What solutions do you offer for stopping nurse abuse?

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jul 24, 2003

Great discussion going on here! Much good food for thought... :cool:

live4today, RN · Jul 24, 2003

Hmmmmm....forming a nurses support group here in my area....GREAT food for thought! I'm going to start looking into doing that and making sure it's all legal so "the suits" won't screw it up like they do everything else.

sanakruz, ADN · Jul 24, 2003

#1 problem: managed care!

It's NOT all about the freaking dollar

This mind set translates into misery for pts, nurses, and MD's too.

The "consumers" know it and so do we.

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Jul 25, 2003

Furball, Are you sure those people are Christian, or are they putting a giant poop smear on Christianity.

I believe that real devoted Christians would NOT do such stuff! They look to see who they can help, or where they can make a difference somewhere like Cheerfuldoer :) and Jnette, :mad: etc. They also co-operate with their co-workers, and if a staff member has some good news to share, the REAL practicing Christian will offer congratulations, and well-wishes. I know a few of them right here on this website, and am a member of their group.:)

Any one of them would offer their services and kind acts, and prayers if requested, and I am truly HONORED to be a member of their group.:kiss

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jul 25, 2003

In a few words: TEAMWORK and GOOD COMMUNICATION

TEAMWORK: leaving one person to do the job of 2 is not safe, nor does it promote good care for the pt.

GOOD COMMUNICATION: There have been several incidents where a nurse "forgot" to mention that the new pts have PICC lines, are NPO ( and are gulping a pitcher of water), cannot get up on their own, or are diabetic. If you have been off for a few days vacation (HA! if you should be so lucky) you sometimes come back to a whole slate of new pts. and know nothing about them, but you need the general info like this when you come on, because you don't necessarily get to review the dr. orders and the charts before the call bells begin ringing. Poor communication can land everyone in hot water, causing a LOT of tail to be chewed.

starcandy · Jul 26, 2003

Originally posted by gwenith
.

We HAVE to adress the theory/practice gap. I see this and it's persistance as being a major problem with our profession. Recently I was reading a thread on vital signs and medications and marvelling at the disparity of opinion. Some are wedded to the "party line" of "you must assess all patients before you do anything else whilst others acknowledge the workplace restricitons and assess as required. I think it comes down to the basic difficulty in defining our primary role.

I agree gwenith, this "theory/practice" problem has caused me great confusion as a nurse. Good thread !

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2003

I think part of the problem for retention of nurse in the US is the conditions. I have been thinking about this for some time now and here are some work conditions that we have over here that maybe should be lobbied for in the US.

Long Service Leave]

We get one week "extra" vacation a year for every year of serviec but the catch is you can only claim it after ten years of service to the same company. Of course Long Service Leave can only be taken at the company's convenience. You can even "bank" the weeks until you retire to add to retirement. (think of it 30 years service = 30 weeks of leave on full pay!!

This is not unique to nursing but a standard work condition. The accounting for this gets tricky as companies actually have to budget for future payment of LSL but the goverment mandates this as a base condition.

Vicarious Liability Here and in England we are covered legally by an old law called vicarious liability. This means that the employer is held legally accountable for the actions of the employee.

Think about this last one. You do not get sued the HOSPITAL does!!! How much "nurse abuse" will that stop!!!They are then TOTALLY responsible for low staffing. They have to ensure safe staffing mixes.

Vicarious liablity does not mean that the nurse can get away with murder - teh hospital does have the right to sue the nurse in return for poor performance BUT this is rarely done.

Workplae Health and Safety law mandates that if a worker is injured at work they can be given "light duties". So instead of being off work and costing teh goverment money the employer has to try to find a niche within the establishment where the employee can work until healed. This is less abused than you would think as they do not have the "light duties" forever. I knew a woman who was injured and part of this workplace rehabilitation she ended up assisting with some nursing research the hsopital was running. It puts valuable people back into the workplace.

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Jul 27, 2003

Gwenith,

Where did you say you live? I'll be sure to spread the word. Mmmm,hmmmm. Wow! :eek: I don't think they'd have it here in the US. The insurance companies regulate a lot of medical stuff here, and they're the ones who usually don't know the first thing about what the medical field entails, nor do they care. :confused:

live4today, RN · Jul 28, 2003

Originally posted by Frances LeMay
Furball, Are you sure those people are Christian, or are they putting a giant poop smear on Christianity.
I believe that real devoted Christians would NOT do such stuff! They look to see who they can help, or where they can make a difference somewhere like Cheerfuldoer...jnette. They also co-operate with their co-workers, and if a staff member has some good news to share, the REAL practicing Christian will offer congratulations, and well-wishes. I know a few of them right here on this website, and am a member of their group.:)
Any one of them would offer their services and kind acts, and prayers if requested, and I am truly HONORED to be a member of their group.:kiss

Awwwww.....what a very nice thing to say Fran! :kiss

Tis true though about a TRUE follower of Christ and Believer in the faith...one would definitely NOT behave such a way. :nono:

Many people....matter of fact...TOO MANY people...wear the label "Christian" but really do NOT understand what it means to do so. For these we pray. :)

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Jul 28, 2003

Renee,

Well put reply sis. I love you loads and loads. It just riles me when people put true Christianity down. It's as Joyce Meyer says, "Being a Christian is much more than wearing a Jesus pin, a cross around the neck, or a bumper sticker on your car that says, "I'm a Christian," but doesn't really live it."

I can think of so many people in organized religion who fit that profile. Mmm, hmmmh, mmmm hmmmh. Oh yeah. In fact, before I was given the wake-up call, I too was one of them. But thanks be to our all merciful God, I let Jesus lead me right on into the New Covenant, and this gal is now truly, living grace, and am very very pleased to be associated with all those who are doing the same.

Awesome bunch, they are! And I'm PROUD to call Jesus not only my Savior, but also, "My Hero." A real he-man!

LumpofClay,

and very pleased to be one who the Master Potter is molding.:)

this is 4 U:kiss

Teshiee · Jul 29, 2003

I think nursing abuse will stop when some of us stop abusing the profession. Derogatory statements about hating nursing, it is a waste of time when it is not nursing itself only the non nursing management dictates how we should take care of patients. Lack of unification is another problem. Too many back biting individuals that only hurt nursing instead of finding alternative solutions to alleviate problems in their unit. Feeling helplessness when it is not warrented. Putting up with bureacratic nonsense. I love what I do and I know there are days when I can't move but I wouldn't give up what I do because I love caring for my babies. It needs to start in nursing school. Stop eating the young who come out enthusiastic about learning. Stop lying to nursing students teach them the realistic world not idealistic Unions may work I think the more we get involve and start taking notice then things will begin to change instead of waiting for someone to save us we have to save ourselves. We must believe that what we do is very special and very valuable and until we believe that nothing will change.

live4today, RN · Jul 29, 2003

Solutions are definitely the cure for the problems that exist in nursing. The next step after naming the solutions is implementing those solutions. Solutions not implemented are totally a waste of time. :nurse: