The article, "Nursing shortage hits hard," in the Dec. 21 Desert Sun newspaper falls short on fact and truth.
The "investigative" author Rick Davis, it seems, did not speak to bedside nurses.
He interviewed only doctors and nursing managers at hospitals and the nursing school. When is the last time you saw these folks doing bedside nursing? Right. That is the point.
Dr. Max Harry Weil does come to the hospital now and then. I don't recall that he ever discussed nursing problems with bedside nurses.
The problem with patient care has been the lack of autonomy of the RN.
Now for the first time in history, bedside nurses have prevailed with our patient ratio laws, thanks to the California Nurses Association.
The Association has 55,000 registered nurse members. Perhaps Mr. Davis should speak with the association. He could also have gotten in touch with the Board of Registered Nursing, which says that there are enough RN licenses in this state so that if all those who possessed them practiced at the bedside there would be enough nurses. But they don't, and that is the problem. Why don't they?
I will tell you why they don't.
The solution to the nursing "shortage" is to retain the nurses we have and the ones who are just coming out of school into the profession. We can have a zillion nursing schools, but if the graduates leave the profession and run from hospital nursing, what have we accomplished?
The new graduates take one look at what goes on in the valley's hospitals and leave as quickly as they came. Many say that if they are to be treated so poorly here, they will go elsewhere. Many leave the profession altogether. Bonuses are not the answer. They are hard to collect (if ever). Increases in pay and benefits are the better ways to handle finances.
To retain nurses, we must:
(1) provide safe patient care by allowing the RNs to decide what is and is not safe
(2) provide decent working conditions
(3) provide a financial package that reflects and respects the professional RN's practice (including a retirement fund).
The "coalition" is well-intended but misinformed. It cannot be of help until it comes to grips with the complex structure of the nursing profession.
The first step; speak to a professional "bedside" nurse.
Stephanie Salter, RN, is a critical-care registered nurse in the Open Heart ICU, Desert Regional Medical Center, Palm Springs.
