Leo’s Mane Sew Along

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Warning...... this is a rant!!!

I am so angry I could spit, just like a cat. It all started at work last night. When I got there at 3, I was told our staffing had been cut back from 7 to 6 because our census was down 1 patient, who is in the hospital. There are now 27 instead of 28 total care residents there, 25 of whom require total feeding at supper time. And they are not easy feeds, either. They have swallowing problems, need to be reminded of what they are doing, because they have forgotten what eating and swallowing even is. The first supper trays come at 4:30, and the second set come at 4:45. We finished feeing at 6:15 pm. That means that someone's supper sat for an hour and a half to and hour and three quarters before they finally got fed. Would you want that for your father or mother, or grandmother or grandfather? I sure wouldn't. I talked to our head person and was told a bunch of nonsense about statistics, and national averages for staff to patient care hours, and how there is no money for bringing back the 7th staff member. But, when the one patient returns there will be???? How on earth does this even begin to make sense??? Would she/he want this for her/his parent or grandparent? This head person isn't even a nurse, but is managing a nursing unit, and has absolutely no clue what goes on from day to day, and shift to shift. The head person then made the suggestion that the trays could be delivered earlier. How would that make a difference in the fact that there are 25 people to feed, and that it would take just as long? The moral at our workplace is the lowest I have ever seen it, and it is partly because of stuff like this. There is no reasoning with them. Money and statistics are the bottom line, even though the organization, which I cannot name, talks all kinds of nonsense about it promoting "patient focused care". They aren't the ones who have to deal with the family members who, quite rightly, complain when their father or mother are sitting in a soaking wet chair, or are waiting for a cold, congealed meal. WE are, and WE are absolutely powerless to change it. Like I said, I am so mad, I could spit. There has recently been stories on the news talking about the salaries of the CEO's of the various hospitals......... up to $700,000 per year, before travel allowances and all kinds of other benefits and perks. But there is no money to pay for a staff for even 4 hours so the someone doesn't have to eat a cold meal.  GRRRROOOOOOWWWWWWLLL!!!!

11 comments:

  1. Wow, that's really crazy. I hate it when bureaucracy dictates over common sense. Especially when the 'bureaucrat' isn't even educated in the field over which he's dictating. Hang in there, friend, hang in there, and concentrate on those parents/grandparents who need the love and care you are equipped to give. Praying for you!! Hugs! :)

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  2. oh my gosh-that is so wrong/sad/disgusting-I would be spitting too.
    Reminds me of an article in our local paper this Sunday, apparently the CEO of Walmart makes more in an HOUR ($16,000+/hr) than a full-time employee makes in a YEAR ($13,000). No one can justify this inequality, no one.

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  3. Oh Cathy, isn't it sad that priorities are on profit instead of on patients. Sorry you and your patients had to be involved with such craziness.

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  4. I hear your growling all the way to Georgia,USA. All of us RN's feel the same way. The number crunchers have no clue!!! On a happy note I enjoy your blog. Quilting keeps me grounded. Happy Holidays, Barbara

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  5. I also feel your pain. I worked 11 years in the cardiac dept, 8 of them in the ICU and they would cut our staffing too! Atrocious. Hang in there!

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  6. I understand totally since I work in a hospital. Sometimes things just don't make any sense. I will never give up on telling anyone who will listen about those things. You just never know which of the people you tell will be the "difference maker". Clearly your head person is not the one! What about writing a letter to the board or president about the incident?

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  7. Thank God someone cares! Anyone that has had a loved one in hospital or nursing home who cannot advocate for themselves needs caring nurses like you to stand up for them. Unfortunately, as so often happens these complaints fall on the deaf ears of management and the nursing staff gets the brunt of the angry and upset families.

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  8. If my Grandmother were alive today, she'd be livid! And she'd probably give that head person making those insane decisions based on stats a piece of her mind. She was a firecracker! She did her nursing training and obtained her nursing degree during the end of WW2. In her later years, she was appalled at the state of the hospitals and care giving institutes. It was far from the standards she was use to during her nursing career.

    I'm so sad you have to deal with the situation at your workplace. Please know that the people you are caring for need your care and support and those of us on the outside appreciate everything to do.

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  9. I hear you...and that is one of the reasons that I don't miss working in nursing, although I miss the patients/residents and many of my co-workers. There are good facilities, but you often don't hear about them. I shudder to think what my parents may be facing in a few years.

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  10. That's ridiculous! hang in there. Soon you will get a few days off (not that it will make things better, but it will at least be a break and you will get to see Avery).

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  11. Oh, dear, stories like this make me cringe. Mom is in a Long Term Care facility, and although she is able to feed herself I know many of the other residents need help. Thank you for caring.

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I love reading all your comments, and am grateful for each one. I try very hard to answer them all, but lately I haven’t quite been able to answer all of them.