The Truth Behind the "Nursing Shortage"

[greenjungle]

Here's an opinion:

http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Truth-Behind-the-Nurs-by-Donna-Zuk-Adley-090312-382.html

[Fiona59]

. Unlike in the US setting, we don't delegate tasks since we don't have LPNs here and we have very few nursing aides. We don't document on computers, yes, we document manually, how horrid and sometimes hand writing is difficult to discern and not to mention that doctors (who act like they should be worshipped) do their rounds quite often and reprimand nurses in front of clients and families. In general hospitals, sometimes the ratio can go as bad as 2:60 (I'm not kidding) and the media, hungry to expose medical professionals who would make a mistake is always on the prowl interviewing patients and their families about their "terrible" stay in the hospital.

I sincerely hope that the world will understand and treat us nurses with a little more respect. :wink2:

In the system I work as a LPN, the only person who delegates to me is the Charge Nurse. I carry a full patient assignment as does every PN or RN on the floor. We work together as a team to get through the day.

The media loves to "expose" bad stories in the healthcare system. We've just had a run on the "stay with your loved one to act as an advocate for their care" stories and had to deal with the nutty families that try and do it.

It's getting to the point where there is NO pride in saying you are a nurse. Admit to it and be prepared to hear about the "psycho ***** nurse from hell who looked after my Mum" stories.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Redranger is not a nurse and his wife just passed the boards. She has not worked as RN in the USA. I understand that in the Philipines according to redranger student nurses spend time working as cleaning ladies.

It has been my experience what drives away is the endless documentation one has to do, rarely if ever do I hear a nurse complain about patient care. It is the endless documentation. In the USA the documentation can take more time than patient care.

I don 't think it is helpful any ways to compare one group of nurses against another. I also don't think this is a place for spouses to post since they are not nurses and not aware of what goes on a daily basis.

Fiona, I am now teaching RNs many who are LPNS, the LPN and I have a good laugh since most of their working clinical experience has been independent with out a RN over seeing their care.