Nurses angrily pursue governor over staff ratios (arnie)

[Ernesto]

Culeeforneeya was the 1st state to adopt a minimum nurse to patient ratio, but then came arnold. He called the California Nurse's Association a "special interest". He then said that "The special interests don't like me in Sacramento because I always kick their butt" My CNA wife wonders if the $50 million that the action figure has raised came from "special interests".
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/story/12462332p-13318409c.html

[tanyev]

1. He'd better hope he doesn't need

to be hospitalized any time soon.

[yorkiemommie1]

6. the upper crust gets specialized treatment

nothing like my friend w/ the three failed bowel resections (colostomy bag, urine bag, - and in terrible pain )who was made to wait for hours in an emergency room at UCLA.... and yes, he is insured.

arnie and the elite will never see the likes of this.

[Nite Owl]

2. Talk about values...

Repukes are so screwed up, the people's interests are supposed to come first and not the corporations. We have to start framing things like that.

[etherealtruth]

3. He is truly an imbecile!

Though not a Californian, the issue of nurse to patient ratio is an issue throughout the U.S. Nurses leave the profession in droves (I'm one of them); a common reason is that there are not enough nurses to provide good care to patients. Hospitals have no no impetus to provide optimal levels of nursing staff.

This infuriates me. I can not even write rationally about this right now.

A nurse can only be stretched so thin before patient care begins to suffer--- believe me the nurses themselves suffer greatly before that point.

Yeah nurses have a special interest: The well being of all who are sick or injured!

[Warpy]

4. I think every nurse in Cali is going to get an Arny figure

and a very large packet of pins, plus a lighter.

I can't believe these elitist assholes. Does he really think he's immune from ever needing health care? Does he think his millions are going to be able to buy nursing care when there are too few nurses to provide it?

[CindyDale]

5. This makes no sense

because people die after all these expensive surgeries and medical treatments without adequate nursing care to prevent complications. There is not much point in hospitalization at all without enough nurses.

[etherealtruth]

7. It makes sense...

...if you view health care solely as a business. Nurses are an expensive lot----demanding things such as fair remuneration, competitive fringe benefits and acceptable working conditions (read: adequate staffing). If you schedule minimum staffing levels and people do not report for duty (sickness...)the nursing staff works short. The Business (hospital) saves money.

[ninkasi]

8. I'm not in the medical profession

but have had some health problems within the last 8 years, and greatly appreciated the hard work the nurses are burdened with. Don't get me wrong, I've had some great doctors, too, but the nurses are the ones who do the heavy lifting and carrying, and usually are the ones who hear complaints from patients.

Patients who wouldn't dream of bitching at a doctor think nothing of taking complaints which should rightfully be directed his way, and taking them out on nurses.

The only solution for the many health care problems this country faces is to join in with the civilized world, Canada and Europe come to mind, and let the government spend our tax money on us, istead of shoveling into the coffers of Halliburton and other big corporations.

[Ernesto]

9. "Heavy lifting"

I think many people would be surprised at the number of nurses that blow out their backs in the line of duty. We have one nurse lady friend that hasn't been able to work for years.

[ninkasi]

10. It would not surprise me at all.

What might surprise some people even more are doctor's mistakes that nurses tactfully find a way to call to the doctor's attention before harm is done to a patient. They have to tread very carefully there, because some doctors have egos surpassed only by those in the Bush administration; on the other hand the nurses have a duty to their patients.

I would never have had the dedication and selfless drive to help heal others that is shown by so many nurses I've been in contact with as a patient.

[Ernesto]

11. My wife has attended more than one legal liability class

It seems that nurses must be prepared to prevent themselves from becoming scape-goats for the mistakes of those in charge. (did I say MDs?)