Top heavy

[KaylaRNBSN]

Ill start off by saying, i am NOT new here. i made a new account to write this "rant" in fear of what might happen if i am discovered. My name isn't really Kayla, it an alter ego...no fears i didn't share that either. I almost thought of Esther, but it was taken!

I work at a hospital, somewhere in the United States. I've been a nurse for 3 years, so still fairly new. Before i was hired i knew that the hospital i was hired for was building a brand new hospital. It was much needed. Now that we are all in the new hospital and things are setteled, many people asked "What is going to happen to the old hospital?" There is still a bunch of remodeling going on in that building, but now that some floors or opening up it was discovered that all this new space in the old hospital was needed for "office space."

This "office space" that is needed is taking over the ENTIRE building when there is still some much needed areas for patient care areas. I don't want to get into details in fear of figuring out where i live or what hospital i am talking about.

I work on a telemetry unit, we just recently hired what is called a CNL...or a clinical nurse leader. We hired, not one but TWO of them for a 26 bed unit. When we were told each unit would be getting two CNLs we were all confused at exactly what they are. Basically, all our CNLs do is strut around with their masters degree, sit in their office, twirl there hair and let us know when our immunizations are not updated on our patients. Or if someone had a previous skin ulcer from 10 years ago that is still in their chart. They hunt is down and tell the RN who is doing bedside care to remove this 10 year old healed skin ulcer from their chart. It basically stars off like this

"Kayla, i know your patient is having chest pain and EKG changes but we i noticed your patient Mrs. Jones has an outdated pneumonia vaccine. Can you have her fill out this questionaire?" I used to just smile and do what i was told. As of recently i started the "Why don't you make yourself usefull and YOU fill out the questionaire?". but nope, because they are masters prepared nurses we cannot speak that way to the "higher authority." Alright, so...hospitals complain and complain and complain about saving money, nurse patient care hours. blah blah blah blah. Here is a suggestiont to administration, get rid of some of these bogus nursing jobs. like what is with the nurse whose entire job is to walk around the hospital and follow you during SBAR to make sure you are doing it in the patient's room? Do you want to know why i don't do SBAR in the patient's room? Well...while you were in your bed sleeping comfortably, i was up all night with this patient who was in pain and i finally get their pain under controla nd the patient asleep at 4:00AM and you want me to wake them up at 6:30 to do SBAR in their room? Think again. If anyone in administration knew ANYTHING about being at the bedside, this would not be a requirement.

the ONE time i saw our administrative director on the floor was when the hospital was SUPER SUPER busy. It was a mad house. She answered a light of a lady who needed to use the restroom. However, she was on nasal cannula oxygen. She just happened to have the 7ft tubing on rather than the 25foot tubing. instead of changing out the tubing, like any nurse or CNA would do, she tried to get a commode because the oxygen tubing wouldn't reach to the bathroom. Then she answered the light of a person whose pump was beeping. it was his ETCO2 monitor that was alarming low respiration. It was half out of his nose but she yelled at the top of her lungs for help and tried calling an RRT (rapid response team) because the patient was getting too much narcotics. When a REAL nurse came in, she was like "No. he is fine, the ETCO2 monitor just came out of his nose." and this lady has a docotrate of nursing behind her name. Pathetic.

All these decisions are being made without asking bedside nurses...the people who work with the patients. never once have we been asked our opinions on how the new hospital should be set up. "What would nurses like to see? what would make your job easier?" it was just assumed that nurses would like this. Whose genious idea was it to make the computer built into the wall? Sure it looks nice, but when i am charting i have my back to the patient. Their reason for this?? "So the patient can see what you are doing and feel involved in their care."...sorry, but my 92 year old lady who has macular degeneration does not care what i am charting. All she cares about is her nurse who has a pretty smile can get her a cup of coffee and warm blanket. But instead, this nurse with a pretty smile has to show this lady the back of her head.

hospitals have become WAAAAY to top heavy. The management is ridiculous!!! management wants more more more more, but give nurses less less and less. Management needs to start getting their hind ends on the floor, helping out, working with the nurses, working with the pateint's, working with the families to truely make decisions that is going to make everyone happy. We are not allowed to have water on the unit, but yet...everytime i walk past my managers office there she is looking at her emails, texting on her personal cell phone sipping on her cup of coffee or eating a snack. Must be nice to not feel dehydrated. glad you care so much for your staff. I understand not having cups of water in patient care areas, its an infection control issue. But you would think that water bottles with lids at the nurses station would be ok.

i am a type 1 diabetic, i always carry little candies in my pocket just in case...ya know. I once felt i was getting a little low oon blood sugars since i missed my breakfast break and was near missing my lunch. i popped a jolly rancher in my mouth and i get reprimanded for "eating candy at the desk." oh boy...was i upset!!

I am SO tired of hospitas being top heavy. you know what happens to things that are top heavy?? they eventually fall. Things that are "bottom heavy" are more sturdy.

[LakeEmerald]

Let it out, darling - we feel you! You made some great points. Hope you feel better!

[Fiona59]

Preaching to the choir!

I have a CNE who will email a link that doesn't answer the question rather than give me an answer and yes, she's got a Masters.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

I was just commenting today that nobody ever asks the nurses anything anymore; no input from the ones at bedside, no one cares what we think. We never have staff meetings~ those are just for the ones who don't actually take care of patients. The desk sitters make all the decisions, period. Too bad they don't have a clue what goes on.

[duskyjewel]

Seriously, not allowed to have water? Ever? During your entire 12 or 8 hour shift? Aside from everything else, that's abusive and may even be illegal. Possibly not, though, because I'm not sure anyone would ever expect an employer to disallow hydration. Even the textile mills in Lowell had water buckets and dippers for the workers!