Schwarzenegger Replaces Most Of California Nursing Board After LATimes/ProPublica Expose

ProPublica:

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger replaced nearly everyone on the Board of Registered Nursing late Monday, citing the unacceptable length of time it takes to discipline nurses accused of egregious misconduct.

Read the whole story: ProPublica

Comments

[senorlou]

Arnold dropped the lawsuits against the 2001 energy scam pirates. Remember that? Here's one estimate for the total cost to the state for $45 billion:

http://www.zpenergy.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=270

Arnold won because he said he would not raise the car tax back to 2% as Davis had planned, and where it had been for decades. If Davis had raised the back to 2%, it would have generated $30 billion by this year.

So now Arnold wants to help California? Too late, he done wrecked the place.

[pissedmichael]

This really sucks. 2 years ago I had the misfortune of having a surgical procedure that required a lengthy stay in the hospital. Overall, I was there for more than a month. While there were 2 exceptions (the same shift--and I never saw them again after one night), nurses cared for me with outstanding professionalism, and as much compassion and empathy as they could spare, considering how shorthanded they were. I have nothing but the highest respect for nurses and people who dedicate themselves to the care of the unfortunate--more so than I have for a lot of doctors, in fact. I am saddened to hear that they have a governing board so inept. This circumstance does a disservice to all the good ones.

[senorlou]

Yeah, but their board is nowhere near as inept as Arnold. Honestly, we'd be better off if he'd just leave, but he's not intelligent enough to realize he's screwed things up beyond belief, so he'll just keep flailing away until the day he leaves. I think it's next year. Can't come fast enough.

[pissedmichael]

Agreed. Given that the California legislature is a testament to ineptitude and self-serving interests, Arnold has only encouraged and endorsed the behavior with his own uncompromising style of 'leadership.' He simply does not have a clue how to affect legislation beyond childish schoolyard bullying.
I can't believe I voted for him in the recall election. He's one of the reasons, I've tried to keep myself better informed from now on. Sometimes I wish we could have another election just to 'recall' Grey Davis back to the capitol. I know, we don't have the dollars to finance such a fantasy--just wishful thinking. I only think about it because we appear to have no other suitable candidates--not in California, anyway.

[rzan1]

He has expressed his contempt for the nursing profession throughout his reign of incompetency. Now he gets is revenge for them calling him into question as a governor.

[DrVeruju]

Maybe the nurses will remember his contempt when he gets ill.

[UnclaimedMysteries]

CA nurses have been active in fighting short-staffing practices at major corporate hospital chains, who despise nurses' unions for that reason and others. I have no direct evidence of pushback, but if I were investigating this story I'd at least dig at that angle.

[senorlou]

Now here's a man looking for a scapegoat because he needs one fast. When people elect an actor with zero experience in politics, you get gross incompetence. No more actors, California. Got it?

[Mekrabb]

Are you from CA? Because if not your opinion is not welcome.

[senorlou]

Yeah ding bat, I'm sitting here in Los Angeles.

[apoyo]

Negligent workers are a problem anywhere but the public does not understand the responsibility that nurses have. They cannot just follow doctor's orders blindly. That excuse will not save their licenses. The nursing shortage makes it doubly difficult to provide the nursing care that we are required to give and be the patient advocate that we are supposed to be. This frustration drives many nurses away from the bedside making the situation worse for the nurses still practicing.

I do blame ANA (American Nurses Association) for not being in the forefront in educating the public and our legislators as to what nurses really do. People in general have no idea how involved our job is. Many people cannot even answer the question as to what nurses do.

Just one example: upon admission we have to develop a plan of care for each patient. Address each problem presented with an intervention, a resolution and an evaluation using the scientific process. These problems can be physical (wound care), physiological (pain), psychosocial (altered body image), etc.

Also upon admission we have to develop a discharge plan because in this day and age every minute a patient is in the hospital is big money. And we are expected to work toward that goal, attend multi-disciplinary rounds and co-ordinate what all the other ancillary depts are doing in regards to our patients: dietary, respiratory, radiology, nuclear med, pharmacy, lab, social worker, etc. We don't just pass meds and empty bedpans.

[Strywever]

Every hospital nurse who has ever cared for my child, my husband, or me has been absolutely wonderful - highly skilled and focused, and kindly attentive to our needs. They almost always manage to convey relaxed competence, even though I know they must be running hard. I am always impressed.

Thank you for the work you do. I imagine it's quite challenging and stressful, but it's so important! I agree that it's often minimized and under-appreciated.

[apoyo]

Thank you.

[Mekrabb]

Also upon admission we have to develop a discharge plan because in this day and age every minute a patient is in the hospital is big money. And we are expected to work toward that goal,

This is the biggest problem. I know everything is a business. But the whole reason to become a nurse or a doctor is to help people. If you are after making a buck then this is by far the wrong professional as far as ethics go.

[apoyo]

That's exactly my point. Many patients are not ready to be sent home. My own daughter was sent home 23 hours after thyroid surgery with a drain still in place. 23 hours was all the insurance would allow.

It is extremely stressful to work under those conditions, knowing that you cannot provide the time and care the patients need. Not everyone gets to go home with a trained nurse.

As long as insurance companies are allowed to rule over who gets health care and how much, nothing will improve.

[DrVeruju]

Single payer would release tens of thousands of insurance assessors to retrain as nurses.

[quiviran]

Problem is, they think all those procedures are not necessary. (just kidding)

[TXfemmom]

Oh please. He fires the nursing board. We had a physician, i.e. surgeon, here in TX who became angered because a store wasn't open so he started his sports car and ran it through the window of a the store. The police arrested him and found a kilo of cocaine in the car, a ton of money, and he was high as a kite. They never even put him on probation.

[jsgaetano]

Yes, the tyranny of the medical profession overlords must end!

[thestargazer]

As a Democrat, I have to like this decision. Why should it take so long to investigate bad nurses? Unions at their worst!!!!! Good for him!!!

[CaliRN]

thestargazer: I agree with you that it should not take an extended amount of time to investigate RNs. I feel compelled to ask what makes you feel that this shows unions at their worst? The CNA (CA Nurses Association) has worked tirelessly at the CA legislature level to retain the 5 : 1 med-surg pt. to nurse ratio (which is public law) here in CA for safety reasons. The union also will be present (upon request of the RN) if a RN is counseled by management. I have never heard of the union blocking the discipline or reporting of unsafe, criminal or incompetent practice(s) by a RN.

[tbone99]

Why is the Board so slow - do they lack investigative capacity?. If so, firing people won't change anything. Maybe what they need is MORE staff ,not firings.

Missing some info here.

[Strywever]

As one member of the board resigned in protest of her fellow board members' lack of attention to moving promtply to investigate, so that bad nurses don't pose risk for any longer than necessary, I suspect investigative capacity is not the issue. (Her resignation and the reason for it was included in the story.)

[senorlou]

She resigned after the story broke. That's called "jumping ship." Or CYA. You buy it because she resigned a day sooner, when she was on that board the whole time?

[bklynnupe]

Cali is on it's way to becoming the world's biggest doo doo sandwich.

[000Jade000]

Great. Now when do we fire the voters of California for voting in and failing to hold to account their lousy Governator?

[senorlou]

Several million of us did NOT vote for Arnold.

[senorlou]

This is a message board. You don't like opinions, find another place to go.

[senorlou]

Got put in the wrong spot. LOL.