No Beds

RN34TX · Jul 19, 2008

Does your PACU continue to do surgeries if there aren't any beds available in the hospital? This is a chronic problem at our facility and our patients are in the recovery room for hours.

This is a major problem at my facility as well.

Sometimes the cases are emergent and must be done regardless of bed availability, but more often than not, the non-emergent cases get done at the surgeon's convenience and no one seems to care that the patient will have no where to go after surgery and get stuck in PACU.

I continue to encourage my many disgruntled patients and family members to voice their concerns to the powers that be at the facility but I'm not sure how much (if any) impact it has had over the years.

Sadly, it usually isn't because we are at capacity from a room/space standpoint, it is usually because we do not have enough med/surg and/or ICU nurses to open the many rooms that we do have available.

Babs0512 · Jul 25, 2008

Yes, they do, and it is a real thorn in my side. I mean, it's job security for me, but it makes no sense to continue to do voluntary surgeries when the hospital is full, you just KNOW a few of those patient often end up staying - and then its such a hassle to find a place for them.

I don't think it should be allowed. Only emergiencies when the hospital if full

RN :) · Jul 25, 2008

yes, actually I am boarding a pt right now as our ICU's are all full. Even during the day, pt's wait hours for a bed that was requested. I also find that we get called in for many non-emergent cases on holidays, weekends, nights etc...

I still love PACU nursing compared to floor nursing though!

Babs0512 · Jul 25, 2008

Me too. We will not board in PACU. That starts a sllippery slope that won't be pretty. It's like setting a precedent. Now what would happen if you suddenly had a bowel resection? You'd have the boarder and the bowel. When are you suppose to get rest. I don't envy your situation. Good luck to you, keep us posted.

Babs

All4Seasons · Jul 26, 2008

This is a hot topic here as well! This definitely goes on at times,especially with certain prima donna surgeons who want their case done - regardless. And we've heard them say it! It would never occur to them that the RNs taking care of their case overnight in PACU have worked 9-17 or 15-2300, are now doing call,and may indeed have to be in tomorrow at 1500 as well! I find, more recently,that they try and keep a tight rein on this.

On the other hand,I guess that if I were the patient,I'd love to have a surgeon like that who was in my corner!

ativanni · Aug 26, 2008

This happens where I work too. We have BOARDERS several days a week. and they are expanding to give us more capacity. Including a section of "swing beds" to be used for 23 hour stays!!

We are open 24-7 and have hired weekend staff.

I love it when I hear patients say that the surgeon told them this RARELY happens or the surgeon "promised" to reserve them a bed. Our biggest problem is surgeons are not held accountable for DISCHARGING by a certain time of day. Discharges sit in house waiting to be discharged, until their surgeon is finished in the OR or between cases.

Then you get a VIP amazing how fast we can find THEM a room!

Lillyhorn · Sep 10, 2008

Sounds like this goes on everywhere. Several times we were told we might have overnight recovery, this after the nurse on call had worked all day. Then we have staff shortages the next day, since staff had worked all night. But we can't cancel or stop surgeries because of staff shortages, unlike the floors, which close beds down because of not enough staff.

Babs0512 · Sep 10, 2008

You're lucky if you get to go home after working all night. It is expected, in our hospital, that if the OR or PACU worked all night, they stay for their regular shift the next day. IF the manager is able, she will send the staff home as early as possible the next day. A co-worker ended up working 28 hours straight. I myself, 24 hours. How safe is that.

Another beef I have, is that we get double time if we are called in after 2300 and before 0700. So, during those 8 hours, we are getting double. Let's say we are still working at 0700 - all night without sleep, likely we would be nearing 24 hours without sleep - I think the double time should continue through 0700 in those cases. Since you didn't get to go home and rest, and your stress level is then elevated, your exhausted, why drop your wage? I think if double time continued on for those people, it would "motivate" the nurse manager to get us out of there in the morning and let us go home and get rest.

Thanks for the venting

Blessings