[rjc729]

Hmmmm...I am just beginning and only in second week of nursing school. This information leaves me a little uncomfortable with my decision. Are the working conditions really that bad out there?

[Miriam57RN]

Originally Posted by hillflower

is there really no nursing shortage? being a new grad, does this mean that i will have trouble finding work?:mortarboard:

I wouldn't worry. Many hospitals seem to prefer new grads.

[Miriam57RN]

In the article or maybe it was in the comments, it was noted that hospitals care more about documentation than patient care. I found that to be SO true in the last hospital I worked in, in 2005. I'm doing pediatric home care now and getting paid $3.00/hr more than in the hospital I was at. There is variety in doing both visit cases (double that hourly rate), including well-baby visits, and patient-care shifts. I even picked up clinical management responsibilities, something I hadn't done before. You can orient on a number of cases, or just one... it's up to you. It's nice to devote all of your time and attention onto one client at a time. You get time to eat your lunch or dinner and you redevelop skills that nurses used to do years ago in the hospital, like respiratory (i.e. on vent cases) and physical therapy functions. Some home care nurses are also massage therapists, or pick other up work on the side as well... because you have energy to spare! This summer I took time off to work as a camp nurse...an exhilarating experience at a busy camp. In the fall I'll be taking a school nursing course. Hospital nursing ain't all there is.

[alphonsus]

It is sad that a lot of people are misguided by this so called "nursing shortage"

[GoLytely]

Originally Posted by joshuaha

The one issue that people seem to forget is the desperate need that other countries have of nurses. By importing nurses from thier homelands, we are depriving healthcare starved nations of the primary caregivers needed for safe patient care. I am all for the importation of qualified canidates, but save America and the rest of the world be cursed?! It seems awfully short sighted on our parts.

I believe that a lot of the nursing schools overseas operate for the sole purpose of training the foreigners and bringing them here. In other words, the foreigners enroll in the school because teh school intends to send them to the US to work.

Still it's not right, but the people with the money make the rules.

[Miriam57RN]

Originally Posted by motorcycle mama

I believe that a lot of the nursing schools overseas operate for the sole purpose of training the foreigners and bringing them here. In other words, the foreigners enroll in the school because teh school intends to send them to the US to work.

And that is because money earned in the US, is sent home. Many times a group of nurses will live together, and live very thriftily, saving, and send money back home to family. The money is not consumed here in the U.S. but in the home (sending) country. I am not judging these nurses themselves, having gotten to know some personally and liking them... I just know that this is what occurs.

[Treasure30]

Originally Posted by rjc729

Hmmmm...I am just beginning and only in second week of nursing school. This information leaves me a little uncomfortable with my decision. Are the working conditions really that bad out there?

YES, You got want to do it or have some kind of call in order to enjoy it.

[Grace Oz]

[quote][Thus, the facility has more control over their employees - they can treat them poorly, with less risk of them quitting./QUOTE]

And to think I was under the impression that slavery didn't exist anymore!

[Treasure30]

Originally Posted by Miriam57RN

In the article or maybe it was in the comments, it was noted that hospitals care more about documentation than patient care. I found that to be SO true in the last hospital I worked in, in 2005. I'm doing pediatric home care now and getting paid $3.00/hr more than in the hospital I was at. There is variety in doing both visit cases (double that hourly rate), including well-baby visits, and patient-care shifts. I even picked up clinical management responsibilities, something I hadn't done before. You can orient on a number of cases, or just one... it's up to you. It's nice to devote all of your time and attention onto one client at a time. You get time to eat your lunch or dinner and you redevelop skills that nurses used to do years ago in the hospital, like respiratory (i.e. on vent cases) and physical therapy functions. Some home care nurses are also massage therapists, or pick other up work on the side as well... because you have energy to spare! This summer I took time off to work as a camp nurse...an exhilarating experience at a busy camp. In the fall I'll be taking a school nursing course. Hospital nursing ain't all there is.

[size="2"]I
I was taught 20 yrs ago working in an obstetric / L&D unit, IF YOU DIDN'T CHART IT, YOU DIDN'T DO IT. The only time you don't chart it right away, if there a patient thats heart stop beating, stop breathing or bleeding. I still practice that rule & I'm glad. It's bad enough the greedy CEO, Administrators, Directors & Nursing managers feels you make enough money for what your worth but to turn around and have an attorney tell you, it was written, How do we know you did it?

[Treasure30]

Originally Posted by Treasure30

[size="2"]I
I was taught 20 yrs ago working in an obstetric / L&D unit, IF YOU DIDN'T CHART IT, YOU DIDN'T DO IT. The only time you don't chart it right away, if there a patient thats heart stop beating, stop breathing or bleeding. I still practice that rule & I'm glad. It's bad enough the greedy CEO, Administrators, Directors & Nursing managers feels you make enough money for what your worth but to turn around and have an attorney tell you, it wasn't written, How do we know you did it?

CORRECTION, IT WASN'T WRITTEN, HOW DO WEL KNOW YOU DID IT?