Code Green: Money-Driven Hospitals and the Dismantling of Nursing (The Culture and Politics of Health Care Work)

Rating:
Summary: The "true" colour of healthcare...
Review: Although this book is based in the U.S., so much is the same in Canada. I would highly recommend this book for nurses [who may be trying to figure out 'what it's all about Alfie'], for nursing students and no doubt, the public - so they can gain a better understanding of what it is that nurses are up against. As one wise person put it - it's a pity that these corporate entities in charge of running our healthcare, know the cost of everything...yet the value of nothing ("The Peter Principle")! So much needless suffering all for a race to the "bottom-line"/dollar. Thank you for such an intelligent book!

Rating:
Summary: Code Green: Money-Driven Hospitals and the Dismantling of Nu
Review: Weinberg (Brandeis Univ.) provides an incredible account of her observations of the state of nursing at the newly merged Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center. Her goal was "to find out why the nurses are crying." Each chapter thoroughly examines current issues faced by the professional nursing staff as seen through their eyes. These issues are similar to those faced by nurses nationally as financial goals take precedence to quality patient care. Issues that Weinberg examines include a shift from primary nursing to team nursing, replacement of licensed personnel with nonlicensed technicians, overwhelming workloads, increasing nursing shortage, restructuring of nursing leadership, lack of administrative support, and deterioration of the physician-nurse relationship. Dialogue from focus groups provides a revealing account of how frustrated nurses were at this institution. Hospital administration often interpreted complaints from nurses as simply an effort to resist change. Weinberg also presents data indicating how ineffective these changes were at reducing financial debt, and the detrimental impact they have had on nursing care. An excellent account of challenges faced by nurses today.

Rating:
Summary: Code Green: Money-Driven Hospitals and the Dismantling of Nu
Review: Weinberg (Brandeis Univ.) provides an incredible account of her observations of the state of nursing at the newly merged Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center. Her goal was "to find out why the nurses are crying." Each chapter thoroughly examines current issues faced by the professional nursing staff as seen through their eyes. These issues are similar to those faced by nurses nationally as financial goals take precedence to quality patient care. Issues that Weinberg examines include a shift from primary nursing to team nursing, replacement of licensed personnel with nonlicensed technicians, overwhelming workloads, increasing nursing shortage, restructuring of nursing leadership, lack of administrative support, and deterioration of the physician-nurse relationship. Dialogue from focus groups provides a revealing account of how frustrated nurses were at this institution. Hospital administration often interpreted complaints from nurses as simply an effort to resist change. Weinberg also presents data indicating how ineffective these changes were at reducing financial debt, and the detrimental impact they have had on nursing care. An excellent account of challenges faced by nurses today.