topic Re: ER Nurses In Detroit in Community Chat

ER Nurses In Detroit

KarenQVC — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 02:41:01 GMT

Nurses in one Detroit hospital said they couldn't handle the number of ER patients they had. The hospital would not call in more nurses and asked the ones who weren't happy about it to leave. Some did leave.

I wonder how nurse staffing should be handled at this time. Has anyone had any experience in this area?

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

on the bay — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 02:51:24 GMT

I don't know how to make this change.

I do know that not only in the time of this virus, but all nurses I know have said this is a problem, in the ER's especially.

I think some states and hospital systems are worse than others and refuse to bring in enough nurses per patient or even leave some shifts with the nurses doing everything-transporting patients, doing cleaning,

not enough cna's or techs.

Some are made to lift or move patients they should not have to.

It is really bad and some of the insurance and pay is too.

I think California is supposed to be better, from what I've heard.

Many also are encouraged to come in when sick.

That is the sad reality.

I think a lot of it is because hospitals are a business and the head hanchos are interested in money; how much the hospital is making, how much they are willing to spend on staffing etc.

I wish they could be a nurse for 1 day!

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

happycat — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 03:01:05 GMT

I don't understand why the people in charge wouldn't call more nurses in. How would that feel to be a patient, and know they were short staffed, and you were in bad shape anyway? This is not a normal time we are living in. It looks like folks could appreciate that.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

kitcat51 — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 03:39:08 GMT

Patients in Detroit hospitals will soon be moved to other buildings that are being converted to take care of them...I only heard a little bit of the story so I don't know how they'll be staffed & when the move will take place. Sadly, the city is a hotspot & overcrowding is a problem....I think the predicted virus peak is coming next week.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

JackieHN — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 10:27:40 GMT

I am a retired Head nurse who worked for a level one trauma center in NY. It was also a city hospital. First once you elevate the problem with no results then you make out protest of assignment forms to protect yourself. Usually there is no way to get nurses in unless the hospital deals with an agency and these nurses have to be notified long before the shift starts. When ER's backup it means they have no beds upstairs. You just wing it. I could have 10 patients and was in charge. You just can't leave your shift. 1- its unethical. 2- You've abandoned your patients. Best thing to do is to get the union involved. You just complete your shift and decide what's in your best interest. If you want to leave your job then so be it. But from experience nurses just don't leave. But we do like a good fight.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

LoveMyBaby — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 11:00:03 GMT

Unbelievable and loser-mentality what they did to their fellow warrior colleagues (who were forced to work 24hr shifts), and be exposed that much longer.

Pathetic they are.

“I am of certain convinced that the greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls as a maddening dreidel.”
― Florence Nightingale

Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They're just braver 5 minutes longer.”

---Ronald Reagan

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

CrazyDaisy — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 11:48:31 GMT

They claimed that they all had to many patients to take care of and wouldn't be able to do a good job. The solution .... walk out. What a bunch of losers.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

hopi — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 15:10:00 GMT

@CrazyDaisy wrote:
They claimed that they all had to many patients to take care of and wouldn't be able to do a good job. The solution .... walk out. What a bunch of losers.

Maybe you could volunteer at a hospital and help solve the problem.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

CrazyDaisy — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 12:00:18 GMT

@hopi wrote:
@CrazyDaisy wrote:
They claimed that they all had to many patients to take care of and wouldn't be able to do a good job. The solution .... walk out. What a bunch of losers.

May you could volunteer at a hospital and help solve the problem.

Already working full time, taking care of my mother and don't have a nursing certificate, however I am sure there are many others on the board with the time available. Perhaps yourself.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

Major Shopper — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 13:43:27 GMT

@JackieHN As one ED nurse to another, I agree with you! We do fight...for our patients!!! Most nurses would NEVER walk out on their patients!

Sad to hear, if this is true.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

mimomof4 — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 14:24:12 GMT

I have a relative who is an ER Dr in Detroit. He has worked in the Detroit hospitals for over 20 years. He is calling them a war zone right now. He has no idea what he is coming in contact with on a daily basis. As a result he sent his family to quarantine away from him.

Also have a friend who is a nurse (not in Detroit) and hadn't worked ER in 20 years but last weekend went back to working in ER and found it very humbling. On her shift an ER nurse passed away from COVID.

