What if every nurse walked out for one day?

[Been there,done that]

What do you think would happen to the health care system if all nurses stayed home for one day?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Wow! This was a one sentence post,indeed meant to be thought provoking and theoretical in nature. I am not able to imagine what could have provoked this personal attack. I am well known for positive initiatives I have implemented.My patients are always very happy to have me as their nurse.Hovever all nurse deserve more respect from doctors and administration, and especially, from a fellow care-giver.

[GreyGull]

GreyGull, your post only addresses the immediate needs of the individual nurse, but what about the global picture? It’s easy to say we should have known what we were getting into, and we can always go out and find another career, but what happens to the future of nursing if the majority of nurses take your advice and jump ship?

So we are at a crossroads: enforce change or remain status quo.

I would hate to think that the majority of nurses are not in the right profession or in it for the wrong reasons. I also don't believe everything should be sugar coated. Those who do jump ship may have realized it wasn't for them but may have needed some reason to seek out what is truly their calling. I also think realizing there are different opportunities out there and sometimes they have to be reminded to do a little searching for the right fit.

But what has nursing done to increase its status as a profession? If we take just some of the opinions on this forum, nursing is destined to remain as a "technician" profession. Those who do advance their education will still be judged by the minimal education standards for entry. They may also be subject to immediate ridicule just because they have a higher degree. Some may be discouraged from continuing their education by the opinions of their peers which will then stagnate growth and potential. Only when the profession as a whole accepts their opportunities for growth can it move forward. And again, if you don't respect what you do, that can be contagious.

I do believe those in nursing who are seen as professionals portray themselves as professionals and do have the respect of their patients and the public. There are places where you can tell a professional attitude is fostered the instant your walk into it. They have made their own expectations of professionalism.

The other professions (OT, PT, SLP, RT) depend upon professional recognition from CMS and gaining the public's support as well as that of their elected Representatives in the House and Senate. Thus, they have pushed those entering into the profession to obtain higher education. These professions want no less than a Masters degree. Yet, RNs believe even the ADN has too much extra "education". Even Respiratory Therapy is now in preparation to make the Bachelors their entry level. This will happen over the next 10 years. A few states are already eliminating the lower level of the Respiratory Therapy credential to have only the higher level recognized for licensing. Their credentialing board also has another critical care credential coming out in a year or two since the RRT, which had been considered a critical care provider, is now not keeping up with the technology and the medicine in the ICUs. Until that 10 year mark, RTs also have a couple of Bills in the House and Senate to get privileges recognized (and reimbursed) outside of the hospital. Exciting times for the Therapies (all of them) but they also must keep reinventing themselves to keep their "business" alive. The same for NPs and PAs. I advise some to look at the professional websites of other professions to see what is evolving in the world of medicine. Nurses also have their professional associations with lobbyists and that does not always mean unions. Get involved in your profession and find those with common POSITIVE interests rather than the bash and trash negativity you sometimes find on these anonymous forums.

PT (check out Advocacy)

http://www.apta.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

OT

http://www.aota.org/

SLP (check out Advocacy)

http://www.asha.org/

RT

http://www.aarc.org/

Supporting others such as PAs and NPs for Pulmonary Rehab

http://www.aarc.org/headlines/10/10/hr6376.cfm

PA (advocacy)

http://www.aapa.org/

NP

http://www.aanp.org/AANPCMS2

Radiology

https://www.asrt.org/

Yes, the degree is coming for Radiology also which includes Radiography, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Radiation Therapy, Sonography, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging. But, this is nothing new since the degree has been promoted for many years in Radiology. They already have Bachelors degrees in these professions as well.

https://www.arrt.org/

Clinical Lab

http://www.ascls.org/index.asp

I like this on their website which can also be found on the sites of other associations.

Promoting the value of the profession to healthcare and the public;

Education is often more effective then anger and negative attitudes. People often will remember "your attitude" but not in a good way.

