Comments for Off the Charts

Comment on Dispatch from Melbourne: A Significant Loss for International Council of Nurses? by Peggy McDaniel

Peggy McDaniel — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:47:21 +0000

Have fun in Melbourne Shawn! If you are in Brisbane let me know as I’d love to meet up. Cheers!

Comment on Where Medicine Leaves Off by Becky Lehr, LPN

Becky Lehr, LPN — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:08:41 +0000

Very touching.

Comment on More Evidence: Should We Get Rid of 12-Hour Nursing Shifts, Despite Their Popularity? by Vivian

Vivian — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:56:09 +0000

For the nurses who are working two jobs, is it really the 12 hour shift that is the enemy? If they worked five 8-hour shifts at one hospital and five 8 hour shifts at another…there would still be that instense level of fatigue…maybe even more. Having worked 12 hours shifts for a number of years, I believe they offer more continuity of care to patients IF and only if, the nurses who hand-off to one another are on top of things. It is a nightmare if you are working behind someone who cannot get themselves organized and keep things under control. I am talking about day-to-day routine circumstances, not those times when all things go haywire. As for the shifts extending on to longer hours, perhaps those persons responsible for determining staffing levels should look at acuity and have enough staff so nurses can take care of their patients at a reasonable pace and have time to think about what they are doing. I have been working as a RN for 35 years and have been a staff nurse on all shifts. My experience has been when people are forced to continually work short, the poor care where just the minimum is done (and barely that) becomes the norm. 12 hour shifts should not be scheduled for more than 3 days in a row and really, 2 is more optimal. NO provider should be scheduled for seven 12 hour shifts…totally dangerous.
All health care providers need to be schooled to take care of themselves and get proper rest. My experience was in order to be successful with 12 hours shifts, on the days that I worked, that was all I did…work, eat, sleep. There is really no time for other activities. It is a trade-off, because there is a finite amount of time in any week.

Comment on Watch a Student Nurse in the UK Give a Voice to Nurses Everywhere by Belinda R. Garcia RN

Belinda R. Garcia RN — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:24:55 +0000

This is all true from your lip to Gods ears let ring out .
Nurses are help strangers the world out.
We give and give without much complaint.
Thank you for telling the world what we do without restraint!

Comment on Watch a Student Nurse in the UK Give a Voice to Nurses Everywhere by Harry m

Harry m — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:21:04 +0000

Wonderful testimony to the commitment of Nurses across the world!

Comment on Telling Patients About Staffing Levels: Transparency or Self-Interest? by Susan Dameron Cote-Eagle

Susan Dameron Cote-Eagle — Thu, 09 May 2013 22:00:46 +0000

I see both sides to this issue, as do most of us. I work in a small community hospital with one med-surg unit, (where I work), and the ER. We are expected to help out in the ER when it has increased census, which can make getting care done on med-surg problematical at times, to say the least. If the matter that the patient has called about is urgent, (needs pain meds, having difficulty breathing, and so on), I work to resolve that before going to the ER to help out, but there have been times that getting all meds passed and care done has happened after the patients would have liked. Because our hospital and our community is small, a lot of the time the patients themselves will ask if it’s been busy. At that time, I apologize about not getting back to them quicker, briefly explain the situation, (without giving any details), and immediately attend to their needs, (i.e.; “I’m sorry about the delay, but I had to respond to an emergency in the ER first, before helping you get ready for bed. Now, what can I do for you?”). To my knowledge, I’ve never had a complaint about lack of care, and if they are asking, I believe they have the right to know.

Comment on Telling Patients About Staffing Levels: Transparency or Self-Interest? by Teresa, the PhD nurse from Oregon

Teresa, the PhD nurse from Oregon — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:50:45 +0000

Another argument for telling patients about staffing levels is that it may prompt change in the future. If patients mention poor staffing on their HCAHPS surveys, something might happen. Because money talks.

Comment on Telling Patients About Staffing Levels: Transparency or Self-Interest? by Shelley

Shelley — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:16:28 +0000

The statement to not tell the patient because it’s the nurse’s problem and not the patient’s was incorrect. The problem of shortage affects the patients most of all. However, I do not think it appropriate to tell patients of the shortage. Like Debra said, apologize and get the job done.The patients often have enough on their mind. They don’t need the added anxiety of wondering if they will be cared for.

Comment on Telling Patients About Staffing Levels: Transparency or Self-Interest? by Debra Jacoba

Debra Jacoba — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:27:58 +0000

Patients don’t want to hear about staffing issues and this just adds fuel to the fire. Apologize….and get the meds to the patient a.s.a.p.

Comment on Telling Patients About Staffing Levels: Transparency or Self-Interest? by Pam

Pam — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:10:34 +0000

It’s an honest response and explanation, however, when my Dad was in agony, furthest from the med area, and short staffing made him wait- writhing in pain- for an incredible length of time, and an RN house supervisor I had paged for help came sauntering to the door of his room and explained that, I was furious. Unless she had retrieved the medicine from a pocket ot from her clipboard she was of Bo use to us. Explaining the situation to us as if that made all ok, unacceptable. The 20 min she stood outside my Father’s room telling me that as an RN myself, I should understand, without helping, was unacceptable. St. Joseph’s in Bellingham, WA. This is my observation. With a long history of management in nursing myself, I was even further upset at her management.