Taco Bell is hiring

[RoaminHankRN]

I used to work as an ER nurse and now a house supervisor. Two things about the job that baffles me are the floor nurse and on call staff.

What is with the attitude of some floor nurses and not wanting to take patients. When I call to place patients, oh the attitudes and excuses I hear.

Sure, ER should help out where they can and when they can. But when the waiting room is full and the hall beds are taken, cut 'em some slack. Do floor nurses understand the ER has an "open door policy." How many floor nurses have worked ER? It's a different world down there.

Remember most patients are admitted through the ER and it is their first impression of the hospital. Do you know what the biggest complaint on patient surveys are?

Second... on call staff. Two things to say about that. Save the whining for your spouse and if you don't like on call... Taco Bell is hiring.

Hank

[Riseupandnurse]

As a floor nurse, I don't try to stop ER admits unless we need a few minutes to actually clean the room from the last pt. I value ER and get along fine with the ER nurses. But I really don't understand why a good 90% of the ER admits take place within an hour of change of shift. Happened again tonight; got all 3 at change of shift. I actually just had the oncoming shift, who were still in report, take the ER report on the third (why repeat?) but then I had to settle the pt. in until they got out. I don't believe the ambulances all show up at the same time, so why is everyone shipped up to us at the same time, and it's always when things are so confused anyway as we try to pass on or gather information about who's on the floor and what's going on. I've always been just really curious about this.

[abrenrn]

Hi guys,

I'm browsing through various threads, looking for people who feel disturbed by some of what they have found working as nurses.

I find a lot of people saying the same things - in different places. I think it might help if we started saying these things in the same place. What things? For me they are: I love nursing, I am a good nurse, I can't find an employer that wants to hire or keep a good nurse. Too often, I find myself fighting fellow nurses.

For those who feel similarly, I have tried to start a single thread with a poll, "Have you considered taking a sabbatical?" I invite everyone to vote. I also invite everyone to participate in a debate: is there something wrong? if so, what is it? is there a way to fix it?

I started the thread and added one "rule": a healthy debate is welcome; disagreements that lead to bickering, scolding, excusing is not. I ask that others opinions be respected - i.e. no one is wrong for having an opinion, no opinion is stupid (or if it is, don't say it). It is OK to say what your opinion is, why and how it is different from someone elses.

Of course, I can not enforce this rule. I do not have the authority. I merely ask that it be followed.

Sometimes I am so emotionally involved with something, I can't disagree without blaming. I am learning to stay quiet until I can say something without blaming. I sometimes make mistakes. When I do, I welcome corrections, I don't like being scolded though.

If you feel you cannot participate, please vote.

Thank you all.

[abrenrn]

Addendum:

I am hoping the thread I started will turn into a debate about solutions. I really want to work as a nurse, I'd like to solve my own problem.

The thread, in general nursing discussions, is also a poll, "Have you considered a sabbatical".

I would appreciate a vote from all - my own curiosity. I would love solutions.

[rebelwaclause, ASN, RN]

Originally posted by dawngloves

Try this shoe on:

Spend half the day trying to get tele monitors DC'd because ER is full with R/O MIs. Super tells you you have an admission, you wait and wait for ER to call report. You are ready to take VS on your 6 pts. so you call them. RN can't come to the phone. OK, tell them to call when they're ready.

Do your VS, nothing. Set up for the admission, go into computer and get admissions lab results, still no report. Call super to make sure pt didn't expire. Nope, still coming.

Well, 1830 rolls around and guess who's calling report and quess what else, the pt is on the way with transport on a monitor!!! No RN! Hello!

Why is this? Because the ER is busy? I don't doubt it. Just remember that, because it gets busy in the floor too.

This happened to me almost every weekend I was on. And then I got over it.

Typical. They shpw up a half hour before off-duty time. All this and they STILL wonder why you're peeved....!

[Teshiee]

I guess it is an assumption that the others have it better. I wouldn't be mad at ER nurses my hat is off to them because of strange things that walk in there and scary public one have to deal with. I couldn't stand our floor because we had to take up to 10 patients so in that reasoning I would be irritated. The poor ER nurse can have up to 20 patients in all with being admitted and/or sent home with meds or something. Either way nursing dealing with patients can be very difficult at times. Taco bell doesn't pay enough to make my ends meet anyhow even though some of us feel we are making chump change as it is!!!!!!!!

[sara2]

Speaking of Taco Bell, in our TN town, Taco Bell employees make almost as much an hour as a first year LPN.