REPORT THEM (HOSPITALS) TO JACHO, advise from my sisters.

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My God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.

On Thanksgiving day, I spoke to my oldest sister, who is an Internal Medicine physician. I was telling her my recent hospital experience in 'a matter of fact' conversation. Her response was, 'I WOULD REPORT THEM TO JACHO'.

Okay, here is the story. I got a new assignment in Michigan, 13 wks.

The nurse manager & I agreed, I only needed 2 days to learn their paper work. The assistant nurse manager wanted me to be precepted a week. I was precepted by the nurse mangers' choice. The assistant nurse managers' choice became a reference source the next week. All the nurses even the charge nurse asked her for advice. Reference Person went behind me & found my nursing care & my documentation was "Good" as she continue to state.

My 2nd day Preceptor was the educator, no problems. She also gave me a lunch.

Let's go forward, I asked the Reference Person for a break or what time were lunches. Her response to me was, 'I can't do that & we don't take lunches or breaks (it was not busy), ..... I return to my pt care. My pt was not in her room, I asked her if I could run down for 15 minutes & get something to eat before they close, again she said 'no'. Then she added, "You might as well start bring your lunch & try & eat like the rest of us are, anywhere & everywhere. Matter of fact, "YOU CAN GO & GET SOME CHEESE & CRAKER OUT OF THE PANTRY" I try to explain to this reference person & the charge nurse that I wanted to run down before it got busy, this is a 12 hour shift. They again say 'no'. The supervisor came up & they said, 'you can talk to the supervisor if you would like'.

Okay, I was not feeling well, when I went to work, BIG time PMS & left sided calf pain, (just finished 2 10 hours trips & 4 weeks before that, 13 hour trip). I spoke to the supervisor in private. Supervisor stated, she would speak to the nurse manager about breaks, AFTER WE OBSERVE 7 NURSES, SITTING AT THE NURSES' DESK, EATING, WITH ONLY 6 PTS & 2 IN TRIAGE. These nurses were walking around the desk eating FOOD. WOULD THEY GET SITED IF JACHO WALKED ON THE UNIT AND SEEN THEM EATING AT THE DESK. UNSANITARY.

After almost 6 hours into the shift, I called the supervisor & went to ER. That next afternoon, I got a phone call, they didn't want me to return, :uhoh21:, :down:, :nono:. I had mix feelings, .

My youngest sister, that's the 1st advise she gave me, a week ago, 'REPORT THEM'. She's always reported company & people to the authorities.

Anyway, I'm not sure, what to do. This is not the first time a facility has told me, I have good, sometimes even excellent nursing care, but have let me go by telling me I have an attitude. I spoke to this nurse, as humbly as I could.

My youngest sister tells me, that I am going to continue to run into the problem until I do what God wants me to do. Plus, I am reminded that these hospital do have finances to hire more help. If they cut a nurse, it's just a nurse's salary that goes into their pocket. They just have the nurses' brain washed & continue to tell them 'the budget it short'.

I have prayed for these people, I have prayed for these facilities and I have prayed for myself.

SHOULD I MAKE A CALL TO JACHO?

Treasure

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It sounds like maybe they should be reported to the state labor board, I'm sure you're not getting paid for the half hour lunch break that they are refusing to let you take, are you?

You're right, they are in violation by eating at the desk.

If they don't want you to return anyway, I guess you wouldn't be burning any bridges if you did report them.

What does your travel agency have to say about it all?

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

I just don't get it, why would they say no. BUt when I want to go to lunch I don't usually ask. I say I am going to get something to eat and I will be back in a few min.

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Answer to the 1st question, I spoke to our 24 hour contact person, & she stated, 'She don't believe in being taken advantage off. I needed to do what I needed to do'.

The answer to the 2nd questions, 'Accountability'. JMGRN65, Who watches your pt? You'll be back in a few minutes? Do you get lunch break or do you get few minutes break? Do you work day, afternoon or midnight?

Do nurses believe they are not entitle to lunches or break anymore?

