Let's create the Perfect Hospital!

bellehill, RN · Jan 1, 2004

How about necessary equipment in EVERY patient room, if it is a semi-private room then there are two of everything. That would be a dream come true.

How about a satelite pharmacy on every unit that is open for every shift, just on the off chance an admission comes.

ScarlettRN · Jan 1, 2004

Yes yes yes! Printed MARs and meds from the pharmacy immediately after admission 24 hours a day!

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jan 1, 2004

I'd like to work on the architecture.

More than one toilet for the employees.

Put the patient's closets anywhere but behind the head of the bed. And make all rooms private.

Full inventory of supplies in SPD so no one would have to wait for necessary equipment. Can you imagine running out of walkers, thermometer covers, IV Pumps, Blood tubing...."they're coming in Monday."

Sufficient chairs and sufficient terminals so no one has to wait.

Centrally located nursing station so the halls are not so long! Maybe some windows so the nurses can see outside once in a while.

We did the one RN one LPN and one Tech for 10 patients and it was awesome! LPNs in SC are the greatest!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2004

Doctors at our beck and call 24/7. They call us every hour on the hour, and are in house. They have to go through sensitivity training on how to handle themselves professionally.

Rooms are kept shiney clean and sanitized and no one every gets MRSA or C-Diff in our hospital.

Speaking of architecture. All rooms are private with lots of room to move a stretcher in and out.

Now I'm really dreaming. :chuckle

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jan 1, 2004

1 RN, 1 LPN, 1 Tech per 10 pts........... nice. Too bad it's just a dream.

How about ALL docs orders computerized so they can be READ ?

They would have their own central computer area to write orders, and the orders would be printed out as well as automatically sent to pharmacy as well as the patient's chart on the computer....

allnurses Guide · Jan 1, 2004

Originally posted by ScarlettRN
After reading the threads about staffing ratios and the shortage, I thought it would be fun to create our own hospital....done the right way! What would Perfect Medical Center be like? In my world....

In Perfect Hospital, there would be an RN to do the assessments and to put out all the fires that get lit during the shift. There would be an LPN to pass meds and an Aide to do patient care. The patient load could stand to be a bit higher with 3 people looking after them and this group would be a team that always works together when they are there at the same time....or have the same schedule so they always work together. They would have to get along and respect each other, but their patients would get the best care available!
There would always be an available unit secretary. The RN would be able to sign off orders and call the docs as needed. In Perfect Hospital, there would be patient transporters and/or runners available every shift. There would be no floating to strange units, as all units would be closed, but because of the excellent staffing, it would be no problem calling in someone if the census takes a huge jump.

Hmmm, what else am I forgetting for Perfect Hospital? I haven't even STARTED on the ED for this facility!

You just described where I work!!

steph

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jan 1, 2004

Originally posted by stevielynn
You just described where I work!!

steph

allnurses Guide · Jan 1, 2004

Originally posted by jnette

jnette . . .:chuckle

Ok, the docs could use some help with their handwriting.

steph

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jan 1, 2004

Sounds like you work in a great hospital, Steph. That's really great and I'm happy for you, truly.

Wish everyone else could say the same. :)

allnurses Guide · Jan 1, 2004

Yes, actually we are very lucky. And right now I have two patients . . .one is a "swing" patient here for rehab and the other an acute for back pain. We let the CNA stay on-call, called the ward clerk off and it is just me and an LVN.

We actually have 15 acute beds and there are two nurses scheduled every shift . .sometimes two RN's and sometimes an RN and LVN. We have one aid or two depending on patient load. Usually two. Always a ward clerk unless they are called off for low census.

We have been full for the last few weeks and busy. But we are never as busy as big city hospitals. I think med/surg nurses are awesome.

Rural medicine . . . it has it's positive features.

Negative . . well, I know a little about alot. I do OB, med-surg, post-op, LTC, ER, and have been the baby nurse in surgery with a cesarean. We have four rooms for cardiac patients but don't have them all the time so you can get a little rusty with strip interpretations. It makes it interesting but also makes you feel like you are not well grounded in one particular area.

I try to take after you my dear . . looking at the positives.

steph

LilgirlRN, ADN, RN · Jan 1, 2004

i will add that the lab comes and draws blood and has the results in a timely manner. everything is computerized, so the doc can pull up labs at home, look at films at home. nursing managers are required to work one of each of the shifts once a month on their unit as a nurse. we'd have a nurse pt liason who could spend time talking to the pts and their families to help them set goals for their hospital stay...ie, at the end of this hospital visit pt x will be able to demonstrate the ability to choose a proper diabetic diet. nurses and doctors would determine the length of stay, not an insurance company. there would be daycare available for your kids on all shifts for a nominal charge, also adult care for those who are caring for the elderly. there would be on campus accomodations for those oncall who live far away from the hospital. there woould be good food available to employees at all times. security officers who all were a "real cop" at one time and no barney fifes. and last but not least... if you are sick, this hospital will pay you to stay at home!