Originally posted by nursedude:
"You have to remember what nursing is all about, it is caring for the patient."
The above is a true statement primarily in health care facilities/settings only... If you are a nurse in another setting - like insurance, then your focus becomes that of the bottom line - sometimes at a loss of care for the patient.(Gee - that almost sounds like a hospital?)
I'm not sure we're both from the same Pittsburgh, PA. It's like this. I was/am a Nurse in the PGH area for the last 25 years. I have seen many changes. I watched salaries climb from $5.50/hour to $21.35 then back to $13. I have been a psych nurse for the last 19 except for 1 year I worked in a Nursing Home. I've watched with amusement then chagrin then total dismay as the pay went up miniscul-ly(I don't think that's a word but....)at the patient load went up geometrically. When I came out of Nursing School I was dismayed that they gave you FIVE patients. I got more dismayed that on an active adult psych unit there were 28 patients and 5 staff. 2 RN's, and 3 CCSs. They were at least trained in psych. I now work at an Adolescent/Child Hospital that also has 2 Residetial care facility areas as well as acute. I Assess and admit acute patients while watching over 9 Residetial Cherubs at the same time. We don't GET a break. What? Illegal you say? OH well, if the state comes around, they bother to tell them that the schedule for today is more than adequate because 4 out of 10 are mandates...... for the 4th time this week. Who will tell them that the schedule they are looking at will be in the trash can before the door closes behind them. What about Sunday morning when there are 3 staff scheduled for 36 patients. (Uh OH! Did you say MANDATE! AGAIN!!!!. 2 Things need to go. Managed care and For Profit Hospitals.
Our Moto today is Warehousing people is a profitable business....the return trade is phenominal. And don't ask about nursing homes, my wife went back to work (as an LPN) after 20 years raising our kids, was accepted with scoliosis and a Drs excuse not to lift(by herself)because she was to be a "Med Nurse", and she was an aide the last 3 times, because the aides who called off, who were going to be "taken to task" for it, still do and the "rules have changed" so you have to lift, or you'll have to leave. And the 25 patients the LPNs pass meds to and do treatments for still cry at at bedtime becuse there's not enough staff and thew meds take forever.
I prefer the company of Computers.
No I wouldn't recommend nursing
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