How short-staffed is short staffed?????

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I'm sure this has happened. Ever had one of those days/nights when you came in to work and realized that you're supposed to have five nurses and yet there's just two-----and to top it all, your unit is full or will be swamped with admissions! Want to vent or just simply share that experience? How many RNs were supposed to be there that time and how many actually showed up?

Unsafe is my only response. I do know that LTC staffs short & it's only the residents and staff that suffer. & yes, profit. Hospitals are looking to profit as well.

Specializes in psych, ambulatory care, ER.

This question is for Aloevera:

By chance, is your hospital owned by PSI?? Just wondering. They're taking over a lot of private psych facilities here in the South.

oldladyRN

Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.

oldladyRN------Yes......are you in this area also????

Specializes in psych, ambulatory care, ER.

I am in Austin, Tx. It is a horrendous, greedy corporation that has taken over the private psych sector down here. I worked at one of their facilities and was seriously injured last year due to violent patients (that actually belong in a jail cell, not a psychiatric facility) and severe corner-cutting. It's all about the $$, not about anyone's recovery or safety. Get out while you can still walk, because it's not going to get any better.

Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.

oh no !!!! I believe it, for sure...only problem is that there are no other psych facilities close enough for me to go to...this one takes me an hour to get there.!! (I am out in the country)

They took over about 6 mo. ago., now our CNO is leaving, our Administrator is leaving, and I don't know who all else....they did hire some 14 new orientees last week, but we are all taking bets on how many will actually stay....the popular number is 3 !!!

When in doubt, work for the federal government

VA Hospitals have minimum staffing levels--and add additonal staff as needed.

Damn I wouldn't even stay if I walked into that. Its get staff or else lose another. Its your license on the line not thiers. We have our managers working the floor to. And then there is safe harbor. Until you take a stand nothing is going to change. I absolutely refuse to take more than 6 pts. I will refuse an admit. Now if there is a bed shortage and someone has to go home or flu season we still only have 6 pts to a nurse. As charge I have taken a few pts and sometimes a full load for the things that never happen. That is few and far between because the management doesn't appreciate you when you do that either.

I am a brand new graduate nurse. I am expected to carry a load of 6-7 patients on a busy med-surge floor during day shift. Everybody in this hospital knows this is not safe but because of chronic short staffing, this is what I am dealing with. It's not just a day or two but always and every day. Because of this I am already thinking about throwing in the towel.

Keep up the fight. You are right and they are well aware of the issue but have failed to do anything about it. We as nurses must advocate for our patients and our profession.

Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.

one co-worker got signatures from all staff and presented demands for better staffing, wages, etc.

The adm. told them to only work her now when necessary (she is PRN, but works 2-3 days/wk)

Now she is lucky to get 1 day/wk. she has since went to the hospital...That is how they deal with anyone that tries to improve conditions....

morning can you tell me if new mexico has a law that states safe nurse patient ratio.

Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.

when i worked in New Jersey on Med-Surg, It was me, 1 LPN and 1 CNA for 30 patients - and of course no unit secretary

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