about CO nursing

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I relocated here from California lived here a little over a year now, my friends warned me of how nursing in other states are different. I gave it no regard, now I realize what they mean. I came from a state that has a loud voice and strong representation for nurses, better benefits/pensions, and don't put up with management abuse. I came to realize that management have so so much power here, they make nurses feel "easily replaceable" and just a "hired help". One minute you have a job next day you don't, no matter the number of years of loyalty you have provided in the system. Not to sound paranoid but I feel that management is eager to take your license away, I don't feel protected here even if you are doing your job right. Nurse-patio ratios what's that! it's scary. I work in the ER Dept you can have up to 7 pts and who knows what u guys get on the floors. It's scary to practice nursing here. I give you fellow Colorado Nurse much props for putting up with crap and unsafe working conditions each and everyday. We all know we work too hard to get our license. For those of you thinking I'm just a spoiled Cali Nurse many native colorado nurses agrees with me. Nursing in this state needs a louder voice a better back up from legislatures and the state. Management here have too much power.

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Specializes in Practicum: Med/Surg, Psych, PCU.

Is it true that there is no "colective" voice for the RN in CO? No union? "Right to work" state?

If so that is a very disapointing truth :(

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Wow, and I just thought I was feeling persecuted for no damn good reason! Actually a couple of years ago our hospital had a consultant from back east in to review our patient loads, practices, etc. They recommended we raise our ratio - the consultant couldn't believe we only had 5-1 on days and 6-1 on nocs on a medical floor and could certainly handle more than that. After all the nurses "back east" certainly do. Thankfully it didn't affect our floor too much but did some of the others in the hospital. And it irritates the living crap out of me when staffing says "Well we can't really take the number of CNA's on the floor into account when bedding patients." I've only been a nurse for 5 years but have seen the accuity climb quite a lot. Total care patients are the rule rather than the exception.

Having been in unions before, I've not been keen on getting involved again but have recently been checking out organizations involved in supporting nurses and working for change. Occasionally, when for some reason I've only have 4 patients, it's like a breath of heaven. I actually feel like I have time to care for my patients!

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Specializes in Trauma.

This is why I would never come home to stay and work. I told my parents if anything happened to one of them, the other will come here to live. If I could, I would be the nurse to stand up and start a nurses union. Someone SHOULD DO it. and Do it with pride and strength. When one opens the door, other people will walk through it.

It's a big step, but it would be an amazing outcome. I hear a few nurses have been fired from hospitals out there for complaining about ratios, etc and one I believe was trying to collaborate to start a union. If there's a will, there's a way. A difficult statement, I know.

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This is why I would never come home to stay and work. I told my parents if anything happened to one of them, the other will come here to live. If I could, I would be the nurse to stand up and start a nurses union. Someone SHOULD DO it. and Do it with pride and strength. When one opens the door, other people will walk through it.

It's a big step, but it would be an amazing outcome. I hear a few nurses have been fired from hospitals out there for complaining about ratios, etc and one I believe was trying to collaborate to start a union. If there's a will, there's a way. A difficult statement, I know.

Yeah, when I was still very new I worked with a nurse who was pretty involved with trying to get people into the union. About once every year or two there's a push again, we get a nominal raise and people move on. Very disappointing. I usually work weekends so spent the weekend trying to find the info and contacts. It's become a mission now. Some companies (Kaiser) are union but not nursing on the whole here.

I've told my parents the same thing! However, they're from KCMO which is still "right to work" I believe........ But when we have winter we just have snow - they have ICE.

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Specializes in ED.

davscor86,

Thanks for your post. I moved from California in 2000 to Florida and am now hoping to relocate to Colorado. I too am an ER Nurse. I have learned from working in Florida that Nursing has no voice in staffing or pay. I think Florida is one of the worst states for nurse wages. I know I took at least a 5% pay cut. In the ER I work at, our pt ratios are 4-1; they used to be 5-1 until enough of us complained that it was too unsafe for our patients. After 30 years of working in hospitals, I find it appalling that that nurse managers have not stepped up to the plate and convinced administration that working conditions for nurses must be improved upon for the sake of the patients. Instead they have become brainwashed in to believing that patients will get sufficient care no matter how many additional responsibilities are given to the nursing staff as ancillary positions are cut. They have forgotten or never experienced bedside nursing and have succumbed to the demands and wishes of those in the healthcare business that are in business solely for profit. I am sorry to hear that Colorado may even be a worse place to work. I am eager to know what ER you are at. Please PM me the info.

