Taking away chairs from nursing station

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I work at a nursing home and is my night off and I just got word that administrator has taking away our chairs from the nurses station to get us to work harder. There has been lack of documentation in all units. People think he did this because a power trip. The administrator is only 24 and he is new and he's ****** a few people off. I think it gonna cause a lot of conflict but if people accept this change, it could be a positive change. I have charted standing and it's taken less time to chart. Less time charting means more time supervising and more time at patients bedside which overall will improve patient care. I totally get it but I will take some time adjusting.

Tell your admin that he could save hours and hours of wasted pay on bathroom breaks by requiring all staff to be catheterized. Now to find a clever solution for number 2...

Depends work for both. However staff already don't get bathroom breaks.

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This seems to be a trend. I worked at a hospital in NY and they are doing the same. They are taking chairs away, telling the staff that they are no longer allowed to be present in the nurses station, stating that the nurse's station is for physicians and care management! They are to be documenting at the patient's bedside. Ridiculous! These are horrible working conditions that need to be reported to Department of Labor

What part of NURSES STATION do these admin morons not understand?

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I work at a nursing home and is my night off and I just got word that administrator has taking away our chairs from the nurses station to get us to work harder. There has been lack of documentation in all units. People think he did this because a power trip. The administrator is only 24 and he is new and he's ****** a few people off. I think it gonna cause a lot of conflict but if people accept this change it could be a positive change. I have charted standing and it's taken less time to chart. Less time charting means more time supervising and more time at patients bedside which overall will improve patient care. I totally get it but I will take some time adjusting.[/quote']

I don't get it ar all and it honestly makes me sad that you do...although I think your attempt to see all sides of the issue should earn you some chair time.

If there is a problem with documentation there may be some less Draconian solutions that are based on a nurse-centered analysis that more accurately reflects the true reasons this is occurring. Horrible morale in the staff almost ensures productivity will suffer.

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Before I got in nursing, the few jobs I worked prior required standing. I don't view it as cruel. Lots of jobs require standing. The cna stand on there feet all the time, so why can't we.

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If cna on day shift found sitting in recliner they would be reamed by charge nurse.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

Will there be cattle prods soon too?

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Before I got in nursing the few jobs I worked prior required standing. I don't view it as cruel. Lots of jobs require standing. The cna stand on there feet all the time, so why can't we.[/quote']

I was a waitress and a salesperson in a clothing store before I was a nurse so I understand that.

I don't think I can adequately explain why this is different from those jobs or if a CNA was discovered relaxing in a recliner so I'd just suggest reading replies from other people.

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Specializes in ICU.

Well, Pinkessence, after you have stood on your feet for a few more years, you might understand it. Just wait until you have varicose veins, bad knees, and a bad back, then it might bother you. In many other countries, the cashiers sit, not stand. I was in business and had to wear high-heels and skirts to work everyday for years, but that doesn't mean I want to do that now. Even some assembly-line workers get to sit and go pee every couple hours.

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

Administrators sometimes make decissions in a vacuum.

Problem: people are not documenting enough

Solution: make it more uncomfortable for people to document

Comparisons to jobs that don't require a GED where the idea of standing (at a register) is to somehow prove to the customer (in some MBA's mind) that you are there for them... or comparing it to waitressing where there is not point or opportunity to sit... when I worked a register, I brought a stool to work and nobody said a thing about it.

Find me one other job where professionals are required to extensively document on a computer and are not allowed to sit at all?

Documenting at the bedside? Why? So the patient feels you are paying attention? The patient will feel ignored as you concentrate on the computer. Or the patient will bug you for things interrupting your quality of documentation.

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Just because other jobs require you to stand all shift does not make it ok to force us to. That's like saying as a cashier you only made $7.25 so as a nurse you should only make that. We deserve a damn chair.

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Specializes in PCCN.
Well, Pinkessence, after you have stood on your feet for a few more years, you might understand it. Just wait until you have varicose veins, bad knees, and a bad back, then it might bother you. In many other countries, the cashiers sit, not stand. I was in business and had to wear high-heels and skirts to work everyday for years, but that doesn't mean I want to do that now. Even some assembly-line workers get to sit and go pee every couple hours.

All the more reasons for them to hire new grads under the age of 25- keep em for a few years , then find some excuse to boot them too.If you complain, buh bye! Thanks Nursing colleges!!!! The employer wins!!!

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Specializes in PCCN.

Hmmm , lets make the IT people work on their computers while standing. Oh wait, dont forget to make the switchboard operators work while standing too. Thin k of all the money they will save on chairs!!!!

btw, when I had my factory job- yeah, we didnt sit, but we got a guaranteed break after 2 hours!!!!

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