[TNNURSE]

Tsunami Kim,
I read your attachment....thats too good!lol

I have already...moved on....so they dont have to tell me that peice of advice. But...I want my side heard ...so that maybe if this "Internal Investigation" is merely a sham...at least it will provide the framework for the next nurse who suffers the same thing at this HCO.Maybe it will shed enough light on what was actually occurring to make a difference.Maybe...when this HCO has to explain in court which version their nurse manager is lying about THEN they will care about the patient safety issues at hand...bc...as I said...I have it audiotaped....and what she says on the audiotape is a complete 180 of what is actually documented.This is sad....when HCO will not look at patient safety issues that nurses bring forth...till they are left to appear in court and be humiliated as the nurses attorneys make them answer for the NM's actions/ inactions and lies..and severe misrepresentations. I am still niave I am sure....bc ...I feel bad for the Rmgmt dept and their atty...I feel bad for the patients most of all.

[RNS for Unity]

12/17/05

As you may or may not be aware, that most federal employees are in unions, including all the Veterans Administration healthcare facilities. The Veterans Healthcare Administration is the largest employer in the U.S.A..Consider also that the entire nursing profession in Minnesota are unionized, along with most or all of California, Michigan and New York. I often wonder what transformed these states into unionization, was it legislated in the state or did the nurses get smart enough, stong enough so that they decided they'd had enough. WE NEED TO UNIONIZE like the teachers, police and firefighters have done. LETS MOVE OUT OF THE DARK AGES!

[Soleilpie]

TNNURSE,
Wow! I wish more nurses and people in general would be willing to rock the boat for a worthy cause! This is a selfless act on your part and all for patient safety! Everyone, take a good look. We have a hero amongst us! Thank You TNNURSE!

[gauge14iv]

A union would mean moving BACK to the dark ages.

Stronger state based associations with stronger lobbying capacity, political clout and more membership would be more effective.

Ain't no way *I* would EVER join a union.

I have dealt with unions. Never again - no how, no way.

[TNNURSE]

Guage14,
What were the drawbacks for the union you were in?What made them such a negative thing? I just kinda feel like "ANY" representation would be better than none...but on the issue of Unions I am not educated/well informed on what they can actually do and not do for nurses.I know that in California...the nurses are voicing approval for their union.Share your insight..please....bc....I just dont know that much about unions.
Also...I didnt know all VA hospitals were considered unionized.?????really???

[gauge14iv]

I worked for an insurance company who was contracted by a company who employed union workers. Because they were union they all had this sense of entitlement - to the point where it made it hard for the company I worked for as well as the employer to meet their needs. In fact companies like GM are heading down the drain in part because of the demands of the unions. You can't blame it ALL on the unions but they have to accept a piece of the responsibility.

In dealing first hand with union representatives there was a number of times where I was told - "I'm union - I'll just call the union attorney" at times where such comments were so out of line it was unreal. I was thoroughly disgusted with unions by the time I left that 3 year contract and swore I'd never do anything that involved dealing with the unions again.

Now - lets look at another side of an economical big player in medicine and health care - and well in the economy overall. Look at the AMA. Why is the AMA so powerful? What do they have that nursing doesn't? Highly paid lobbyists. Why do they have these when nursing does not? Because doctors tend to PARTICPATE in their professional organizations. They pay their membership fees, they take part in the activities and they make their opinions HEARD. Lobbyists are the paid voice of any organization.

Nurses complain that they have no representation, no one to get the laws changed so that the needs of nurses and ultimately patients are met. Well, what is the percentage of membership in state and national nursing organizations? How many nurses are actually card carrying INVOLVED and VOCAL members of their organization? How many think showing up at meetings or events to have their voices heard is important? How many attend the "Day on the Hill" as it is called here in Texas to meet personally with their state legislators and representatives? How many engage in actively writing letters and not just clicking on a website to get their voice heard and their opinion counted? How many? Not many...

I hear complaints - "My state nursing organization doesn't do squat for me" Geeeeeee - if you aren't a member, I wonder why thats true? How can an organization be expected to meet the needs of non contributing (cash, time, energy or otherwise) members?

There *IS* great power in numbers, but the answer is NOT a union I assure you. I never want to be associated with a group of people with the kind of mindset I experienced in the unions again ever. I will always be proud to be affiliated with a group of strong, powerful, vocal and involved individuals - even if my opinions aren't the same as theirs.

Yes, we have to band together and we have to be heard, but unions will not get us what we want, and ultimately they would drive the economy of healthcare to ruins.

[gauge14iv]

As for making a case for unions by saying that "federal employees are all members of unions"...

C'mon - have you dealt with some of these federal employees?? No case to made there! (No i'm not generalizing so if you are one of the exceptions don't flame me)

[gauge14iv]

Oh and - forgot to say this - the dangerous co-worker who your boss refused to fire? There would be NO WAY to get rid of her EVER if she were in a union! Unions tend to protect their "underdogs" to the last tooth.

[vamedic4]

Originally Posted by TNNURSE

I did contact an atty.Our state does have a QuiTam and Common law tort that directly states you can NOT retaliate against nurses for "whistleblowing" on unsafe pratices. The nurse pratice act clearly defines my LEGAL responsibility and the state law provides me protection from whistleblowing.This is one of the few exceptions to " employment at will". I am not quite to the point of filing a suit yet.I am still trying to resolve this matter by the hospital's dispute resolution process.The problem is they keep postphoning that hearing. However...I will NOT agree to a transfer. That is just wrong. Patients lives are involved. A transfer would be a way of saying that patient safety doesnt matter ...and that "I have learned my lesson to keep my mouth shut" when it comes to a patients safety and life.If that were your mother/child in that ICU bed...on the brink of life/death....how would you feel if the previous nurse had agreed to a transfer...rather than doing what was right. Do you see what I am saying? Its a ethical thing....and I DONTstruggle with my decision on that point. I lost my job...and it was illegal. I am asking if anyone has ever been thru any type of dispute resolution hearing? Can anyone tell me what kind of questions they ask? Is this just a sham hearing?I am asking for advice or any insight from anyone who has been thru a similar experience or knows anyone who has.
Thanks though...but a transfer....is just not a option Id accept.And thats an ethical decision for me too.It would just be wrong.

\\

This meeting is a sham, brought about by those whom you have "embarrased". This is an attempt by them to try to convince you that you were wrong when you brought this to their attention.
Do yourself a favor and keep your appointments with your legal counsel - sue the **** out of your "former" employer. Make an example out of them.

Good Luck!!!

The only thing worse than working with stupid people is working for them.

[TNNURSE]

Originally Posted by gauge14iv

As for making a case for unions by saying that "federal employees are all members of unions"...

C'mon - have you dealt with some of these federal employees?? No case to made there! (No i'm not generalizing so if you are one of the exceptions don't flame me)

Guage14,
So...since the VA hospitals are ran by the gvmt...they are considered federal employees?I had never really thought about that...hmmm...I do know that some federal employees are afforded many many safe guards agaist stuff like I have had to endure.I dont know really how is the best way to get more legaslative laws passed.I am a memeber of my state nsg organization, the ANA etc and have never been contacted by them to paRTICIPATE in any activity.I am just at a loss for answers. In my case....of course I will fully participate in the HCO "Internal Investigation"...which is probably a sham....and then when I am faced with concrete evidence they are a "sham" ..I will see them in court.BC...I lost my retirement, my family lost their health insurance, I lost my security of my job...and have spent so many nights trying to undestand how this could happen in today's society.