Treasure

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I think I'd try to get along with members of my unit before I began reporting them over one incident. Is this the fire you want to fight? Can't we all get along before we call JHACO?

Call me crazy, but something tells me you have a history of not getting along with staff. :nono:

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Specializes in ER.

If they wouldn't allow you to take a break I think that's a state labor board issue.

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Canoehead,

Yes, it is a labor issue. However, it is also a Sanitation issue. JACHO, I believe says, 'no eating at the nurses' desk'. When JACHO come in, don't you see the unit / hospital ABIDE by the guidelines? State labor staff, take long to investigate. Changes are made, when drastic measures are done. Believe me, hospitals have the money to pay for another nurse, so everyone can get their lunches. They just have the nurses brain washed, so they don't take their lunches.

DO SOME RESEARCH & SEE HOW MUCH YOUR CEO'S ANNUAL INCOME WITH PERKS ARE, :uhoh21:

Treasure

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.
Canoehead,

Yes, it is a labor issue. However, it is also a Sanitation issue. JACHO, I believe says, 'no eating at the nurses' desk'. When JACHO come in, don't you see the unit / hospital ABIDE by the guidelines? State labor staff, take long to investigate. Changes are made, when drastic measures are done. Believe me, hospitals have the money to pay for another nurse, so everyone can get their lunches. They just have the nurses brain washed, so they don't take their lunches.

DO SOME RESEARCH & SEE HOW MUCH YOUR CEO'S ANNUAL INCOME WITH PERKS ARE, :uhoh21:

Treasure

OSHA (sp) and joint commision both says no food or drink around charts and patients. But I think it should go up the proper chain of command first.

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MySimplePlan,

Bless your heart. You don't know me from Adam & I don't know you from Eve. I come to work to take care of pts. I have been blessed to do it well.

I believe rules & guidelines should be followed. They are usually placed there for SAFETY issues.

I am a type of nurse who help the lazy, the new nurses, etc ... I believe in teaching the pts & their families. I believe that pts have rights even if I don't agree with them. I don't believe & do not take a pt & complain about them or their care, all day. I believe God has bless me with a position & knowledge and that is who I am accountable to. I take the pts. no one else wants & that's a plus for the nurses who didn't want the pt.

I asked you, Do you want a nurse who just want to get along or do you want a nurse who is accountable?

I'm not going to call you crazy. My history is, I get along well with 98% of the nurses I've worked with, 100% of the doctor & 100% of anxillary staff. 98% of facilities I have worked at, request for me to return. 90% have offered me administrative position (they said name my price). It's just those 2% that are either threatened or intimidated by my gift to nurse. I do call it a gift, because everyone can not be a wholistic nurse.

I Thank You for your comment, I believe, I have found my answer.

Treasure

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I am quite sure the The Joint Commission knows that lots of people eat and drink at the nurse's desk. In fact, my hospital has specific policies that allow it under the right circumstances. The Joint Commission is fine with those policies.

The Joint Commission does not want to be bothered with such trivial matters brought up by disgruntled employees. This is a labor relations issue, not a JACHO one.

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I am quite sure the The Joint Commission knows that lots of people eat and drink at the nurse's desk. In fact, my hospital has specific policies that allow it under the right circumstances. The Joint Commission is fine with those policies.

The Joint Commission does not want to be bothered with such trivial matters brought up by disgruntled employees. This is a labor relations issue, not a JACHO one.

Interesting LLG,

Disgruntled employees, :rotfl:. JACHO does not think it's trivial, 2 hospitals I travel to this summer, changed their policy due to JOINT COMMISSION and this eating at the nurses desk allowance. JOINT even did a walk through to one of the hospital and eating at the nurses desk was their focus.

If you remember, the studies has showed, if NURSES / Employees just wash their hands, a lot of diseases would not be spread. People thought washing your hands was trivial.

Don't be surprise if they change that (eating & drinking at the nurses' desk) specific policy at your hospital.

Thanks for your opinion.

Treasure

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