Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Time marches on....

A couple of weeks ago we had a very long night.  There were 18 or so patients on the unit and 3 RN's plus me.  It was very busy all around.  My assignment was doing meds on nine patients.  If I had stayed after eleven I would have assessed all nine as well.  But for those first 4 hours I just had to pass their meds, that was the goal.  It was soo busy.  I couldn't get ahead for falling behind.  Every person was a 15 to 20 minute pass it seemed like.  We were all chasing our tails.  And the admissions were coming in to.  It made me think back to when I first started at the ranch and we had 28 pts, 2 RN's, me and one CNA.  I would routinely take nine patients and do everything for them.  Primary care, vitals, assessments, meds, and anything else that came up.  I have no idea now how I did it all.  There is no way I could manage all that now.  No possible way.  Our staffing is certainly better now.  We have 22 beds and most nights have at least 3 if not 4 RN's.  And always 2 if not 3 CNA's.  Still, it feels like it barely all gets done some nights.  Sometimes at the end of the night, the only thing we take comfort in is that all the patients made it through the night.  Some things may not have gotten done, but everyone is breathing and safely tucked into bed in no acute distress when we walk outta there. 

Sorry for the kind of rambling post but it was on my mind and needed to get it out.  Hope everyone has a great week.

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