I’m an RN and I work on a Med-Surg floor. For the last year our hospital has, per management, been having a hard time hiring CNAs. I work night shift and we have had only 1 full time CNA, but a few weeks ago management decided to let our only CNA go, leaving us with 0 support on the night shift. Our ratios are 1:6, and prior to loosing our only CNA we were having to take 6 patients most nights with no support staff, now we are having to take 6 patients EVERY night with no support staff. Day shift isn’t much better as they are also often left to take 6 patients of their own with no support, and often our charge nurses will take 6 patients. The few of us staff nurses who are left have voiced our concerns to management multiple times, but we are told that what’s happening “isn’t necessarily unsafe, but rather, is just not ideal.” Management also tell us that this is the case at most hospitals. When we ask the travel nurses they’ll tell us they’ve never worked at another hospital that doesn’t offer their nurses support staff. I guess I’m wondering… has anyone else heard of this situation at their hospitals? Also just wondering if anyone has any advice on how to get management to listen. I’m getting to the point where I may just leave…
