Guest guest Posted April 19, 2001 Report Share Posted April 19, 2001 6-8 patients in a stepdown unit is about twice too many, IMHO. No wonder nurses are leaving hospital work. in Seattle ----- Original Message ----- > I'm not excusing poor nursing care.. I take care of 6 to 8 patients > per shift, & my patients love me. Just take into consideration that > there isn't always an easy fix.. or a specific culprit for poor care. > Just my .02, > Liane > Transplant/cardiothoracic stepdown RN > The Methodist Hospital > (...who spent most of last night (16 hours) trying to keep a gent with > D.T.'s from walking off the unit... and still took care of the other > seven without complaint...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2001 Report Share Posted April 20, 2001 > 6-8 patients in a stepdown unit is about twice too many, IMHO. > You're exactly right, .. but I don't want to leave.. and I've learned to deal with it. I am on a committee to make changes in the way things are done here, but changes come slow when your unit consistently is rated 90+% in patient satisfaction issues. I thought stepdown units in Texas were restricted to 3-4 patients, but somehow Methodist manages to skate around that little detail. Liane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2001 Report Share Posted April 20, 2001 > 6-8 patients in a stepdown unit is about twice too many, IMHO. > You're exactly right, .. but I don't want to leave.. and I've learned to deal with it. I am on a committee to make changes in the way things are done here, but changes come slow when your unit consistently is rated 90+% in patient satisfaction issues. I thought stepdown units in Texas were restricted to 3-4 patients, but somehow Methodist manages to skate around that little detail. Liane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2001 Report Share Posted April 20, 2001 I have been quietly reading all the posts about NY hospitals, and can't keep quiet anymore. Most people don't realize that there is more to NY than just New York City, however it is only a small section of NY. Upstate NY is totally different and is mostly rural farm land, lots of wooded mountains, lakes etc. Back to the subject...our hospitals are not that short staffed and I have never heard of anyone having to hire someone to take care of them while they were in the hospital. Thanks for letting me sound off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2001 Report Share Posted April 20, 2001 There have been some studies showing that the increased patient load has negative outcomes for patients. But of course that doesn't mean that the administration is reading those. In the hospital where I work we close beds if we lack staff. When nurses unite they will have the power they deserve. in Seattle ----- Original Message ----- > > > 6-8 patients in a stepdown unit is about twice too many, IMHO. > > > > You're exactly right, .. but I don't want to leave.. and I've > learned to deal with it. I am on a committee to make changes in the > way things are done here, but changes come slow when your unit > consistently is rated 90+% in patient satisfaction issues. I thought > stepdown units in Texas were restricted to 3-4 patients, but somehow > Methodist manages to skate around that little detail. > Liane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2001 Report Share Posted April 20, 2001 There have been some studies showing that the increased patient load has negative outcomes for patients. But of course that doesn't mean that the administration is reading those. In the hospital where I work we close beds if we lack staff. When nurses unite they will have the power they deserve. in Seattle ----- Original Message ----- > > > 6-8 patients in a stepdown unit is about twice too many, IMHO. > > > > You're exactly right, .. but I don't want to leave.. and I've > learned to deal with it. I am on a committee to make changes in the > way things are done here, but changes come slow when your unit > consistently is rated 90+% in patient satisfaction issues. I thought > stepdown units in Texas were restricted to 3-4 patients, but somehow > Methodist manages to skate around that little detail. > Liane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2001 Report Share Posted April 20, 2001 There have been some studies showing that the increased patient load has negative outcomes for patients. But of course that doesn't mean that the administration is reading those. In the hospital where I work we close beds if we lack staff. When nurses unite they will have the power they deserve. in Seattle ----- Original Message ----- > > > 6-8 patients in a stepdown unit is about twice too many, IMHO. > > > > You're exactly right, .. but I don't want to leave.. and I've > learned to deal with it. I am on a committee to make changes in the > way things are done here, but changes come slow when your unit > consistently is rated 90+% in patient satisfaction issues. I thought > stepdown units in Texas were restricted to 3-4 patients, but somehow > Methodist manages to skate around that little detail. > Liane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2001 Report Share Posted April 21, 2001 In a message dated 