From the other posts I have heard of nurses who mop floors, Clean rooms, stock, go through crash carts for out dated medications, bring food in and out of rooms, dust, wipe off stuff with wet rages in the supply room, the only thing I have not seen is vacuuming, or cleaning windows.
It seems that every time personnel is cut back their job not only becomes ours it also somehow becomes an official nursing function in many minds.
So to make this short was is not an official nurse function and responsibility.
We are looking for who to come into this field? Why? So they can learn how to do all the work too.
If I make a personal mess, then I will clean it up. If my patient messes on themselves, then I will clean them up. I have more important things to do that I went to school for a long time to be able to do.
I read in a nursing journal this summer that in the U.K. the matrons (like our head nurses here in the U.S.) will soon be in charge of both dietary and housekeeping in the hospitals there. I guess that the matrons used to be in charge of everything in the hospitals except the medical staff, but that back in the 70's most departments were placed under general management. Now they are putting dietary and housekeeping back under the nurses domain and this is supposed to be a big boost for nursing. I understand that it won't take effect until April 2002.
I'd like to hear from some of our U.K. members if they see this as a step forward or backwards for nursing there. Do they plan to give more of these jobs to nursing, or will the separate departments be more responsive to nursings' needs?
Hi Jenny P. I'm a UK nurse. Yes, we've all heard about the return of Matron to UK hospitals. The title is a bit misleading really because I'm told that Matron used to be an (often) formidable character who ruled, not only the nursing staff, but the whole hospital with a 'rod of iron'. She (it was rarely a 'he') has become something of a comedy character when portrayed in films and on TV. I came into nursing long after the demise of Matron.
The proposed 'new' Matrons are being recruited to oversee the cleanliness and smooth running of the wards, rather than be a Dictator over nursing staff. Believe me, if you saw the state of some wards, you would see why we need to put the responsibilty back into the hands of senior nurses. It does not mean that nurses will be doing the cleaning.
Like others who have given their opinion, I will clear up my own mess. I will not dust equipment or clean floors etc.,
I go by this rule; would a doctor, physiotherapist or occupational therapist be asked to do cleaning? No, of course they wouldn't, and I'm just as much a professional as they are. People are paid to do these jobs and I don't see why nurses should 'pick up the slack'.
If you have lazy coworkers YOU WILL BE picking up the slack. I am always trying to be supernurse and am tired of doing everybody elses JOB. Maybe that is why I burned out?!
Jenny P
1,164 Posts
I read in a nursing journal this summer that in the U.K. the matrons (like our head nurses here in the U.S.) will soon be in charge of both dietary and housekeeping in the hospitals there. I guess that the matrons used to be in charge of everything in the hospitals except the medical staff, but that back in the 70's most departments were placed under general management. Now they are putting dietary and housekeeping back under the nurses domain and this is supposed to be a big boost for nursing. I understand that it won't take effect until April 2002.
I'd like to hear from some of our U.K. members if they see this as a step forward or backwards for nursing there. Do they plan to give more of these jobs to nursing, or will the separate departments be more responsive to nursings' needs?