been a nurse for along time and i have to honestly say the mess we (the american public) are in, is a quagmire of unrelenting paperwork and computer work and if the public really knew how little time we (the hospital staff) have to actually take care of them they would be angry. with government putting their noses into the day to day running of the hospital, it leaves really little time for patient care. when i think of it, i'm ashamed and scared. i want to do my best, i want to do what i would like done for me or mine. truth is, we have little time for all but the very basics. years ago before drgs (diagnosis related group) i'm talking like the 80's we could take care of alot of patients just say two nurses and one aide. now with the government involved if this charting is not done just right, the hospital will not get money from the government it needs to function, esp if patient is on medicare or medicaid. its a shame.its a mess. we didn't have all the paperwork to do. now ,it is a mess of paper and computer work. it has not gotten easier by far. charting takes at least half hour per patient times that by 7 patients and not including the phone calls, distractions, meds to be given and dealing with ancillary depts and family issues we have little time for patient care. i don't care what people say, government or insurance companies have no business in healthcare.