All Nurses Read This

laurasc · Mar 28, 2001

1)RN

2)16 years this June

3)Area:

Ontario, Canada

4) satisfied with pay?

NO!

5)with your benefits?

What benefits?

6)your hours?

YES! Monday to Friday, 9AM to 1PM

7)supervisor competent?

Don't have a nursing supervisor. My boss is the doctor.

8)Do you trust your employer?

YES

9)nursing education Dept?

NO, I work in an office

10)Do you enjoy being a nurse?

YES, now I do. But I found myself learning to really hate nursing by the time I left the hospital.

11)Does your employer have mandatory overtime?

NOPE

12)How often do you get a break at work?

I only work 4 hours/day mostly, so I don't bother with a break.

13)Do you work Days, nights, or rotate?

DAYS

14) Holidays?

ALL OF THEM OFF

15)Are you for or against the idea of a nurses union in your area?

Not for me now, but nursing unions are common here in Canada and I have been a part of a union in the past.

16)If you were in a union, would you be willing to strike,picket,or have a work slow down?

YES.

17)any other comments?

I gave up on the hospital years and years ago. I will not go back. Nursing is in as much trouble here as it is in the US but for slightly different reasons. I'm really happy to be working in a doctor's office.

Laura

[This message has been edited by laurasc (edited March 28, 2001).]

Nurse POC · Mar 28, 2001

1. RN

2. 6 RN, 5 LPN

3. Mid South ( Memphis )

4. Basically, no, because I make at or above

most other nurses in my area.

5. For the most part. Wish my retirement

benifits were better, tho.

6. The hours are fine, but I am not

satisfied with my shiff.

7. For the most part.

8. Only if what I need to trust them about

is in writing

9. I just started this job 2 months ago.

So far, the education dept. seems adequate, but a lot of time and money is wasted on so called "orientation" and me having to take a manditory " critical care orientation" class when I've worked critical care for years ( I even corrected the instructors on a few things). Nursing education needs to be more tailored for the idividual nurse instead of grouping into a category.

10. When I'm allowed to do what I know how to do, I love it. When I'm made to waste knowledge and experience, I get very frustrated and discouraged.

11. No. In fact, all overtime must be approved in advance. Altho this isnt a problem, and I can get all the overtime I would want.

12. Rarely get the "30 minute lunch break", but I really cant complain about breaks. I smoke, and can usually get away at least a couple times during the shift for a quick smoke. It varies tho.. sometimes all I get is maybe 1 or 2 quick 3-5 minute smoke breaks.. but some nights, it isnt a problem.

13. 12 hour night shift. I LOVE the 12 hour shifts, and I used to love nights, but I'm having problems working nights anymore.. with family, feeling tired all the time, etc, I'm really wanting to get a day time shift.

14. Not many. But we've learned over the years that we can have a holiday on an alternate day. My daughter is 16, and I've spent maybe 3 or 4 Christmas days with her over the years. But as with any child of a shift worker, she works with us and we have the holiday dinner, presents, etc. on another day.

15. FOR. Nursing, as a whole, has PROVEN we cant speak up or stand up for our rights for ourselves as a group. We need a union so we can be recognized as a group and be reconned with as a group thru a representative.

16. Unsure. Depends on the circumstances. It would have to be a VERY worthwhile and serious issue before I would even entertain the idea. I'm not sure how comfortable I would be putting patient care, or the patients themselves in jeopardy by a strike or walk out. There has to be a better way to negotiate than striking or a work slow down or a sick-out. The patient suffers... and that goes against my moral and ethical grain. I would not be able to sleep at night knowing that a patient received sub-standard care due to a strike.

17. There is no easy answer to the problems of nursing today. Think about this.. Physicians do not have the woes and troubles that nursing seems to be plagued with. Know why??? THEY STICK TOGETHER!! They do not demean, down, criticize, or belittle their fellow MD's.... not in public anyway. Nursing is notorious for " eating our young". When's the last time, during report, the other nurse said something NICE about another nurse??? But no, what we hear is " you wont believe what that dumbass did today".. or" Guess what she did ??"... This is horrible!!! We have enough people down on nursing as it is, and we sure dont need it from our OWN!!! How truly low and horrible can it get.. for one of our OWN to be down on us??? please Please PLEASE..... lets all stick together and start being the professionals that we truely are. And next time you give report, or see a fellow nurse in the breakroom, or are helping another nurse, COMPLIMENT THEM!!! Tell a fellow nurse what a great job he/she is doing. Even if it is just a tiny something.... it would make you feel good for someone to tell you what a good job you did... so share the wealth and lets start acting as a TEAM.

