Safe Staffing Saves Lives - ANA has started a campaign for us

wooh, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2008

I added that nurses need to be protected from administration for expressing concerns about patient safety. I think that is very important. Nurses also need to be protected if they feel it is unsafe.

Just got my annual eval. I was dinged for complaining about staffing when I didn't really have the number of patients I said I had. (Apparently I'm not supposed to be living in reality?) I was also told not to put complaints in writing anymore, because it makes ME look bad. You bet your bippy I'm looking into this link! Thanks!

BrokenRNheart · Mar 15, 2008

"You bet your bippy" that anything you do makes you look bad.

ANYTHING. It's all you! Don't you get it?

When will they realize that we are people with intelligence. We passed one of the hardest college courses and took one of the hardest tests to get to where we are. I swear sometimes I really wonder are THEY stupid or do they think we are.

wooh, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2008

It's all you! Don't you get it?

Every once in a while they almost do convince me. But then I decide I'd rather save lives than kiss their bippies.:)

marie-francoise · Mar 16, 2008

Just sent in my message, adding text to make it more emphatic as well as adding those caveats you were mentioning about the need to protect nurses who speak up for patient safety.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2008

Did it.

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Mar 16, 2008

I just sent one saying that it would be better for patients, nurses would have more time for us, there may be less med errors (though in the email i said would) thus making shorter stays. Said from a patients point of view.

medsurgrnco, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2008

Just sent in my email. Thanks for starting this thread! I wonder how high patient satisfaction scores would be if patients had any idea how unsafe hospital units are.

BrokenRNheart · Mar 16, 2008

I just sent one saying that it would be better for patients, nurses would have more time for us, there may be less med errors (though in the email i said would) thus making shorter stays. Said from a patients point of view.

I am so glad you are here! I believe the patients need to know. I believe patients are our strongest support. If you know we are busy and it affects your care, you can speak up. It will hurt nurses at first or if you don't make it clear that you know what is going on.

Any patients that know should address it with risk management and patient relations but they should say that they know that the workload is the problem and not that the nurses aren't trying. In writing would be better yet. That way it is very clear of what you know.

Thanks for joining us! You just made my day.

BrokenRNheart · Mar 16, 2008

Just sent in my email. Thanks for starting this thread! I wonder how high patient satisfaction scores would be if patients had any idea how unsafe hospital units are.

The new scripting is going to fix everything. We will all now have the time to take care of the patients.

I was already asking my patients if I could do anything before I left the room. How many of you were? Did it make a difference? Most of the falls we dealt with were confused patients. They don't remember you were there, they don't know why they fell and they certainly don't know you will be back in an hour.

The other falls are syncope or loss of balance. Most people don't want to give up their independence and ask someone to walk them to the bathroom.

I'm sure the scripting and everyone wearing the same colored uniform will fix all the problems.

CMCRN · Mar 16, 2008

CNA allready started this in California, it's called ratios

BrokenRNheart · Mar 16, 2008

Ya, we have had ratio and acuity control our nurse-patient ratio.

Who knows where this will all lead. I know I don't want to be a patient in a hospital and I don't want any one I care about to be there either.

I try to treat the patient the way I would want to be treated or the way I want my loved ones treated. The hospital is the reason I can't.