[danvet]

Just wanted say that I did not get dnr'ed from the hospital I love so much. That was a relief. I am still very upset with my agency's handling of the issue that it has prompted me to make a change.

I will no longer work within a hospital setting. I am burnt out and fed up with the way staff nurses treat their agency nurses. I have to say, I was upset that I had been labled "that big nurse with the black hair". How rude. Perhaps my perceived attitude was in relation to their attitudes, which of course, never need adjusting, lol.

I am going to pursue home health with a vengence. One on one care and I can concentrate my energies on my patients, where it belongs. Maybe in the long run, this is a door opening wide with many more opportunities. I always wanted to try Public Health.

I know how hard agency nurses have to work and how difficult some settings may be. I wish you all the luck in the world.

[graysonret]

I never take a double shift at a new place. A few years ago, 2 of us did that and both got DNR'd from the place. Reason? Fights with families. Interesing reason since neither one of us ever saw a family the whole time we were there. And we were on different units which the agency wondered about. Seems the place had a reputation for putting down agency nurses. My relief was quite nasty. I just move on and keep going. As long as my agency trusts my work and thinks highly of me, I don't worry over it.

[LoriAnnRN]

danvet-I became burned out re: hospital nursing after only 3 years (I was a traveler for a year and a half and I know all about being dumped on). I tried home health on a lark and it turned out to be one of the best changes I've ever made in my life. You get to actually make a difference in your patients' lives. Not all parts of home health are warm and fuzzy, but overall it can be very satisfying. Good luck to you!

[mattsmom81]

As has been mentioned, perhaps this is God's way of opening the right door for you.

I DNR facilities that do not treat me fairly...and make sure the agency knows MY side of the story. I also go to bat for other agency nurses...as one facility DNR'd a coworker agency nurse of mine...they said she did not do paperwork assigned to her...but I backed her up...this facility did not tell ME we had to do weekly evaluation reports on Dr Jone's patients every Wednesday either...sometimes the staff gets passive aggressive with agency and withholds info like this so they can point a finger later.

I agree...if I know I did the best job I could in the situation presented to me, and the facility complains, I just shrug...and don't go back.

I'm nice to people to a point...if someone called me'the big nurse with the black hair' I don't think I could have ignored that either...they would have received a stern, assertive introduction from me.

Frustrated people look for scapegoats...I know we have to be careful out there.

Good luck with your home health...hope you like it!!

[amethyst]

Hi Everyone,

I'm an agency nurse in the UK. Its interesting to hear of your problems and note that agency nurses while DESPERATELY needed to cover shifts, often at the drop of a hat, are valued little!

I DNR hospitals I don't like...my reasons vary: attitudes of staff to me, standards of care delivered or the kind of support given.

amethyst

[frannybee]

I have never beed DNRed but have refused to go back to one ward who delighted in giving me the unmanageable bay *and a student*. Four all-care patients, one who was dying, a confused wanderer and another with a hip wound that was leaking fluorescent yellow pus. There were six pts in the bay, and I had 2 cubes as well (the perm. nurses had a bay each, no cubes). Morphine syringe driver ran out and needed replacing - nurses 1,2,3 and 4 all said ask Sister, we're busy - Sister then said ask one of the nurses, I'm busy. Took well over an hour to get someone to accept that I couldn't do it by myself and NEEDED someone to check the CDs.

I got bawled out because it got to 10am and only 3 of my patients had their beds made (all were clean, medicated, fed and safe). The poor student had to put up with me ranting and desperately struggling to keep up - bless her, it was her first placement and here I was, on my 6th shift as an RN! I still rankle when I think that on a ward full of E and F-grade nurses (not new nurses, some experience and additional skills, more responsibility) I was left with a student who expected me to be able to teach her something about nursing. I did teach her about agency nursing - if a ward treats you like ****, you leave and don't come back.

I left that ward smack on the dot of 1pm and was on the phone to the agency at 1.05pm telling them what had happened and that I would never go back. Two hours later I started on another ward in the same hospital and had a fabulous time - great staff and friendly atmosphere. We all cried together when the evening news came on and we found out what had happened in New York. Those shifts were on 11/9/01, and I can never forget them.

[nightingale]

I also DNR hospitals that are dangerous or belittle my role as a nurse.

[NancyRN]

Originally posted by nightngale1998
I also DNR hospitals that are dangerous or belittle my role as a nurse.

But then you don't have anyplace to work!

I do not remember who has as their line signature... but another member reminds us that.. WE WILL GET EXACTLY AS MUCH CRAP AS WE WILL TAKE....

To be honest... there are facilities that have gotton away with treating me badly for a "brief".. very brief time.... I truly do not work where I am not treated with repect etc... The price I pay is to travel, to stay diverse, and keep my education top notch....

I realize not everyone has the same opportunites... but I pay the price by traveling a great distance to get shifts, occasionally take a short term travel contract, and take "less lucrative" assignments from time to time of those assignments that are more interesting, fun, or rewarding in other ways.... then there are those assignments that are strictly high money end assignments.... but never... never to I continue at an assignment that is belittling to me.. sure I have bad days... but that is life...

[mattsmom81]

Agencies make money off placing us so they tend to cater to facilities...agreed. But, once they get to know you and you get rave reviews most places you go, they will disregard complaints as they know you are good.

Agencies will just tend to place another nurse when one is DNR'd....so I always keep my eyes and ears open for the 'bad' facilities that will talk behind our backs. I'll usually try anyplace once...but it's my choice to go back...luv that about agency!

Do you get an evaluation every shift? I do...so if they complain I know it immediately and can address it/give 'my side' of things.

Don't let the turkeys get you down!

[nightingale]

Originally posted by NancyRN
But then you don't have anyplace to work!

I do not remember who has as their line signature... but another member reminds us that.. WE WILL GET EXACTLY AS MUCH CRAP AS WE WILL TAKE....

To be honest... there are facilities that have gotton away with treating me badly for a "brief".. very brief time.... I truly do not work where I am not treated with respect etc... The price I pay is to travel, to stay diverse, and keep my education top notch....

I realize not everyone has the same opportunites... but I pay the price by traveling a great distance to get shifts, occasionally take a short term travel contract, and take "less lucrative" assignments from time to time of those assignments that are more interesting, fun, or rewarding in other ways.... then there are those assignments that are strictly high money end assignments.... but never... never to I continue at an assignment that is belittling to me.. sure I have bad days... but that is life...