PICCONE · Mar 28, 2001

1.RN

2.24

3.Chgo Illinois

4.yes if I never had to pay taxes

5.Yes , with new administration finally got a 401K plan

6.Yes, Always worked straight days

7.Yes

8.No, anyone in Nursing could never say yes to this question

9.yes fairly ok

10.Yes I still love Nursing

11.No,but they beg a lot

12.15 min AM & PM + 30min lunch on a good day

13.Straight days unless it's vacation time and they might ASK if we will cover another shift 1-2 days

14.Usually every other unless I offer to work more for the extra pay.

15 Divided, would need more specific info

16.Yes

17.I want to know what has happened to the quality of nursing schools in the past 15 years? Hard to find a new grad that I don't feel I'm reteaching basic nursing school to.

buck227 · Mar 28, 2001

I am waiting for 100 replies or 30 days and I will compile all of the Data. Thanks to all who are participating. Anytime you get a group of people to work together, you accomplish wonderful things.

GingerJ · Mar 28, 2001

Questions

1)RN

2)Years as a nurse?-5yrs

3)Area (i.e. U.S. NE, N central, NW, Se, S central, south west, Arkansas, or other country or location)-Alaska

4) Are you satisfied with your pay?-who couldn't use more?

5)with your benefits?-yes

6)your hours?-yes

7)Do you believe your supervisor is competent at his or her job?-some supervisors no, my manager yes

8)Do you trust your employer?-most of the time

9)Does your institution have a nursing education Dept, or has it been cut recently?-we have a nursing education dept.

10)Do you enjoy being a nurse?-yes

11)Does your employer have mandatory overtime?-yes

12)How often do you get a break at work?-most of the time

13)Do you work Days, nights, or rotate?-days

14) How many Holidays did you spend with your family or signifigant other over the last year?-1

15)Are you for or against the idea of a nurses union in your area?-for, we have an excellent union

16)If you were in a union, would you be willing to strike,picket,or have a work slow down?-none it would be the nurses and managements job to see that it doesn't come to that

17)any other comments

Suzerrn · Mar 29, 2001

Originally posted by buck227:
Please respond to this on this thread so we can all learn about each others situation

Questions
1)RN
2)3
3)Midwest
4) Are you satisfied with your pay? NO!!
5)with your benefits? NO!!
6)your hours? Yes
7)My supervisor just resigned...Motherless..again!
8)Do you trust your employer? NO
9)Does your institution have a nursing education Dept Yes...excellent
10)Do you enjoy being a nurse? Definately
11)Does your employer have mandatory overtime? Yes
12)How often do you get... a WHAT?
13)Do you work Days, nights, or rotate? Days
14) How many Holidays did you spend with your family or signifigant other over the last year? Every other, plus whatever else I can
15)Are you for or against the idea of a nurses union in your area? Unsure
16)If you were in a union, would you be willing to strike,picket,or have a work slow down? Yes.
17)any other comments..Shortage has got me real worried!

Please respond on this thread. I think it is important for us to understand each others work situation as nurses and to get a feel for what is going on in other areas of the country and world. Thanks to all for your time,

buck

-jt · Mar 29, 2001

Originally posted by buck227:
[ We do not do work slow-downs.
That is illegal.

By slow downs I mean intentionally staying late to finish paperwork or prolonging report. Anything to increase the cost to the company. It is a dirty trick, but it hits them in the pocket book. I would never suggest any tactic that would harm a patient. I believe that the patient always deserves your best efforts regardless of how you feel about your employer. It is the patient we are truely serving, not the company. At the end of everyday you should reflect on what you did to make someones life better. :-)

buck

ok but Still no to a work slow-down....theyd never even feel the hr OT & I'd just be making myself suffer by not getting out on time...I'd rather picket - a picket costs them more in public relations alone & that has a far more reaching effect than an hr ot paid out. And if worse comes to worse, theres always the cost associated with a strike - Much more effective than a slow down. A slow down just prolongs the agony & the inevitable. But I'd do any other kind of labor activity from rallies, marches, talking to reporters etc, to increase the pressure & try to make them move without having to strike to do it...but if push comes to shove...out the door, baby.

challis · Mar 29, 2001

1 - Enrolled Nurse but studying to be a Registered Nurse

2 - 6 years

3 - Work in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia

4 - Could always be better

5 - We dont really get "benefits" as such like you guys in the USA.

6 - I work 8 hour shifts

7 - My immediate superviser - yes.

8 - No

9 - Yes

10 - sometimes

11 - no

12 - Try and take my breaks but sometimes shortages of staff dont allow us to have our breaks. Management just seems to accept this as mandatory work practice even if we complain. Even though we dont get paid for our 1/2 hour meal break, the hospital just expects up to work through it whenever it suits them.