4/20/01 1:34:34 PM, duodenalswitch writes: << I have been quietly reading all the posts about NY hospitals, and can't keep quiet anymore. Most people don't realize that there is more to NY than just New York City, however it is only a small section of NY. Upstate NY is totally different and is mostly rural farm land, lots of wooded mountains, lakes etc. Back to the subject...our hospitals are not that short staffed and I have never heard of anyone having to hire someone to take care of them while they were in the hospital. Thanks for letting me sound off. >> Of course there is more to NY than NYC.... but, there is not one surgeon who performs the DS in upstate NY as far as anyone else is aware. SO, when we're talking about this operation in NY, we ARE referring to NYC because that's where the surgeons are! I think many, many people realize there is an entire state of New York. I lived in Albany for three years, actually. The Catskills are beautiful. Once again, if there were surgeons in other places in New York, I could definately see the necessity of differentiating, but since the surgeons are here in NYC, this is why everyone is referring to NYC as NY. all the best, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2001 Report Share Posted April 21, 2001 In a message dated 4/20/01 1:34:34 PM, duodenalswitch writes: << I have been quietly reading all the posts about NY hospitals, and can't keep quiet anymore. Most people don't realize that there is more to NY than just New York City, however it is only a small section of NY. Upstate NY is totally different and is mostly rural farm land, lots of wooded mountains, lakes etc. Back to the subject...our hospitals are not that short staffed and I have never heard of anyone having to hire someone to take care of them while they were in the hospital. Thanks for letting me sound off. >> Of course there is more to NY than NYC.... but, there is not one surgeon who performs the DS in upstate NY as far as anyone else is aware. SO, when we're talking about this operation in NY, we ARE referring to NYC because that's where the surgeons are! I think many, many people realize there is an entire state of New York. I lived in Albany for three years, actually. The Catskills are beautiful. Once again, if there were surgeons in other places in New York, I could definately see the necessity of differentiating, but since the surgeons are here in NYC, this is why everyone is referring to NYC as NY. all the best, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2001 Report Share Posted April 21, 2001 In a message dated 4/20/01 1:34:34 PM, duodenalswitch writes: << I have been quietly reading all the posts about NY hospitals, and can't keep quiet anymore. Most people don't realize that there is more to NY than just New York City, however it is only a small section of NY. Upstate NY is totally different and is mostly rural farm land, lots of wooded mountains, lakes etc. Back to the subject...our hospitals are not that short staffed and I have never heard of anyone having to hire someone to take care of them while they were in the hospital. Thanks for letting me sound off. >> Of course there is more to NY than NYC.... but, there is not one surgeon who performs the DS in upstate NY as far as anyone else is aware. SO, when we're talking about this operation in NY, we ARE referring to NYC because that's where the surgeons are! I think many, many people realize there is an entire state of New York. I lived in Albany for three years, actually. The Catskills are beautiful. Once again, if there were surgeons in other places in New York, I could definately see the necessity of differentiating, but since the surgeons are here in NYC, this is why everyone is referring to NYC as NY. all the best, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2001 Report Share Posted April 21, 2001 There's a severe nursing shortage everywhere! Even in areas with several nursing schools around (like ville, FL). RN's can get much better pay working for pharmaceutical companies, for insurance companies, even as a company nurse in private industry. Many of the people going to nursing school now are just there to get the degree so they can work in other fields and will tell you they have no interest in actual nursing care. Our hospital tries to maintain a good patient/nurse ratio. Sometimes that's difficult to do. We have the highest patient satisfaction rating in the NE Florida area. We also have higher rates. One insurance company rep actually complained that our bills were between 1/4 to 1/3 higher for similar services than other hospitals. She then immediately said " But, your hospital gives better care, has more nurses, and seems to be safer than a lot we deal with. " I wonder where she'd like us to cut the costs? (By the way, I was registering her as a patient at the time!) And doctors from all over the area who work at other facilities will only allow themselves and their families to come here. It always amazes me that they are willing to pay out-of-network rates to come here. You can't have deep staffing cuts and still maintain quality. (Just my opinion, of course. Please don't flame me!) P > >The nurses > > take care of the