Jeepers Creepers!

I have a rant.  I know, just bear with me here my 2 peeps/fans.  I have a beef, a big beef with the local hospitals up here.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure most of the docs and nurses, RTs, PTs and other ancillary staff are all on the up and up with their professional game.  My beef somewhat started with said institution(s) when I interviewed with them right about the time I finished nursing school.  I was told that, well, lets put it this way, they don't follow state guidelines for nurse to patient ratios.  Which is dangerous for said patients and their nurse, such is why the state has mandated nurse/patient ratios.  Right now in Ca the med-surg floor ratio is 1:4-5, so that is 1 nurse to every 4-5 patients that she/he cares for on any given shift.  In the ER setting it is 1:3-4 and in the ICU it is 1:2 .  Very good, and fair from this nurse's viewpoint.  Thank you the state of Ca. for having the back bone to institute said policy.  When I interviewed at this local hospital, I was directly told that they will not/cannot hold up said state guidelines.  Like, I could possibly walk into a shift where I would be taking responsibility for 8-10 patients.  Like...HOLD UP!!  Ummmm, nope!  I just got my RN license

and now you want me to just basically throw it it in the fire for you?  Ummmm, nope again.  No can do.  I've known peeps that work for this hospital system and they still don't follow the ratio guidelines, even after a number of years since my interview process.  How do they get away with it?  Well your guess is as good as mine it seems.  So, I drive about 40-45min south to


work in a decent hospital system that follows ALL state guidelines. 

The really nasty, bad thing lately with these hospitals (2 of them) up in my local area, is that they have been audited by the state and have been given notice at least x2 to shape up their infection control policies and  practices or they will lose Medicare/Medical funding.  That is huge people.  Huge!  The state rarely will cut breaks, so I'm just wondering what wheels are being greased. 

They gave both hospitals 3 months to get their shit together.  Well, as of this last weekend, the state is still not happy with said hospitals' infection control practices....eewww!  They have closed down their ORs to any elective surgeries and have put their expansion on hold.  As they should.  I can only imagine the nastiness that would cause the state to close down a hospitals' ORs.

Lay peeps really have no idea what goes on behind the scenes of any given hospital/clinic.  We are audited at any given time by the state, BRN, DHS, etc., etc.  I read editorials in the newspaper frequently where people write in, stating that if the state continues to hold up the expansion this will only increase problems for the internal working of the hospital.  Like what the monkey did you just write???  What would happen if the state did turn a blind eye to any given hospital and their practices?  You think we have super-bugs now?  Hahaha!  It would be really bad, perhaps even devastating in a lot of cases.   Really, just bang me over the head right now and get it over with...sheesh!

Even the journalists don't really understand the importance of the state's decision.  What I don't understand is why the state hasn't shut down at least one of these hospitals?  Keep one up and running and shut the other one down for right now.  Better yet, get a buyer for this hospital's system that will follow guidelines and let the medical practitioners, practice safe, aseptic and sterile care for their pts.

I know it is all political.  I can smell it and see it as sure as if it were in front me in black and white.  Oh well, guess I will continue to commute and pray that no one I know needs to go emergently to any of the local hospitals.  I think they will just have to reroute down south is all.  Better safe eventually than really sorry for months or years to come.