The Top 10 Complaints from Nurses Nurses are a tough group: they endure long hours, and situations that you never could imagine. Quick thinking and saving lives all go along with the position of being a nurse. Like anyone in their field, nurses have some concerns/complaints. In order to have your complaints addressed, it may be best to bring it to the attention of the appropriate person by indicating it is indeed a concern rather than an annoyance, and avoid the word complaint. Providing it is addressed, the term becomes irrelevant anyway. Staffing As healthcare costs increase, decreasing the number of staff nurses is often seen as the logical way to combat it. Inadequate staffing and/or increased job responsibilities both cause problems and stress for nurses. This is especially true for those staff nurses facing a variety of patient acuities. In response, some states have adopted legislation to mandate a fixed nurse-topatient ratio. Covering a hospital floor when there is a staff shortage can be exhausting. Patients become irritated a slow response time by nurses and coworkers can be stressed and often take it out on one another. Related: How to Financially Prepare To Go Back To School Inter-Professional Relationships Conflicting views and feeling that you are being disrespected often cause problems. These conflicts in nursing relationships can arise between nurse and their patients, their co-workers, partner physicians, and/or administrators. Stay off certain subjects regardless of whether you are invited to share your opinion. Politics and religion are two subjects to avoid at all cost. It may also be a good idea to avoid social media sites with coworkers if you express your political views, you never know who you may offend, and then have to work with them. Patient Satisfaction Nurses are already stretched too thin to accommodate staffing issues. But patients still have needs and expectations. Unfortunately, meeting these are difficult. This is especially true as health care conditions become more chronic, and the number of personnel decreases. It can be very frustrating to do the absolute best job you can, only to receive a complaint from a patient's family. Most of the time, the complaints center around lack of attention/care of the nurse. You can’t argue with the patient or their family, and there is never an appropriate time to enlighten the patient to the
staffing shortage. Do what you can, and be sure to point out to your supervisor that your patients are concerned over the lack of time being devoted to them. On the Job Hazards and Job Safety Overflowing sharps containers and slippery floors can pose risks for staff members. Similarly, lifting heavy patients can pose a physical challenge. And since you do work with those patients who are “sick,” there is a likelihood of contracting their illness. These hazards also include the behavior of other people. In some cases, nurses report feeling threatened by angry patients. That lack of respect and/or verbal abuse may also come from administrators, physicians, and other members of the care team. This problem is most often prevalent in an emergency department. Most hospitals have adequate security to ensure the safety of patients and staff; don’t hesitate to call security if you feel at all threatened. Mandatory Overtime There are also cases when nurses have to go on mandatory overtime. This can be the result of insufficient staffing levels and/or high patient acuity. There is little a nurse can do about staff shortages; in many cases overtime cannot be refused. Related: Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Get to Know Your Preceptor “Ask the Nurse” You don’t know everything about healthcare and related diagnoses simply because you are a nurse. However, friends and family still feel free to call you at any given hour to ask your perspective on a symptom or prescribed medication, just because you are in the nursing profession. Consider making a humorous situation out of this. When someone asks you for medical advice, tell them that there will be a $40 charge, then hold your hand, this should get the message across in a humorous way without hurting anyone’s feelings. Patient Relationships It is easy to develop a close relationship with your patients. When that patient struggles or even dies, you feel their pain and you feel that loss. So maintaining a healthy, professional relationship with the patient is a must. Boundaries are sometimes difficult to maintain when you have a patient that has been under your care for some time. Hold those tears, no matter what.
Once you leave the area, and are away from family members you can compose yourself as necessary. Advances in Technology As technology advances, so do your career roles. For example, with the growth of the Internet and smart phones, your roles and duties have changed. Documentation and databases are now mostly electronic. Using Skype to communicate is also common. As professionals, keeping abreast with these advances is essential. Many nurses are fine with technology; however, some may offer resistance. If you notice a coworker struggling with a computer program or other tech device, if you feel comfortable doing so, offer assistance, not everyone is tech savvy. Certification Demonstrations of competence are a must. Maintaining continuing education hours and related certifications are often required. And while these equate to safer patient care that adhere to best practices, maintaining the required certifications are often overwhelming when you’re juggling a full-time position and personal responsibilities. Alert your human resource department if you feel certifications or required trainings are interfering with your position. On top of this snapshot of risks for the general practitioner, it is equally important to remember that each specific practice venue is different. Each specialty has its own risks. But by being proactive and cognizant of these challenges, you can develop a better plan of defense while in the nursing profession. You want to stay apprised of new advances, and certifications and trainings are the best way to do this. Just make sure the time of the trainings do not prevent you from a proper break in your working shifts. Shift Rotations Most hospitals have moved away from having nurses work different shifts, however, this is still practiced in some areas. Working an overnight shift, and leaving work at 7 a.m., only to have to return at 3 p.m. is very difficult, and should not be a regular practice. No one wants to hear constant complaints, but there is a time and place to voice your concerns. Just make sure it's to the appropriate person. Related: List of nursing organizations Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter