speaking of used and abused

[oramar]

Every weekend I work I come in on evenings and find that the daylight RN is working with one LPN and 2 aides. The staffing for 14 to 18 is supposed to be two RNs one LPN and one aide. Needles to say she and the LPN are taking a beating. They look so tired. It started out as an emergency staffing thing and now it seems to be a permanent fixture. I am giving this people pep talks and encouraging them both to speak out. All they seem to do is moan a bit and keep on trucking. Last Sunday I said, "listen, you are at the peak of your abilities, you can go anywhere and get more money and work just as hard and be appreciated". She made somesort of statement of resignation. I guess I just have to butt out and let them suffer though I worry the patients are suffering also. To tell you the truth they are both doing a good job under circumstances, the patients appear to be getting good care but the nurses are absorbing the punishment. One thing I am not going to do is go fight with managment for them. I rock the boat enough just fighting for myself.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by oramar

Every weekend I work I come in on evenings and find that the daylight RN is working with one LPN and 2 aides. The staffing for 14 to 18 is supposed to be two RNs one LPN and one aide. Needles to say she and the LPN are taking a beating. They look so tired. It started out as an emergency staffing thing and now it seems to be a permanent fixture. I am giving this people pep talks and encouraging them both to speak out. All they seem to do is moan a bit and keep on trucking. Last Sunday I said, "listen, you are at the peak of your abilities, you can go anywhere and get more money and work just as hard and be appreciated". She made somesort of statement of resignation. I guess I just have to butt out and let them suffer though I worry the patients are suffering also. To tell you the truth they are both doing a good job under circumstances, the patients appear to be getting good care but the nurses are absorbing the punishment. One thing I am not going to do is go fight with managment for them. I rock the boat enough just fighting for myself.

I know what you mean, Oramar!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

That's the problem, they accepted the assignment, they rose to the occasion, and they don't complain. Why would management want to change when they can save money and work those few to death?

Guarantee that if docs and "customers" were complaining management would think about it.

Let one of them make a mistake because of being busy, overwhelmed and tired, and watch them get raked over the coals with no appreciation for what they've been doing.

Sorry, just a tad bit negative these days. Been raked over the coals myself lately....sigh.

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

I had this very conversation with a friend of mine who works Home Health (I am in acute care). When she stated how many hours she is working every week and all the demands I thought "this does not sound like her at all" and "is she crazy?" Then I realized she was so fatiqued that she really was not thinking straight. I am going to visit her (2hr drive) Sat so I can talk some sense into her head. That is no way to live.