Is materialism the cause of our current nursing shortage? Do nurses see themselves as not getting their share of the ever expanding slice of medical cost pie?
I wonder if the short term answer (consumer driven healthcare is a long way off) is specialized nursing. It already is, to a point, but why couldn't an RN choose to specialize in lung disease and forgo the digestive system hygiene duties to someone who specializes in just that?
Just wondering.
6 comments:
specialize in digestive system hygiene duties?
some nurses are very good at delegating those duties to the patient care assistants.
and even tho pca's may specialize in wiping butts, their pay check doesn't reflect it. or maybe it does, come to think of it.
dunno that i would say materialism is the cause, tho.
i'd be more inclined to think that it's because of constant fear of being sued, and loosing everything because of someone else's greed.
or maybe it's because of the fact that nurses have a tendency to eat their young.
or maybe it's because nurses are worked to the bone, not even able to take the break that they are entitled to by law.
or maybe it's because nurses often work with litte acknowledgement from admin.
or maybe it's because of all the charting demands put on nurses, so that they have to spend more time charting, than actually caring for patients.
then again, i left geriatric nursing for emergency medicine.
I have two nephews who became nurses in the past three years and they say that the biggest problem leading to the lack of nurses is the fact that there aren't enough teachers. Many more qualified students apply to nursing schools than can be accepted. The reason there aren't enough teachers is that teachers aren't paid as well as nurses, and those that are qualified to teach can make more nursing. I suppose then that the case could be argued that it's because of materialism. On the other hand, teachers aren't paid well anywhere. Do we, as a society, just not value eudcation?
Yeah. Charting. It's insane. Everything you say gets written down. I got my records after the birth of one of my children and you would NOT believe what all they wrote down. "Patient states that her children at home are missing her and she is worried about them". Never tell a nurse anything you aren't prepared to have written down in your chart.
As a nurse, I can tell you the shortage is partly due to extremely long hours, short staffing, abusive patients,families, doctors,etc. Minimum shifts at facilities usually start at 12hrs. What mother can work 12hrs, 4 days a week at a minimum? Often you are "asked" to stay over for up to a 20hr shift at a moments notice. I have practiced in a hospital, a nursing home, taught nursing and now am a telephone advice nurse. I will admit I was just plain "burnt out" from being harrassed, being afraid for my license and being required to care for up to 11 patients at one time. Nursing is a calling, not a financial opportunity. Nurses that stay in nursing do it because they love it.
I have heard that some of the bigger shallenges of nursing include family members. Any hints on how family members can make it easier for nurses?
I also think that the hours nurses work are bad. I was once a security guard in Tennessee. We were limited by law to no more than 16 hours in a 48 hour period. Seems to me that if Barney Fife can't perform right after 8 hours, how is a nurse going to do it?
any hints on how family members can make it easier for nurses?
do not have the mentality that your family member is the only patient that the nurse is responsible for.
on the other hand, do ask for what you need. do be involved. do be an advocate for your family member.
i agree that the hours are bad.
as you know, i'm a paramedic, i work 12 hr days. this weekend, i'm working thurs, fri, sat and sunday. (i'll be ready for monday to come.) wednesday's shift (yesterday) was open, but i told bossman, i am NOT working 5 days in a row. that would be 60 hours in 5 days. not to mention the very real possibility of a late call.
i got my way :D
i did not have to work wednesday
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