OCRN

Your unit really needs a manager. Is that position up for hire? Do they have an acting interim manager? If not then go to the Director and/or HR, tell them what's happening on the unit, voice your concerns, and ask what is going to be done. What about the charge nurse? As the floor leader, a charge nurse should step in and counsel those acting unprofessional. Does your hospital have a pt satisfaction team? You could speak with them as well. I guarantee pt's are not satisfied with the care given by nurses acting so unprofessional. Patients see, hear, and pick up on much more than we think they do. It seems to be a nursing rule of thumb to have 1year experience in one place especially when it's your first year as a nurse. However, you seem passionate about nursing and I don't believe any other hospital would turn you away at this point either. If possible, consider transferring to a different unit or the nursing float team at the hospital you're currently at. If not, pursue another hospital. I wouldn't worry about coming across as a job-hopper yet. You're looking for the right fit & this doesn't seem to be it, so do what's best for you.

I believe our pt satisfaction team follows-up after discharge if there was a complaint made during admission. Managers make daily pt rounds & initiate service recovery. We use the NRC+Picker survey and ask questions during rounding that relate to the HCAHPs questions on the survey.

I would love to hear what other managers are doing to increase your unit's pt satisfaction scores. Anything outside the box? Simple but works really well? How do you get the staff on board? Thanks!

I manage a 24 bed medical unit. We have a 1:5 or 1:6 nurse to patient ratio with 7.86 HPPD. The FY09 budget has totally wiped out CNA's in lieu of Tech's to have more licensed staff with the plan of "modified primary nursing."

I work on a medical/oncology unit in a large regional hospital. The nurses on my unit believe we get a bad rap from the family members of our patients. If one thing happens that they don't understand or don't like they want to tell the world how awful us nurses treat our patients. Family members seem to be taking over our unit, and also seem to revel in telling us what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. It is very frustrating as no one seems to understand or believe that we are there to take of our patients (their family members) the best we can - and we KNOW what we are doing. The whole situation is very frustrating and at times overwhelming. I am wondering if anyone else has dealt with situations like this and how do you deal with overbearing visitors/family members?