Should I wear this to the next staff meeting?

[Guttercat]

Ha ha. No, really... HAHAHAHAHAHA!

I'm currently assigned to a unit staffed with very competent nurses. They are also working some ridiculously long hours.

A non medical friend of mine designed and printed up this tee shirt, and sent it to me.

I don't think I can wear it in public unless I retire (or would like a forced retirement). I do think anyone who has been a nurse for more than a week can relate to the funny in this.

[mluvsgnc]

I got it immediately, but I want to know what second would be (if first is sleep and third is patient safety)??

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

I understood it but not right away and I doubt the public would.

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

I got it immediately, but I want to know what second would be (if first is sleep and third is patient safety)??

I think the takeaway is that rest (and reasonable working hours) for the caregiver and patient safety are inextricably intertwined, and not independent of each other.

[Red Kryptonite]

Safety third comes from Mike Rowe.

Safety… do I hear 1? 2? 3? « Profoundly Disconnected

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

Safety third comes from Mike Rowe.

Safety… do I hear 1? 2? 3? « Profoundly Disconnected

It does! He is the king of zingers. :)

[seanynjboy, BSN]

I think this shirt is rather hilarious. It is so true. Safety (although it has been taught to be our number 1 priority) often falls to the wayside unfortunately. You know...because it is safe for nurses, pcts, physicians or anyone who works long continuous hours for days at a time with minimal sleep to care for patients. All an organization needs to say is "Studies show X" and that makes it OK. Not even so much the hours. The out-of-whack patient ratios, specifically in a LTC facility, are another huge factor that makes "safety third" because studies show that patients can receive "adequate" care with X:1 ratio.

$ is the bottom line. Companies would rather have more in their pocket than in their business. If they are so hellbent on patient satisfaction rates, spend a little $$ on the workforce, continuing education, and ways to improve morale rather than those nice pens with the logo on them.

Wow...that was an odd rant...

But yeah, the general public most likely would not get it IMO.

[HikingEDRN, BSN, RN]

This one probably wouldn't be a good idea either :)

[AdamantiteEnigma]

I think wearing that t-shirt to work might invoke a similar reaction to the one I experienced when I chose to wear a President Nixon mask to work on President's Day. I'll just say it wasn't well received Funny that, because my coworker at the time wore a star spangled outfit including a top hat... with glitter. She was the talk of the town.

I'd keep it around for casual days amongst friends :)

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

This one probably wouldn't be a good idea either :)

Haaaa! :)

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

I think this shirt is rather hilarious. It is so true. Safety (although it has been taught to be our number 1 priority) often falls to the wayside unfortunately. You know...because it is safe for nurses, pcts, physicians or anyone who works long continuous hours for days at a time with minimal sleep to care for patients. All an organization needs to say is "Studies show X" and that makes it OK. Not even so much the hours. The out-of-whack patient ratios, specifically in a LTC facility, are another huge factor that makes "safety third" because studies show that patients can receive "adequate" care with X:1 ratio.

$ is the bottom line. Companies would rather have more in their pocket than in their business. If they are so hellbent on patient satisfaction rates, spend a little $$ on the workforce, continuing education, and ways to improve morale rather than those nice pens with the logo on them.

Wow...that was an odd rant...

But yeah, the general public most likely would not get it IMO.

As I understand it, even medical residents legally now have a 16 hour shift limit. So why are nurses, who are in charge of pushing the right button at the right time, frequently encouraged (or even badgered) into working longer than that? In my current position, I was told that the "cultural expectation" (verbatim) is that the nurses in this department work as long as necessary to be a good team player. Or else.

On a good day-- when I've had adequate rest and the stars align just so-- I am physically and mentally able to pull some very long hours and still remain safe to provide good care. But as a routine "cultural" expectation? That is either fantasy or it is chemically assisted: neither of which I desire to be a part.

There is a better solution with proper planning.

[RNSue]

HaHa I have Hiking EDRN's T-shirt saying on a coolie cup in my car!!

[bagface]

Pretty sure this is going to be all the costume rage this year...