Staff nurse being moved to different clinical areas

dishes, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2017

It's better from a patient safety perspective not to move a nurse from one unit to the next on a weekly basis. From a budget perspective, it's cheaper and more convenient for employers to believe a nurse is a nurse is a nurse than it is for them to provide lengthy cross training for a few select nurses who are interested in working on all of the units.

allnurses Guide · Oct 1, 2017

So you have 3 nurses for 8 beds. Yes its a busy unit with lots of admissions and discharged but you'll only have 1 patient per bed so the reality is that's an excellent staffing ratio.

I work on a 32 bedded unit with 1 nurse to each 7 patients. I'm afraid if your staffing levels are that good then your likely to have someone moved. From your bosses perspective its about balancing safe staffing across all areas.

If my area had staffing like this I'd expect and understand why we would be asked to move as well.

GrumpyRN, NP · Oct 4, 2017

Yep, yet again I have to agree with XB9S. 3 nurses to 8 beds????? Your laughing and yes I would move people in a heartbeat.

Make sure there is a rota for moving so that it is fair and everyone takes their turn.

toffeeham · Oct 4, 2017

We used to have 13 beds. Bearing in mind we are having 30 patients some days, so still the same number of patients but taken beds off us. How does this mean it's laughable that it's 3 nurses for 8 beds? That's up to 30 admissions, 30 patients coming back from Theatre or patients who have had biopsies that need close observation? We also have 2 chairs for local anaesthetics. It isn't as easy as you make it sound! And some days seems very unsafe when your ward sister is counted in the numbers and isn't there when off to meetings and leaving 2 staff nurses to man the unit

toffeeham · Oct 4, 2017

And it's not done fairly. I am moving every single week where as some are having 2 or 3 weeks off where they aren't being moved

GrumpyRN, NP · Oct 5, 2017

I did not say it was laughable, I said you were laughing. The exact opposite of what you think I meant.

be laughing Meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary

I'm sorry, but up to 30 patients per day maximum between 3 of you, all expected to go home with some of them sitting in chairs is not, or should not, be that worrying. I'm not saying it is easy but very little in nursing is.

I stated; make sure there is a rota to ensure fairness. Complain if this is not being done. Management hate complaints of unfairness that can be substantiated.

I know post op patients can be a bit of work - been there, done that, but how close are you observing patients? Are they still intubated or unconscious when they return?

In your original post you asked for opinions, I gave you mine. Remember, I worked in an ED that would have 150 - 200 patients going through per day with 8 nurses. Moving staff is part of managements role.

You need to balance the benefits of where you are, I presume Monday to Friday and no nights, with your peace of mind.

Take care.

allnurses Guide · Oct 8, 2017

Nobody likes to be moved, and it sounds like your very comfortable in your 8 beds with your 30 day surgery patients popping through them.

Yes its busy but a safe manageable workload even with your ward sister out of the numbers your talking of a ratio of 1:4. That's an excellent staffing ratio. You will only have 1 patient in a bed at any one time. Busy but certainly safe.

If your struggling with those numbers you sound like you may need extra support to prioritise and plan your workload.

I've worked in that type of environment for many many and know exactly what its like, so I can speak with some experience.

It may help if you put a different perspective on things, rather than feeling like things are being done to you and concentrating on how unfair things are take the stance that your working as part of a bigger team and supporting colleagues who aren't as fortunate as you are.

If it were me, I'd be volunteering to help out struggling wards to make sure all patients had access to good nursing care, being mindful that its not about "me" its about making the best use of the resources available to keep ALL patients safe.