Taking Nurses -- and Teachers -- for Granted

Re “Nursing a Grudge,” editorial, March 19: Nurses are leaving nursing for the very reason stated -- they are responsible for the care of too many acutely ill patients. After 14 years as a medical-surgical nurse, I have accepted a position as a recovery room nurse, where I am responsible for only two patients, not the 10 acutely ill patients assigned to me on the medical-surgical floor.

Nancy Hoover RN

Apple Valley

*

I have the solution to the nursing shortage:

* Reduce funding to all public hospitals so they can no longer afford to buy proper medical equipment.

* Raise the nurse-to-patient ratio to make it nearly impossible for nurses to give patients the required attention.

* Make nurses responsible whenever a patient dies, regardless of lifestyle factors, (i.e., smoking, diet), disease, age, income and heredity, or whether a patient listens to medical advice.

* Put nurses on a merit pay system where their rate of pay is determined by their patients’ health. Test living patients yearly to determine their healthfulness. Deaths or unhealthiness among patients will result in a pay and status reduction for the nurse.

These sure-fire techniques will definitely boost the health and well-being of all patients in California hospitals. It’s working for our schools, isn’t it?

Amy Freeman

Teacher, Long Beach