Now, while I understand that hospitals have a pecking order, and that usually, at least as I'd like to believe, that pecking order is usually more about protecting patients than protecting the hospital from a lawsuit, but I'm starting to think that things have become very over-bureaucratic and that this immensely slows things down on the floor.
I have heard stories of people getting fired for such small, menial things. I heard that a nurse and a secretary were both fired simply because the nurse asked the secretary for help, and she helped the nurse in in feeding a patient when the nurse asked her to.
Also, when it comes to staff interacting with volunteers, I have noticed many people treat them with unnecessary disrespect. I don't see anything "low" or "bottom rung" about people who would sacrifice their own time without any compensation to come in and give the unit an extra hand. On the contrary, people who give their time for free tend to have much more positive interactions when dealing with patients because they want to be there, they are not required to be there.
I truly believe that if hospitals gave volunteers the ability to perform a greater variety of services in the hospital setting, not only do I fully believe hospital costs would be greatly reduced, I also think that the number of lawsuits that hospitals face would see a general decrease. You would most likely see an increase in overall patient happiness/wellness. Many times I have seen patients become very close with volunteers and greatly enjoy their company.
A passion for helping others that goes beyond money and compensation, especially knowing all of the stress and anger people take out on them, is something (unfortunately) rare in health care. I consider it a blessing and I believe volunteers should, at the very least, be given just as much respect as a nurse, doctor, or any other paid staff member.
I'm sorry you think that rules that protect patients are "unnecessary prerequisites" but frankly, you're a prime example of why such rules exist. You very clearly don't know what you don't know.
So much for civility.
If I were you, I would try thinking before saying things. Also, before you try putting words in peoples' mouths, I would suggest not. I never said that "rules that protect patients" are unnecessary prerequisites. I said that not all of the current rules in place are "rules that protect patients"; actually, many of the current rules prevent patients from receiving adequate care.
I don't know, I just never liked the idea of a socialist healthcare system where overbearing oversight prevents people from caring about (and caring for) patients. I bet you just love the idea of socialized medicine. Eventually, no one will even be able to take a breath in a hospital without it having to be documented and authorized.
Look, I've been a volunteer in the same place for 9 months now. I've "graduated" to higher responsibilities - fetching water, getting papers/tools for the nurses.
OP, you clearly have an intense and unexamined rescue fantasy going on here. Neither the staff nor the patients where you volunteer are there to feed your self-importance ... the first thing you need to understand is that none of the work that needs to be done is about you. If you have issues regarding the tasks you are asked to do, bring them up with your coordinator and the hospital attorney.
Snarky non sequiturs about socialism don't change the fact that your facility is responsible, legally and ethically, for what happens to the patients in its care. Since you are not an employee, the facility cannot allow you to perform work that has potential to harm patients.
If your ego requires that you show up all those lazy nurses, feel free to get your license, get hired and show us how it's done. Until then, deal with it and stop whining.
Axmann, simply put: it appears that you want MORE responsbility...that is GREAT...get your degree, so that can have more responsiblity... you cant pass pills as volunteer (and i think everyone has explained very well why thats not allowed)...forget about debating about socialized medicine..that was not waht your original post was about.... you care about patients...WONDERFUL...get your degreee so you can have more responsibilities...
What an interesting thread. OP, what kinds of things do you think volunteers ought to be able to do, and why do you think these are currently restricted to licensed staff?
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Now, while I understand that hospitals have a pecking order, and that usually, at least as I'd like to believe, that pecking order is usually more about protecting patients than protecting the hospital from a lawsuit, but I'm starting to think that things have become very over-bureaucratic and that this immensely slows things down on the floor.
I would say it's both protecting the patient and fending off possible lawsuits since usually failing to do the first will lead to the second even though it isn't an absolute requirement. No one will ever be able to anticipate every freaky-*** lawsuit people can dream up, but it will lower your odds if the hospital rigorously follows standard of care which does not include volunteers pushing reset buttons on IV pumps.
I truly believe that if hospitals gave volunteers the ability to perform a greater variety of services in the hospital setting, not only do I fully believe hospital costs would be greatly reduced, I also think that the number of lawsuits that hospitals face would see a general decrease. You would most likely see an increase in overall patient happiness/wellness. Many times I have seen patients become very close with volunteers and greatly enjoy their company.
How would having a volunteer push the alarm button make them have increased happiness and wellness? Because the patient is annoyed by the beeping alarm? That alarm is an indication something needs to be attended to there, and though it is irritating, is intended to get the nurse in the room. The soothing and quiet ambience is not the priority at that time.
As to the closeness of a patient to a volunteer, seems like they'd be closer by not diverting their quality time to skilled nursing tasks. What exactly do you envision volunteers doing that will make patients happy and save immense amounts of money?
A passion for helping others that goes beyond money and compensation, especially knowing all of the stress and anger people take out on them, is something (unfortunately) rare in health care.
I don't understand this at all. I've never seen nurses treat volunteers like that. Maybe other readers can enlighten me on this issue in their facilities.
I consider it a blessing and I believe volunteers should, at the very least, be given just as much respect as a nurse, doctor, or any other paid staff member.
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.
2 hour course:eek:???????...is this thread a joke. i mean really you cant be serious....general common sense.....ill remember that when i'm trying to decide if i should crush 400 mg of morphine or a vasopresser .....
you've essentially summed up my entire point i was trying to make. do you really think that nurses are more likely to hand pills to a patient correctly than any other person with general common sense? i'm sorry, but i cannot bring myself to believe that such tasks require 2-hour courses (or 4-year programs, for that matter) to be performed correctly 99.9% of the time. i believe you'd see the exact same percentage (or less) of error if volunteers were allowed to perform duties which could take stress off of nurses (and decrease the likelihood that, in their stress, they make a mistake due to their mental status).
Axmann, I envision the hospital you volunteer in as having nurses who are living it up, drinking smoothies (made by you, the volunteer), maybe they are getting their faces spritzed, and they never respond to patients in need. Wow, that sounds like the worst hospital in the world. Maybe the nurses I know are absolute freaks because they routinely volunteer their time helping those who can't afford healthcare or are uninsured. I don't get why you put up with such horrible treatment. I would quit if I were you. Why not volunteer for people who are home bound and can't afford to have someone come in a clean up. I think that would be better use of your time and you wouldn't need to focus on paid nurses who are lazy.
Axmann, RN, BSN, NREMT-B
86 Posts
So much for civility.
If I were you, I would try thinking before saying things. Also, before you try putting words in peoples' mouths, I would suggest not. I never said that "rules that protect patients" are unnecessary prerequisites. I said that not all of the current rules in place are "rules that protect patients"; actually, many of the current rules prevent patients from receiving adequate care.
I don't know, I just never liked the idea of a socialist healthcare system where overbearing oversight prevents people from caring about (and caring for) patients. I bet you just love the idea of socialized medicine. Eventually, no one will even be able to take a breath in a hospital without it having to be documented and authorized.