Ridiculous, overbearing restrictions on volunteers

[Axmann, RN, BSN, NREMT-B]

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.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

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.

"Rules that protect patients" was a paraphrase of your entire argument that it is unfair to require certain things be done only by those licensed to do so. That's why in my original response, it wasn't in quotes but "unnecessary prerequisites" was.

That is your uninformed opinion.

My opinion is informed by your words, from your posts, that illustrate a continued lack of understanding.

You know, I generally don't like to bring a poster's age in to the discussion, but I cannot help wondering: in 10 years, when you're a little more grown up and have a little more life experience, how embarrassed will you be by your posts here?

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I don't see any reason why a volunteer can't help change bed pans, visit with patients, fetch blankets and pillows and other menial tasks. As far as opening their scope to pass meds and do anything involving machinery, no freaking way.

Drugs are serious business. Aside from a volunteer possibly giving the wrong meds to the wrong patient, (and a slew of other possible mishaps) there is a big enough problem with diversion with licensed professionals, let alone letting any Tom, Dick or Harry off the streets have access to them.

I know there are many not-for-profit hospitals out there. But there are many for-profit hospitals that would take full advantage of non-paid staff if it were acceptable to give them a large scope, they'd use their 'volunteer' staff to replace licensed paid staff like CNAs, LVNs and even RNs in favor of filling up the floor with the sent from heaven do gooders willing to do these jobs for free.

I have no problem with volunteering to get some experience, make connections, and get my foot in the door. But there is no way I'm going to give full on service to a for-profit business for free. Why? So they can fill their pockets?

Volunteering is a noble cause if you're doing it for the love of helping people. But if that is the true reason you're doing it.. you should be happy with what they allow you to do and stop complaining about doing other peoples jobs.

[JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN]

I still believe that in-home-care is the place for Axmann. There was a story in our local paper a while back about a woman who was bed bound and couldn't clean up after herself. She had recently been dropped from state funding because of budget cuts. I've spoken with volunteer coordinators who have seen this countless times. Forget the hospital man, there are people who cannot get out of their houses who need help with basic housekeeping.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

And that fact is even more understandable by those who work for free.

However, that isn't the case with paid staff. They get compensation for the work they do. Volunteers do not.

I hate to break it to you but the vast majority of "paid" nurses put in huge amounts of time into pt care that they are most certainly not paid for. Time in extended report, answering lights off the clock (because the bean counters have heart palpitations if we clock out so much as a second late, yet expect us to drop everything to answer those call lights in 3 rings or less), escorting visitors coming in and out of work, answer lights/questions/phone calls when we are on our socalled (unpaid) lunch, missed breaks, studying for classes, ACLS, PALS, certification, required CEUs, etc.

I would say that in my time as a nurse, I have "volunteered" more time caring for pts than I did as in any other job in my life.

You also do a grave disservice to those that use earned money and time off to do unpaid medical mission work and volunteer in free clinics, or care for victims of disasters such as Haiti or Katrina. In many cases, nurses risk their very lives doing so with no recompense, or have to use their own malpractice insurance as their may also be increased liability. And often get little to no recognition for it. The so-called "Doctors without Borders" is a prime example as MDs make up a relatively small part of the organization, which has been headed up at times by nursing personnel. It's title lauds MDs but few people know that the larger percentage of health care personnel that commit themselves to the mission and the dangers that it involves in that organization are not MDs.

Greg Mortensen is a critical care nurse. He has used his money earned as a nurse, at times living in his car, to build bridges and more notably schools in Taliban controlled area in the Far East. His schools are required to have at least certain percentage of female participants. Some of the girls are going on to higher education to work in medical underserved areas - where infant/maternal mortality is currently high d/t lack of health care. Previously, the only schools in some of these areas with religious male only madrassas, run by the more radical, intolerant factions of the Taliban that teach religion but little else. Greg is promoting peace, healthcare and understanding by providing schools and education that are more than just religion based. he risks his life and was in Afghanistan when 9-11 occurred.

Now, please explain again how little we "paid" staff care for pts?

[sevensonnets]

Ax, I have a suggestion for you. Give up volunteering and get a job. Creative writing is a wide open field.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Are you sure you're not just sore that I'm saying that, at the end of the day, just because you passed a test, that doesn't mean you care about helping people any more than a non-licensed person?

.

The fact I passed my NCLEX to become an RN does not mean I am more caring or compassionate than you. It absolutely 100% does mean that I have been adequately trained to help them in medical ways be it passing meds, pt education, drawing labs, etc. These are all things that states require lisensure be it RN or LPN to do.

Volunteers are great, and I appreciate them alot. But there place is to be a companion, take pts for walks, etc. Volunteers are wonderful at helping to meet the psychosocial needs of pts that are sometimes forgotten about in the hospital. However any volunteer that things he/she should be able to do nursing tasks, is acting completely out of scope.