Staffing issues

[mobaby]

I would like some advice. I posted one time long ago and haven't kept up but here goes. I work in a state facility, on a med-psych floor. Our censes can be 33. Today we are 25 + 5 in outside hospital, with 2 returning today. I also had 2 1:1on unit, one of which is very unpredicable. My staffing is usually 3 nurses, (1 charge, 2 medication nurses) and 5 aids, not counting the ones needed for 1:1's). Today, we had 3 RN's, 2 LPN's which were working on the floor, 6 aides. Two aides got pulled leaving 5 aides and 2 for 1:1's. Then they wanted to pull another aide leaving us short. I argued this point, and then staffing called back pulling an RN, whch would leave no charge nurse, with two patients returning from hospital and charting on 1:1's. Again I fought this as the charge nurse was being pulled onto another unit to pass meds. My unit always works short, we are the hardest (and I am not lying)physically and high mentally unit in hospital. There are 11 units, only one other has medical patients, the rest are psych. Anyway, I refused to go which would have left my unit short so that another unit could work staffed. Big argument ensured, and I left. Now, I have never done this in 14 years of nursing but I am so frustrated with staffing issues and administration just seeing us as numbers, not in patient acuity. Then, as I was leaving, they were trying to pull 2nd RN from unit, leaving us even shorter. What is wrong with this picture. I have talked, written letters, turned blue in face with adminstration over staffing issues and they just turn the other cheek. Any advice, suggestions, anything!!!

Very frustrated RN

[Nanaie4ever]

Hi Satchmo: It really all boils down to money. The CEO's who know nothing about medicine or psych, run the show. NO empty beds. Fill em up with whatever walks in the door!. I know this is how my unit worked and still works. We are not connected to a hospital, yet we give Methadone to pg women - at all stages. Now it's been 20 years plus since I was in Maternity, I was not looking forward to possibly have to deliver a baby. But this is all over. The heads of the of the organizations (many levels above the CEO in most hospitals, lead the situation, press the next in line and so on. They have no idea what it is like on the front lines. They don't care about short staffing because they do not understand it. And just think of all the top big shots at the HMO's - supposedly they came into existance due to the MD's making too much money by charging the patients too much. Well who gets the million plus salaries now??? As an example the COO of Universal Health Systems just got a "discretionary" bonus of 1 million!!!! That means that he can even still get his regular bonus, which I bet not many nurses ever see a bonus. Last Thanksgiving day we got $10. to Stop and Shop. For Christmas we got zippo, nada, nothing. Sorry for the rant, just got going. Will stop, but I think you can see how it is all related. If some of those "bonuses" came to the floor, we would be able to see and make major differences on any unit. Teh

[TitaniaSidhe]

I agree it is all about the money...sadly patient care is the least of any ones' concern until that is there is a problem which may make the institution look bad or loose money, then of course it will be nursings' fault for not asking for more staff. It is a catch 22 situation & staffing is really bad everywhere. If you find somewhere it is decent well heck better stay where you are at no matter what cuz staffing is just as bad where I work if not worse on certain days.