Imagine my suprise this weekend when I get to work and find out that new policy is that the RN's will make toast for the pt trays!!!!
Yes, that's right, dietary will only send bread up and we are expected to toast it in the toasters provided to the unit. So now, I have to pick up the tray when it is dropped at the desk, take it to the pts room, take the bread all the way back to the convienetly located toaster (NOT) and bring it back.
I work in AICU, anyone think I really have the time for this malarkey??? I was really frustrated over this one and I told the charge nurse they better get some techs up here if this is what they expect. I can only hear the complaints now..."The nurse didnt make my toast right!"
Wonder if you can make toast with a Lifepak, and if so, would one charge to 360 J ? Would one vary the joules for light/medium/dark toast? I advise that management should study this at once.
Wonder if you can make toast with a Lifepak, and if so, would one charge to 360 J ? Would one vary the joules for light/medium/dark toast? I advise that management should study this at once.
You're such a silly! Everyone knows 360 J is only for frozen waffles.
Also - just a thought, but I wonder if anyone at the OP's facility thought to consider the food handling regulations that must be enforced.
Very good point. When this inevitably comes to my hospital (as ALL stupid ideas eventually do,) I will volunteer to do the mandatory inservices. Being both a nurse and former food service worker, I am uniquely qualified to explain the 3 second rule to my coworkers. After all, my fellow nurses might not be aware that in a room on contact precautions, there is additional time to pick up the toast from the floor and continue to serve it, as you do need to gown and glove first. :)
We have a perfect solution for this. We have a hard hostess who makes toast for those who want it. Actually, we don't offer toast. We offer cereal, they get toast if they ask for it. Our hostess also helps to feed patients. stock up and chase supplies. I wish this service was 24 hours!
We have s housekeeper m-f, sets up the ceral/toast trolleys(/support workers see to their own bays, mans the drinks trolley. and passes out pt trays. its a rush to make/butter toast and get it to pt when it is still warm.
on w/e nursing staff (not RN as a rule) do everything.
Heck, changing lightbulbs, mopping floors, and doing admiting functions after 2300 has been part of my duties for years.
We joke all the time that in the hospital I work in why do we need the ancillary departments. Nursing becomes Purchasing/ Central Supply after 1500, Pharmacy after 1600, Dietary after 1800, Resp Therapy after 1900, Housekeeping/laundry after 2200, Admiting after 2300, and Social Services on the weekend. I'm surprised we aren't having to run the labs and take the x-rays as well.
For God's sake don't give mangaement anymore ideas to give us more work! (joking)
Not to sound callous, but if the thorn in your side at work is having to toast a little bread for breakfast, then you have it easy sister. When did we start to think we were too good to do things like toast bread and retrieve water pitchers? Why shoud it only be the job of Techs? We're fully capable of doing what some may consider "mundane" tasks just as well as skilled tasks. Sure it'll take a few minutes out of your morning, but maybe you could request 2 or 3 of those 4 slotted toasters to get the job done more efficiently. Because really... in the scheme of things, how long does toast REALLY take? LOL
Perhaps, I can explain it clearer.
I start a job where I am told that ratios are 1 nurse to 4, maybe at the most 5 pts. There is a tech for every 7-8, and I might occasionally be paired with an LPN for 8-9 pts. There will always be a secretary, transport staff, and we will have only "stable" tele pts.
Then the next month, it becomes 5-6 pts, or 10-12 with an LPN, "just for the time being". And "we really need to turn over beds fast" if transport is delayed, how hard is it to transport your pt to DC to promote "customer service"? Just this once, you know.
Our kitchen on our floor is smaller than my bathroom at home! I can see us all in there fighting to make toast! What a joke.....what can management come up with next? Oops--don't answer that....
Oh boy, Cannot wait!!! Another line to stand in. We will go from the toast line to the pyxis line to get meds. I vote for putting the toaster in the med room
But who needs toast when we can have.....freshly baked bread!!!
The night staff can do all the mixing and kneading, pop the bread in the oven in the ward kitchen and....fresh, crusty bread for the patients' breakfast...!
But who needs toast when we can have.....freshly baked bread!!!
The night staff can do all the mixing and kneading, pop the bread in the oven in the ward kitchen and....fresh, crusty bread for the patients' breakfast...!
We can tell the junior nurses to do it...:D:D
Come on guys, more toast posties!
I see your vision: The tall tower pyxis containing IVFs has numerous shelves and a glass door... it could easily double as a Subway-type oven for making fresh bread
WickedRedRN, BSN, RN
609 Posts