Why does Nursing put up with short staffing?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am wanting to get a little feedback as to why Nursing (in general) allows short staffing to be an issue? I am on our research committee at work and would like to get an idea of where to take my project. I would like to find an answer to the problem and not just more complaints. Thanks in advance for any insight.

Specializes in Mixed Level-1 ICU.

"The lesson I learned is this: now that the nurses have enough staff, they have come up with a whole new list to b... about."

If their complaints are legitimate, then you must pursue them. If they are hollow and without merit, tell them so. When they know legit issues will be addressed, but nonsense will be dismissed, they will get the message and you will have a group whose self-worth will be elevated.

Those who don't or won't--for whatever reason--will be marginalized and labeled for what they are...unhappy people.

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I am sorry for the stressful situation you are in, but it is not the staff nurses responsibility to staff the unit. Can I as a staff nurse hire? Increase pay/benefits?bring in registry? transfer patients? Authorize OT? Float nurses? Bring in management to work a short staffed unit? Make ER hold patients until the unit is staffed? Send patients out to other hospitals? Management has the authority and ABSOLOUTE responsibility to provide adequat staff. If I take an unsafe assignment the BRN will hold me accountable for adverse outcomes NOT my manager. If the unit is short staffed the only way to hold the manager accountable is to refuse the unsafe assignment.

I agree. Granted, I am not an RN yet but, when I worked as an aide I actually worked sick so they wouldn't be short staffed (even though I know I shouldn't have.) But, I was worried about getting written up for calling out sick because that's what happened to others.

As it turned out, I got written up anyway because they gave me an impossible run with too many patients and too many total cares where, duh ... it was impossible for me to get everything done. I wasn't taking breaks and I wasn't eating lunch, even but, it didn't matter. I quit shortly thereafter.

Next time: it's going to management's problem, not mine. I learned that the hard way.

:typing

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Specializes in Mixed Level-1 ICU.

If there was one thing, and only one thing, I could get nurses to do, collectively and without reserve, it would be to make them stay home when they're sick.

Nothing bothers me more than hearing these stories of going in sick because of this or that or some other guilt-ridden justification.

For god sakes, stay home when you're sick! If there is no staff to take your place, it's not your fault, nor is it your problem.

STOP PERPETUATING THE NURSE-AS-MARTYR SYNDROME!!!!!!!!!

and maybe, just maybe, they'll get the message and staff properly.

But please stop this throw-myself-on-a-sharp-stick behavior!

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

hope this isn't hijacking the thread... Our hospital was offering a $50 bonus and double bonus ($100) for extra shifts that we picked up. Recently, this was stopped because administration figured they had paid $30,000 in bonus money. Most of the staff isn't happy and refuses to pick up extra. It's not the $50 you understand, it is more about the principle. However, we still have agency nurses when we are short. Seems ridiculous to me to refuse a $50 bonus to a regular staff member who is willing to come in on their day off but willing to pay an agency nurse (who has never been at our facility) three times as much. My manager says that "the people who crunch the numbers understand. Anyway, agency pay comes from a different budget" :confused:

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Specializes in Mixed Level-1 ICU.

That's always a great situation...

They'll pay someone from an agency who has no allegiance or dedication or history to the facility rather than pay someone who has been there years the bonus to work extra. Really gives me that fluffy warm feeling.

Sooner or later, you'll understand that...until you start writing letters and standing up politically for what you know is right, you are warm widget on a spread sheet.

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:roll

Nursing puts up with short staffing because a large percentage of the time they are the reason the staffing is short. They chase away the nurses that they hire by "eating their young". And everyone knows what I am talking about; workplace violence.

Many a nurse have left jobs because of it.:pumpiron:

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money!

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I am also in a situation that the management requires 1 nurse to do the work of 2 if one is sick or has a family emergency. Management has stated that we will NOT have any more staff nurses to fill in. If this happens to me again, I want to refuse to do the 2nd nurses job, but what kind of trouble will I be in.

I think this may be the answer, do we have the guts to do it?

Bird

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Keep it simple: Share the wealth ~

lmp123

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Specializes in Mixed Level-1 ICU.

"but what kind of trouble will I be in."

I'll tell you what we know for sure...when you accept that untenable assigment, and you screw up, you'll be hung out to dry. Be sure to submit a from stating that you are being forced to work unsafely. Otherwise, you'll be on your own in court.

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Specializes in ER.

I love being a nurse and helping those who cannot help themselves, but nursing is also about helping those TO help themselves. Anyone considered that part of the shortage stems from people who refuse to take a proactive role in their own well-being, or people who insist on abusing the healthcare system? A few examples that come to mind: showing up to the ER at 2 am with a runny nose and fever (easily treated at your regular dr's office at 8 am), pts who refuse to get out of bed while in the hospital (or refuse other treatments which leads to a prolonged stay), or families who refuse to let their suffering family memebers peacefully pass (I know this one can be very touchy and is probably the most sensitive topic, but I am reffering to extreme situations, not boarderline ones). And what about the pharmaceutical companies? Is the FDA not the FOOD and drug administration? Then why is it that so many additives and chemicals in food are proven (but rarely published) to cause many problems requiring hospitalization are allowed into our food? And why is it I am doing so much patient teaching on medicatons administered in the hospital that people have never taken before and have no direct link to their current disease process? Is Protonix given out like candy anywhere else? I've heard rumor that there is suspicion that Protonix is linked to C-diff infections now. Some things are just being compounded for the sake of policy. The human body is perfect, and some cares, meds, and "routine proceedures" mess that up beyond repair. Why can't less be more?

Thanks for listening :confused:

-RN who may read too much.

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:smilecoffeecup: overtime!

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