Planetree Nursing Anyone?

AlaskanRN · May 5, 2003

Apparently I'm out of the loop...

What is "Going Planetree"?

charissa · May 5, 2003

Plane tree according to my info, granted i havent been to the mandatory 2 day retreat, if a "philosophy" started in a CA hospital. The system has been spreading and those who accept it become Planetree Affiliate Hospitals. Basically it has good points like treating the whole family, respect, service, ect. . .

However the overall implimentation of the system, which has multiple points, seems to center on the nursing staff is always wrong no matter what. I had never heard of the concept either. It also seems to be a good excuse for management to never back up nursing, "Well, that really doesn't match the Planetree philosophy . . ."As a matter of fact it has also effected the set up of the new hospital we are building. Grand pianos in the lobbies on each floor, kitchens for the families, bread makers, music piped throughout the hospital, and the nursing staff is being taught things like relaxing massage. There will also be labyrinth walks for pt peace and meditation. Does any one else not want to be lost pushing a code cart through a shrub maze?

Brita01 · May 5, 2003

Originally posted by charissa
Plane tree according to my info, granted i havent been to the mandatory 2 day retreat, if a "philosophy" started in a CA hospital. The system has been spreading and those who accept it become Planetree Affiliate Hospitals. Basically it has good points like treating the whole family, respect, service, ect. . .
However the overall implimentation of the system, which has multiple points, seems to center on the nursing staff is always wrong no matter what. I had never heard of the concept either. It also seems to be a good excuse for management to never back up nursing, "Well, that really doesn't match the Planetree philosophy . . ."As a matter of fact it has also effected the set up of the new hospital we are building. Grand pianos in the lobbies on each floor, kitchens for the families, bread makers, music piped throughout the hospital, and the nursing staff is being taught things like relaxing massage. There will also be labyrinth walks for pt peace and meditation. Does any one else not want to be lost pushing a code cart through a shrub maze?

And soon they'll be wondering why all of the nurses are leaving. Duh!! More contributers to the bedside nursing shortage. But who needs nurses when you can have fresh baked bread. :rolleyes:

roxannekkb · May 5, 2003

Do Plantetree hospitals have more problems with staffing than other facilities? Is their turnover higher, more vacanies, and so on?

Gromit · May 5, 2003

Kinda figures something like THIS coming out of California.

Hope that sort of lunacy steers clear of MY facility.

As if nursing staff didn't have ENOUGH to deal with already.

Disablednurse · May 5, 2003

I don't mean to be ugly but it sounds kind of dumb to me. Will the pianos not be a riot when someone brings in an unruly two year old who wants to bang on it. That should bring someone out of a coma.

jadednurse · May 5, 2003

Hippies live! Are they going to paint peace signs in the waiting rooms?

Rena RN 2003, RN · May 5, 2003

Originally posted by Disablednurse
I don't mean to be ugly but it sounds kind of dumb to me. Will the pianos not be a riot when someone brings in an unruly two year old who wants to bang on it. That should bring someone out of a coma.

:roll :roll :roll

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · May 5, 2003

Several years ago we were a Planetree Hospital......there was a piano.....and different musical groups came to entertain, classical music, of course. I can't imagine being ill and having unwanted entertainment. Visitors were in and out at all hours, including kids. Planetree didn't last long.

Now we close our doors at 8pm and visiting time is over.

roxannekkb · May 5, 2003

This is the website for planetree, in case anyone wants to read about it. http://www.planetree.org/

I think the concept of making hospitals more patient friendly (ie, less sterile and cold) is a good one, and most hospitals can be redesigned to make them not only more patient friendly, but more nurse/healthworker friendly as well. A hospital is, afterall, supposed to be a place to heal.

That said, I think that much of what is thought to help healing, like music and unlimited visiting, can actually be a hindrance. In the NICU, for instance, we always had unlimited parental visiting, and then some parents would get upset when asked to step out at change of shift. Or sometimes did not understand the need for limited stimultion of a very sick infant. Or they wanted to bring 10 family members in at the same time, including a toddler with a runny nose.

I think much can be done to make the hospital a more desirable place for both staff and patients--made more comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and more efficiently organized to make the nurses job easier--but stuff like a grand piano, or giving patients forbidden foods is just ludicrous.

yannadey, LPN · May 5, 2003

well said RoxannekKb.