Guest Blog Post by Mary Kohout, RN, Fairview Southdale Hospital
I worked this past weekend in the ICU. There were many frustrations and concerns to be had by all the staff. On Friday afternoon from 3-7, we were two nurses short. This was completly unacceptable. We had no resourse nurse and only one flying squad nurse. Our charge nurse had to be off the floor to respond to two RRTs b/c our flying squad was tied up with other patients. During this time, we had obtained an unstable artic sun, heart patient, and an unstable surgical patient. We only had one aide, who was not on the floor b/c she had to go and get blood for all these patients. We did not have help to provide basic cares to our patients b/c there was no assistance to be obtained. No one was able to take breaks. I worked a double shift that day and did not get a break until after eight. This break was only for ten minutes b/c we were so busy. An unsafe staffing form was filled out for this day.
On Saturday eve, we again only had one aide. The acuity in the ICU is so high and only having one aide does not benefit anyone. On the weekends, our aide also has to do transports and break any sits. This leaves little time for assistance to nurses. Nurses need that help to turn patients. Many of our patients require assistance of three people b/c of ventrics, lines, and trachs. The lifts do not help in this instance at all.
Sunday, was another hectic day. We had many 1:1s and crashing patients. All resources were tied up most of the day to care for those patients which required many nurses to care for them. My patient that I was caring for needed assistance throughout the day. This was hard to come by b/c of the heavy assignments and no NA’s to help.
I did not like telling my patients famiy that they had to sit in stool for awhile on several occasions b/c all resources were being tied up. Our co workers try and help each other as best we can but with the heavy patient assignments this is not always feasible. This does not help the patient or their families have an “exceptional experience.”
The ICU cannot be staffed according to numbers but patient acuity. We need more assistance in the forms of both nurses and aides to do our job safely and adequately. After all, isn’t that why we became a nurse? We like to help others, save and comfort them, and provide the best care we can.