patients. Isn't that what they're > > there for? > > Yes.. but they usually have between 8 and 10 patients, depending on > their staffing ratios. There should also be patient care assistants > to provide a great deal of help (assisting to the bathroom, fetching > ice & water, etc. Registered nurses have a great deal more to do than > just patient care and passing medications.. and there are never enough > hours in a day. Don't blame the nurses entirely.. its the > administrators' fault too, if the nurses have no support personnel. > > > Why don't they just hire > > more nurses? > > Because there is a SEVERE nationwide nursing shortage. Adding to that, > some hospitals do not pay competitively enough to keep an adequate > nursing staff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2001 Report Share Posted April 21, 2001 There's a severe nursing shortage everywhere! Even in areas with several nursing schools around (like ville, FL). RN's can get much better pay working for pharmaceutical companies, for insurance companies, even as a company nurse in private industry. Many of the people going to nursing school now are just there to get the degree so they can work in other fields and will tell you they have no interest in actual nursing care. Our hospital tries to maintain a good patient/nurse ratio. Sometimes that's difficult to do. We have the highest patient satisfaction rating in the NE Florida area. We also have higher rates. One insurance company rep actually complained that our bills were between 1/4 to 1/3 higher for similar services than other hospitals. She then immediately said " But, your hospital gives better care, has more nurses, and seems to be safer than a lot we deal with. " I wonder where she'd like us to cut the costs? (By the way, I was registering her as a patient at the time!) And doctors from all over the area who work at other facilities will only allow themselves and their families to come here. It always amazes me that they are willing to pay out-of-network rates to come here. You can't have deep staffing cuts and still maintain quality. (Just my opinion, of course. Please don't flame me!) P > >The nurses > > take care of the patients. Isn't that what they're > > there for? > > Yes.. but they usually have between 8 and 10 patients, depending on > their staffing ratios. There should also be patient care assistants > to provide a great deal of help (assisting to the bathroom, fetching > ice & water, etc. Registered nurses have a great deal more to do than > just patient care and passing medications.. and there are never enough > hours in a day. Don't blame the nurses entirely.. its the > administrators' fault too, if the nurses have no support personnel. > > > Why don't they just hire > > more nurses? > > Because there is a SEVERE nationwide nursing shortage. Adding to that, > some hospitals do not pay competitively enough to keep an adequate > nursing staff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2001 Report Share Posted April 21, 2001 There's a severe nursing shortage everywhere! Even in areas with several nursing schools around (like ville, FL). RN's can get much better pay working for pharmaceutical companies, for insurance companies, even as a company nurse in private industry. Many of the people going to nursing school now are just there to get the degree so they can work in other fields and will tell you they have no interest in actual nursing care. Our hospital tries to maintain a good patient/nurse ratio. Sometimes that's difficult to do. We have the highest patient satisfaction rating in the NE Florida area. We also have higher rates. One insurance company rep actually complained that our bills were between 1/4 to 1/3 higher for similar services than other hospitals. She then immediately said " But, your hospital gives better care, has more nurses, and seems to be safer than a lot we deal with. " I wonder where she'd like us to cut the costs? (By the way, I was registering her as a patient at the time!) And doctors from all over the area who work at other facilities will only allow themselves and their families to come here. It always amazes me that they are willing to pay out-of-network rates to come here. You can't have deep staffing cuts and still maintain quality. (Just my opinion, of course. Please don't flame me!) P > >The nurses > > take care of the patients. Isn't that what they're > > there for? > > Yes.. but they usually have between 8 and 10 patients, depending on > their staffing ratios. There should also be patient care assistants > to provide a great deal of help (assisting to the bathroom, fetching > ice & water, etc. Registered nurses have a great deal more to do than > just patient care and passing medications.. and there are never enough > hours in a day. Don't blame the nurses entirely.. its the > administrators' fault too, if the nurses have no support personnel. > > > Why don't they just hire > > more nurses? > > Because there is a SEVERE nationwide nursing shortage. Adding to that, > some hospitals do not pay competitively enough to keep an adequate > nursing staff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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