First Newsletter

A whiteboard for nurses

DATE: July 14, 2023

I LIKE TO BE CALLED: “HEY NURSE!!!”

CARE MEME TEAM:

Totally

TODAYS PLAN: Give life

One day a group of nurses was working in the ICU and there was something amazing that would take place. Something bittersweet and something we had never seen before. An amazing patient made the decision to donate her lungs. While organ donation is a common and great thing, this wasn’t quite the same situation. The patient suffered from a debilitating disease that slowly progressed and made it so they couldn’t breathe. Their lungs were completely fine, but the body was not able to move the muscles to make the patient breathe. The patient made a decision that they were content with their life and it was time to move on. Without a ventilator, the patient would not survive. They made the conscious decision that they would end theirs so another can go on. This put the medical team in a pickle. No surgeon was willing to take a life even though that’s what needed to happen. After some debate, it was decided the patient would be taken to the OR, made comfortable and be removed from the vent. At the patients command, the team would oblige the patient’s request. A short time later the patient succumbed their acknowledged fate and passed. The patients amazing decision and tremendous heart allowed their sacrifice to help not only a lung donor recipient but also a couple other donor recipients to have a new lease on life. This amazing patient took the worst of a situation and made their life have an amazing meaning to others. A truly amazing person.

Advertisement… maybe? Any suckers out there ? 😄 

PAIN LEVEL: Feel the pain - Its the Wall of Shame

“Some workers at U.S. hospital giant HCA say it puts profits above patient care” - NBC News

A for profit hospital worrying about their profits? Guess there is no spoiler alert on this one. Does your hospital feel the same way? Most hospitals (profit or not profit) seem to be run this way in our eyes.

Some workers at U.S. hospital giant HCA say it puts profits above patient care

A union study found HCA’s staffing levels were below the average for other hospitals in 19 of the 20 states where it provided care in 2020.

www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/workers-us-hospital-giant-hca-say-puts-profits-patient-care-rcna64122

CARE SANITY PLAN: You got PALS right?

***Disclaimer - All of these stories are may or may not based on true stories. They are told from many different people all over the world. We can’t confirm or deny any of the details. All stories are sent anonymously. It might happened…but you should consider these as a “fictional” story 🙃. 
It was a quiet day in a small surgical hospital and the ICU remained closed. This particular ICU was closed almost its entire life since the hospital opened. Like most hospitals they tried to minimize their staffing costs so they really didn’t staff ICU nurses. If an emergency were to occur, the house supervisor (who theoretically had critical care experience) would become the primary nurse for the patient and an ER nurse would float up to be their backup. This is all theoretical,  it really hadn't been done before. Down in the OR  a case was brewing that may need the ICU. A young pediatric patient suddenly became hypotensive and was going to be in need of some good old fashioned Critical Care. The hospital previously,  what do you call it,  lied to the Physicians saying that we could accept and admit pediatric patients to the hospital, but it had never been done before. The CNO comes down from their ivory tower to see how they can help manage this new endeavor. The physician is adamant the child should be admitted to the ICU (which makes sense…the kiddo needs ICU, sure as hell isnt at this place) but he is oblivious of the true capabilities of the hospital. He was showered with exaggerations of the truth and probably some straight up lies convince him to bring his patients to the hospital. Him, like so many other doctors were fooled this way so this cash cow can keep on mooing. Despite not having the basics like syringe pumps, pediatric monitoring equipment, pharmacy staff that is used to mixing pediatric dose pressors, respiratory therapists that have the knowledge of pediatrics, nursing staff that has any experience in pediatrics or an intensivist physician credentialed to take care of a child in the ICU, there had to be a way. The CNO turns to the house supervisor, director of the nursing staff what whoever else was there and says….”I dont understand…You guys have PALS right? Thats not enough?” 😨. Yes people, this is the best and most qualified person this hospital could come up with to lead.

I & O’s: (In one ear, out the other….news you can use)

Your good old pals at the US Congress introduced a bill to mandate staffing standards! But don’t hold your breath, its the government and they shot it down before. Its probably just dog and pony show 🐶 🐴 

Does the government care about you? No…

but maybe

www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1113/text

DISCHARGE ESCAPE PLAN: SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!!!!!

btw - if you know the inside scoop why these hospitals are desperate…let us know!! Email us [email protected]

L&D 48hrs a week $6156/wk Bakersfield CA $128.25/hr

CVOR 40hrs a week $5126/wk Sacramento, CA $128.15/hr