I have learned that any time you want to make change happen, it takes alot of prep and copperation amongthose involved.
Are there other nurses who share your concerns? Could you form a working group to address the issues. You will need to demonstrate working conditions and workloads in similar situations and compare it with your own This of course all has to be done in writing, talking to supervisors etc with anything being written down will accomplishment nothing.
Your group willneed to brainstorm solutions, can't just say more nurses needed.
You can also get input from pts and get their opinions on the care they received while in hosp, frame it as a quality sasisfaction survery, not that you are looking for trouble;
These are just a few potential suggestion and I am sure you can think of more.
Within your group, delegate someone with acool head who speaks wrll to present your concerns to your immediate supervisor. Provide her with a written copy of your info as well as minutesof the meedting with her. Set a timeline of 2 3 weeks, if you have had no action go above her head to the next level.
Seems like alotof work,and it is.But if you want tobe listened to and taken seriously, you have to do properly or else you will just be a bunch of complaining nurses; Remember Cross you t's and dot you i's.
Charlene