Unsafe working conditions.

[Panthro]

NightOwl I have read this thread and can I first start of by saying: you are a credit to the profession! If only us nurses stuck together and fought for patient care - like you have - rather than getting ourselves so stressed out that we end up off sick continuing the cycle of staff shortage.

 

Our directorate is on a mad money saving mode at the minute. All bank has to be authorised by the lead nurse or her deputy and if authorised not for a full shift, i.e. we do 7.30 to 8pm but the bank nurse/auxiliary will do 9am to 7pm. We have to explain the reasons for requesting bank and go through each of the patients conditions to get authorisation.

 

One nightshift, it was me, another RN and an auxiliary for 22 patients split between two wards. The night co-ordinator phoned to move the RN (incidentally to a ward with 17 patients) and I would get an auxiliary in return. I lost it and said not a chance and went into a rant about how busy it was, the dependency of the patients, the fact that it was my registration on the line blah blah. He still wanted them moved, so I told him that he better come to the ward for the keys and a handover as I wasn't taking charge of these patients on my own. He phoned me back to say that they had found someone 'extra' in MRU. Incidentally I phoned the MRU (to borrow something I think) later that night and whilst on the line I asked them on their bed status...they had 12 patients with 8 staff nurses and a charge nurse!!! The nurse I spoke to was "bored beyond belief!". So at the beginning of the night they had 10 nurses, one of whom was moved to the short ward, for 12 patients!!! I filled in a Datix (incident form) with those details...never have heard anything from it (as usual). I am known as the Datix King however, maybe they are a bit ****ed off?! Don't care though!!

 

Although the moving staff from our ward seems to have halted...at the minute! Co-incidence? I'll wait until winter is over to confirm. Don't get my wrong I don't mind helping out other wards when they are stuck but not at the expense of my patients (robbing Peter to pay Paul).

 

I'm not usually so rebellious but they made me do it! I doubt I would have carried out my threat but sounded good at the time. I admire nurses like you who truly put their patients first before themselves. Sorry for the waffling post!

[Panthro]

I'm not going to bleat on how bad it is for us nurses nor defend appalling care but the majority of us really do care about our patients but find it difficult with poor staffing, no equipment or support from above. Also we as a profession do not support each other as well as others such as the fire fighters. We are not greedy. We are not asking for extra money but for the facilities, resources and staffing to provide safe, effective and evidenced-based care to our patients.

 

Any mention of the word "strike" and we are labelled as uncaring and willingly putting patients in danger, also known as a guilt trip. The trusts (and health boards in Scotland) are there to defend themselves. As employees we are directed by them especially in the current financial climate (very sad I know). The Sheriff in this recent Fatal Accident Inquiry (similar to a Coroner's Inquest in England and Wales) said:

 

"It was clear to me from a very early stage that there was, at the very least, potentially, a conflict of interest in those seeking to represent NHS Fife and the various doctors and nurses. I raised this even before the Inquiry started and again several times after it was in progress. I was constantly assured by Counsel that there was no such conflict and that Counsel would and could continue to represent all of these parties. Eventually, after the doctors had given evidence, solicitors appeared seeking to represent, separately, the interests of the doctors and the nurses. That was, in my view both appropriate and necessary from the point of view of the doctors and nurses."

 

Unfortunately there are more nurses than not who will simply follow the lead of their employer when complaints arise. Very sad when our Code of Conduct expects us to be our patients advocates.

Edited November 2, 2010 by Panthro