If you've read any of my posts recently, you have heard of my woeful tales of ongoing high acuity/low staffing in my unit. It is not by design, but by circumstance. A couple of local hospitals that deal primarily with the uninsured/underinsured/Medicaid maternity pts. are no longer doing deliveries or have scaled back and are only keeping transient Level II babies. Our hospital is a safety-net, univeristy affiliated site with referral from a 4 state area. We have to take anyone who comes in in labor. We have numerous positions open and an intensive training and preceptorship program. There is just so much competition in town that we get a few nurses in just about the time a couple leave for travel, maternity leave, illness, it just isn't working out, or to move to a less stressful work environment.
Many might assume that this place is a pit. It certainly is no palace and never will be. Concerning the old facilities and our questionable housekeeping it is the pits. However, I have some of the most dedicated experienced co-workers you could ever imagine. That takes the edge off for me. I'll call my unit a "pit with potential."
So briefly, tell me about your unit.....Pit or Palace? I'm interested in your general location, size hospital and unit, nurse pt. ratios, ancillary staff,etc. This should be interesting!
