New grads vrs renewed oldies

[canoehead]

Why are there so many new bills and pushes by state nursing associations for increased education of new grads when we all know that there are thousands of seasoned nurses out there who choose not to work under current conditions. Seeems to e that it would be cheaper to improve conditions to get the already educated nurses back in the profession than to educate more. In addition we are sending new grads out into a work environment that has already proven toxic. It is a sure bet that a high percentage will leave the profession, and we will be right back where we started.

The ANA and state associations all support these bills though. They are trying to haul water with a leaky bucket.

[woo 2]

retention of older nurses seems to be the big issue, we are getting older at at time when the acuity of our patients is getting higher, unfortunaltely nurse managers are not looking at acuity only at numbers, this many patinets get this many nurses, at my facility on a med surg floor an rn can be responsible to cover 12 patients, i would chart on 6 and the lpn would have 6. the acuity of the patients doesnt enter into the picture. also we have a lot of younger staff on our unit, but the experience level also doesn't seem to fit into the equation for management again only the number of licensed staff, the problem seems to be that nurses are the only ones who view patients as sick anymore to administration they are customers or consumers.

[Jenny P]

Woo 2, you are so right about the higher acuity and only nurses seeing patients as being sicker. I for one am tired of calling patients "customers" or "consumers." I worry about the California staffing ratios for this very reason: the hospitals are unwilling to go with the numbers the nurses are pushing for and in everything I've read about it, there is no mention of acuity. (I will admit, though, that I haven't read the actual legislation, just the Cal nurse thing and what has been posted here). Acuity is what is important in caring for the sick these days; I'm not so sure that whatever ratio they decide on will remain viable in the future.

[Mijourney]

Hi. Customers, consumers. Maximizing profits is what it's all about. IMO, healthcare has been turned into a commercial entity instead of a well-run, efficient, and effective delivery system that is user friendly for patients, families, and those that work in close contact with them. It's interesting to note that as we hash out the concerns over retention and recruitment of nurses that those who are farthest away from direct patient care tend to reap the most tangible benefits from the system. Hmmm......