I realize that the nurses are overworked especially in Detroit but at the same time you can only bring in those who are trained as well. Its a difficult situation.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

LoveMyBaby — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 15:08:43 GMT

One doesn't abandon ship during a pandemic. Especially during a pandemic. You just don't. They all need to find a different career.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

JackieHN — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 15:34:16 GMT

Major shopper, they know what they signed up for. Did they think it was going to be peaches and cream. Or that this was the first epidemic we ever had. There's always been a nursing shortage. I walked into 25 admissions with no beds and the ambulance didn't stop and I had 6 nurses. I told them we are going to get through tonight and then there will be H##l to pay tomorrow. They kept on asking me what are you going to do. I said you'll see. Called my ADN and said how did you leave me this mess with no staff. She said she did her best. I said no you didn't/. Protest assignment forms will be on your desk tomorrow then to the union. In the meantime I called the nursing office and they pulled a nurse from the floors to take care of the admitted patients to free up my nurses. We got through the shift and I did as promised. We got more staff from the day shift. Plus they instituted voluntary overtime. It took one crazy nurse with alot of nerve to get this done. First you take care of your patients, then your nurses. I worked 8pm-8am. I am quite sure the nursing administrator who was on in this Detroit hospital was under a lot of scrutiny if she is still there. Once things get to the news your out.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

summer4me — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 15:43:19 GMT

Rather than be critical I lean to compassion. Perhaps the nurses who walked out were worn out and just couldn't handle any more. They haven't dealt with anything on this level and they broke.

I have a relative who is a nurse in a hospital in another city who is getting Detroit's overflow and also a relative who is a mortician and both of them have said...you just wouldn't believe.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

tsavorite — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 16:56:47 GMT

@JackieHN This is what should have happened....when I saw them on the news (local) here I felt so sad for the patients they abandoned and then the other nurses they left even more short handed. Truly deplorable behavior. I wish they would have handled it the way you did when this kind of thing happens.

What a awesome nurse you are! And thank you for being one....you truly are a special kind of person to do a job like this under any and all circumstances.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

Snoopp — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 18:51:01 GMT

I know in my area they are overwhelmed and are sending home health aides from hospice and home care to the hospital. The nursing staff is very busy and can’t go. They are still admitting patients.

I saw a story where 3 orthopedists were helping on the Covid floor working in teams managing the “proning” of patients on ventilators, so that the er doctors could treat the sick. It was a big help and saved lives.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

Snoopp — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 18:54:07 GMT

@summer4me wrote:
Rather than be critical I lean to compassion. Perhaps the nurses who walked out were worn out and just couldn't handle any more. They haven't dealt with anything on this level and they broke.

I have a relative who is a nurse in a hospital in another city who is getting Detroit's overflow and also a relative who is a mortician and both of them have said...you just wouldn't believe.

I think it’s wrong for nurses to walk out in a crisis. Think about the patients.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

JackieHN — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 21:58:19 GMT

You think I don't know what they are going through. I had the aids epidemic. We didn't even know what we were dealing with All we knew that all of these young people were dying of pneumonia. No staff, no protective equipment. ER jammed every night. I just know that when you walk through those doors you complete your shift. You don't leave your patients and put further strain on your fellow nurses. This is really rough. I understand. I put my name on the volunteer list to go to work again. You really think I want to walk through the fire again?? I know they need help. That's why I am doing it.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

on the bay — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 00:42:42 GMT

Not all nurses in every state has a union nor a protest of assignment form.

It is also quite different being a nurse with 10 critical patients and a charge nurse who has yes a difficult job of managing, still not the same.

It really shocks me that anyone would judge or condemn any nurse dealing with this virus now, many times without adequate protection, thru no fault of their own, who then has to go home to their family, maybe with children.

Nurses working over their usual 13 hours, sometimes 24 hour shifts now, day after most day.

I defy anyone to do this retired or not and do this without breaking down. Then you deserve an opinion. Until you are a nurse right now on the front lines, you have no legitimate say in this. You really don't.

This is not like anything any have experienced. Not, AIDS nothing!

Every single nurse deserves protection and care and compassion too! They are not robots. They are human beings and I bet all of them start out with the higest of intentions to care for their patients. They all are doing their best and for some, until they could do no more.

It doesn't sound like any here are a nurse now on these front lines who are calling these nurses anything but heroes! None! Retired doesn't count.

If you were a nurse on the front lines with this virus, you wouldn't be commenting on these boards. You would be too exhausted and have to go back again tomorrow for as long as you can.

Re: ER Nurses In Detroit

deedledeedeedle — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 00:58:11 GMT

Those of you chastising these EC RNs in the inner city of Detroit: Shame on you!

You have no idea what you are talking about, even fellow RNs. Detroit hospitals during this pandemic are worse than an episode of MASH, people. There have been many doctors and RNs come out of retirement to help. My hospital is starting hazard pay and importing out of state RNs. They are paying for hotel rooms so staff doesn't bring home Covid to their loved ones. We are now told if you are re-assigned temporarily from your position (OR nurses, for example) and you refuse to care for Covid patients you are fired on the spot. I know of no other profession where this occurs.

dee

ETA: In my system there are 1500 workers out due to exposure (out of 38,000 employees for 8 hospitals). MI has lost 1 physician and 3 RNs to death whose families chose to share their stories of ultimate sacrifice due to this #$&^( virus.