I do not mean to be. It's just what I see going on, having 10 years' experience and having worked in 4 different hospital systems now. In short, they are doing little to nothing to alleviate a very real and looming crisis that is getting worse by the day. It's not their problem nor fault from their perspective. And that is exactly what they tell the public when concerns are raised as to the quality (or lack of it) in their hospital care. They would love to blame NURSES for this crisis any time they can get away with it and they do when they answer the press as concerns are raised. "Nurses are unreasonable in their demands" is their battle cry.
Anyhow, That is what they are doing to "fix" the problem!