When is being understaffed too much?

I wonder if the "lead tech" will be willing to assume responsibility for the patients and their outcomes when there is not a nurse to provide the care? Is the employer taking a tech's word regarding safe nursing rather than the word of a nurse?

If I were you I would make certain that I had, in writing, my objections and concerns about unsafe staffing levels each time they over book your time and care. Make certain to keep your malpractice insurance up to date.

good luck

So a patient who was brought down and received a stent can sit with anticoags running and a sheath in their groin with nobody monitoring them because we are all in the lab doing the next case.

Wow...this is a nightmare waiting to happen. I would refuse to be held responsible for multiple patients of this nature. Not a safe situation at all.

Put your concerns in writing to your boss and a second appropriate person, and save the letters. You have a valid concern.

you need to start notifying the patients and their families about being short-staffed.

you need to start notifying the patients and their families about being short-staffed.

If you do this you'll get fired for sure, FYI.

I've done it many times in my time as a nurse. I've never been fired; had a talking to once or twice, but whenever I was asked (by a family member, etc.) why I could not get or do something right away (if at all), I always (always) just told them it was because we were short-staffed. A lot of times, they could figure this out on their own anyway.

I completely agree that RNs should have no obligation to lie to patients and families when their are needs are not being met because the facility did not provide adequate staffing to safely provide the care.