Safety

[tolerantgirl]

If safe patient care is so important, then why does management rush to get patients transferred. Why is it always hurry, hurry, hurry. There are times when you don't even have time to assess the patient before they are yelling to get them out because the ER is full. Hospitals seem to preach "patient safety" but they are far from practicing safety.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

Then you do what you need to do, and put them (whoever that is) on ignore. Focus on your assignment and be effective and efficient--facilitate the care as rapidly as feasible. That's all you can do.

They have differing pressures on them and it's hard to understand what it is like unless you're the one in charge. There's nothing worse then the ER being flooded by traumas and codes and you don't have the space to treat.

[lamazeteacher]

There are many challenges to be met in nursing, and being urged to do our very best in the least possible time, is part of the scene. That said, however, you cannot transfer a patient, which involves discharge from your area, without assessing them. When someone asked you to be guilty of malpractice, by telling you to do that, it's time to say serenely and nicely, "as soon as the assessment is complete and charted".

When you have a duty to perform, that transcends pressure to be done with something prematurely. Then the manager or whoever is barking at you, must get their hands "dirty" doing what they'd prefer that you do, for another patient. When all is said and done, safety comes first, and you are responsible for keeping those patients assigned to you, safe.

A court will not think well of a nurse whose patient wasn't thoroughly assessed, when he/she says/whines, "My manager said I had to tranfer that patient before it was done". The "buck stops" with the professional to whom the patient's safety was entrusted. :pntrghi:

[ItsTheDude]

patient safety, patient care, open door policy, employee safety, etc. all take a back seat to the most important principle, PROFIT.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

patient safety, patient care, open door policy, employee safety, etc. all take a back seat to the most important principle, PROFIT.

My hospital is NOT-For-PROFIT.

and we treat a LOT of patients without insurance...

so NO....you're not exactly correct there..and perhaps you should look for employment where safety DOES come first.

[ItsTheDude]

My hospital is NOT-For-PROFIT.

and we treat a LOT of patients without insurance...

so NO....you're not exactly correct there..and perhaps you should look for employment where safety DOES come first.

ha, i've worked for "non-profits", their eyes are on the bottom line too (just not a much as times), if they want to stay in existence. "non-profits" compete for resources just like any other biz.

you may want to call osha and other safety agencies. non-profits have safety issues just like for profit biz, that's reality.

[wjf00]

Any one with a license has the same accountability for patient care and safety. Your manager has a license and they have the same responsibility as you. What your manager can hide behind is "I did not know the seriousness of the situation":uhoh3:

To remove this 'fig leaf' that so many managers hide behind, inform them that you have a serious safety concern (And ALWAYS document). Inform the manager when something concerns you. "This is unsafe and against my best nursing judgement, if you proceed you will be assuming accountability for negative outcomes related to" [ fill in the blank-concern].

Pick your battles carefully, and be sure it is not "I don't want to do it" vs "I fear for the patients safety/well being'.