Changes

[TRN]

Okay so what has worked??? Here are some ideas I have:

1. Union(not sure if that's good or bad though)

2. Nursing research on the effects of high patient ratios

3. Not letting doctors speak to us in a demeaning manner (stand up for yourself and don't allow it. Nip it in the bud right away)

4. writing to ANA describing the conditions at work

5. writing to newspapers getting our profession out there (editorials, etc.)

6. Nurses who got out due to bad conditions could write to the media to explain what is going on in healthcare and the crises going on

7. stop eating our young!!!!!

That's for starters. Agreements? Disagreements? Ideas? I think some of these ideas would at least improve the perception of our profession.

[goldilocksrn]

I think before you head on out into the world to make changes, you must first get good nursing skills and be confident in your judgment. The reason I say this is that when you start making waves at the facility you are employed, you are drawing negative attention to yourself and don't want to give administration any reason to get rid of you. When I went to anyone and everyone I could think of at my hospital to discuss my patient care fears, I was labeled "too negative" and was said to be helping to "bring down the morale of the unit". What they forgot to mention was that our morale was already low, and I was only voicing out loud what we all thought. You need evidence that you are a strong nurse that is compassionate with patients and family. When my manager reviewed my performance profile, she fould not one negative word. In fact, there were files of letters from patient families thanking me for my good work. That is where you start. Then you can firmly say when confronted, "This is about my patients, not me."