13 - I work rotating shifts

14 - Not many. I usually choose to work the holidays as I need the extra money that the shift penalties bring. Its no excuse for notspending time with my family, but I need the money to pay for my university education.....

15 - We have a nurses union here in my state, The NSW Nurses Association, which is pretty weak but its good to know its there if I need the legal help.

16 - Ive always been a union member.

buck227 · Mar 29, 2001

This is going great, keep going!

sonnie · Mar 30, 2001

1)RN

2)13

3)Pacific North West

4)yes

5)pretty much

6)yes

7)exceptionally

8)yes

9)yep, that would be me

10)yes very much

11)No

12)a 30 minute lunch and 1-2 15 minute breaks

13)nights, but because of my other jobs can be found at work at any time

14)we get every other holiday off and try to give staff either the night before christmas and new years if they have to work the "holiday"

15)against

16)no I feel it is unethical to hold patients hostage like the teachers hold our children hostage with their strikes

17) Since I am a working nursing supervisor it is my job to make sure people take their breaks, but that is the problem, sometimes people won't take a break.

lsmo · Mar 30, 2001

1)RN

2)16

3). North East/MICHIGAN

4) NO

6)SOMEWHAT

7)SOMEWHAT

8)RARELY

9)BARELY/DRASTIC CUTS

10)LOVE IT WHEN I CAN DO IT PROPERLY/REASONABLY

11)YES, SADLY

12)OCCASIONALLY

13)THREE 12 HOUR DAYS/WEEK

14)3

15)FOR

16)YES IF NECESSARY

17) LIVING IN TODAY'S WORLD, I BELIEVE IF ALL NURSES BELONGED TO A UNION. WE COULD DEFINITELY IMPROVE OUR TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKING CONDITIONS COLLECTIVELY. HOWEVER, MY ULTIMATE IDEAL WOULD BE TO SEE US FORM OUR OWN BUSINESSES, THAT WOULD CONTRACT NURSING SERVICES TO THE HOSPITALS. FOR EXAMPLE, ALL OBSTETRICAL SERVICES WOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE NURSE-OWNED BUSINESS.. IF A PROFIT WAS MADE, THE NURSES WHO STAFFED THE UNIT VIA THE CONTRACT WOULD RECEIVE THE CASH. AS AN INDEPENDENT GROUP, NURSES COULD COMMAND SOME HEALTHY BENEFIT PACKAGES AND DO A BETTER JOB OF MANAGING THEIR UNITS...WHEN WE ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE INSTITUTIONS WE SERVE--WE STRUGGLE TO HAVE THE NEEDED CONTROL OF OUR PRACTICE AND TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.

------------------

L.Smo RN

[This message has been edited by lsmo (edited March 29, 2001).]

ornurse2001 · Mar 30, 2001

Originally posted by buck227:
Please respond to this on this thread so we can all learn about each others situation

Questions
1)RN, LPN, or CNA?
2)Years as a nurse?
3)Area (i.e. U.S. NE, N central, NW, Se, S central, south west, Arkansas, or other country or location)
4) Are you satisfied with your pay?
5)with your benefits?
6)your hours?
7)Do you believe your supervisor is competent at his or her job?
8)Do you trust your employer?
9)Does your institution have a nursing education Dept, or has it been cut recently?
10)Do you enjoy being a nurse?
11)Does your employer have mandatory overtime?
12)How often do you get a break at work?
13)Do you work Days, nights, or rotate?
14) How many Holidays did you spend with your family or signifigant other over the last year?
15)Are you for or against the idea of a nurses union in your area?
16)If you were in a union, would you be willing to strike,picket,or have a work slow down?
17)any other comments

Please respond on this thread. I think it is important for us to understand each others work situation as nurses and to get a feel for what is going on in other areas of the country and world. Thanks to all for your time,

buck

1&2)LPN/12 years - RN/6mos.

3)Misery; also known as Missouri

4)pay is OK, would welcome more of course

5)lousy insurance,otherwise OK

6)8 hr shifts/mon-fri-6am to 2:30pm, but may switch to 10 hr shifts 4 days/week-no week-ends

7)no

8)sometimes

9)yes, but inservice education for employess is nil right now-small community supported hospital-much community education going on-poor medicaid/medicare reimbursement, you know......

10)love being a nurse

11)OT discouraged

12)sometimes too many

13 & 14)I work Mon-Fri.6am-2:30pm-about 10-12 days of 24 hour surgery call per month-don't usually work holidays unless an emergency surgery while on-call

15 & 16) no desire for a union here, but understand why other places may need one

17)In reading these other posts, I think I will delay that prospective job change !

------------------