Found the title "Not in my job description" ironic. I've posted a few comments/threads about things we are being asked to do that they don't show us doing on the TV shows (trash, stocking items in the stock room, being primary care for 8 pt's on a regular basis). lol
This article doesn't hit the issue I have a problem with, I just like the theme. I'm an "eye for an eye" kinda guy so, violence is not an issue for me. I don't give the impression that I allow free swings on my person, and no one attacks. Might not be that simple for everyone, but it works for me.
What do you run into that's "Not in my job description."?
Me: Its the ratios combined with this mask of being concerned with pt. satisfaction that kills me. If you give your nurses eight patients with no assistants.......................ummmm, PG scores drop no matter how good I am. Its just the facts. But, every week, I sit in a staff meeting listening to all the ways we, the nurses, are failing at customer service. Then they cut hours more, as if that is going to help.
Before this morning's meeting commenced, I joked with a few co-workers. Was joking about how I can sum up this meeting and every other we've had in four words: "You all **** suck". If they'd just say that and be done with it, they'd save about 45min. of time for each of the 10 nurses who attend each meeting. Thats 450 minutes or roughly 7 1/2 hours. Thats a whole nursing shift being paid for to tell us we are no good and don't cut it with customer satisfaction (yet, the nurses routinely score in the 91st percentile, its the hospital as a whole that is low).
So very True, and Sad. I totally agree with the ratio comment, some ratios are just insane, and then them playing lip service to "quality care" also kills me, it literally makes me cringe. Also, I have sat in on meetings pretty much exactly as you describe. I usually have to clasp my hands the chair, in an effort not to stand up and raise my hand and say "Are we all just $#% ups, I mean does anyone sitting here do Anything right??"
And then I restrain myself and say to myself, in this poor economy you need a job...Too many managers/admin. like to dish out all negative. I guess they missed the course where it recommends 2 positive comments for every negative one.
And right there you have the core reason for the low scores when they do occur. When people lose respect for/faith in the leadership and are simply coming in to pay their bills, waiting for something else to come along.......that little extra touch that separates average/good/great hospitals becomes missing. That little bit is nothing that can be mandated or scared out of people.......they either feel the need/desire to shine in their positions or not. I can't even begin to tell you how much things have changed just on my current unit in the past year. People who used to walk as if they were floating when they came in now drag their feet and have this "when will this day end" look on their face. I hear a lot of "I don't care, I just want to finish my shift and go home" from people you never would imagine talking like that.
No amt. of pointing out how many mistakes were made or insisting PG scores raise is going to fix that.
eriksoln, BSN, RN
2,636 Posts
And right there you have the core reason for the low scores when they do occur. When people lose respect for/faith in the leadership and are simply coming in to pay their bills, waiting for something else to come along.......that little extra touch that separates average/good/great hospitals becomes missing. That little bit is nothing that can be mandated or scared out of people.......they either feel the need/desire to shine in their positions or not. I can't even begin to tell you how much things have changed just on my current unit in the past year. People who used to walk as if they were floating when they came in now drag their feet and have this "when will this day end" look on their face. I hear a lot of "I don't care, I just want to finish my shift and go home" from people you never would imagine talking like that.
No amt. of pointing out how many mistakes were made or insisting PG scores raise is going to fix that.