Taking away chairs from nursing station

Tatinha · Sep 28, 2013

Hospitals are trying to really incorporate the hospitality business model. As someone who spent years in this industry, I can say that what they are trying to do is to make a "good" impression on the patients, changing patient perceptions. I mean.... it is like when you go to a restaurant, you do not expect your waiter to be seating. The dynamics of being a nurse is the same as being a waitress. I have been both. We deliver service and cause an impression on our "customers". I do not agree that taking chairs away will make a difference in patient's perceptions, and until they find a way to have us charting on I-pads... taking entire computers to each room is counter productive. And for the previous posts that said administration is reserving seats only for doctors and case managers....hummmm, their turn will be arriving soon when absolutely all chairs will be gone!!!

ktwlpn, LPN · Sep 28, 2013

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.

So,chop right through the knot instead of untying it so you can save and reuse the rope-that' the LAZY approach to the problem.

A better approach would be AUDITING the charts and counsel the staff whose documentation is sub- par, offer some additional training and make them accountable through progressive discipline. All of these measures will lead to making them better nurses,more valuable resources for the home. Butthis approach means ore work for someone.....

The post has me a little confused-is lack of proper documentation the only problem? I'm not sure I see the connection -how will no chairs lead to better documentation ? I'd like to hear it from the new 24 yr old administrator.

chrisrn24 · Sep 28, 2013

I stand for the majority of my shift. The downtime I do have, I'd like to sit. I would be no good without chairs!

Tatinha · Sep 28, 2013

I do not think there is a link between better charting and chairs. And that the administration is just trying to make an impression on "customers". Administration thinks that patients thinks that a nurse who seats is doing nothing. But if they want to treat patients like customers, they better increase the staff number, so tasks can be delivered in a timely manner, patients who need a trip to the bathroom do not have to wait one hour for someone, and discharges are made when promised. Not to mention delivery of meds to nurses, food trays etc. I once was a starving patient, who waited 6 hours for a sandwich. I had spent 2 days without any food (stomach virus), when I got better, I was starving hungry. I am sure my nurse was working on it, but was unable to make the kitchen deliver her what she needed. So little things like that can leave a bitter taste on a customer and they will likely not come back, but taking chairs away will do nothing unless everything else gets done faster!!

babysteps25 · Sep 28, 2013

To the original poster, I commend your positive outlook and you sound like someone who is excellent at their job. If it were me I would be furious. I really do wonder if it is against labor laws how can you be expected to not sit down for 8 or 12 hours?

Recently the temperature at my work has been really cold. I am sadly cynical enough to have thought its probably because my manager wants us to be more active and sit less to avoid freezing. Someone told me it probably happened because they were doing some work with the ventilation system....

Elizabeth Renee · Sep 29, 2013

I'm sure I must be missing something. If you think it's OK to take away the chairs from the nursing station -- as your very first post implies (positive change and all), then why start the thread in the first place? If you think it's a bad idea, why defend the practice?
And while the photo in your avatar is lovely, I'm concerned that it may be your own photo.If it is, what a terrible idea to not only start such a controversial thread, but then be so nasty and contentious in the thread? Your DON and colleagues can easily identify you AND your not-so-nice comments. I am under no illusions that this board is completely anonymous, but why GIVE away your identity -- especially when you're being controversial?
Not everyone can just up and quit a job -- especially when they're about to go on maternity leave and will then have a child to support.
And third, it's "should HAVE quit", not "should of." Another reason to try to conceal your identity, so your colleagues aren't embarrassed to admit they work with someone whose grammar is so poor.

Not exactly on topic, but oh my, I honestly didn't think anything of it when I posted my photo as my avatar! Oh dear. I will change mine too the next time I'm on my computer. I appreciate you pointing this out. :) Thank you.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 29, 2013

When our faculty went to Epic, we have a computer in every room. We chart, med admin (we have scanners in each room, too). We can stand, I sometimes kneel on a chair, it helps my back and if I am doing an admission, I pull up a chair and sit. we have both sit and stand stations. I HAVE to sit down at certain points in my shift. I too have back and feet issues.

I have found the patients don't really mind if you chart in the room. It's better than having to come back in and out because you forgot to ask them something.

Taking away the chairs is silly. The people that want to slack are going to find a way to slack and the rest end up suffering

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Sep 29, 2013

Taking away the chairs is silly. The people that want to slack are going to find a way to slack and the rest end up suffering

Exactly...

Not to derail the thread...when my other post had 32 and look like 32, I meant 23...oops for that one..(too late to edit)...in staying with thread, from 23-83, everyone at least should have the option to sit or stand while working.

I am sure I would have to keep a pillow in my locker to kneel in the floor if any of my workplaces would take away chairs...or I will lie in the floor...just to prove a point.

pookyp, LPN · Sep 29, 2013

Is there someone in management you're trying to impress?

exactly! Lol

martymoose, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2013

well, OP pointed out one important thing- where he/she works GIVES HIM/HER BREAKS. Guess what- the rest of us, repeatedly, have pointed out- we don't even gett bathroom breaks, muchless lunch, or other breaks in the 12 hour shift.No wonder we are upset with the no chair thing.

And I also point out- I even had a previous manager say to us employees at a meeting once- you don't like it? LEAVE. Umm , most of us don't want to have 0 income.so we put up with things. And management knows it. Therefore, they are free to tell us whatever hoop they want us to jump through that day.

Don't like it? Leave.... probably 50 new grads waiting for you to go.

Yep- no respect. :no:

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Sep 29, 2013

I am sure I would have to keep a pillow in my locker to kneel in the floor if any of my workplaces would take away chairs...or I will lie in the floor...just to prove a point.

They'll have you hand wash the floors while you're down there

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Sep 29, 2013

Oh my xoemmylouox!

Yup, I would be out of a job...or at Vanderbilt. :blink: