Hi. My hospital is currently up for magnet renewal, but we're losing staff constantly. I've even said myself that I can't do another COVID round, but it's here, and I'm still there while my co-workers are leaving and we're having to train staff that have never worked in acute care, because that's all we're getting. I've heard it's the same in many places. I'd like to gather some ideas on what it would take for you to stay, if you left.
Here are some things that pushed me over the top during our last covid surge, and some ideas on how the hospital might could help.
* Having to transport an extremely sick covid patient to radiology because they were on over four units of oxygen while leaving four extremely sick patients on the unit that would not be looked in on or get their medication on time during the 40 minutes that we would be off the unit.
IDEA: I don't know how else to fix this one but more nursing or RT staff. We're already working short though. A resource nurse to help those that are drowning, or to transport when a nurse is required would help.
*Trays left outside of covid rooms for 45 minutes when the nurses and techs are in other rooms and our covid patients who are already isolated and sad getting cold meals.
IDEA: Hire more kitchen staff and TRAIN one of them to don and doff and deliver covid meals.
*Full trashcans everywhere with isolation gear, in the hall, in the rooms, etc.. I try to empty them when I can but I've always got due and overdue medications and really don't have time to slow down.
IDEA: Hire more ancillary staff to clean
If you left your nursing job, what would it have took for you to stay?
