Erika Bonham dot com

August 19, 2002

It was wonderfully dark when I climbed into bed this morning. It almost seemed like it was night time. It made me happy. The hospital has been frustrating this last weekend. Both nights I worked, I was floated to another unit, which I didn't mind at all considering the circumstances. I could be working on my own unit and caring for eight patients or work on another unit and have four. It is getting out of hand. Last night, they were going to have two nurses for eighteen patients. That's nine patients a piece! Half of which are confused, demanding, and incontinent.We couldn't believe it. I don't know what they are thinking. There is a new staffing ratio law that some people say is already in effect or will be very soon that mandates a ratio of six patients per nurse, at the most. They are burning out their nurses and making work a dreaded place to be. I have two more nights on and am praying things are better. I have never had more than seen patients in one night and it was overwhelming. Could this be an issue for our union to address? That would really be something. Anyway, two more nights and I am on vacation. I will survive.

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