4thebabes

Please feel free to read the article in Crain's Chicago Business...it is now public and out from under seal!

This question was posed as part of a whistle blower suit that was already filed under seal in federal court. As a nurse at a level III, 56 bed nicu, with 6 other level III's in the near vicinity open to transport, I was appalled at the lack of concern for numerous infectious outbreaks, severe understaffing ratio's,open bedspaces while doublebunking 5-10 kids per shift,and overcrowding. Some of the infectious outbreaks had lead to death (confirmed by autopsy). After complaints to management, attendings,osha, even the dept. of health and jcaho("we dont have the staff to investigate every complaint") I took it upon myself to see that babies never see harm due to my care, and went to the attorney generals office. the case was found to have merit and was investigated fully, and intervened on as of today. I believe as nurses it is our duty to ensure no harm is caused by our care and by the care of others.There are avenues to take when others become blocked. Nursing at the forefront should be just that!

1.75 AN HOUR CHARGE PAY

Our level IIIunit has had numerous MRSA and SERRATIA outbreaks, all the while management seems to be reactive and not proactive. I was wondering if there are statistics/research "effect wise" for overcrowded and understaffed nicu's?

if it is not fraud then why are'nt we putting 2 adults in a room for one(in the adult icu) or 4 peds pts in a room for two..etc....and then how do you bill two kids who are sharing on bedspace? ....could it be that babies dont complain? and that when you look at your 24 wkr laying there your not thinking about the crowded bedspace but how you hope and pray they make it home? i'm just curious.....

I guess some people rise to the level of expectation...and some can't..point taken.

and it should be as far as im concerned.....some nurses are not suited...old school if you ask me! it certainly is harder to handle a kid once it goes from nicu to intermediate...some people like the tubes and lines and rn to pt ratio...however when there is 3-4 kids in your care and all the teaching that goes with as well as the constant eye to keep the kid back out of the nicu THATS WHERE THE REAL CHALLENGE COMES IN.....as far as not being suited... the nicu is a choice to be a part of...if not suited then DONT BE A PART!

rush presbytirian st lukes medical center in chicago is a magnet nursing research center and has a great premie follow up program as well as primary care for its babies from admit to d/c. they have a website and i'm sure you'll get follow up for research and answers to your questions. we have primary care nurses sign up and are held accountable to there patients thru d/c.(kids cannot be dumped after leaving icu to intermediate unless picked up by another nurse) if a nurse does'nt have a primary they are given one. we allow 1 nurse to a primary a shift as well as 2 associate nurses to a primary. per shift(xtra coverage if a primary nurse is off) we have a premie party for our kids after d/c every year sponsored by our suppliers..it's great karma!

chicago....our bedspaces are approx.6x8 we take isolettes/cribs/radiant warmers and back them up to each other in one bedspace and set up portable monitoring equip. i too used to think it was for the babies and that we needed to help them but with increased infections..i.e mrsa outbreaks..i'm not so sure were really helping the babies too much. i've worked agency in other nicu's in the city and havent found doublebunking a common practice..

thanks for the replies..we too are a 65 bed unit ,level 3, however we are one of six level 3's in the city.seems others could take kids when the census goes over 70...?we often take kids turfed to us when others are full...

we double bunk radiant warmers/isolettes/open cribs and even when we have open bed spaces..our infection rate is high as you'd imagine..is this the norm? it just seems wrong, i couldnt imagine seeing my mom in the icu doubled with another patient let alone if both were immunocompromised.

HAVE ANY NICU NURSES EXPERIENCED DOUBLE BUNKING (PLACING TWO BABIES INTO A BEDSPCE DESIGNATED AND SET UP FOR) ONE BABY...? THIS HAS BEEN A PRACTICE IN OUR HOSPITAL TO KEEP OUR CENSUS HIGH. AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THIS IS A FRAUD ISSUE?