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Journal #11: Habersham Medical Center

Taylor Van Tassel

Dr. Lindstone & Dr. Kaninjing

KINS 4306: Internship in Public Health

31 March 2019
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Week Eleven:

(3/18/19 8:13am-12:00pm; 12:30pm-3:08pm.; 3/19/19 8:49am-12:00pm; 12:30pm-4:19pm.;

3/20/19 SICK; 3/21/19 SICK; 3/22/19 7:58am-12:00pm; 12:30pm-3:48pm; 03/25/19 8:26am-

12:00pm; 12:30pm-4:23pm; 03/26/19 8:25am-12:00pm; 12:30pm-4:19pm; 03/27/19 OFF;

03/28/19 9:57am-12:00pm; 12:30pm-4:57pm; 03/29/19 8:04am-12:00pm; 12:30pm-3:34pm)

Total Hours this week: Week 10- 21 hours Week 11- 29 hours

Total Overall Hours: 353.45 hours

I had included the previous week because I did not write a journal, however, I worked 3

days week 10. I was sick for two days. These past two weeks, I have been trying to come up with

ideas to give my supervisor and nurse supervisor on ways to improve nursing staff and patient

education. I have been doing some research on nurse to patient ratio. Currently, Habersham

Medical Centers Med-Surg unit have nurses taking approximately 6 to 8 patients each. The

charge nurse is also taking patients. The charge nurse’s role is to manage the other nurses. This

can create a decrease in quality of care for each patient. The HCAHPS survey that was recently

released displayed a decrease in patient education, discharge information, and quality of nursing

staff. The patients experience highly influences the survey and readmission rate. I have found

that many studies have determined that the nurse to patient ratio increases satisfaction and

overall care. For every 1 nurse they should be taking care of four to five patients depending on

their acuity. Acuity is the level of care that the patient needs. Habersham Medical Center has a

rather low acuity; therefore, these patients should not have much dissatisfaction. Not only will

the patients have better service of care, but the nurses will have less likely chance of burnout. I

have noticed nurse burnout is a constant, revolving problem. Many studies have discussed the

mandated bill that was created in California having to do with nurse to patient ratio. The acute
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care hospitals have enacted this bill into their hospitals for the patient’s safety. I am still doing

research to determine if they are successful in this theory and method.

Along with doing research, I am still working on the post-care call backs for moderate to

high risk patients. This month, the hospital has had a lot of readmissions. I have interviewed

every readmit. Majority of the readmits came back because of something completely different

from the first admit. There were two readmits that could have been prevented. They were

discharged too early and came back. These mistakes can cost the hospital a lot of money. With

the constant change in doctors and hospitalists, the patients care can be at risk because each

doctor cares for the patient differently. I am hoping to find a solution to address this problem and

reduce readmissions.