Each of the above professions lobby for the interest of the patient which will also benefit them but they let the public know it is with their interest in mind that they petition for more funding and care for the patient by qualified professionals. The "me first and only" message is not quite as evident. You also don't find these professions relying on unions for their respect and to get their message across. And, these professions are no where near as large as nursing...which might be to their advantage.

It has been interesting to see such young professions become respected professionals, at least where it counts, in such a short period of time. Some of the Rehab therapies have been around for a long time and their education advancement has managed to keep up.

Below is a link to many different associations for nurses which have decent forums and listservs. Of course, some may not allow you to be anonymous. Find one that fits your goals as a nurse and be passionate for a cause and not just the "what ifs". I don't agree with staffing ratios and poor working conditions but unless you make your opinions known as a unit rather than just some griping on an anonymous forum, you will not help with the solution and may become more of the problem. Make it real but in a way that also advocates for the patients as well as the profession.

http://www.theagapecenter.com/Organizations/Nursing.htm

ENA

http://www.ena.org/Pages/default.aspx

when it is the public physically and verbally abusing nurses

You are blaming "the public" for those you see as patients who may have medical issues influencing their behavior? Let's put this into the proper perspective. Do all of your patients physically attack and verbally abuse you? Have members of "the public" physically attacked you outside of the hospital when you mentioned you were a nurse? I have had offensive verbal comments directed at me by a variety of people throughout my life without them knowing what I did as a professional or where I worked. Sometimes it was just because I occupied the same sidewalk as them. I've also been assaulted in the subway a couple of times and I had no identifying mark on me that indicated what I did in my professional life. Can I put some of the blame on society? Yes. But, I don't dwell on "the public" for causing these individuals to act out.

PS. I’m glad the public can read this forum and clue into the shocking realities of nursing instead of those fictional representations from General Hospital , et al.

But many of the threads also make RNs appear as whiners who do nothing but complain about their job and the patients.

So where do we draw the line between maintaining our own physical and mental health/wellness and putting the patient's needs first?

Just like any other profession you have to find a balance within yourself first. My profession and job are NOT my whole life. I have my own identity outside of the hospital. Nobody can legislate happiness for you. Even those with the best working conditions and highest paid jobs may not be content. Everybody is different. The RN who lives for 2 high acuity patients in the ICU might be totally frustrated working in some other department. You need to respect yourself and your profession. You need to understand your own limitations and find your niche if something isn't working out for you. Seek out a mentor who isn't disqruntled about everything and see some of the positive. Just like negativity is contagious, being positive can also make approaching a problem easier. Managers and Administrators aren't going to listen when approached like a bunch of angry villagers with pitch forks wanting a lynching. Managers spend more energy addressing problems started by someone who is miserable and made someone else believe they were miserable and on and on. These managers could have been addressing the real issues of the unit. Don't tell me you haven't see this happen. It makes registry/agency nurses thankful they only work by the day at places like that.

Enough of this...time to go out and get a life.

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

Once again, my thanks to GreyGull; I posted some questions on another thread regarding some of the disciplines mentioned. These have now been admirably answered. I find that many of what you term "techs" are referred to by other names in my country.

[abbaking]

You sound very idealistic.

A new nurse, perhaps? Or maybe..not even a nurse...

Whatever the public thinks of "this" forum is not on the top of my worry list. This is a forum FOR and BY nurses.

The ones who've been there and done that....if you haven't been there and done that...then this isn't the place for you...

IMHO.

Edit to add: You're not new...but still idealistic...btw, let the gen public see what is noted here. They should learn how to behave and realize what they do to impede and or enhance their care.

I'm not going to start policing my fellow nurses because of political correctness--nor am I going to hold back on my own opinion.

Thank you JoPACURN - This uptight and politically correct society NEEDS more free thinkers like you and I.

As I said in a previous post (now closed) "Those Who Get It, Get It - Those Who Don't, Never Will"

Keep you head held high and remember that your opinions and your take on reality are important.