But what exactly was done to improve the hospital situation over the summer? We had six months to train/employ new nurses
This is a really GOOD QUESTION! Thank you for asking it! I have not heard this brought up, but I’m definitely on board with what you are asking!
I work in a hospital lab that is dangerously short-staffed. We are at least 2-3 people short in our Microbiology Department, and it is brutal and scary.
The hospital did hire our 2 students as lab aides, which is helpful–and not helpful. After all, they are students and need help. And they didn’t start working until a few weeks ago, and that coincides with the onset of the “Return of the COVID Outbreak!” If only aides could have been hired during the summer when COVID slowed down just a little.
And I keep wondering why on earth the Self-Appointed Inspection Agencies (e.g., CAP, which stands for College of American Pathologists) is STILL sending us Proficiency Exams and Samples, and STILL planning on running inspections during this pandemic!!! Several times now, our Proficiency Exams have sat on a shelf and been totally ignored until past the deadline–not because we are “not proficient” but because no one has the TIME to do the stupid thing! Why not at least reduce the test specimens down to “1” sample with a Positive and Negative?" Or cancel proficiency testing entirely until the pandemic has subsided?
I can’t imagine a military setting where, in the middle of a fierce battle with all hands on deck and all weapons in use–the commanding officer announces that an inspection in full dress uniforms will be conducted in the afternoon, and the inspection will include markmanship testing to make sure that everyone is up to snuff.
That’s how I see these silly inspection agencies–do they not have a clue?! Our department is a mess–boxes of COVID testing supplies everywhere–although we ran out of the rapid testing kids last Friday and are waiting for a shipment of several hundred boxes, which will have to be stacked somewhere in the already overcrowded mess.
I just worked a weekend, and it was actually pretty decent for me. My co-worker, who was the “float” (not working a bench) was constantly running COVID- tests, and had little time for all the other duties she was supposed to do. So I and the other bench tech had to help her out with a lot of her work, and thankfully we had a student aide, but we had to help her, too.
No one has any time for things that can wait until a more opportune time. Not enough staff.
Again, thanks for asking this question–it’s very appropriate.