Bioethicist

Sounds like my hospital; maybe we work in the same facility (lol). Nurses, aides, clerks and all staff members need to unite and present your unit issues to management as a team in a requested staff meeting. I actually put together a meeting like this for my med-surg unit that starts in few hours. We shall see if any changes are made. Always document specific unit situations/staffing problems; especially when a patient's safety is put in jeopardy. Management never likes those letters! Med errors, increased falls, increased infections, lack of patient education, family complaints all lower HCHAP scores. Also, nurses and aides love to complain about all issues but never follow through and show up for the management meetings and present the problems in a professional way. There are only two employees on my unit who consistently attend union, committee and staff meetings (one is myself). RN's and aides, please take a stand, document and present this issues to your management (even contact your local government officials, senators, ANA or write your hospital CEO a professional letter)! Remember nursing school vocabulary:"Chain of Command". It's really frustrating that high level hospital administrators don't understand our staffing problems; they don't care and are still getting huge yearly bonuses (that we don't know about). I'd love to see my CNO or CEO work on my unit with eight patients (four of them on contact, two with c. diff).

I would have a meeting with your manager or HR to discuss the changes and how they are effecting you. Or write a letter to your DON and ask why the hospital is no longer contributing to "life long education?"

I have questions and concerns regarding needlesticks as well. I had my first accidental needlestick last week. As I was dropping the needle and cap into the sharps container post safely administered heparin injection, I felt a stick and realized I had stuck myself. I was in total shock and felt so embarrassed. I followed universal protocol 1. told my charge RN 2. went to ED for testing 3. all tests were negative on me and patient (Thank God). As soon as I told my charge RN she rolled her eyes and said "Did you recap the needle??! Did you? You did, well that's a medication error! You never recap needles that's the first thing you learn in school!! Yup, that's a med error!" She seemed super annoyed that she had to fill out all the paperwork and call the supervisor. I said, "I don't know..I don't know. I felt a stick as I was dropping it." It was a 1am heparin injection, and I was tired and hadn't had a moment to take a break. She kept drilling me and finally I said. "I don't know, maybe I did recap it! I don't know, I'm in shock at the moment." Does anyone know if a needlestick is can be considered a med error or only an accidental injury. Now my nurse manager wants to meet with both of us next week, and I'm very concerned I'm going to get written up. Thoughts, advice? Thanks. I've been a RN for exactly one year this week.