Here is where you can be heard. ANA has all the emails set up and you just fill out the form and it gets sent to your representatives. It's a start.
You can edit your message. 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.
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.
Being a member here has also helped me. When I am in the hospital and I push my call button and my nurse doesn't come for what 10 mins I now realize they WILL come when they can and that maybe it is hitting the fan with another patient. That they have alot to do so if it is that I want something I just say it to the person who answers the call light so that if it is something someone else can do, to make my nurses life easier then they can do it instead.
I have always loved my nurses when I am in the hospital. But from having been here I have come to also have a much deeper respect for them also.
Being a member here has also helped me. When I am in the hospital and I push my call button and my nurse doesn't come for what 10 mins I now realize they WILL come when they can and that maybe it is hitting the fan with another patient. That they have alot to do so if it is that I want something I just say it to the person who answers the call light so that if it is something someone else can do, to make my nurses life easier then they can do it instead.
I have always loved my nurses when I am in the hospital. But from having been here I have come to also have a much deeper respect for them also.
You are awesome. Remember that when the time comes that your need is a priority you have to let it be known. The fact that you can tell the difference between what is important and what can wait is awesome. But, if you think it is important, make sure you let that be known.
When I have patients like you I tell them that when they want me or need me I will be there. I make them promise not to worry that I am too busy.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
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.
I used to ENCOURAGE my pts to write their complaints. They were afraid it would get me in trouble, but I told them that NOT saying anything makes it seem that there is nothing wrong w/ the system!
You are awesome. Remember that when the time comes that your need is a priority you have to let it be known. The fact that you can tell the difference between what is important and what can wait is awesome. But, if you think it is important, make sure you let that be known.
When I have patients like you I tell them that when they want me or need me I will be there. I make them promise not to worry that I am too busy.
Keep yourself safe.
Sorry I just realized this post is REALLY off topic.
That is one thing I worry about. I worry I am bothering them. I always feel like I should be able to do more for myself then I can. It is probably a good thing that my IV is always connected to my bed, thus I need to be disconnected because even though I know I should call for them, I probably would not. I would feel like I am 20 I should be able to walk with out help.
I USED to not even call my nurse for meds when I was in pain. That is until I became a member here and found out they WANT us to call for that.
I did this one day when I was being discharged. Walked down to get something from a resteraunt in the lobby and got SO dizzy. One of the men at the front desk who I had seen a lot and he knew me from office visits brought me back to my unit in a wheel chair. Then went to find my nurse or someone else to tell what had happened. I was SO embarrassed. :imbar:
Being a member here has also helped me. When I am in the hospital and I push my call button and my nurse doesn't come for what 10 mins I now realize they WILL come when they can and that maybe it is hitting the fan with another patient. That they have alot to do so if it is that I want something I just say it to the person who answers the call light so that if it is something someone else can do, to make my nurses life easier then they can do it instead.
I have always loved my nurses when I am in the hospital. But from having been here I have come to also have a much deeper respect for them also.
Not to go off-topic or anything, but would you rather hear us lie to you and tell you "we have the time" when we don't or would you rather we told the truth and said, "Gee, I'm swamped right now, but I'll get it as soon as I possibly can" ??
A lot of the issues here are that nurses are taught to be honest and have good morals and lots of integrity and then we get coerced into saying things to patients that we feel are out-and-out lies.
I'm interested in your opinion on these management initiatives, JustaPatient. As a patient, what would you prefer? That we tell you the truth or that we stonewall you with scripted messages?
Not to go off-topic or anything, but would you rather hear us lie to you and tell you "we have the time" when we don't or would you rather we told the truth and said, "Gee, I'm swamped right now, but I'll get it as soon as I possibly can" ??
A lot of the issues here are that nurses are taught to be honest and have good morals and lots of integrity and then we get coerced into saying things to patients that we feel are out-and-out lies.
I'm interested in your opinion on these management initiatives, JustaPatient. As a patient, what would you prefer? That we tell you the truth or that we stonewall you with scripted messages?
Also, don't forget that you can edit that message. Add what is important to you. I added that the nurses need more protection about speaking up.
I also sent a story stating that funding for new nurses is not the answer....getting the environment to change is.
I posted an article that I found that specifically stated that based on surveys they have plenty of available nurses that could return to the field if the environment would change. We need to push for that.
The nurses are out there. Trying to stay in this profession is not easy. Bedside care is going down the tubes.
I think they need to give the hospitals incentives for retention and penalties for losing employees. If an employee leaves due to negative circumstances they should be penalized. That would put some real limits on some of the abuse. Turn that power right around. With a national shortage, why not hold the hospitals and management responsible? The nurses know who caused the damage.
I also think that managers should have to get out and work the floor and should have a minimum of floor experience before they manage. This is getting out of hand. Most of the good managers did have floor experience. And I have worked with managers that would stop by a room while walking by and help with a transfer. My most recent management experience was an asst. manager that couldn't prioritize and organize as a floor nurse. She is the first one telling you how to get things done.
As patients....start asking where that manager is. Chances are they are on the floor VERY part time.
Not to go off-topic or anything, but would you rather hear us lie to you and tell you "we have the time" when we don't or would you rather we told the truth and said, "Gee, I'm swamped right now, but I'll get it as soon as I possibly can" ??
A lot of the issues here are that nurses are taught to be honest and have good morals and lots of integrity and then we get coerced into saying things to patients that we feel are out-and-out lies.
I'm interested in your opinion on these management initiatives, JustaPatient. As a patient, what would you prefer? That we tell you the truth or that we stonewall you with scripted messages?
You guys want my opinion? I am flattered. I would much rather you be honest with me. If I am asking you for a ginger ale and you have a patient down the hall puking their guts out or actively in the process of dieing and there is either something you can do to save them or should be doing to try to save them then of course that person is going to take priority. I realize that you can not give that type of info but saying something like, "I am having problems with another patient I will get to that as soon as I can", and the DOING IT. Or if mine is something semi important like say I needed to go to the bathroom, if you were to come in maybe you could unhook the IV before you leave then have the CNA come and bring me to the bathroom, or if it is over the call system say "I can not get there to disconnect you right now would you like a CNA to come with a bed pan?"
But that is just me.
And scripted messages, you can usually tell when someone is saying something they have memorized. Especially if you hear it shift after shift. That would make me mad.
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lpnstudentin2010, LPN
1,318 Posts
Being a member here has also helped me. When I am in the hospital and I push my call button and my nurse doesn't come for what 10 mins I now realize they WILL come when they can and that maybe it is hitting the fan with another patient. That they have alot to do so if it is that I want something I just say it to the person who answers the call light so that if it is something someone else can do, to make my nurses life easier then they can do it instead.
I have always loved my nurses when I am in the hospital. But from having been here I have come to also have a much deeper respect for them also.