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?

Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, 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

OMG !!!! that is completely unsafe for you and pts. !!!!! I don't know how you did it, I complain now on an adult mental health unit when we have 25 pts. and 2 RN's and 1 LPN and 2-3 MHTechs...I think that ratio is unsafe....we are so busy that we are lucky to get a BR break and forget about lunch....we eat a bite on the run.....but 2 nurses on a med-surg floor with 30 !!!! how long ago was this?????

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There was a time when we were threatened with a write-up for mentioning the SS words...Now we have a bit more freedom of speech. (But for how long?)

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

I can remember having 10-12 on a med-surg floor, but 30 !!!!!! I still cannot imagine that............yes, we didn't complain 20 yrs., ago, did we??? at least now we can and do....

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honestly, thats why mistakes happen. so many things to do, so many patients, and short of nurses. its really not fair. then again life isnt so...i guess us venting wont really get anywhere.

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Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
honestly, thats why mistakes happen. so many things to do, so many patients, and short of nurses. its really not fair. then again life isnt so...i guess us venting wont really get anywhere.

But it sure makes us feel better sometimes :banghead:

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But it sure makes us feel better sometimes :banghead:

You can gripe and complain all you want. Actions speak louder that words!! That is where the mistake is made. Nurses use words to get their complaints and concerns across, instead of the ACTION that is necessary to be heard!

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

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Wow i guess the grass is not greener on the other side. the ratio in the materal unit is totally alot better than medical floor staffing.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

We are a "58 bed" NICU with an ADC of 75-78. We should be staffing at 36-38 RNs per shift, but usually get 28-30. God forbid we get a couple of postop open hearts or an ECMO transport.

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Worst situation I have encountered so far was a night where we were 9:1 and no CNA (we are lucky if we have one CNA on nights, it is typical that we work without one). The patients on our floor are high acuity. I needed help with turning and cleaning up incontinent patients and had to leave patients waiting because the other RNs were too busy with their 9 patients.

I had a patient who needed a sitter (of course one was unavailable) and kept trying to climb OOB and getting out of restraints. Call bells were nonstop and I felt horrible cuz I knew my patients needed me but I was swamped. I felt that this situation was completely unsafe and it was impossible to provide quality care with so many patients. I brought this up to my supervisor in the morning and she simply said she knows about the staffing problem but nothing is going to change in the near future. Are you kidding me??? :banghead: All these hospitals care about is money in their pocket and it's so sad.

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Worst situation I have encountered so far was a night where we were 9:1 and no CNA (we are lucky if we have one CNA on nights, it is typical that we work without one). The patients on our floor are high acuity. I needed help with turning and cleaning up incontinent patients and had to leave patients waiting because the other RNs were too busy with their 9 patients.

I had a patient who needed a sitter (of course one was unavailable) and kept trying to climb OOB and getting out of restraints. Call bells were nonstop and I felt horrible cuz I knew my patients needed me but I was swamped. I felt that this situation was completely unsafe and it was impossible to provide quality care with so many patients. I brought this up to my supervisor in the morning and she simply said she knows about the staffing problem but nothing is going to change in the near future. Are you kidding me??? :banghead: All these hospitals care about is money in their pocket and it's so sad.

Daisy please write your representative and tell them your story and that you want legislated ratios like they have in California. Don't hold back tell the truth as it is. The only way we will see change is if we as a profession and individuals step up and demand that something is done. If you don't know how to reach your Senator and Congressmen or woman, just visit http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm to find your senator and https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml to find your congressmen.

I would also like to encourage all others to take 1o minutes and write your representative to let them know how unsafe things are in health care today and that these issues will influence your vote in the next election.

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