An open letter to the #NursesUnite movement

[disillusionedrn]

An open letter in response to #NursesUnite:

It is amazing that you have finally found a cause to unite over (#nursesunite), however, I find it hard to jump on board this superficial bandwagon that actually serves the nursing profession no purpose whatsoever.

I have pondered over the last week why it is that so many nurses take such offense to the few words of an ignorant television host, being that Ms. Behar has zero impact or influence on the healthcare profession or the role of nursing, yet they do nothing to end the many real issues plaguing the nursing profession.

The only conclusion that I can come up with is that nurses feel that they can't do much to change the real problems in nursing, so they unite and attack over something that really makes no difference at all to us as a whole.

There are so many other REAL aspects of the nursing profession to unite over to influence change that will actually make a difference to nursing. There are many "dirty secrets" of nursing that go unspoken and ignored, many of which are cultivated by nurses themselves.

Bullying, horizontal violence, inadequate training, nurses "eating their young", 12+ hour shifts, no breaks, high acuities, too many patients per nurse, etc.

I went into nursing because I like to help people. I am empathetic. I am a quick thinker. I am smart. But that isn't actually what makes a nurse successful in this profession, as I have come to find out. As I have come to find out, nursing has less to do with how competent or compassionate you are, and more to do with how much you can, or are willing to, put up with. The nursing culture is full of "suck it ups" and "oh well, it is how it is."

What seems to make a nurse successful is the ability to withstand bullying, intimidation, being talked down to by supervisors, patients, family members, and doctors. The ability to get over inadequate training and support provided by management and your peers and to be okay with unsafe patio to nurse ratios. You'll feel more confident in time, it's just a part of nursing.

To be successful in nursing, you have to be okay with having zero time to take a break (even a bathroom break) and most times, taking your lunch sometimes 8 hours past your start time, or sometimes not even getting a lunch. You have to be okay with being dehydrated while hanging patient's IV bags and shaking from not being able to take a break and eat while you are checking diabetic's blood sugars and teaching the importance of proper urinary hygiene to avoid UTIs while you've been holding your own urine for the past 5 hours. Nurses are expected to just be okay with it. It's just a part of nursing, right?

You have to be okay with coming in early to "get familiar" with your patient load and not getting paid for that time. You have to be okay with staying well past your shift to give report on a regular basis, taking your total time on the clock (and off) well into 14-15 hours, which means that you are so tired driving home that you hope you make it there without crashing because your brain is tired mush. But long shifts are just a part of nursing.

You have to be okay with having to do more with less, even if it affects patient safety and outcomes. You have to be okay with doctors yelling at you and treating you like you're an incompetent idiot rather than a professional colleague in health care. You know that if you call a doctor to clarify orders or to update on your mutual patient, you may be met with disdain and sarcasm. But that's okay too, because it's just a part of nursing.

Nurses know this to be true. Nurses know these are the dirty secrets of nursing. Nurses know that bullying is rampant. Yet, the answer to this problem is "grow a thicker skin" or "you'll just get used to it".

Nurses know that understaffing is a given and that high acuity and high patient loads per nurse is more common than not. Nurses know this isn't safe, they know the care being given isn't what it should or could be, but they do not unite together against it and demand change.

Nurses know that there is often a lack of adequate training and preceptorship for new grads and new employees entering new specialty areas and that too many times nurses get thrown to the wolves and it's a sink or swim mentality. But, this is just a part of nursing we accept.

Nurses know this. They live it. They experience it. It is the culture of nursing. Yet, there is no call to end it. No hash tag. No selfies. No viral campaign on social media. No standing up to it. Just the continued mentality that these things are just a part of nursing that you have to accept or leave.

So, instead of uniting together against something or someone that has no impact on nursing, why not stand up and unite against the things that are killing the nursing profession and demand they change?

Sincerely,

A disillusioned nurse

[shermrn]

There are 55,000+ signatures on the petition to Disney Corp and the View at change.org demanding an apology.

I would like to see #nursesunite write a petition requesting legislation for Federally mandated nurse patient ratios.

I would like to see #nursesunite write a petition requesting legislation to remove abortion from services provided by planned parenthood.

Granted I'm not on this site often, but I haven't noticed much of an uproar from nurses over the whole planned parenthood issue and the videos that have been released. It's sad that comments from Joy Behar, or the killing of a lion, draw more attention than the deaths of untold numbers of infants.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I haven't noticed much of an uproar from nurses over the whole planned parenthood issue and the videos that have been released. It's sad that comments from Joy Behar, or the killing of a lion, draw more attention than the deaths of untold numbers of infants.

Although abortion and Planned Parenthood are grossly off-topic to this particular thread, you'll never be hearing an uproar from me regarding those issues. I am fully supportive of Planned Parenthood's efforts and feel that their clinics should be located in every city and town in the US.

I am also pro-choice, although I respect the views of those who identify as pro-life.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I would like to see #nursesunite write a petition requesting legislation to remove abortion from services provided by planned parenthood.

Granted I'm not on this site often, but I haven't noticed much of an uproar from nurses over the whole planned parenthood issue and the videos that have been released. It's sad that comments from Joy Behar, or the killing of a lion, draw more attention than the deaths of untold numbers of infants.

Seriously??? Abortion is a LEGAL medical treatment in the United States.. Let's not start that debate and ruin a good thread..

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/provide-federal-legislation-nurse-patient-ratios

If you decide to sign, you have to confirm your signature in your email.

This is one way to at least get voices heard.. If Cali can have ratios, why can't the rest of the states offer it as well??

