Proposition for a Nursing Revolt

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Thirteen years of bedside care has taught me a lot. Yes, my clinical skills have been honed, my resume is stellar and I can approach clinical situations with confidence. I am a good nurse. My skills are a testament to my experience, as is my realization that modern day nursing is a farce. In this post I would like to pose that the nursing profession has become a perverse exploitation of manpower in the current age.

In the landscape of modern day healthcare the profession of nursing has been marginalized. Merriam-Webster defines marginalization as " to relegate to an unimportant or powerless position within a society or group". This definition should ring true to any nurse who is currently working at the bedside of a healthcare organization. Powerlessness should be in the descriptive of any bedside nurse job description. Powerless over unsafe staffing, administrative dictates, abusive patients and family members, dysfunctional hierarchies and the right to a work environment supportive of basic human needs and free from harassment.

The hospital business model has changed with many institutions operating as for-profit. Healthcare dollars are becoming increasingly tighter while those in the c-suite; CEO, CFO, etc. still want their great big piece of the pie. Consulting organizations are the best friend of the profit driven CEO with little or no insight as to what transpires at the bedside. Regulatory commissions justify their existence with endless mandates that become workplace priority (although some of these interventions do protect the patient I suspect this outcome is secondary to the money that is saved by the organization for compliance). Hospitals have become big business. Unfortunately for us, nursing's outdated model only serves to make us work harder to achieve benefits we never realize.

There is no place in the new business model of healthcare for compassionate care. An org cannot be reimbursed for compassion. Still we as nurses are manipulated by our desire to fulfill this outdated model of compassionate care giver. We are the scapegoats of organizations commitment to making someone accountable. Don't make waves, your job is dependent on it. We have all heard this message loud and clear.

I say no more!! The modern day role of a nurse is a joke. The landscape changes and we are required to carry on - business as usual. I cant stuff 14 hours of work into a 12 hour workday and I wont. I will take my breaks. I won't take abuse from patients and/or family members. Our rights as employees in the US mandate we are entitled to an abuse-free workplace. Amen. If administrators want to run their hospitals like a hotel let them employ consierge service around the clock. I didn't go into the hospitality business, I am a nurse. For every hair-brained scheme for manipulating the public the buck seems to stop with nursing. I refuse to pilot your business initiatives and be held accountable.

I am tired of being vulnerable to nursing administration that would rather align itself with hospital administration than represent nursing. You may be well compensated for your turncoat behavior but know you are a disgrace to your profession. It's time we reclaim these important roles and have a voice!!

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics 2010-2011 there are 2.6 million nursing jobs - 60% of those in hospitals. We outnumber hospital admin and nursing exec's by a very large margin. Why don't we have voice? Let's get it together and stage a nursing revolt. Nothing will change until we learn we can stand up for ourselves, our profession and as a result our patients. Grab hold of a copy of the Code of Ethics for Nurses. You will see this is our right and more importantly our duty.

I'm ****** and I'm not going to take this anymore. The first step to change is a unified voice. I'm not advocating unions - I don't know enough about them. All I know is change has to happen if we are to survive. Are you with me?

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Don't worry...the government has a solution to nurses who complain

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.1929:

Basically,import foreign nurses who will be willing for low wages for the right to work in the USA. With the economy the way it is hospitals have many nurses willing to take your place who are not going to complain.

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Unfortunately Ginger is correct. I have a 4 hospital magnet system in my area that has almost entirely stopped hiring US educated nursing staff. Just about all are from the Phillipines a few from Jamaica. All management is WASP. This in an upper class old money area where people have the money for the best nursing programs for their kids. Unfortunately, unless you get a favor returned there is no way to get a job in this system. Lots of highly edu second career folks turned away as well. Needless to say I've pretty much started an information exchange with the public so that people can be conscious consumers.

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

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Mac-I'm right there with you. I've wondered many of your same questions myself. We could change things if we stood together - all of us.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

The NNU is ahead of you trying to unite nurses nationwide. I'm not big on unions, but if ever a field needed one it's Nursing. Try this link for starters. They've already united nursing unions all over the country, not all of them yet, but they're working on it!

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/

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Specializes in FNP/FPMHNP-BC.

I am with you. 110%.

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Don't worry...the government has a solution to nurses who complain

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.1929:

Basically,import foreign nurses who will be willing for low wages for the right to work in the USA. With the economy the way it is hospitals have many nurses willing to take your place who are not going to complain.

One sponsor is a Republican, the other is a Democrat. Good to see we'll get a bipartisan screwing if this passes.

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One sponsor is a Republican, the other is a Democrat. Good to see we'll get a bipartisan screwing if this passes.

Making sure they get every angle.

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Let's start writing our politicians not to pass this bill. If we can't employ our own citizens, why are we giving US jobs to citizens of other countries?

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

It's been referred to two committees, where it will die.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-1929

The real question is to find out who was contributing to these Congressmen (ie who actually wrote this crap legislation).

However, there is a corresponding bill in the Senate: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s112-992

That is scary! The most retarded part is that Senator Boxer (D-CA) introduced it! What the hell is a Californian Senator doing thinking there is still a shortage! Well, I think she is kind of a douche anyway.

They have plenty of other bills that are good for nursing that will die in committee:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-876&tab=summary

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-1119&tab=summary

They couldn't even get the bill to recognize national Nurse Week out of committee:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hr112-75

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

I am not politically oriented and tend to get spastic about things I feel really strongly about. I was very impressed with the way the OP stated our case, and I'm willing, just not particularly educated. I would find it extremely helpful if I could receive specifics about how/what to say and to whom. I can write letters, but am not sure how effective it will be; I'm willing to help start the tidalwave, however. I just don't want to come across as an easily ignored griper. Is letter-writing our only recourse? My first thoughts were WOW! YES!>>>>>BUT HOW?

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