Patient To Nurse Ratio Analysis

This statement seems to convey the feeling of almost every nurse that I have encountered. The art of nursing, and I say art as a sign of recognition, is an honorable and noble profession. Unfortunately, nurses rarely get the respect that they, through pain and suffering, so rightly deserve. Most give almost all that they have, mentally and physically, to their work every day they are on the job, and yet they do not get paid nearly enough. To add insult to injury, most nurses get little respect in the work place, either from the patients that they are serving, and in some cases, the doctors that they assist. The sheer willpower, patience, self-control, compassion, and understanding most nurses display, could have made Gandhi himself take

a double take in disbelief.
This past weekend, on September 07 2015, I had the honor and privilege of speaking to a very close friend, and nurse, about these very issues. Lisa, an early forty something year old (though I couldn’t confirm that), mother of two, has been a registered nurse (RN) for almost three years now, is currently working at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, a rather standard looking medical building with efficient lines, multiple metal-framed windows and a drab putty clay exterior. The parking lot is jam-packed full of vehicles of all shapes and sizes. An old SUV, with white smoke billowing from its exhaust, nearly backs into a small purple hatchback, which seems to be oblivious to the danger at its rear. Little did I know that the tempers inside of the building would leave me wanton for the paltry squabbles of the front parking lot.
The clinic in which Lisa works is called Sweet Success, “a State of California Diabetes and Pregnancy Program affiliate for over ten years” (pvhmc.org). As I walk into the cramped waiting room, there is a sense of anxiousness, as if someone hadn’t completed their homework or prepared for the test. Three rows of worn mauve covered metal armchairs run the length of the room, fully occupied by impatient bodies. The walls are taupe with a hint of dirty wear on them. There is the slight aroma of ammonia and a mild scent of pine, possibly from the air freshener located at the reception desk. A large middle-aged woman is standing at the front desk waiting for assistance. Immediately, you can tell that they are exceptionally busy and tensions are running high.
Many clinics are faced with a serious understaffing issue.

Lisa explains to me that, “Patient to nurse ratio is a very real concern”. This is leading to a major problem with the nurses’ ability to provide quality care. This understaffing is becoming increasingly problematic. Experts have stated that there is evidence that indicates a direct relationship with overall safety, patient satisfaction, and cost. When nurse to patient ratios are handled correctly it can improve health outcomes, assure quality care, remove costly mistakes, and save lives (Waters). Even being so overwhelmed and outnumbered, nurses still seem to provide the best care possible, through unreserved determination and

dedication.
People might think that with all the trials and tribulations a nurse has to go through in the course of a day, let alone a career, that they would make a vast amount of money, and to some they do. The median wage for registered nurses in the United States of America in 2008 was $62,450 (www.bls.gov), with many making much less. This may seem to be quite a large amount to some. However, factoring in schooling, most RNs attend college for a minimum of five years, and the ordeals that they are faced with on a daily bases, that number starts to shrink. Moreover, in order for registered nurses to be able to renew their license, they are required, by the state of California, to complete a minimum of 30 hours of continued education per every 2 years (rn.ca.gov).
Nurses have to wade through a battlefield of blood, feces, bile, spit and god knows what else. This isn’t including the attitudes that they receive from patients and doctors alike. “The unwillingness and/or readiness to learn and inability to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing, add to the stressors”, Lisa says with an exhausted groan.
There is a woman leaning over the front desk, starting to grow agitated, and wondering why she needs to pay her copay before seeing the nurse.
Through all of the browbeating, urine dodging and unheeded counseling that nurses do, they seem to persevere.

Even with all of the struggles a nurse can encounter through their treacherous journey, they still seem to carry themselves with grace and compassion. What sort of strength of heart and mind allows a person to take so much punishment, yet still come out the other side with a smile on their face? I have yet to encounter a doctor with as much compassion and understanding as the nurses in my life. Nurses seem to be the implements of compassion in their environment. When some doctors inform you of an ailment or condition, they can be cold and removed. Who knows how many times a day they have had to sit with a patient and give the same advice, but nurses seem to soften the blow, either with a gentle and reassuring touch, or an understanding smile. Nurses are the heart and soul of the workplace; they offer care, counseling, comfort, and compassion in spades. Why, and better yet, how, can they do

this?
Lisa let me know her reasons, “In my heart I only ever wanted to be a source of support and love”. She went on to tell me about some experiences she had with the nurses at a hospital her grandmother was in and out of. These experiences left a lasting impression on her developing young mind. “Every one her nurses was an amazing human…patient, kind, intelligent and wise”, she remembered with fondness. They went out of their way to make her grandmother, and in fact, the entire family, feel at ease in their time of need.
Nurses deserve more then their far share of monetary compensation and respect from all of us. Ultimately, love seems to be the most precious commodity that nurses possess. They have an elegant way of giving and receiving it without regret or resistance. They give everything to their work and ask only that you remember their name. These noble few that serve us without ego or desire should be honored and respected to the highest degree. We should all give our nurses gratitude and lavish them with praise, for the job they so willfully give to. And for God’s sake, listen to them; they have knowledge and experience beyond their years. You never know, it could just save your life.