Inadequate Staffing

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Hi,

Background -So I recently have started in the role of team leader. I have several years experience as an RN, have managed staff in the past, precepted other nurses, and feeling competent in my role as a Cardiac nurse. However, as a team lead I met with the staffing department twice a day, the hospitals census vs staffing is addressed. Frequently our unit (and the other tele units) are understaffed. We often get staffing or travel nurses to fill the gaps BUT, as winter approaches I am concerned we are going to be under staffed a lot more often. Our unit is very fast pace and very heavy, I don't feel comfortable giving staff unsafe patient assignments.

Wondering how others would address this concern? It is absurd to request rooms be left empty if we don't have the staffing to cover them?

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You could start by being a strong leader and demanding adequate staffing.. but I doubt you have any pull. I have been there done that, all of the responsibility but no authority. Ever think about why are you in those meetings if you can not affect staffing?

There is no way you can hold rooms closed, if ER wants the beds... your unit will get the admissions.

Took me awhile to catch on.... sorry I did the team lead thing so long. Good luck.

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Team leads at my facility work the days the managers are off. Not the full responsibility but no real control.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Wondering how others would address this concern? It is absurd to request rooms be left empty if we don't have the staffing to cover them?

I don't have a great answer to your overall problem, especially if you are not really in a position to directly control staffing.

As to the part I quoted--it's not absurd to ask, but fully expect the answer to be no. Besides for holding a pt in the ED until another ICU nurse gets there, I have never seen a floor/unit not be given a patient because of staffing reasons. Not saying I agree with that, but that is how it is.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Administration Rule #1 - you don't get paid for EMPTY beds. So don't count on anything to change census/admissions.

Unless you can provide some definitive statistics how the understaffing is affecting pt care, you prob won't even raise an eyebrow.

Just be careful that you don't expose your unit to scrutiny with negative information. Admin can come up with a whole new bunch of hoops for you to jump solve those problems.

Just gotta keep those scores up!!!

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