As an RN for over 30 years with experience in both hospitals and nursing homes; I know first hand the frustrations that nurses of all levels face.
The main complaints of nurses are long hours due to inadequate staffing. They are unable to pass medications, do their treatments and "finish" charting in a timely manner, due in part to inadequate staffing.
Staffing ratios in some hospitals are inadequate to meet the needs of the patients. In for profit facilities it's the "bottom line" that counts not the care of the patients. I advocate not more then 7 patients on a Med or surgical floor and not more then 2 in the ICU.Another issue is due to staffing co-coordinators not being able to fill a position of "call-off". Managers are begging and/or intimidating nurses to work in excess of 8 hours and on their days off. As nurses we are hard press to say "no" when it concerns our patients and their care, thus we feel obligated to stay. Overworked and stress levels can impact on the care of the patients and each nurse's well being.
Then there is the emotional stresses of caring for your patients in a timely manner. Patients that are confined to bed have to be turned and/or repositioned every 2 hours to prevent decubitus ulcers . If you are caring for 7-10 patients on a med-Surg floor and 2 have to be turned every 2 hours, one has to be fed, all have to have am care (which is making sure they brush their teeth, wash their face and body, comb their hair and dressed for the day), how would you get done?
Now there's that IV (intravenous fluids) to be hung, the medications that have to be passed and the list goes on.
So what do you expect? Nurses are leaving the profession for better working condition, better pay, better respect and better hours. They are going into pharmaceuticals, research, insurance auditors, management. Check the Bureau of Labor Statistic for what each fields pay. I am sure you will be asking yourself "How can I get out of nursing, too?"
No comments:
Post a Comment