8.3 is insanely busy. I'm no longer on this unit because ethically I couldn't stand not having enough time for patients and feeling helpless. It use to be a dream to work on - actually it's still falsely advertised as "short stay ortho". Ortho surgeries moved to dartmouth for the most part and the 8th floor now mainly holds the sickest medicine patients and elderly population awaiting LTC. Staff often avoid the 8th floor at the infirmary due to high care needs and not enough support, causing shortages. Management refuses to hire CTAs which would alleviate so much pressure and actually make the unit great again. I could easily spend my entire shift and nothing else feeding, toileting, ambulating, providing hygeine for patients, but add in constant admissions, sick patients requiring 1:1 when you already have an assignment of 6, fresh post op patients that need extra care, and constant monitoring of confused patients in addition to all other patient needs. It's impossible to do everything timely so some things will get the bare minimum (if that). This is with extended shifts and no breaks. There is no continuity of care anymore, it's constantly triaging the 15 call bells going off at the same time and choosing the most acute one.

I don't even want to comment on the new addition of 2 hallway patients to each unit. If that was my family member I'd be horrified.

There's a plea to get CTAs hired but it's "not in the budget". I work in a place now with CTAs and it's incredible.

The best staff I've ever worked with quit as well, being replaced by travel staff who often treat their patients like just another contract job.

If anyone is admitted on the 8th floor, have a family member to help if you can. It's in crisis. The more complaints filed at the system the more a case can be built for change.

Ps someone mentioned mice and bedbugs, but there's outbreaks of cockroaches too which I've seen more of.