Main Problem In The Nursing Field?

allnurses Guide · Jun 15, 2006

Poor relationships and communication between doctors and nurses.

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jun 15, 2006

In many areas, there are high patient:nurse staffing ratios, which translates to less time for each patient.

readysetgo · Jun 15, 2006

1. Why are doctor's screaming at the nurse for calling them with their pt's concerns and problems?

2. Lack of appropriately trained support staff.

3. Heavy pt to nurse ratio

4. Lack of functional equipment (1 pulse ox device for 40 bed telemetry unit)

5. Growing frustration of patients, family members, doctors, management

zenman · Jun 15, 2006

Any profession needs to have a solid foundational base so the entry level confusion needs to be cleared up before anything else, IMO.

nursesarah · Jun 15, 2006

What do you see is the main problem in the nursing field? I am supposed to do a 10 page report on a major problem within nursing and the solutions to it. I would like to have 3 of the main ones to choose from. Thank you in advance for your input.

hahaha. you want just 3? wow. i think the number one issue is poor management. poor management translates into higher nurse:patient ratios, poor job satisfaction, higher turnover rates. when the management is bad, nurses are unhappy. unhappy nurses dont like working. therefore, work relationships suffer. you get gossiping and back biting. nurses dont support each other. problems aren't dealt with and the work environment sucks.

second issue: poor funding. ultimately, hospitals like spending money on fancy, shiny, big pieces equipment, instead of the regular stuff that every ward needs. how about BP machine for every room? adequate supplies so i can actually do a dressing change instead of running over to another ward to find a dressing tray. my manager had to fight to get funding so they could hire another nurse to be available in a 3-11 shift, to cover shift changes. it'll be a huge help and take off some of the burden.

third issue: unsafe working conditions. we have a large nursing station on my unit. unfortunately, come september, there's nursing students, residents, medical students, doctors, and the RNs all piled into the station and all of a sudden, its not so large anymore. suddenly no one knows where the charts are. i need to give out my meds, but the med profiles are missing bc someone has them. i'm tripping over bags, coats, lunch pails, and eveyrthing else ppl leave in the corners. there's not enough chairs. get the picture?

well this is just my opinion. hope it makes sense :lol2:

Guest717236 · Jun 15, 2006

Any profession needs to have a solid foundational base so the entry level confusion needs to be cleared up before anything else, IMO.

--Unrealistic expectations and not merging the entry level requirement

smoothly. Diploma RN's should have been grandfathered in,

not required to get a BSN, but encouraged. The system has

set up competition instead of shared cooperation.

Nursing is the only field I know that has refused nurses with an

AD or diploma, and a BS in another field from getting a position.

Its interesting that nurses can receive an MBA, with no BS in Business.

The business schools honor the nursing education and experience.

We hold ourselves back as a profession by not encouraging diversity

of experience and education. It would make our field stronger...........

--Staff staffing ratios

Retired R.N. · Jun 15, 2006

What do you see is the main problem in the nursing field? I am supposed to do a 10 page report on a major problem within nursing and the solutions to it. I would like to have 3 of the main ones to choose from. Thank you in advance for your input.

I think the main problem in nursing is a refusal to recognize and reward the work of the people providing the basic level of nursing service - the CNA. When the nursing profession learns to accept the CNA as the first step of professional nursing and to provide a clear and affordable path of upward career mobility to all members who wish to pursue it, we will lose fewer nurses due to the burnout that comes from working in understaffed and unsafe environments.

justmanda · Jun 15, 2006

Major problem in the nursing field? How about Nurses! I speak of the grumpy self-righteous,backbiting type who make your job a living hell. It may be the poor staffing, poor funding, and poor management listed above that turns someone into this kind of co-worker, but it IS one of the major complaints I have with our profession.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 15, 2006

I think that the biggest problem we face in nursing today is with the lack of cohesion within the profession. Without a unified vision and the will to work together to achieve that vision, we can not successfully resolve all the other issues that inevitably arise.

With a united profession and a shared vision, we can solve a lot of the problems. Without the unity and the vision, we are a bunch of squabbling, ineffective wannabees.

llg

sunnyjohn · Jun 15, 2006

I think that the biggest problem we face in nursing today is with the lack of cohesion within the profession. Without a unified vision and the will to work together to achieve that vision, we can not successfully resolve all the other issues that inevitably arise.
With a united profession and a shared vision, we can solve a lot of the problems. Without the unity and the vision, we are a bunch of squabbling, ineffective wannabees.
llg

Word

SharonH, RN · Jun 15, 2006

1. Lack of unification and multiple points of entry into the profession. This affects our credibility as a profession and creates resentment, bitterness and divisiveness among each other.

2. A true lack of appreciation for the work of nurses by management, physicians, and other disciplines. This affects decision-making in regards to almost everything including policy and procedure, work environment both physical and emotional and staffing.

3. Poor working conditions in general; inadequate pay, poor staffing, lack of viable work space, lousy attitudes from physicians and demanding families.