Since when have hospitals become so concerned with patient satisfaction that we now are giving concierge-type care instead of doing what’s necessary to save people’s lives? We have gone from a society of small community hospitals where the focus was on truly taking care of the patients to huge corporations where the focus is more on making sure patients are happy rather than providing quality care. Many of our actions are focused on whether others will like us or what they will think of us. … [Read more...]
Dirty Little Secrets
It is with a bit of embarrassment that I share this story with you but in my opinion the teaching points are important. Those who have read my books have heard of the man who coded early in my nursing career. While the more experienced nurses went to his aid, I was asked to watch the other patients on the floor. I was new, I was scared and glad it wasn’t my patient. In the midst of this crisis, one of the nurses came out and asked if I could go to central supply and pickup some equipment. … [Read more...]
There Is No Shame
As a nurse, our identity is so tied with our profession. If there is any question about how we are doing our job, we take it personally. If you have been written up or have been disciplined as a nurse, I would encourage you to look at things differently. View it as a learning opportunity. If you recall, I’m sure you will find times in your life which were difficult or hard but you managed to come through them. My guess is that you came through for the better. I also have had very … [Read more...]
We All Make Mistakes
Lately I have been receiving a lot of calls from nurses who either had a criminal problem in their past and are afraid that they won’t be able to get their nursing license or have had a criminal matter after they had obtained their license. None of these nurses ever thought that they would have a criminal matter but somehow they did. Because the facility where she worked was short-staffed, one nurse forgot to give a medication. She actually worked 120 hours in that pay period. She was afraid … [Read more...]
Are You Being Heard?
A nurse, Maria, was working in the ICU. There were 8 patients with 4 nurses. The acuity was very high and for everything that needed to be done for each patient, they needed more staff. One patient coded and 2 nurses were assisting with the code while the other 2 nurses were caring for the remaining 7 patients. One of the remaining patient’s condition was deteriorating and it went unnoticed. That patient coded and died. The nurse was so upset, she took the code sheet and slammed it on her … [Read more...]