[Jules A, MSN]

I would like to see #nursesunite write a petition requesting legislation to remove abortion from services provided by planned parenthood.

Granted I'm not on this site often, but I haven't noticed much of an uproar from nurses over the whole planned parenthood issue and the videos that have been released. It's sad that comments from Joy Behar, or the killing of a lion, draw more attention than the deaths of untold numbers of infants.

So while I totally disagree with your views on Planned Parenthood and animal cruelty you make an interesting point about the uproar over comments by a "television personality".

Are nurses seriously writing their representatives in Congress about this? To do what? Make a celebrity apologize for being snarky. The last time I took the time to write local politicians it was to lobby for Independent Practice for Nurse Practitioners. C'mon if its really that scathing to your sensibilities go ahead and write the TV network or sponsors but to tie up our legislators for this? We are our own worst enemies sometimes.

I have to wonder if these are the same nurses who work grossly understaffed and are willing to do everything including sweeping the floor and emptying the trash? This seems misdirected and a waste of energy when there are far more pressing issues like staffing, compensation and improved standards of nursing education.

[AlliBSN]

I agree with you! I do my job and I am a team player but I do not tolerate certain things. If people are disrespectful, rude, etc., I ask them to step into an empty room, close the door, and we have a professional conversation. I have done this with other RNs, NTs, and providers. Communication is key to a successful team and often people, myself included, do not communicate as well as we could/should. Being able to own your shortcomings, apologize when you should, and clear the air when necessary, allows us to all function at our best. People will only take advantage of you if you allow them to do so. Set your boundaries and stick to them. If requests are unreasonable, say so.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I was annoyed by the comments on The View (actually more so by those of Michelle Collins, Raven Simone, and Whoopi Goldberg than Joy Behar), and agree that The View is generally a stupid show which does NOT accurately reflect the "views" of all American women. I'm also annoyed by Grey's Anatomy's portrayal of nurses, and by "sexy nurse" costumes. Write to your Congressman and request The View be taken off the air? Ummm, not actually their jurisdiction, and anyone who would do that needs a bit more education about our system of government.

I completely agree that the outrage could better be channeled into actually affecting change in the nursing profession. I think it simply comes down to the fact that it is much, much easier to band together as a group to post funny memes and defensive manifestos about nursing on Facebook, than to get up off the couch, organize with fellow nurses, and actually do the difficult work of lobbying politicians to get laws changed to improve the profession. Can it be done? Of course, as we've seen in California. But I think a lot of nurses who talk the talk are unwilling to walk the walk.

[AlliBSN]

I agree with you! I do my job and I am a team player but I do not tolerate certain things. If people are disrespectful, rude, etc., I ask them to step into an empty room, close the door, and we have a professional conversation. I have done this with other RNs, NTs, and providers. Communication is key to a successful team and often people, myself included, do not communicate as well as we could/should. Being able to own your shortcomings, apologize when you should, and clear the air when necessary, allows us to all function at our best. People will only take advantage of you if you allow them to do so. Set your boundaries and stick to them. If requests are unreasonable, say so.

This was in response to blondy2061h...I guess I didn't post correctly...oops!

[nurseactivist]

I understand how helpless and afraid many nurses feel. I worked in private settings that were not union, not covered by ratios etc. I understand the nagging fear from employers (don't rock the boat) and needing that nursing job. However, let's not shoot ourself in the foot and then complain we can't walk. 700,000 plus nurses and supporters, in less than week. have agreed that we are not "just a nurse." They have edmbraced a young nurse who had the courage to stand on a world stage and deliver that message. Furthermore, when uninformed TV hosts have insulted and belittled that young nurse contestant, 700,000 + nurses and supporters have effectively made their voice heard. Numerous companies have either paused or pulled their TV ads, so I would say, someone is listening. Change is usually not this speedy. Change just doesn't happen, it takes patience and vigilence and change has to be driven.

[bunnysanford]

Although abortion and Planned Parenthood are grossly off-topic to this particular thread, you'll never be hearing an uproar from me regarding those issues. I am fully supportive of Planned Parenthood's efforts and feel that their clinics should be located in every city and town in the US.

I am also pro-choice, although I respect the views of those who identify as pro-life.

Thanks for the reminder; I'm due to write another letter in support of Planned Parenthood, and make my small contribution. #nurseforchoice

And I'll leave this here for anyone who thinks that PP is making a profit from fetal tissue research.

Unspinning the Planned Parenthood Video

And I'll be signing that staffing petition! (Edited to add that)

[Jules A, MSN]

I completely agree that the outrage could better be channeled into actually affecting change in the nursing profession. I think it simply comes down to the fact that it is much, much easier to band together as a group to post funny memes and defensive manifestos about nursing on Facebook, than to get up off the couch, organize with fellow nurses, and actually do the difficult work of lobbying politicians to get laws changed to improve the profession. Can it be done? Of course, as we've seen in California. But I think a lot of nurses who talk the talk are unwilling to walk the walk.

Well said and once again my worry is that we come off looking like a bunch of hysterical silly women rather than articulate professional business people. Imagine if this level of enthusiasm, participation and camaraderie was focused on safe staffing ratios across the country? That California was able to do it and the rest of the country didn't grab their coat-tails years ago is beyond frustrating.

[disillusionedrn, RN]

My point of writing this open letter is to say that nurses are standing up in unity against something that really does not matter to us in the end. It's going to trend for a while, and then it will pass and the negative aspects of nursing culture and nursing workplace issues will still be there, unchanged by #nursesunite. It's a superficial movement that will not enact change. So what if advertisers pulled out, what exactly does that do for anyone except the sense of a win in a fight that does not matter at all.