•Highly disorganized overall work environment (supply rooms, nurses station)
•Inconsistency in management; (i.e., frequently changing policies/rules, enforcing them for a very short time, then only intermittently until they are changed once again)
•Poor management communication
•Outdated charting software which is not user friendly
•Poor general maintenance; equipment (computers, vital sign monitors, etc) are frequently out of order for extended periods
•Equipment needed to perform even routine care is often either unavailable, in limited supply, or is out of order/in disrepair (e.g., suction equipment, telemetry cartridges, glucose monitors, even emesis bags and trash bags)
•Basic patient care/comfort and bedside items (pillows, food/drink items, toiletries, even chairs at times) are often in limited supply or unavailable altogether
•Embarrassment of repeatedly having to explain/apologize to patients/families for the previous two scenarios
•Blatant management favoritism
•Palpable negative work atmosphere and visibly/audibly low staff morale
•Unattractive/outdated unit, including patient rooms, nurses station, and family seating area
•”Trash” room where used food trays and garbage are taken is frequently filthy w trays of uneaten food/drinks stacked haphazardly on the floor, trash and spills on the floor
•Inconsistency in patient care
•High turnover (likely due to the plethora of issues described here)
NOTE: These are situations I regularly (more often than not) encountered on the specific unit I worked. However, having been floated to other units occasionally, these issues appear to be rampant, regardless of unit (with the exception of being outdated/unattractive, as most other units have been remodeled). However, many (if not most) of the other concerns detailed here apply to those units as well, they’re just occurring in a more aesthetically pleasing environment.