Safe Staffing Saves Lives
Safe staffing saves lives. "Insufficient nurse staffing is linked with poorer patient outcomes, lengthened hospital stays and increased chance of patient death." (American Nurses Association).
There is much research to show that this is true. There are two bills about staffing and staffing ratios that need public support.
Please call your Senators and House Representatives about supporting:
*House Resolution 1602 (called H.R.1602 - Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2015). Read it here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1602/text , and
*Senate Bill 864 (called the National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act). Read it here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/864/text .
Use this link if you don't have your Congresscritters number handy: http://whoismyrepresentative.com/
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A call or an email could make a big difference in your life or the life of someone you love (be it a patient or a nurse).
I have been at my current nursing job for 20 years. Even after 20 years I still love my job. I love it and plan to stay.
But a few weeks ago I had far too many patients to care for. This happens far too frequently these days. I spent the day putting out fires, catching up, treading water, attempting to keep up, and looking for help from colleagues who were often too busy themselves to provide the assistance I needed.
During this 12 hour day (Which are never 12 hours. It's always more than that.), I spent my 30 minute lunch break hiding out in the rest room where I hung my scrubs up to air out and took a bird bath. I left that night crying and well over two hours late. I kept detailed notes all day so I could focus on patient care and then spent the two hour overage documenting that care. This is a terrible way to work. Thankfully my patients were stable for the most part, but just one crisis would have affected the care of all the others in a negative way.
Just to be clear- I have been at my job, in the same unit, and the same facility for twenty years. I know my job very, very well. There is a national nursing shortage, patients are sicker, and money is tight. I understand that. But ask yourself 'If a long-term, knowledgeable, and efficient nurse can't manage his or her patient load, what kind of care would I or could I expect as a patient?'
Certainly not all days or all facilities are like that, but too many of them are. I have seen and felt the changes over my many years of practice.
My dad died due to poor medical care several years ago. The root cause of his preventable death was poor staffing. The experienced nurses had far too many patients to care for and missed important clues to his condition because they simply did not have the time to devote to his care that he needed.
Safe staffing saves lives. Please call or write. Do it now so you won't forget. It only takes a few minutes.
