Legislation

Nurses General Nursing

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The reason nurses hate their jobs is due to the nurse to patient ratios!! Do you know that statistics show that for every 1 patient over 4 you have a 50% chance of injuring or killing.!! This is frightening!! Hospitals give 7-10 & seriously put nurses @ risk!! California has a LAW that the ratio is 1:4 period!! We need to pass laws nationwide!!!! Instead nurses PUT UP WITH IT!!! The reason we have a shortage is that as soon as one nurse gets in a hospital she is wanting to quit shortly afterward!!! It's time to pass some laws!!!

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
The reason nurses hate their jobs is due to the nurse to patient ratios!! Do you know that statistics show that for every 1 patient over 4 you have a 50% chance of injuring or killing.!! This is frightening!! Hospitals give 7-10 & seriously put nurses @ risk!! California has a LAW that the ratio is 1:4 period!! We need to pass laws nationwide!!!! Instead nurses PUT UP WITH IT!!! The reason we have a shortage is that as soon as one nurse gets in a hospital she is wanting to quit shortly afterward!!! It's time to pass some laws!!!

I know this is a bit of a troll post, but to be honest mandating ratios across the board isn't what is best for every situation. If I had 4:1 on my floor I would be bored off my gourd. Our patients are complicated but I more than comfortable with 5:1 and 6:1 depending on acuity.

I do agree that people need to become more active in their legislation, but I feel that the California example is not showing the nurses getting their say, but more the state passing a law that looks good on paper but is very unrealistic.

In my opinion, I believe nurses need to start pushing for acuity based staffing, not black and white ratios. Why give up our freedom and flexibility to someone else?

Just a thought, I know this issue has floated these boards more than once.

Tait

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The reason there NEEDS to be a LEGAL MANDATE requiring ratios is because nursing and hospital administration will CONTINUE TO PUSH RN'S TO THE LIMIT using acutiy as an out! With a law it is followed or there are consequences from an outside source with some clout! If some nuresess are bored because an assignment is not difficult enough it may be a great time to help coworkers; plan an inservice for colleagues; do some research on nursing related issues; read some nursing related research artcles; talk with and REALLY teach patients and families etc. There are MILLIONS of things RN's can do with their down time when acutiy is lower!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Have you participated in any of the efforts nurses are undertaking to address this concern?

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