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!"
God I'm glad I'm in the NICU. Maybe a baby gets a little finicky about their bottle being a little too cool for their liking, but the minute they can specify their toast preferences, they are far too old for me to take care of.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Quite. Toast is clearly a serious hazard in the healthcare environment.
I think national guidelines governing sharpness of crust, crumb choking potential and butter dripping co-ordinates outlining the exact slipping risk should be published ASAP.
Nurses unite! Down with toast.
No, around here people just see the face of Jesus or the BVM in their toast. It's only a matter of time before someone in this hospital claims it's happened to them.
I was pretty upset with this latest round of stupidity! We have a staff meeting this week and I have every intention of voicing my displeasure with this new idea. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem doing a little extra for pts when I can, but to utilize the nurses this way, to me, is gross mismanagement of nursing responsibilites and practice. This whole thing came about as a dietary was seeking to improve their poor comments on pt satisfaction surveys. I honestly wish these ridiculous surveys would drop off the face of the earth. Why is it every one of these surveys leads back to nursing in some manner?
I work in AICU, most of our pts are not eating, however this past weekend I had 3 pts waiting on floor bed transfers that were eating. The toaster, was in our kitchen, which is off the unit, down the hall. I can assure you I did NOT make any toast, nor will I in the future.
1.--I BARELY have time to run off the unit to the restroom, let alone to the kitchen and stand around waiting for toast.
We have no pt care techs or CNA's in the ICU's, they are medsurg units only. I can maybe understand having this work on the floors, but trust me, the techs are insanely busy too.
Thanks for all the support and the humor in the responses! Just had to vent about it since I think this has got to be the dumbest idea I have seen yet.
My God. I can see it now also -- RN's getting "written up" because they didn't prepare toast to the proper specifications -- didn't follow the toasting policy, or what not.
Toasters are a banned item in the hospital where I work. I keep threatening to hide one somewhere for personal use. I hate the dry, cold toast that they have the audacity to charge $1 for 2 slices down in the cafeteria. Plus I would save a fortune if I could make my own toast and Ego Waffles.
I am not sure you want ICU clients eating toast anyways, seems like a choking hazard to me.
We are not allowed to have toasters or even lights on our Christmas tree (not even LED ones). "Accidently" burn the toast a few times, when the fire alarm goes off, they will take notice!
Specializes in Ortho Rehab, LTC, Med-Surg, Telemetry.
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
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
If you wouldn't find it difficult to find some free time to make toast, then I'd suggest that you're the one who has it easy.
Specializes in private duty/home health, med/surg.
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
The OP stated that she works in an ICU.
The toaster is in a kitchen not even on her unit. Taking a "few minutes" out of her morning could jeopardize patient safety.
What part of this sounds like complaining about this job being beneath her (or him)?
Or anyone else's input on this thread? None of us are "too good" to make toast. We are, however, TOO BUSY.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
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
Wow. One thing's for sure, you never stop being surprised here.
I said, I have NO ISSUE with doing things for people. I like being able to talk to pts and do things to brighten their day when I can. But the God's honest truth of the matter Bridey is that I am insanely busy almost every day I work. All nurses are and so are the techs! I do not think making toast is "beneath me" in any way but this is an unrealistic request.
Do you want me to assess you thoroughly and titrate your drips accodingly, safely and appropriately, then monitor for response, or do you want me to titrate and then leave to make your toast? Think the BON will let me off when I tell them that I did not notice that run of vtach because I was in the kitchen making toast for my other pt and thus did not respond quickly enough?
Bobbkat
476 Posts
God I'm glad I'm in the NICU. Maybe a baby gets a little finicky about their bottle being a little too cool for their liking, but the minute they can specify their toast preferences, they are far too old for me to take care of.