Double Vision

There has been some talk about the new vision for nursing here at BWH. The “five-year plan” has been presented by nursing leadership in many different forums. Nurses come away from these presentations with mixed emotions. On one hand, we are hopeful that real improvements surrounding our practice, our safety, and our ability to effectively care for our patients will occur, but the reality of what is happening throughout the hospital leaves us feeling unsupported.

At our recent open meeting, nurses talked about the frustrations of dealing with the unsafe staffing situations that have become routine. The admission of patients into hallway beds because the rooms are not ready puts a tremendous burden on staff to protect patient confidentiality. Patients are being held in operating rooms for up to two hours while they wait for beds to become available. In the ICUs, patients who have been appropriately 1:1 are now 1:2 because management is “benchmarking” us with other hospitals. I believe the Brigham nurses should set the standards for our patients.

Nurses also spoke of the unprofessional treatment from “toxic” managers and supervisors. Nurses feel that certain managers/supervisors are vindictive if nurses speak out about unsafe situations. These situations are the responsibility of nursing management and they have, at times, failed to meaningfully address them.

How many “code grays” are called during your shift? Nurses spoke of being placed in the “good nurse/bad nurse” scenarios where they are trying to protect patients from over-crowding and unruly visitors. The lack of a responsible visitor policy is putting patients and nurses at risk.

The reality for nurses today at BWH is that, at times, we cannot even envision getting through our shift, let alone embrace a five-year plan. When the hospital is over 100 percent capacity the pressure on the nursing staff continues to erode the moral, safe practice and safety of the nurses. If management is going to run the hospital this way, they need to staff it effectively and safely.

It is important for nurses to speak out about the poor conditions they may be working under… this can and will bring meaningful change. No one can take away our power unless we allow them to …“OUR” vision is crystal clear.

In unity,
Barbara Norton, MNA Chairperson