What do hospital nurses want/need?

RNNPICU, BSN, RN · Jul 3

For me ability to take vacation and not worry about staffing.

Less annual requirements at all times of the year. Have hospital and DOH/JACHO?nursing annuals be at the same time. It gets annoying having to do multiple throughout the year plus it is hard to keep track of whats due.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 3

the truth from management.

Consistent staffing ratios. If we are short aides, we should be able to have an extra nurse.

As a more veteran nurse, I can deal with some things. I feel bad for the newer nurses who are told one thing and then reality is another thing. They are not being prepared properly (like non-nursing stuff-HR stuff, scheduling, how PTO works, how callouts work, little things that can be stressful)

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jul 4

Seriously? someone is still asking this?

I'm making less than I was as a new grad, and I'm 35 years in when you take into account inflation. I'm working double time every shift. I resigned from a job with proper notice and good evaluations because the environment was unsafe for patients and they reported me to the nursing board three times in the next six months....but after all those reports my license is still completely clean because my offense was advocating for better care.

Quit spending time and money whitewashing the hospital to make it look good and keep up the PR. Pay your nurses double what you do now and you won't need travellers. Keep supplies stocked and equipment working. Give us enough space and staff to take the patient load- no more hallway beds, or holding more patients than a unit is designed for. And stop asking stupid questions when you already know whats wrong.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Jul 4

I'm in Northern California and we have both mandated nurse to patient staffing ratios and higher pay than most metro areas for RN's. I never worked as a bedside nurse here (I started bedside nursing in the Midwest and moved here as an NP). What would make bedside nursing attractive to me is eliminating the barriers to independent decision making that nurses can do. It seems like to me, the ability to make decisions that impact patient care is hindered by illogical unit policies, regulatory compliance, and plain BS about rules that remove the ability of a nurse to think on their own. A more collaborative work environment where I have a say as the RN with decisions the entire care team makes would be satisfying.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Jul 7

Mandatory safe staffing ratios like CA has plus adequate support staff with break staff, decent pay and benefits and the ability to take time off use their PTO plus RESPECT! I doubt this will happen in my lifetime. I think it is the end of nursing as we know it and from here on in there will be chronic shortages where new grads will work only to get their year of experience and then move on from bedside. Travel and agency float pool nurses will fill in the gap for the increased pay, but even that will be a short term job. I don't see nurses making a career out of working bedside. Honestly it isn't worth the pay, the stress or the wear and tear on your back and body! Use it as a paid residency for something else, something better! That is my best advice to the new grads!

Don't fall for the BS guilt tripping, manipulation that you are needed to work extra. Put yourself, your health and your family first! Maintain firm boundaries and if you choose to work at a hospital leave if it's toxic and job hopping is the best way to get a fair raise! Now that pensions are gone there is really no reason to stay at one place anymore.

Teresag_CNS · Jul 9

I left ICU nursing some time ago, but I still seethe when I think of "temporary overstaffing" policies. No other profession is subject to one-day layoffs with just 90 minutes' notice. Nurses have to choose whether to use our limited PTO or accept a reduced paycheck. Nurses deserve and need PTO and full pay! It's oppressive and deeply exploitative. Especially since a decent manager can think of a dozen projects for the "extra" RN to do on slow days. And we all know that things like thorough patient education, shampoos, and great skin care are neglected because RNs have no time. Full employment, as in our employment agreement, is a basic right of workers.

mdsRN2005, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 10

I haven't worked in a hospital setting for a long time but spent almost a decade in the ER. I echo the previous commenters' concerns about safe staffing, vacation time, and pay rates. The main thing I would add is input on policy, especially from experienced nurses with valuable insight. We once had a physician turned VP who had meetings with nurses, techs, and unit secretaries. He was surprised not only at the problems he was unaware of, but some great ideas he'd never considered. Last, I think the little thank you's all throughout the year are more valuable than any nurses week gift.

RN1987 · Jul 10

This is STILL a topic?? Really? I'm not and will never be one of those who think nursing is a calling. It's a job, a toxic career choice, we aren't the Flo Nightingales, she's dead, times have changed. Nursing is the way people make a living. A good place to start would be to adjust the wages and pay in $$$$ instead of peanuts. The benefits need to be better. Nursing education needs revamped. Stop placing so much emphasis on the freaking care plans and start teaching actual skills.

imaginarymuse, ASN, BSN, LPN, RN · Jul 10

Honestly this is a non-question at this point. There are no other compensations or examples of gratitude that we would appreciate. None. Pay us what we are worth and staff us properly, instead of working us like a five dollar mule.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Jul 10

mdsRN2005 said:

I haven't worked in a hospital setting for a long time but spent almost a decade in the ER. I echo the previous commenters' concerns about safe staffing, vacation time, and pay rates. The main thing I would add is input on policy, especially from experienced nurses with valuable insight. We once had a physician turned VP who had meetings with nurses, techs, and unit secretaries. He was surprised not only at the problems he was unaware of, but some great ideas he'd never considered. Last, I think the little thank you's all throughout the year are more valuable than any nurses week gift.

My Dr was lamenting the changes with corporate medicine especially the Ascension takeover. In the past the doctors truly listened to the nurses and would use their influence to improve the working conditions at the small community hospital I worked for. But now they no longer have any say at all and are treated as badly as the rest of us in my opinion.

robinasq · Jul 10

nothing new here .....

1. safe staffing has to be paramount, every piece of research available states that more nurses improve pt. care and satisfaction, reduce errors and falls. The research is clear enough for a middle school student to comprehend.

2. Pay - hospitals keep hiring travelers b/c it is cheaper; 1/2 staff compensation is benefits. Hospitals think they will make agency nurses work in unsafe situations, they fire at will. Hospitals break contracts with 1 week notice if that. Most MDs has been contractors for decades, not hospital employees, b/c it is cheaper.

3. There is no RN shortage, just shortage of RNs willing to work for way too little money, no respect, and unfair treatment .