When is being understaffed too much?

[graft]

Hi all. I know every unit gets short staffed from time to time and that's just part of nursing, but I'm just curious as to what others think of my current situation.

I currently work in a cath lab with 2 nurses (myself included). IR only has one nurse and when she needs off they send one of the Cath lab nurses upstairs. This leaves the cath lab with only one nurse (me). I can be alone for numerous other reasons but this is the most common.

If we only did one patient at a time it would be no big deal. However, my lab (ran by x ray techs) likes to bring down patient after patient and have them sit in a holding area with no staff. They can be held before and after the procedure. 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. This seems flat out wrong to me and I have brought this up many times but nothing has ever been done.

Today I told them 1 nurse means 1 patient. I was told no because the lead tech says so.

A normal day does not have many complications but they can occur at ANY time. Also a STEMI can come in at any time and add to the confusion.

Just curious to any thoughts or comments on this.

Thx.

[toomuchbaloney]

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

[ICURN3020]

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.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

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

[ponymom]

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

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

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.

[ponymom]

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.

[toomuchbaloney]

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.