AIBU to think that Cameron is telling nurses to do things that they already do?

[MyNameIsNotNurse]

Or aim to do given the oppertunity.
Link

David Cameron's 'ideas'
Hourly checks on patients to make sure they have had enought to eat/drink and are comefortable.
Isn't this just basic care?
Also to have members of the public doing spot checks on their local hospitals, isn't this just going a bit too far?

I would really like him to do a 12 hour shift on a busy ward, with sick people needing more than just the hourly walk around to make sure that things are ok.
What about the patients who are in need of 15 minute observations. Patients with poor mobility who take more than 30 seconds to get to the toilet and needs assistance every step of the way. What about the drug rounds? Then multiply that by 30 pateints for 2 staff nurses (some with little experiance) If 1 patient is really ill thats 1 nurse down so 30 patients beeing looked after by 1 nurse, and maybe 1 or 2 HCA.

Why does he not discuss the staffing issues, which most wards have the mountains of paper work which each and every nurse has to get through every shift which takes away from the care of patients.
Most nurses I know stay behind to finish paperwork, turn into work when they or their family is not well, go without breaks, work 12hours a shift, do extra shifts and Given up our measily 3% payrise over 3 years.

He's just making a lot of noise saying we should do things we already do in order that the public think we're not doing them and we lose support?

Oh, we're errrr......robots are we? Do you know what it takes to nurse? Have you any idea of what nursing in today's society involves? No, you haven't.

Imagine you are flying in an aeroplane. You are flying on National Airlines. Other countries have airlines with 2 pilots on board. National Airlines only has one pilot, but thats ok, its funded by taxpayers who do not want to pay any more taxes to ensure a safer mode of air transport.

No way would that be allowed to happen. Why should it happen in hospitals around the country?

Then leave Hidden.

I bet you're one of these people who'd like us to go without food/water every day too

I think you've been watching too many Tales from The Crimea

Leave?

How is that an option for most people?

You leave. You leave what you do then.

Ye nurses who obviously care about things even if frustrated by how things are leaving is going to do the health service the world of good!

Sorry you're not making sense.One minute you say the level of care is tickety boo the next that wards are run by third world airlines-which is it?

I did leave the health service and would never return due to the state of things. I would never leave nursing though because I enjoy it. The health service is knackered though.

She is winding you up for sure, best leave it

I know hiddenhome

i left the profession, i was so burnt out. well done for sticking in

i actually miss the patients, the talking and getting to know them and yes caring for them

but in the end i was so worn down

It's tickety boo because of the staff that manage to pull through each shift ffs! Most nurses are decent people who try to do their best.

Hidden, if the wards are short staffed how is this the fault of MrsH? She is just describing her experiences. Sounds like your ward is short staffed and while you may be a competent nurse, if you can't get all your tasks done then quite frankly you are just confirming that there are massive problems within the NHS and that, due to all of your tasks, caring alongside the medical necessities may not be the top of the list.

Btw, I am sorry to hear about your mum, you sound under a lot of pressure and this thread may not be what you need.

Sirzy, nurses who leave the bedside care (like me) often have to because of health reasons. Unstable diabetes (due to not being able to take breaks and diabetic meds), 3 slipped discs, because when I trained we had no hoists or lifting poicy and a broken spine.

boglach

er, my mum isn't sick. I was just citing an example of one of my poor colleagues whose mum has since died.

I work part time in a pretty reasonable care home now.

Aged, I wasn't having a go at those like you. It was in response to the poster who suggested that nurses currently working who are frustrated with how things are should leave!

Oh I apologise, I read it incorrectly.

Great if it is tickety boo no need to worry about Cameron's recommendations then,my various experiences were clearly very unusual.

I left too and I really miss some parts of it but I can't go back. Expectations are too high with the resources and manpower provided.

I had a relative complain about me once because I didn't get them a vase when they asked for it - I was in the middle of an arrest followed by a transfer to ITU. She got her vase, but it was an hour after she'd asked for it

Oh and what about a cardiac arrest, a patient who has fallen, a patient who is confused and neefs constant one to one supervision least they pull out their tracheostomy?

that can take time away from less sick patients when you are the only nurse availiable for that group of patients

But kellamity i think some people are no different on the ward than they are in life

they ecpect the world to revolve around them

Well, you have to work harder at being 'a real gem' boglach

I also had a complaint made against me. I was giving an IV drug, doing it slowly as per protocol. A relative asked for a cup of tea. She had had a long journey. I said I would get her one after I had finished giving the drug.

Finished giving the IV. Got rid of my IV stuff then made a cup of tea for relative and patient.

5 days later got called into sisters office. Letter complaining that I had taken too long giving drug and getting the relative a tea.

My mistake. Should have shoved the IV drug quickly into the vein, killed the patient and got the relative a cup of tea quickly. At least I would not have had a complaint lodged against me.

agedknees