Today was a good day. I had four patients, the appropriate ratio for my unit. One patient was experiencing nausea and heartburn. I administered various medications and tried a variety of nursing interventions throughout the day, hoping for relief. Nothing was working.

I had cared for this patient before, and my intuition told me they should be doing better than this. I notified the provider that nothing was working and advocated for a cardiac workup, with which they agreed. Labs were drawn and results indicated a possible heart attack. The provider consulted with a cardiologist, and we transferred the patient to the cardiac unit for closer monitoring. This is an example of what appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios mean. This is how safe staffing saves lives.

The days when I have too many patients, and am pulled in too many directions, are when hospitals are dangerous and patients’ lives are at risk. If I had a heavier patient assignment, or even one more patient, I may not have been able to work through this patient’s symptoms and alert the doctor. Perhaps I could have, but it would have been at the expense of someone else’s care, or my own.

My mother died of a heart attack. She had nausea, went to see her doctor and was diagnosed with a stomach bug. She was found dead at her home three days later. Every time I feel like I don’t get to work through the nursing process, I’m reminded of my own mom, and the guilt is overwhelming.

Kelli Brennan
Westbrook