Our Most Pressing Concerns With Healthcare

[nursinghumor]

Hello Everyone, this is a question I ask nurses that register with the Nursefriendly. Will be posting their responses here, feel free to chime in with your own.

Andrew Lopez, RN

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Your most pressing concerns with the profession and healthcare: That nurses will leave the health care industry for more of a business career. The idea of being a nurse is not as glamorous as it used to be. We work long hours, short staff, less pay, overtime, take cuts in pay just to keep a float. There are no incentives to continue with CEU's for most facilities no longer pay for them. This is a big issue and does not keep the nurses up to date with healthcare. You have to be on too many committees within your facility in order to get a raise. They don't care about your family and if you get to spend quality time with them, as long as the floor has a warm body to give nursing care.

Kathryn Spilker RN, BSN, LNC, Lifeline Medical/Legal Consulting L.L.C.:"As Legal Nurse Consultants, we use our nursing experience, and knowledge of legal issues in preparing cases related to health care issues. Screen cases for merit, prepare chronologies, summaries, timelines and analysis of the medical records. Identify standards of care, causation issues, locate experts, research and review medical data and literature. Assist attorneys with all aspects of discovery and trial preparation. The success of your medically related cases relies on qualified, detailed, and accurate assessment of the facts.
3034 Ridgetop Ct., St. Peters, Missouri 63376
E-Mail: educate5@verizon.net
Homepage Address: http://www.nursingentrepreneurs.com/spilker/

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Any questions, please drop me a line.

Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

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[nursinghumor]

Your most pressing concerns with the profession and healthcare: My most pressing concern is putting inexperienced nurses in critical care fresh out of college. They lack the experience necessary to work these areas. When we get a trauma in they panic and puts the patient and other nurses at risk. The saying a nurse is a nurse is a nurse is not true. Areas of nursing are to specialized and nurses need adequate training. The shortage of nurses has put the emphasis on filling vacancy's with anyone with a license.

Patty Olson, RN, BSN, MBA, Independent RN Services, Wisconsin Nurse Entrepreneurs:"Independent contracting to hospitals. Specializing in ER and ICU."
http://www.nursingentrepreneurs.com/olson

[nursinghumor]

Your most pressing concerns with the profession and healthcare: Growing lack of interest in a nursing career. Nursing shortages are at crucial levels across this nation. Many nurses have licenses in escrow because they are burnt- out or just tired of the misuse of nursing talents. Respect for nurses has being a long suffered issue that will only change when nurse unite and no longer fear supporting each other. Make your voice known. Join and take active roles in nurse organizations.

Gerry A. Kinjorski, BS, RN, CLNC, Aidant Research Nurses, Inc., Florida Nursing Entrepreneurs:"Aidant Research Nurses, Inc., is a legal nurse consulting firm that serves the patient-client and the attorney. If you have questions concerning negligence or medical-malpractice, personal injury or assault, toxic tort, worker's comp or any medical injury you may need Aidant."
http://www.nursingexperts.com/aidant/

[1mg.epi]

My friend, to answer your post on new grads in critical care. In our CCU, the experienced nurse becomes a teacher. A good precepter program will get them ready. We put new grads in our CCU then train them for 2 years ant move the best to our CVICU (it is in the same unit, long story). But if the new grad is not cutting it, we ask them to leave to another unit. This is voted on by 4-5 senior nurses after 6 months. We based it on the nurses ability to practice safe, ability to retain information, ability to look up information, attitude towards patient satisfaction. Then you have more personal such as, are they their for a social life, or help patients get better. I have seen some new grads become great nurses after 1 year. And most of the ones that stay for 1 year are here 5 years later. We have a great program.

You must set up a program that does not "eat your young". Take them under your wing. Give constant positive feedback.
When they are off orientation, you must always be their for them. Support, support, support. Most people will achieve your expectations if you set them out at the start and continue to challenge them.

[TracyR]

I am 100% behind any form of intern program, as long as it is appropriate for the unit. And I was one of those nurses who thought that all the newbies should spend time in Med/Surg before venturing out.

Teach them from the ground up... weed out as appropriate... everyone has their niche!

[cbreezen482]

My biggest concern with Healthcare (Nursing in particular) is that new grads aren't getting a good enough orientation at their jobs. I think it's pretty accurate to say that most facilities are short staffed and in such despirate need of help that they rush through the orientation phase of the job and basically throw the newbie's to the sharks, so to say.

I personally feel that the lack of guidance and supervision that a lot of new grads feel at their first jobs is turning them away from the nursing profession.

[1mg.epi]

With the nursing shortage, some times, you can't be picky. So, must bend with the situation. Although, med /surg does have hire bonus here. So, most of the nurses do come from the med/surg floor. But, you still must plan for the new grad. I have seen new grads in CVICU (we never do that here) at other hospitals. NOW THATS SCARY.

[1mg.epi]

NURSING SHORTAGE-What I think is funny about the nursing shortage is that, I read somewhere within with site that people were being turned away from nursing school because lack of nursing instructors.The school my hospital system runs is packed.
But as Mr. Nursinghumor said, [ QUOTE ]
Many nurses have licenses in escrow because they are burnt- out or just tired of the misuse of nursing talents.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Aaron C.]

epi, I think that's the BULK of the problem.

[nursinghumor]

Your most pressing concerns with the profession and healthcare:
http://www.nursefriendly.com/concerns/

"Nurses are required to spend a large amount of time documenting and protecting themselves legally, taking time away from patients. The nursing shortage is a concern both for the heavily burdened nurse providing care and the patient in need of quality care. The overuse of pharmaceuticals and the lack of focus on prevention. The cost of preventing a heart attack versus treating a heart attack. The healthcare system practices an expensive emergency medicine approach to most health care issues. Lack of personal responsibility for our own health in the general population is driving the cost of healthcare up for everyone of us."

Kim Markuly, RN, Living Well Solutions:"Consulting and marketing business focused on true prevention with Wellness programs, products and services. Customizing and integrating proven Wellness programs for a wide range of healthcare providers, clinics and businesses interested in promoting health and preventing disease."
5001 Spring Valley Road
Dallas, Texas 75088
markuly@nursefriendly.com
livingwellsolutions.net
http://www.nursefriendly.com/markuly