I don't think my nurses and nursing assistants can work any harder than they already do but clearly I was wrong! We are at capacity and they work flat out day in day out so I am utterly frustrated. I have just got back from a senior nurses meeting and we have been told the following:
All unoficial breaks must stop. The nurses are not allowed drinks on the floor so up to press I have always said if you are up to date and get a few minutes go and grab a quick drink and rest. It has never been abused. Now it is one official break only. In addition we are no longer allowed to give nurses time off in leiu if they don't get there official break. Apparently this occurs because of the nurse in charge's poor management and it is down to them alone. Funny because I thought it was because we had patients queueing out of the door and it was unsafe to let them go!!
The training budget has been slashed so for the foreseeable future there will be no external training. Senior nurses used to do training at quieter times but as we no longer having any quieter times this has already become history
Self rostering of off duty is to stop. It has always worked really well as some nurses like nights, some like weekends and everyone has been respectful and fair to their colleagues. It will now be done centrally with almost no personal choice.
Under no circumstances are we allowed to let nurses off before their contracted time. I often have to keep staff late so the flip side is on the quieter days when everything has been done and handed over I will let them go a few minutes early. Not anymore.
There was more but you get the gist. I am just utterly frustrated as when I am in charge I feel I have a duty of care to my patients and also my nurses. We did of course question the above to be told that the expectation is that we might not like it but it will be implemented. At this point we fully expected to be told to get our nurses to shove a broom up their backsides so they could sweep whilst they work!!!!!!!
I just don't understand how a caring profession can care so little for the backbone of it's workforce, the nurses delivering care at the coal face. I try really hard to make my nurses feel valued and appreciated but when the powers that be mandate this sort of stuff I feel like I am fighting a losing battle.
I am just feeling frustrated and cross, it doesn't take much for staff to feel appreciated and yet so much that comes in appears to be negative and punative.
just out of curiosity, don't nurses have an union? If not, I think nurses should form one to stop this kind of abuse. I think it is time for all nurses to stand together and fight back!
In a hospital where I used to work management made lots of unreasonable rules, and the nursing staff seemed to say yes, sure, and then ignore them. For example- no drinks at the desk...staff can be made aware that the upper management wants things their way, but middle management will not see any drinks. Another solution would be for each nurse to bring in a physicians script requiring water every hour for medical reasons.
You must have national labor laws that would support staff when they want reimbursement for working through their breaks. Middle management must comply with the law whether the big mucky-mucks like it or not.
Perhaps teaching posters in the break room would provide for the extra breaks you seek to provide, and satisfy upper management that on-unit training is being provided.
Mgt is going to learn way too late...that nurses are HUMAN...maybe when they start showing up at the hsp en masse as patients, from all those stress related illnesses...
just out of curiosity, don't nurses have an union? If not, I think nurses should form one to stop this kind of abuse. I think it is time for all nurses to stand together and fight back!
Nice idea but it'll never happen. Too many unstable broken people in this "profession" in my opinion, to ever come together to strike. Even if some nurses knew things could change for the better by striking, I think many would still choose to keep things toxic and the way they are. Hate to stay it but I think some depend on the abusive environment to function from day-to-day.
As for the hospitals doing this, its about money. Economics people. Why hire seven nurses when you can hire one that will take the abuse while gladly bringing in millions for the hospital. Its a business.
Lizzy88
62 Posts
just out of curiosity, don't nurses have an union? If not, I think nurses should form one to stop this kind of abuse. I think it is time for all nurses to stand together and fight back!