tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19411997.post5527007058365566587..comments2023-07-21T07:01:10.447-04:00Comments on A Jolly Company: Good nurse, Bad nurseNathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07288330419297657142noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19411997.post-7729762146494401192007-02-26T15:06:00.000-05:002007-02-26T15:06:00.000-05:00Annonymous, thanks for the comment. I do recogniz...Annonymous, thanks for the comment. I do recognize the disparity in patient load between the two environments, but I'll keep your comments in mind through the frustrations of intern year. At least, I'll try to. :)<BR/><BR/>Mr. Smith is actually still with the living, though he won't be entering any trialthlons anytime soon. I plan on a follow up post shortly.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07288330419297657142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19411997.post-70222010073071921882007-02-26T09:18:00.000-05:002007-02-26T09:18:00.000-05:00This was a interesting post from a soon-to-be phys...This was a interesting post from a soon-to-be physician's vantage point. It sounds like you have a pretty good assessment of why nurses in ICU seem more competent and well-trained than nurses on the floor. <BR/><BR/>I may add one other observation. As a nurse with experience only on the floor, I can say that floor nursing has to be the toughest, most stressful form of nursing out there. You may have a good nurse with many years of experience but she may have such an overwhelming load that she forgets a few things or because of the need to prioritize for the most needy, higher acuity patient, she may put off a few other tasks.<BR/><BR/>I will be the first to say that this is no excuse for poor nursing care or inattention to details. However, this is the real world norm oftentimes on the floor.<BR/><BR/>I started at a smaller hospital about 8 months ago for several reasons and one of the most desirable was the ability to provide better care with lesser nurse to patient ratios. After a short 6 weeks at this new facility, the administration made the decision to fire all the CNAs on the spot. Now the nurse not only had her usual nursing duties but all the aide duties to attend to as well. This is also becoming more common practice as cost-cutting measures become a necessity in the highly competitive health care industry. So now the nurses taking care of your patients may have between 5-9 patients for which to provide nursing care along with giving basic daily care like bathing, dressing, ambulating, vital signs, blood sugar monitoring, ordering meals, picking up meal trays, passing out snacks and fresh water, changing bed linens, and keeping the rooms straightened. <BR/><BR/>Not to ramble on and on, but just something to keep in mind while you round on your floor patients. :)<BR/><BR/>I desire to give very competent, attentive care to all my patients. Unfortunately there are days when if everyone gets their AM medication before noon and everyone has their major systems assessed, and no one has meds given to them in error, and no one begins deteriorating during my shift, it has been a good day.<BR/><BR/>This was a great post and something I will keep in mind when I am out doing my work on the floor.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I would greatly appreciate more posts about nursing if you are so inclined.<BR/><BR/>BTW, how is Mr. Smith? I assume maybe a poor outcome since no follow-up post but I was just curious.<BR/><BR/>~Anonymous RN<BR/><BR/>P.S. I have told a couple of my nursing friends about your blog so you may have a readership with more nurses now. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com