Cleveland Clinic Nurses--Is Big Brother Watching?

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I'm just curious-

Throughout my time on this site, I've noticed that when threads have specifically asked questions about life at the Clinic, there has been very, little response. One thread, that was started over 2 years ago, has only had 22 responses (and it's taken 2 years to reach that point!).

I've noticed that other posts from nurses at the CCF have just responded "Just PM me if you want to know anything more". The questions that curious posters have asked have not been anything that would (seemingly) get anyone into trouble.

So, I ask this question because as a nursing student, I have been very interested in the Clinic and over the last year, I have asked questions that have only received 1 or 2 vague responses. I apparently have been one of the lucky ones because there have been numerous other threads where the posters have received no responses. To be fair, there have been a few (1 or 2) threads within the last year or so that have provided thorough, direct responses.

So, once again, I ask this (partially tongue-in-cheek, partially serious):

Is Big Brother watching?

P.S. Just PM me if you need to.:lol2:

I work at CCF. And I like it. Granted i don't work on a M/S floor. There's something negative at hospital, you have to expect it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele, Hem/Onc, BMT.

I disagree. You do not just have to accept oppresive and dangerous working environments. In fact, as a caregiver you are obligated not to for the safety of patients.

I know that it may seem as though the conditions are "normal"- they are. Unsafe care environments have become the norm everywhere. As the hospitals watch experienced nurses leave the bedside and welcome a flood of new nurses there will be no one left to know the difference.

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I work at CCF and have had nothing but great experiences. The acuity of patients we get in our Heart ICUs is like nowhere else in the country. I think that there is a necessary amount of pressure put on nurses here because of the amount of autonomy that is expected, the talent of physicians/surgeons we maintain, and the simple fact that many of the patients we are taking care of are only accepted by a facility like CCF.

I believe that it is nursing care that keeps excellent facilities excellent...if nurses are unwilling to put pressure on themselves to ensure perfection in patient care and patient safety then they shouldn't put themselves in a situation where they are going to be pressured to do so.

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I have had the opportunity to work at both CC and UH facilities. Both were in the burbs, not downtown. Definitely think UH is much more nurse professional and nurse friendly not to mention the prn pay is 2 bucks an hour more than CC! UH does not get the attention it deserves for nursing care! It is BY far the better place to work and to have care. (have had family members and was a patient myself so know first hand, not just what I think as a nurse.)

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By the way, l believe this thread began with something about big brother...I would bet that CC does have a big brother watching... If anyone is familiar with the Nursing Division Code of Ethics, one of the statements have to do with "...speaking positively about the CC and the employees..." with "...consequences for not following policy..." Yea, that's what I want as a professional, a policy that TELLS ME what I can and cannot say with a THREAT if I don't speak positively about the CC. It is hard to believe that they actually pay people to come up with this stuff and then put it in writing! Must be what they do at all the meetings in the committees...

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Specializes in Neurosciences.

Thanks for the comments about CC because I am a nursing student and I was considering working there.

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I wouldn't recommend CCF main campus to my worst enemy.

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I don't have any experience working at the clinic; however, our daughter was a patient there when she had the first stage of the Norwood in 2001.

The nursing care was top-notch, even before I realized what all it entailed. We always felt safe with her in the hands of the nurses.

I'll be forever grateful for her care by the nurses.

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Specializes in Neuro /Med-Surg.

You will not likely find any nurse who is currently working for the clinic or one of it's regional hospitals saying anything bad about it. As and employee of the clinic you must sign a statment that you cannot say anything bad about them or you will face corrective action. And that means anywhere, whether in uniform or not and it doesn't matter if you are on your own time. The clinic is concerned with numbers and how they appear to the public. Do anything to bring down either and you will pay for it. If you work for them and say anything you wind up with a big target on your forehead. And with them taking any hospital they can under their corp umbrella well looks more like a monoply toward healthcare. Bigger is not always better. As for the magnet BS well you can make things appear however you like when you make every employee sign a corp compliance agreement where negative press is strictly outlawed, at least as long as the suits are around. But when they aren't nurses and other employees can sit at the nurses station or walk down the hall bad mouthing who ever isn't in their club on a nightly basis. Even security guards can be over heard cusing while walking down the hall from time to time. And always remember covering the clinics a$$ takes first place over anything.

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I work at a cleveland clinic regional hospital and I DO like it. I know that the up says that I "have" to say that but I am very happy with my job on a busy med-surg floor. The people I work with are great and yes we do 10 patients to an RN, LPN, and aide. This equals 5 per nurse (since LPN's are nurses too) or you can do team nursing where the RN assesses all patients and the LPN passes meds. It really isn't that bad. To be honest I heard the same stuff and thought I would prefer UH. Then I got an interview with both and let me tell you, the way I was treated by UH left a bad taste in my mouth. I felt that if they would treat an applicant so poorly they must not treat their nurses so great. (I paid $750 to fly into town one month after giving birth and the person that was supposed to interview me was on vacation, then they couldn't even validate my parking. And that is just the start of what they did wrong).

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Specializes in Neuro /Med-Surg.
I work at a cleveland clinic regional hospital and I DO like it. I know that the up says that I "have" to say that but I am very happy with my job on a busy med-surg floor. The people I work with are great and yes we do 10 patients to an RN, LPN, and aide. This equals 5 per nurse (since LPN's are nurses too) or you can do team nursing where the RN assesses all patients and the LPN passes meds. It really isn't that bad. To be honest I heard the same stuff and thought I would prefer UH. Then I got an interview with both and let me tell you, the way I was treated by UH left a bad taste in my mouth. I felt that if they would treat an applicant so poorly they must not treat their nurses so great. (I paid $750 to fly into town one month after giving birth and the person that was supposed to interview me was on vacation, then they couldn't even validate my parking. And that is just the start of what they did wrong).

I did not and would not say that everything about the clinic was bad. I've told many people including my own family members to go there to recieve care for certain things. I just make sure that they take a very active role in their care.

What I experinced on the floor I worked on at the main campus was not one that I ever care to re-live. As I already stated I would not say that everything about that floor was bad but, the parts that were bad were very bad. You should never have to fight tears while you give report (and I don't mean because you were sad or felt bad for a patient). I floated to other floors and although I was busy I didn't feel attacked by co-workers but, you cannot truely see how a floor works if you are not there regularly.

As for having to say only positive things about the Clinic, ask Adrienne Zurub who was told point blank she was being fired because of her book. She only stated things in general terms and expressed her feelings which were not all positive and look what it got her.

I have no personal knowledge about the regional hospitals as I've never worked at one so I can't speak to them. And I have not worked on every floor or department of the main campus but I do know I will never work there again by my choice.

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Wow, I cannot believe how much negativity there is about the Clinic. I have worked for the Clinic for 2 years, in the CICU. I originally started there as a new grad, and chose it for their tuition reimbursement. I absolutely love my job. The autonomy of nurses is unlike anywhere I have ever seen. We work along side the doctors, not for them. They will listen to our views/comments, and many times follow through with them. If we ever have any questions they are more than happy to take the time to make sure we understand the rationale of our care. While I do agree that the size of the Clinic is sometimes overwhelming, the esteem that comes with working there is something to be very proud of. We take care of the sickest of the sick, adding years to peoples lifes, when other hospitals say there is nothing else they can do. I cannot speak for the med/surg floors, ( I know they are understaffed) but in any of their heart ICUs, you will learn more than you could ever imagine. And when you literally save a life, you will feel that it was YOUR care that was needed. I thank God for all of the knowledge I have gained there.

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