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 a new grad RN. I work on a med/tele floor. During my interview, my manager told me that they rarely have staffing issues. When they do, though, the absent nurse's 6 patients are distributed among the remaining 5 nurses. This causes the remaining nurses to be split between their "pods," so that they end up distanced from their patients for the entire shift. During my 2 months of prececepting, I've already seen this happen 3 times now. I've seen the nurses be stretched in the care they're able to provide. As a new grad, this is something that concerns me immensely because - at this point in my career - I'm concerned that I would not be able to provide SAFE care to my patients. I've already decided that, if put in this position, I would refuse the assignment (and risk losing my job) rather than put my patients in the position of receiving UNSAFE care and putting my license on the line.
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.
I do the very same thing. It truly hurts my heart when I go in to check on one of my patients and they are in pain or having some problem. When I ask them why they didn't call me right away, they tell me stuff like, "Well, I know you're busy.".
Then, we have a long talk right then and there about proper pain management and I let them know that yes, we are incredibly busy, but that they are my priority and that they had better not be worrying about me. Funny...almost like a "don't let me catch you having a problem and not calling me right away about it."
Excellent post BTW. I will indeed write a very thoughtful email later on tonight.
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:
Meg, this upsets me. People like you are THE REASON we became nurses to begin with! It's not your fault that hospitals are too greedy to staff properly! Remember that please.
Meg, this upsets me. People like you are THE REASON we became nurses to begin with! It's not your fault that hospitals are too greedy to staff properly! Remember that please.
I do the very same thing. It truly hurts my heart when I go in to check on one of my patients and they are in pain or having some problem. When I ask them why they didn't call me right away, they tell me stuff like, "Well, I know you're busy.".
Then, we have a long talk right then and there about proper pain management and I let them know that yes, we are incredibly busy, but that they are my priority and that they had better not be worrying about me. Funny...almost like a "don't let me catch you having a problem and not calling me right away about it."
Excellent post BTW. I will indeed write a very thoughtful email later on tonight.
It was a nurse like you who originally got through to me. That made me eel even semi comfortable calling for anything. I still when I get a new nurse, feel embarrassed calling. Sometimes even when I am told to call for something or tell them something I don't.
For instance I had my wisdom teeth out on Thursday. I had met this doctor twice. One of them about 12 years ago and then a few weeks before she removed them. She said TELL ME if you feel any pain. When I did I said nothing but she just knew, and asked me if it hurt and I was honest. Sometimes though I just say no and suck it up.
I do these things because I do not want to look like a complainer.
Also your replies made me cry. You are the type of nurse I LOVE having. :icon_hug:
It was a nurse like you who originally got through to me. That made me eel even semi comfortable calling for anything. I still when I get a new nurse, feel embarrassed calling. Sometimes even when I am told to call for something or tell them something I don't.
For instance I had my wisdom teeth out on Thursday. I had met this doctor twice. One of them about 12 years ago and then a few weeks before she removed them. She said TELL ME if you feel any pain. When I did I said nothing but she just knew, and asked me if it hurt and I was honest. Sometimes though I just say no and suck it up.
I do these things because I do not want to look like a complainer.
Also your replies made me cry. You are the type of nurse I LOVE having. :icon_hug:
There is no reason for you to go without having your needs met. Another thing that I tell patients like you is that if someone is nasty (like the nurse about ripping her shoulder) you remember that it is not you. It is her problem and who knows what she is bitter about. It might just be a lack of sleep, fed up with that job...but it is NOT YOU.
Also, when I pass a patient like you on in report, I let the next nurse know that you won't ask for much so be sure to check on you.
See....this is what breaks my heart. I would never treat you poorly and there is no appreciation for this type of care in the hospital. I see poor staff keep their jobs all the time and I just can't give any more than I have given. Not to the hospital any way.
I want to be able to reassure my patient and their family that I am available and I do have the time. I have even told patients that were miserable that I get paid good money to take on what ever they have to dish out...as a joke to get them to relax and not worry about how busy I am. They love that. It lightens the atmosphere for the elderly patient that is having accidents for the first time or is not used to having to ask for help.
There is no reason for you to go without having your needs met. Another thing that I tell patients like you is that if someone is nasty (like the nurse about ripping her shoulder) you remember that it is not you. It is her problem and who knows what she is bitter about. It might just be a lack of sleep, fed up with that job...but it is NOT YOU.
Also, when I pass a patient like you on in report, I let the next nurse know that you won't ask for much so be sure to check on you.
See....this is what breaks my heart. I would never treat you poorly and there is no appreciation for this type of care in the hospital. I see poor staff keep their jobs all the time and I just can't give any more than I have given. Not to the hospital any way.
I want to be able to reassure my patient and their family that I am available and I do have the time. I have even told patients that were miserable that I get paid good money to take on what ever they have to dish out...as a joke to get them to relax and not worry about how busy I am. They love that. It lightens the atmosphere for the elderly patient that is having accidents for the first time or is not used to having to ask for help.
It is nurses like you I do not mind calling. Unfortunitally by the time I have identified you as a caring nurse, who does not mind being called, the shift is almost over.
i talked to john armelagos - chair of mna union and he said that ana is mostly executives and the ideas from the mna are more for the nurses. i don't care which route we take as long as we get the message to the reps that safe staffing is a serious concern
senator granholm wants more people before she will even address it. ok, i will zip my lip right there....but here are the links and they are also under the political heading.
It is nurses like you I do not mind calling. Unfortunitally by the time I have identified you as a caring nurse, who does not mind being called, the shift is almost over.
What you can do is let your nurse know at the beginning of the shift how you don't like to bother them because they are busy but sometimes you do need a pain med. If you are feeling unsteady, ask her how she wants to handle your safety. Most likely, even a bitter nurse will not be able to resist making sure you are comfortable calling on her. The fact that you acknowledged how busy nurses are will most likely turn around a nurse who is frustrated with the job. I'm sorry to anyone that gets us when we are crabby.
What you can do is let your nurse know at the beginning of the shift how you don't like to bother them because they are busy but sometimes you do need a pain med. If you are feeling unsteady, ask her how she wants to handle your safety. Most likely, even a bitter nurse will not be able to resist making sure you are comfortable calling on her. The fact that you acknowledged how busy nurses are will most likely turn around a nurse who is frustrated with the job. I'm sorry to anyone that gets us when we are crabby.
That is actually a really good idea. I will try that next time I need to be in the hospital. I realize that nurses can be in a crabby mood. I just never wanted to add to an already bad day with requests they think are stupid. Thank you guys for helping me to see that I deserve to get what I need.
cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN
4,106 Posts
I sent my email too. I already got one response back saying that I will get a personal reply from my rep soon.