What do you think is a major problem in nursing?

[jenruth]

Everything RN34TX just said, IN TRIPLICATE!. Does anyone have any idea how many nurses leave jobs because of abusive families? LOTS! The big "profiteering" nursing homes especially, are terrified of losing business, but could care less about losing nurses.

The first thing I'd do is make it mandatory for police presence 24 hours at all facilities and any family members who start abusing staff in any way shape or form get slapped with heavy fines or possible jail time depending on how severe their threat to staff may be and immediately escorted off premises permanently.

The second thing that I would do is get rid of the current nursing assistant system where they are only "certified" or "registered" and make them into actual LICENSED health practitioners who are truely responsible for the care they provide or fail to provide. Get rid of the old "RN has the ultimate responsibility" way of thinking.

Example: Patient does not get turned, fed, bathed, whatever form of neglect or abuse. Then the CNA who is assigned to the patient, not the RN gets license disciplinary action/revocation from the board and would be held responsible in lawsuits or criminal charges that could develop.

Not all, but too many of them are well aware that the nurse will be held accountable if things don't get done so it is so easy for them to walk away or select which things they will do or not do for patients on any given shift.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

The major problem is that there are a LOT of problems.

(And to answer what some might be thinking: why, yes, i AM doing something about it besides complaining :) )

[leslie :-D]

a double-bind answer.

yes absolutely, the image; lack of respect; ignorance of what we do.

and yes, nurses not asserting themselves enough to command the very respect and recognition that we so deserve.

leslie

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Many, many problems - all of which could be overcome if nurses would stick together and show a little loyalty to their fellow professionals. Quit allowing the corporate administration to divide and conquer! Sore subject, rant over.

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

the major problem is that there are a lot of problems.

(and to answer what some might be thinking: why, yes, i am doing something about it besides complaining :) )

i think that's why i'm going to stop complaining!! (because no one is listening, they're just co-complaining!!)

[KrisRNwannabe]

I think one of the major problems is that almost all nursing programs have a wait list a mile long, my school is up over 800 and they take 160 per year, do the math. some LPNs can't seem to find jobs, and up untill very recently they were filling positions with with foreign nurses. they need to get the people on the wait lists in nursing school and taking the boards. why would anyone wait 7 years to go to school?????

kris

[hypnotic_nurse]

There are many problems, but many could be solved if we worked together instead of against each other. You get the wrong group of people -- or even 1 problem person and some wannabes -- and it can be high school all over again.

[GLORIAmunchkin72]

CNAs and QMAs are legally liable for their actions or lack of them. But ultimately the person in charge, in this case the nurse, is responsible. That is what BEING IN CHARGE means. Ultimately the DON is responsible for what happens in her facility.

The first thing I'd do is make it mandatory for police presence 24 hours at all facilities and any family members who start abusing staff in any way shape or form get slapped with heavy fines or possible jail time depending on how severe their threat to staff may be and immediately escorted off premises permanently.

The second thing that I would do is get rid of the current nursing assistant system where they are only "certified" or "registered" and make them into actual LICENSED health practitioners who are truely responsible for the care they provide or fail to provide. Get rid of the old "RN has the ultimate responsibility" way of thinking.

Example: Patient does not get turned, fed, bathed, whatever form of neglect or abuse. Then the CNA who is assigned to the patient, not the RN gets license disciplinary action/revocation from the board and would be held responsible in lawsuits or criminal charges that could develop.

Not all, but too many of them are well aware that the nurse will be held accountable if things don't get done so it is so easy for them to walk away or select which things they will do or not do for patients on any given shift.

[LPN1974, LPN]

The first thing I'd do is make it mandatory for police presence 24 hours at all facilities and any family members who start abusing staff in any way shape or form get slapped with heavy fines or possible jail time depending on how severe their threat to staff may be and immediately escorted off premises permanently.

The second thing that I would do is get rid of the current nursing assistant system where they are only "certified" or "registered" and make them into actual LICENSED health practitioners who are truely responsible for the care they provide or fail to provide. Get rid of the old "RN has the ultimate responsibility" way of thinking.

Example: Patient does not get turned, fed, bathed, whatever form of neglect or abuse. Then the CNA who is assigned to the patient, not the RN gets license disciplinary action/revocation from the board and would be held responsible in lawsuits or criminal charges that could develop.

Not all, but too many of them are well aware that the nurse will be held accountable if things don't get done so it is so easy for them to walk away or select which things they will do or not do for patients on any given shift.

I loved YOUR suggestions.

ESPECIALLY #2. I might not hate going back to work in a LTC under those conditions.

[Nesher, BSN, RN]

The profession has many issues but I think a major one are the varying levels of education, all with the same licensure. If it confuses me, how do patients feel?

[teemarie]

I hear a lot of "no respect" My opinion on nursing's biggest problem is we don't respect ourselves and demand respect from others. People don't know what nurses do? Nurses need to tell them. Don't like what is in the media? Write letters, give interviews. No body is going to do it for us, we have to do it ourselves. Once you take responsibility (as in it is my responsibility to make nursing better) the feelings of powerlessness start to dissipate.

After being in nursing 20 years including teaching for 12 I still nurses being mean to students and new nurses. That's really sad. Take a minute during your next shift to say something kind to a nurse or give them a hand. Explain everything you are doing to patients and families so they have a better understanding.

NURSE POWER!

I agree 100%.. respect yourself and others will respect u.. it starts with u..

stop making excuses and make a difference-- i know easy to say -- hard to do-- from my experience change is hard very hard and if u r the one to start it get ready for a rough ride... and i mean rough

[MissPiggy]

We need managers who have the courage to be true leaders, not yes men and women. :angryfire

Personally, I think you are being too generous by calling them yes people; I think of them more as prostitutes - they will do anything for the almighty dollar.