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Specializes in Trauma.

I wonder if I can help you from over here? I mean, I have enough time on my hands to do it right now. Do you know where we would start? I know a handful of nurses over in Colorado Springs and I know people in management positions. What about new graduate nurses who are excited like me, to start out in the field and make change? I would love to change the way things are over in Colorado. I am from there and miss it dearly, but cannot work there b/c they have little respect for the ones who care for their patients, the most.

Think about this, I'm seriously willing to help you from California if I can.

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I am a student in KCMO and that ICE comment cracked me up!

I was looking at Colorado and discussing moving there with my hubby in a few years, but now I am wondering. What are the ratios you all are dealing with, and does it depend on which hospital you are at? In Kansas City the ratios are all over, 7-1 (have heard higher at times) at some of the for-profit hospitals, down to 4-1 with a PCT at a non-profit I am considering. (those are med/surg/progressive care units)

I am sorry you all feel so unappreciated. :( Hopefully someone will stick to their guns and improve your conditions.

~BlueBug

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One more question, what does "right to work" mean?

~BlueBug

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Specializes in Practicum: Med/Surg, Psych, PCU.

"in the u.s., any state law forbidding various union-security measures, particularly the union shop, under which workers are required to join a union within a specified time after they begin employment. supporters of such laws maintain that they are more equitable because they allow a person to choose whether or not to join a [color=#003399]labour union.

opponents contend that the name right-to-work law is misleading because such laws do not guarantee employment to anyone. on the contrary, they maintain that such laws tend to reduce workers' job security by weakening the bargaining power of unions."

citation:

http://www.answers.com/topic/right-to-work-laws?cat=biz-fin

essentially, you do have a "right to work" without having to join a union shop but these laws more so help to suppress the "voice" of the employee collectively so that the employer can implement changes regardless of how the employee feels about its effectiveness or productivity.

currently the states that i know of that have right to work laws are:

  • alabama
  • arizona
  • arkansas
  • florida
  • georgia
  • idaho
  • iowa
  • kansas
  • louisiana
  • mississippi
  • nebraska
  • nevada
  • north carolina
  • north dakota
  • oklahoma
  • south carolina
  • south dakota
  • tennessee
  • texas
  • utah
  • virginia
  • wyoming

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I'm at a not for profit hospital and our ratios tend to be 5-1 on the med surg and neuro floors. Anymore it's not unsusal for the ratio to bump to 6-1. When I was a CNA we normally had 10 or 12 to 1. Now it's not unusual for our CNA's to have up to 17 before the matrix changes to add another CNA. I have a huge amount of sympathy for them because their job is backbreaking too (my floor tends to have a lot of total care patients) but it also makes my job harder - we don't have the back up and end up doing total care. And unfortunately I've noticed a climb in acuity. Many patients on our floor today would have been in step down a couple of years ago. The amount of care and attention they receive is too extensive to be able to care for them and 5 other patients safely. you just have to hope someone doesn't need anything! We've had many of our really good nurses already leave for other places (GI, surgery, plumbing! etc) and after the last week or two, many of the rest have begun making plans to leave.

However, if KC is looking at 7-1..........

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We have the "evil empire" of HCA hospitals in KC, those are the ones with higher ratios. One in particular has the 7/8-1 problem. New grads in my program are warned not to go to HCA hospitals, at least not as a new grads. They have had to close depts because the staff walked out... The problem is not citywide, but if you are new to the area you could get sucked in as they tend to offer a few $$ an hour more. That's why I was wondering about the make up of the different hospitals in Colorado. I'm sure that any state has good and bad places.

Thanks for the info. I am finding our that there is so much more to learn than just what they teach in school... the policies, politics, cultures, ect... Thanks!!!

~BlueBug

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