Confusion, disorganization, overwork.
The staff/patient ratios are excessive given the acuity level of our patients. Some of our patients were in an ICU only 2-3 days before!
As a very good rule I'll have 8 pts on my team (though sometimes 10) when 6 would be busy. It's not like your average rehab hospital either - it's more like an LTAC or a med/surg floor - or maybe a confused hurricane - only with 8 patients. The patients see less of their nurses and techs as a result and aren't happy with the wait.
Whoever designed our facility hadn't a clue as to how build a proper hospital. The halls are REAL long. In an average shift we walk about 12 miles... pushing a 200 lb computer on wheels. But there are plenty of shifts where we break 14 miles. After 12-13+ hours of that you're left wondering if you made a very bad career choice.
I could go on a bit longer but let me just say the pay isn't all that great. Benefits are OK but they're scaling back on them too. Accounting for inflation I'm not making that much more than I did as a new grad in 1994!
