I agree with you…a RN as a laundry attendant is VERY expensive!

nurse globe trotter: i do not blame the adminstration for trying to cut costs. what i am kind of confused with is the fact that this idea doesn’t seem to save money at all. i mean, just imagine the electricty and water expenses in washing and drying a shirt, pants and underwear the whole night when you can have them wear the supplied clothes in one load by a laundry person or agency.

mn rn: in his particular county hospital, they have a washing machine and dryer for every behavioral health unit. this was because some patients do not want to wear the scrubs provided and it is considered their right to make that decision. when the decision was made to stop supplying the scrubs they used to wear, i assume the washing responsibilities went to the RNs because it might cause problems if the process is disorganized and patients can just wash and dry anytime they want.

rygel: no, they’re not. but i will not be surprised if they will cater to a patient’s request if that situation arises.

ALL: thanks for your inputs.

It would be far more productive for nurses (and all healthcare professionals) to look at the bigger picture and go straight to the source of the decrease in dollars. Insurance companies, Medicare and more likely in the case of bahvioral health, Medicaid and other government type contributions. (Or more accurate, government CUTS in reimbursement.)

It would behoove us to figure out how to influence major lobbying organizations and political representatives to put more VALUE on healthcare in the form of actual dollars.

It is as frustrating for administrators as it is for nurses. And I would venture to say that if the nurses have great ideas on how to make ends meet with what reimbursements are allowed these days, they would be very happy to hear those ideas!