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The hospital Marv went to was understaffed, critically.
One of the nurses mentioned that they went from 5 people to cover 3 shifts to just 2 because of people quitting.
Another mentioned the endless overtime and stupid "safety" mandates for their former co-worker's departures. Implied was "meh" pay.
What we didn't see was people coming in for COVID-21 (let's be honest about designating a new mutation of COVID-19 shall we?).
Mostly it was the normal, everyday, Florida peeps. Homeless and elderly coming in for the types of injuries that they normally incur.
Plus a salting of prisoners from Pasco County Jail for spice.
It was pretty clear that the crisis here is from a lack of staff and not a lack of space to put patients.
Visiting Marv in his room confirms this impression. There's lots of beds, there's a lack of people to cover them properly.
Something that really made all of the medical professionals day was thanking them. Too many people, and we watched them, treat nurses like "the help".
Around here a big part of the problem of staff quitting is that they are anti-vaxxers or they are getting fired for that. Funny how the media says only old white Trump fans are anti-vaxxers... But yet, most of the healthcare workers who are refusing the vaccine are young, and a lot of them are minorities... Who are not usually part of Trump's key demographic. I bet if you surveyed them you'd find a whole lot of Biden voters who are anti-vax... Hmmm... Media lie to us? Nah! Couldn't be!
ReplyDeleteIt is fascinating, at times, when you just inquire as to how a person's day is, the length they will go to explaining exactly how is their day. And you usually get a smile or two out of the deal. Just ask.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to my world, 24/7/365/20 years, next month.
ReplyDeleteIt's why I'm all out of fucks to give to anyone but the ordinarily polite, at work.
(I invariably ask the biggest @$$holes, "Do you act like this at a restaurant? And did you notice that when your food comes back, it tastes like spit??" The quizzical looks I get back are illuminating.)
And seconding SoftwareJanitor's observation, last I heard, I'm unemployed indefinitely and in perpetuity end of next month, because I refuse the jab under any circumstances.
As do a yuuuuuge number of my far younger co-workers.
We'll see how hard TPTB want to play chicken.
I'm not compromising my position on that, even if it means I'm working at Target or whatever.
The number of females, single and married, who work here who've gotten pregnant to avoid the jab is record-breaking, btw, and includes doctors old enough to be in the "high-risk pregnancy" category.
That's commitment to a position, right there.
It has never occurred to me to be unfailingly polite to the people who have access to my medicine or food. It always seemed a bad plan to be a jerk.
DeleteMarv and I were being nice and even said, "thank you," several times. The look on their faces was worth it. You get the impression that we were the first to say it in a long time.
I can't say this sincerely or often enough: taking care of ordinary decent people who just say please and thank you reminds me of why I got into the field in the first place: to help people who needed it.
DeleteBy contrast, the people who bitch, piss, and moan like they're entitled to Billionaire Service just suck the living soul out of me, and when their big threat is "I'm going to leave", like I don't get paid by the hour, instead of by the patient, we generally tell them all they have to do is sign the AMA (against medical advice) form, walk out the door, and we won't miss them a bit. It's roughly the same as walking up to a cop and telling him if he won't do what you want, you're going to go right out and obey the law scrupulously. "Well, okay, Ace. You do that."
My first sergeant explained the Facts Of Life to a bunch of us newbs checking into our first duty station:
"You play my game, and I'll play yours.
You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours.
But if you ever f**k me, or even f**k with me, I'll f**k you back, meaner, harder, longer, and I'll leave scars to remind you why that was a really bad idea.
Do we understand each other?"
I recently had a medical procedure that required a couple nights in the hospital. It's my nature to be friendly, non-demanding, and to let caregivers know I appreciate them. It was evident they were appreciative of my attitude. The high point came when I asked the young doctor who was removing my chest tube if she'd ever done it before, she, without losing a beat, replied "No, but I watched a YouTube video this morning." They're doing a tough job, dealing with difficult people, and too often fighting a losing battle. Lighten their load whenever and wherever you can.
ReplyDeleteI have had several restaurant owners tell me how rude and abusive their customers have become, so it's not just the people seeking medical attention.
ReplyDeleteHalf the country, maybe 2/3's have lost their minds. Some of those is wasn't much of a loss.
As the famous philosopher Dalton wisely imparted, "Just be nice."