Nursing and staff shortages

[Guest guest]

peggy oconnor wrote:

> I started nursing in 1979 and there was a shortage then, and there remains one

today and probably will always be one. A shortage of staff makes what staff

remains very overworked and very stressed out which in turn causes " Burn Out "

and that leads to quitting and or retiring or a major career change.

>

> I spent 20+ years in the field, and was rotated to floors where I never worked

due to staffing shortage. Even though I was an RN and a lot of us where, we

ended up being used as aides or LPN's which if you think about it you are paying

a higher salaried worker to do a job that was eliminated to save money.

Peggy,

I actually saw technicians taking the places of RN's and the RN's not getting

paid positions and when they did they were responsible for paperwork with legal

implications, supervisory tasks, along with the care of the patients that we

went into the medical field to service.

The responsibility of being the liaison to the doctors, all other staff members,

labs, x-ray, admissions and others put tremendous stress on RN's and they were

the ones that families went to for answers for the care of their family.

The hard work on the floors serving others destroyed my back and many times I

lifted patients because other staff was not available and it was for the comfort

of the patient and to prevent the patient pain. Many of us here could tell

similar stories in similar jobs with responsibilities.

Yes, even recently with my Father in the hospital, a nurse promised that he has

a single nurse assigned to his room (and there was not patients in the ward)and

he would have one there after his surgery, that we should go to the hotel and

rest.

Unfortunately, when we showed up early the next morning, the first thing my

Father said is " Why did you abandon me? " . He had wet his gown, was not given a

urinal, his IV had infiltrated because it was not watched, and they did not

order him supper that night and he had not eaten! " . So there are still the staff

that do not care about their responsibility and I will never leave a family

member alone after this.

Sorry about getting off topic but I guess the whole point is to advocate for

your own good health care and your families. It is your right.

bennie

[Guest guest]

And I thought it was just the hospital I went to. When I had neck surgery the

staff assured my hubby and son that I'd be " well taken care of " and that it

really was okay to go home and get their sleep. Ahem. I rang for a nurse for two

hours after I really woke up, trying to get pain medication. No one showed up.

Hours later, I rang for more than an hour because I had to urinate. Same

problem: no one came. I finally was in enough pain that I would wait five

minutes, then call again. Finally a woman showed up who seemed unable to

understand me when I said I needed to pee. She finally helped me onto the

porta-pot next to my bed.

The worst part was I had to ask for toilet paper three times! She looked at me

like I was nuts that I wanted some. This gal finally managed to jab me in the

leg with something that was supposed to be pain medication, but I have no idea

what it was.

The next time I had to piddle I walked the mile to my room's bathroom with no

aid or supervision because that is where the toilet paper was, and I " toughed it

out " as far as pain meds until I got home. I really didn't know that this was

such a widespread problem! I do know that I'll never stay overnight without a

family member again.

So sorry to hear about your father, Bennie. I know how hard that whole ordeal

was on you and having all of that piled on top is awful.