Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Nurses are too afraid to speak up in their organizations and be vocal

Alene Nitzky, RN, PhD
Policy
September 29, 2013
3K Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

shutterstock_229395838

I recently saw an article about Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s nursing staff.

The administration there came up with the brilliant idea of cutting back on the housekeeping staff and making nurses do some of the cleaning, though it’s not specified how much. Nurses would be expected to take out the trash and linens, and mop up spot cleans on the floors, among other things.

They mentioned Florence Nightingale. But good ol’ Flo didn’t work these days when nurses do much more than light lamps, give baths and put warm compresses on people. She wasn’t responsible for titrating IV medications, giving chemotherapy, or bringing someone back from cardiac arrest. And she didn’t have to document everything she did in an EHR either.

The response of the administrators to backlash from the nurses was to tell them not to vent about it to the patients, to go to the administrators and vent. That heavy-handed approach always backfires. People are already talking about it in online nursing forums and other social media. No one trusts the higher-ups, few people want to risk their job by speaking up. The truth comes out in other ways and makes its way to the mass media.

Does the administration really believe patients live in a vacuum and are incapable of independent thought? That they don’t  observe what their caregivers are doing as they watch them work and see how stressed they are? Does it make them feel good about their health care when they know their nurse is trying to juggle 5 or more patients at once and is being pulled in 3 different directions all at the same time she or he is giving them their medications?

I can vouch for the fact that my coworkers and I regularly remove trash, linens, and meal trays, clean chairs between patients, wipe down surfaces, keyboards, computer equipment, pumps, and so on throughout the day. I don’t have a problem with that. We do it when we have time, but if we don’t have time, we page housekeeping.

Spot mopping in a hospital isn’t just mopping up spilled Jell-O. It’s more likely drippy Clostridium difficile-infected diarrhea, that is super contagious. Or Hepatitis-infected blood that can carry transmissible virus from hours to days on a surface. Or any number of viruses, bacteria, or fungi that would like nothing better than to find their way to an immunocompromised host and have a feast, i.e. you or your family member in a hospital bed.

Housekeepers are trained in what cleaning solutions to use for different spills, how to properly dispose of things, and how long things need to be scrubbed, cleaned, and dried so they are infection-free. Nurses do not get that kind of training.

Nurses are trained in physical assessment, applying both critical thinking and highly technical skills to our knowledge of physiology, disease processes, pharmacology, safety, and optimizing patient outcomes for quality of life, along with saving lives.

Vanderbilt is a Magnet institution. These days, Magnet sounds like a bunch of academic and administrative types shilling for their own industries. It’s a marketing ploy that doesn’t even work as a recruiting tool anymore. Nurses see right through people spouting “Get a BSN” out one corner of their mouth and talking out the other side, “Clean rooms too.”

I’m sure they have a special course in the bachelor of science in nursing programs for learning how to do basic housekeeping.

Magnet proponents prop up higher education, cranking out excuses for offering jobs that don’t show promise of any upward mobility. Promotions are few and far between in nursing. There’s almost unlimited lateral opportunity, if you’re interested in getting a few cents a year pay increase for experience and no more influence over the way things are done in your workplace. If you want nurses to get more education, great. Treat and compensate them like professionals, instead of slave labor. Don’t burn them out in a few years.

Do Magnet institutions back their claims of nurses needing BSNs with financial incentives? Sometimes they’ll offer a pittance for tuition reimbursement, with negligible or no increase in pay for the degree. Education is not cheap. It could take a working nurse with an associate’s, or even a bachelor’s in another field, five years to complete a BSN program going one course at a time in order to be fully reimbursed.

Nurses are too afraid to speak up in their organizations and be vocal. Is it really worth staying in a job that beats us up, burns us out, and ruins our health? If all we do is cower in the corner all the time, we might as well dig ourselves a shallow grave and tip over in it right now, next to Florence. Nurses, remember that apathy and fear are as good as death, and in the case of health care, might just be the equivalent thereof.

Alene Nitzky is a registered nurse who blogs at Journey to Badwater.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Using Skype for patient visits: A doctor is sanctioned

September 29, 2013 Kevin 10
…
Next

Shared decision making has value beyond its literal practice

September 29, 2013 Kevin 1
…

Tagged as: Hospital-Based Medicine

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Using Skype for patient visits: A doctor is sanctioned
Next Post >
Shared decision making has value beyond its literal practice

More by Alene Nitzky, RN, PhD

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    This is the key quality for any health care provider

    Alene Nitzky, RN, PhD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Differences between banning bossy and true leadership in health care

    Alene Nitzky, RN, PhD
  • We need a new way to value the work of nurses

    Alene Nitzky, RN, PhD

More in Policy

  • Why the WHO’s pandemic accord is critical for global health care

    Elizabeth Métraux
  • The revolutionary Kaiser-Geisinger deal: How health care giants are reshaping the industry and empowering patients

    Robert Pearl, MD
  • Unveiling the intricate link between housing costs and health care

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Uncovering the truth about racial health inequities in America: a book review

    John Paul Mikhaiel, MD
  • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

    Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH
  • The untold story of Hispanic/Latino health: Why subgroup data matters

    Matthew B. Alonso
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
    • We need a new Hippocratic Oath that puts patient autonomy first

      Jeffrey A. Singer, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
    • Empowering Black nurses for lasting change [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Master time management with 7 productivity strategies for optimal results

      Farzana Hoque, MD | Physician
    • Proposed USPSTF guideline update: Advocating for earlier breast cancer screening at age 40

      Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian | Conditions
    • The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

      Alice S. Y. Lee, MD | Conditions
    • The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

      William Lynes, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 45 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Novel Anti-HER2 Drugs 'Impressive' in Advanced Biliary Cancer
  • What Was Tied to Lower Long COVID Risk?
  • Chemo-Free Approach Works in Subset of Patients With HER2+ Early Breast Cancer
  • Two-Drug Combo Wins for Refractory Gout
  • First-in-Class Sjogren's Drug Passes Mid-Stage Test

Meeting Coverage

  • Novel Anti-HER2 Drugs 'Impressive' in Advanced Biliary Cancer
  • Chemo-Free Approach Works in Subset of Patients With HER2+ Early Breast Cancer
  • Two-Drug Combo Wins for Refractory Gout
  • First-in-Class Sjogren's Drug Passes Mid-Stage Test
  • Pricey Drug Combo Boosts PFS in First-Line Advanced Ovarian Cancer
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
    • We need a new Hippocratic Oath that puts patient autonomy first

      Jeffrey A. Singer, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
    • Empowering Black nurses for lasting change [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Master time management with 7 productivity strategies for optimal results

      Farzana Hoque, MD | Physician
    • Proposed USPSTF guideline update: Advocating for earlier breast cancer screening at age 40

      Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian | Conditions
    • The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

      Alice S. Y. Lee, MD | Conditions
    • The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

      William Lynes, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Nurses are too afraid to speak up in their organizations and be vocal
45 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...