pinkscrubs

I would have to agree with the ones above, especially q 1 hour accuchecks with sliding scale. Another one I don't like is a dopamine (renal dose) or cardizem drip on a non-ICU patient.

Tenet seems to be trying to head in the right direction. I work for a non-union hospital, but according to CNA Tenet is trying to cooperate. You can read about it here: http://www.calnurse.org/oldmainindex.html

True. :) Sometimes I think it would be easier to look myself in the mirror at night if I were a prostitute.. Over the past decade or two, health care has turned into 'profit making business' and greed seems to rear its ugly face. The other day as I was driving home from work I got a depressing feeling that being a nurse was not a mission of mercy, but more like helping a system that takes advantage of the sick and needy. At least blackjack dealers and prostitutes are taking advantage of people who are there by choice. I sometimes feel like the hospitals are 'pimps in business suits'. Sorry, just venting tonight.

I work in a hospital in California (medsurg unit) which has cut us to barebones for the sake of staying within mandated 6-1 staffing. Yes we have 6, occasionally 7 patients now, but in turn we have no CNA's on the floor at all. Not only do we do Heparin protocols and mostly tele patients, but now we must also do complete primary care on six patients..this includes passing trays, feeding patients, etc. I don't mind getting my hands dirty but I am finding this nearly impossible to monitor labs, communicate with physicians, cover IV meds on 4-5 patients for an LVN, and do primary nursing for six of your own patients. Is this what it is coming down to? Anyone ever feel like presenting your patient/employer with a waiver stating that you will not be held accountable for errors occurring during a major staffing shortage on the floor? Anyone ever feel like offering to take a 25% cut in pay in exchange for caring for less patients? I wish that was an option.