R-E-S-P-E-C-T Are you getting any?

[huggietoes]

Am I alone in feeling as though hospital administration views nurses as warm bodies used to fill staffing quotas? I would love to work where we are viewed as oh say, dedicated professionals, competent, far be it for me to say but intelligent, valuable and yes even human! Rotating schedules, cancelling 25 minutes before the shift, then calling 2 hours later and demeaning me for not jumping at the chance to yet again rearrange my life and come in to work short staffed. I should not just point my finger at administration, floating if it has taught me one thing, is that nurses tear one another down enough on their own. I saw enough throat cutting and back stabbing to last me a life time. I was sitting with 4 other nurses and was in awe, as one by one they left the table the other vultures would then turn to one another and begin cutting up the nurse that had just departed. I am now known as being "no fun" because I refused to participate and took it upon myself to point out only the positive attributes of those being shredded to ribbons. With the holidays coming up I am seriously considering looking for a new position, I really do not want to be so unhappy with Christmas around the corner. Is there somewhere over that rainbow a facility where the staff is supportive and the powers that be appreciative and respectful?

[Youda]

I have found a couple.

All nursing jobs are the same.

It's the people who make the difference.

Take some time to read about different management styles. There's several. NMs, admins, and DONs usually end-up using one style, sometimes a combination of 1 or 2 styles. When you can understand the philosophy behind these styles, you can start to identify them. When you interview for a job, you can ask a few questions that can give you a clue to how that person is going to lead or manage.

Two very broad categories of managements styles go like this:

1. believes that all workers are lazy, stupid, and that the only way to get work out of them is to constantly threaten and punish.

2. believes that all workers try to do their best, and tries to understand where management is failing when work isn't done.

Well, you get the idea. A little homework for you, but yes, those good places are out there. Just learn what to look for in an interview so you won't spend a lot of time with trial and error.

Good luck! You deserve to be happy. We all do.

[911fltrn]

In short dont ever find out what they bill for what you do! For all nurses and everyone Ive ever met "I hope and pray all your dreams unfold before your eyes!"

[SheilaK]

I used to have horrible problem with RESPECT. I worked long term care for a number of years first as a floor nurse then on up the ladder into management. I actually found that in lower management , assistant director of nursing, I had less respect from the DON and the administrator.

I was working salaried often 100 hours a week (worked out to where I was making about $2.75 an hour) and at one point went 67 days without a day off. I was covering the holes, working as a nurse on the floor and/or a CNA. I fell behind in my "reports" and was called over the carpet for it. Not a single thank you from anyone for the hours put in, coming in on 5 mins notice, not calling in one time in 18 months, staying to help when I could leave just to help with crunches from heavy admssions, ect..,

I was treated like the plague by the regular staff, because I was the one who would call and see if they would come in and work extra. I had no choice I had to call. I never threatened anyone to come in or threatened them that they had to come in even if they were sick. I just don't play those games. But they were sure glad when I would come inand relieve them because the next shift had called off. Even if I had just left a few hours before.

The policy with admistration was supposedly one of an open door policy. We can talk about anthing, help eachother through the tough times - yea right. The administrator had been bragging about one of the ADON's at another sister facility. (this was after I had put in 110 hours on the floor that week and didn't have the infection control report typed - was done just not typed.) I asked for a few days to spend with her, (the golden child), so I could find out what she was doing diferently and maybe I could make some changes. I told him, frankly I was at my wits end and didn't know how to make the situation any better. His reply to me was to tell me and I quote, "Maybe this just isn't your cup of tea." I have to admit - I made my statement with my feet.

I went to work for the VA hosp. I am not going to say it's perfect, it is far from it. However it has some definate advantages. I have good bene's inc healthcare and retirement, 13 sick days a year and 26 vacation days a year - (just over 5 weeks). There may be a few places that I could get more money from, but not when you look at the whole package. There is no forced OT, unless it is an emergency situation. There hasn't been one of those in 5 years at my facilty. There is some oportunity for overtime. We do get comp time for when we have to stay over into the next shift to finish our work, like tonight with a code at shift change. But I don't get any grief when I want to take it either. Staffing is not the best. However we are in better shape than alot of the private sector in my area.

I still deal with difficult MD's, however with the government I have more oportunity to open my mouth about that MD to the upper management. And what do you know, they listen and do something about it!

[renerian, BSN, RN]

Shelia great post and right on the money.........I like being hourly too...... salaried hours get way out of hand.....

renerian