littlecheese

I am wondering what are the general staffing ratio's out in the nursing world, in ICU/Open Heart Units. We recently are experiencing a budget problem and the staff in the ICU are finding themselves taking 3 patient assignments as a routine. What is everyone else doing?? Also, our hearts are one to one until extubated and then no matter how ill, they get paired up or tripled up. Comments Appreciated

Where I work, not only are the write ups frequent, but the administrators are looking. I have had my director come behind me and ask others she know will give her the answers she wants just so she can conference another staff member. I agree that it has to do with money. The more newer GN's come in, the more the adminstrators look for something to be wrong with those who are paid more.

That is good advice, except the language of the contract is not clear. The union has one grievances based on what has been done in the past, and in this case the least senior person have worked. The night shift are the worse when it comes to this. For example, one staff member has requested off Halloween which is not an official holiday. Her children are grown, she has her sister pass out candy, and when I asked her why? she scheduled herself instead of working for one of the mother's with small children she simply said because I have more seniority and "they" need to know what it is like. I say why? Why not be nice to each other. When I worked in the city near me I never worked Christmas or Halloween, others did and I did for them when they needed something. I guess if nurses were actually nice to each other the profession would have gone farther. Does anyone work in an unit that gets along fairly well? If so I would love to hear the hows, and whats-

I worked night shift for 15 years and it did eventually cause my health an issue. As an assistant manager on full time days (8hr) I recently flipped to nights and did 40 hours in 3 days, I feel it! Night shift is not normal, I too raised my daughter and slept very little. Some people just tolerate it better than others. good luck!

:angryfire I am super angry at my night shift. I have never met such a mean group of people. As the manager and the person who does the schedule I placed a request for the staff to cover 2 days that the hospital was offering the CCRN coorifice. I had night workers who are not going to the coorifice and who stated they really are not interested request off on the days others would need so they could go. Since the place has a union all requests are driven from the most to least senior person. It may actually come to pass that some of the staff signed up for the coorifice may not be able to go. Knowing the staff I know that this is just a spitting contest. They get even worse. Our night shift's holiday is the eve, and they are not required to work an eve and a day. So when it comes time for signing up no one signs up to work the actual day. They also do not pencil themselves in for the unofficial holidays such as Easter or Mother's day. The rule is the least senior person gets to work. The olders nurses never sign up, the younger nurses never get one holiday at all, and the unit never keeps the newer blood that we hired. I have seen nurses purposely request a night off that is already short so that someone with less seniority can not have that time off. I am not new to this world of nursing and the back stabbing that goes with it, but when will these nurses grow up and start helping each other out? My hands are tied because of the union. I am wondering what other places do with their holiday schedule, and how do you keep newer staff happy and not feeling like they are dumped on all the time? Thanks-littlecheese:uhoh3:

I work in a similar situation, but instead of the staff hating me they hate each other. This does not mean they do not talk about me, but it is a tough spot especially if there is no back up. I don't what you should do I am only here until something less stressful with the same hours comes along. Good Luck.

What I have done is shown the staff the data collection tools we use. This applies to both hospital and LTC. I have asked them to each to do one which then opens their eyes to what my job is all about.

My dream job would be maybe 2 eight hour shifts in a well managed cath lab or Ep lab with no weekends or holidays. Better yet would be to stay home..... I can dream right?

I am curious how other nurses stay positive in the profession. I honestly in 15 years have not met one nurse who was not looking to get out, or who was stuck because of the money in the profession. I have met those who were going to school to do something advanced, I have met those always hunting for "some" other type of job in companies that standardly treat their employees better, but I have never met one nurse who wants to stay on their own accord. 90% of the nurses I have worked with want out but for one reason or another can't get out at this time. I recently asked around for my own information. Most nurses I have encountered do not find any rewards in what they do. The families are mean, the patients are even more mean, and administration is always trying to stick it to them. I have worked at both large city and small community hospitals and the opinions did not change from one to the other. I questioned why nurses are would rather leave than make the profession better and most nurses who I asked were in the profession for awhile stated that there is no why to make nursing better. The general feel seems to be that nurses will never gain any power so why bother? I personally have alway thought that if nurses would band together we could easliy overcome health care as top dog. So my questions are these:How do nurses stay positive in a profession that in general offers little reward? As middle management I would like to encourage my staff to do more for nursing but how should I do this when most hate the profession so much? For those who are looking to get out of the profession or have gotten out of hospital care where are looking or where did you go? And finally for those who have gone on and advanced their degree other than CRNA's did it pay off? Thanks:idea:

I agree that is what I sound like and how all of us who do the job act. I am curious as what other hopsitals do with a position like this, or is this unusual? I was an assistant manager before at a larger city hospital and things were different but that was sometime ago. Thanks for your response.

I recently took an ANM job in an ICU. The perks are Mon-Fri, no weekends, no holidays. The bad-there is no manager above me only a Critical Care Director. I am counted in the staffing numbers, so on most days I do patient care. I am in charge everyday and with that I have all the responsibility of a Manager such as sitting on committees. I took the job only because night shift was making me sick and working holidays got old. Is there anyone in a similar type of position, and does your work place treat your position? Thanks:uhoh3:

I have been a nurse for 15 years and I would give anything to have done something else. If there is a job paying 250,000 give me the name I want that job. Nursing is stressful, full of alot of BS, but you can make a living.