Staffing by the numbers
By Niky Jones
As a cardiac telemetry tech, it is my responsibility to constantly watch and interpret patients’ cardiac rhythms and respond at a moment’s notice if there is any change. We have gone from an average of 110 patients a day to 150 patients with only the same three techs to watch everyone.
I know that management likes numbers, so here are mine:
the number of people every year who suffer from sudden cardiac arrest
the percentage of sudden cardiac arrests that are fatal outside of the hospital
the number of seconds you have to start CPR before irreversible brain damage occurs
the average number of seconds it takes for the response team to arrive at a code in the operating room
the average number of patients one telemetry tech watches at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center
the number of seconds delay in analyzing a lethal rhythm change and starting the code procedure when monitoring more than 48 patients
the number of cardiac techs watching CPR happen on a monitor
the life we are trying to save
During the pandemic, as staffing became tighter and patient loads grew, we all stepped up to provide our patients with the best care we possibly could. But now it’s time to acknowledge that WE — the healthcare workers — need help!
No one ever wants to go to the hospital, but now it’s become an almost unbearable experience as a patient. Everyone is clearly exhausted and overworked. You feel bad asking for a glass of water or help to the bathroom.
Lack of dietary staff gives you extremely limited meal options and long wait times. No housekeeping staff? That’s fine! We can have the one CNA change your bedding at their earliest opportunity. Surgery scheduled for 7 a.m. but it’s noon and you still haven’t heard anything? Unfortunately, we only have one surgical scrub tech working today, and they are busy trying to find some equipment that is unaccounted for.
Wouldn’t you do everything in your power to make sure you or your loved one got the staffing they need to provide the care they deserve? We are tired. We are stressed. We are heartbroken. We are asking for your help.
Niky Jones is a member of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals and is a cardiac telemetry technician. This blog is based on testimony provided to call for safe staffing legislation that would set minimum standards for hospitals in Oregon.
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