5 West Nursing

As I come to work today someone had told me that our big boss (aka director) is a patient on the 7th floor. “No way” I said. “You better believe it” said my co-worker. I did a quick search and sure enough, her name appeared (HIPAA, what HIPAA?).

It turns out that our boss was going for some type of sugery in the morning. Hmmm I hope she doesn’t end up in the ICU. But then again maybe she should end up in our unit… after all, she runs the place and maybe, just maybe, she’ll find out for herself the frustrations we as nurses have to go through. I could only imagine it right now…

Boss patient: “Nurse I need my pain medication STAT.”

Nurse: “Sorry boss, the pharmacy hasn’t profiled it yet. I already called 3 times and the Pyxis doesn’t have it. Don’t worry, it’s only been two hours since I scanned the order, they usually have it after the third hour.”

Boss patient: “I want a bath.”

Nurse: “Sorry boss, you’ll have to wait, we didn’t have towels and wash cloths when we started our shift. The morning shift used it all up and didn’t bother to replenish them. Do you mind if I used pillow cases or top sheets instead?”

Boss patient: “Nurse, my dressing needs to be changed.”

Nurse: “Ok boss, but can that wait until the morning? Our supply room is lacking supplies. Apparently the morning shift used up all the 4×4 gauze, abdominal pads, and tape without replenishing them. The hospital central supplies department closes at 5 p.m. Besides, no one has bothered to order supplies for the last 2 days, oh yeah, it was the weekend. Actually, the supplies did come, but they just stack the boxes instead of stocking the selves. Do you mind waiting a couple hours while I search for them in those boxes?”

I don’t know about you, but we nurses are supposed to be the company’s “front line soldiers” when it comes to providing care and representing customer service. Problem is, how can we do that if support services like central supplies, pharmacy, or even labs don’t back us up. Regardless of who dropped the ball, it is always the nurses’ fault when patient’s care gets delayed. Is it fair? Definitely not! Does it happen everywhere? No!

I came from a hospital that is well stocked, well supported, and well managed. Pharmacy delivers the meds within 15-30 min, not hours. Time lab draws get done… on time, and central supply rooms are always stocked, just like shelves at Walmart. And to top it of, it was a non-profit community hospital to say the least. Here at MMC, we make profit… on the expense of either the patient, or the nurse. I don’t think even the CEO cares about what is going on in the front line as long as the numbers are right. What ever happened to the “Service Excellence” ideals that we’ve heard about during our orientation?

Despite this I can say that in my 4 years of working here, it has been a lot better. I can say that this hospital is a lot better from when I first started here because of the fact that I’m here!

Patients are treated right because I treat them right…

Things get done because I make sure it gets done…

Equipment gets fixed because I make sure it does, and when they don’t, I just write my director up. She’s bound to listen.

Overall, I think this place could improve a lot more and I know it will. How can it not, I’m here! Fortunately for MMC, I’m not the kind of nurse that bends over and take it up where the sun don’t shine. I’m sure you’ll do the same thing. But then again, I’m 5 Wester, and you’re not!