CONTINUED IN WHAT IS THE MAJOR REASON Why are they all leaving?

bluesteal7 · Nov 26, 2006

I was browsin through these postings n everyone has hit the nail on the head for reasons of leaving the hospital nursing pool, however I thought one was left out and was illustrated in point by MULAN in her response to EPONA. That really honestly is some good advice. You should always take at least a few seconds to sit down and take a deep breath, and never not eat for a whole 12 hour shift. I feel that nurses forget that there is a reason for report. Time and time again ive had the nurse from the shift prior to mine trying to take care of a plethera of crap before she or he goes home when they have already given me report and told me it needed to be done. GO HOME!!! Im on your team and will make sure it gets done, which is a little bit off the point im trying to make but anyway, this is good advice from a non nurse maybe, I didnt take the time to look at their profile however because it was thought to be a non nurse the advice was slammed down w, "your not a nurse so how can u comment" Why do nurses treat each other with such disrespect? Anyway I think if wed all start playin like were on the same team, stop writing people up for stupid crap, what ever happened to catchin a good old fashioned AS_ whippen when u screwed up, oh yeah, forgot prodominantly woman, anyway we all know i cant spell and ramble so just be nice to eachother and get eachothers backs, and that doesnt include backstabbing!!!!!!

mamason · Nov 26, 2006

Pass it on to the next shift!!!!!!! You haven't seen a dirty look till you've tried that one! Chasing your tail and never catching it. Too darn true!

Yes....pass it on to the next shift. This was common in the facility where I worked. Iworked days and would pass work onto the night shift and vise versa. It was the only way the work would get done. Pretty much everyone was cooperative with it. Most of us tried to help each other out with an exceptional few who would cop an attitude about it. The facility was notorious for sending new admits at the end of shift. And i'm sure that sometimes this couldn't be helped. The manager started complaining about how much overtime was being paid out. So.. the nurses politely informed her to do something about new admits at end of shift. Nothing was ever done, but, she dropped her attitide with the staff about the OT. So...I don't think it's healthy to work ourselves to death trying to do the job of two people. And that's exactly what it is. Administration would rather create an unsafe work environment just to save a buck or two. Nurses need to stick together, support each other, and help each other out when needed. We are allowing these working conditions to exist. We need to stand up and have a backbone. Not just one of us, but, as a whole group. If every nurses in the US would continuously refuse unsafe assignments, then maybe administration would make some changes for the better. OK, now I'm rambling.......

Simplepleasures · Nov 26, 2006

Administration would rather create an unsafe work environment just to save a buck or two. Nurses need to stick together, support each other, and help each other out when needed. We are allowing these working conditions to exist. We need to stand up and have a backbone. Not just one of us, but, as a whole group. If every nurses in the US would continuously refuse unsafe assignments, then maybe administration would make some changes for the better. OK, now I'm rambling.......

I agree wholeheartedly, BUT when we stand up for ourselves, when we have grown that backbone,when we refuse unsafe assignments, etc, etc.,what usually happens? In my experience the nurse/ nurses get booted out ,or harrassed until they quit and go somewhere else. NOW they have gone somewhere else and found out that it is no different. NOW WHAT?? How can we get that group power that allows us to band together for the good? If you are waiting for a law to get passed, it will be a long wait, SO what did sweat shop workers do to improve thier working conditions years ago? If I sound condesending, PLEASE forgive me , I dont mean to, I just want to hear some opinions from my fellow nurses as to HOW we can affect change. I really dont know myself, but have some ideas.

Sylv · Nov 26, 2006

I agree wholeheartedly, BUT when we stand up for ourselves, when we have grown that backbone,when we refuse unsafe assignments, etc, etc.,what usually happens? In my experience the nurse/ nurses get booted out ,or harrassed until they quit and go somewhere else. NOW they have gone somewhere else and found out that it is no different. NOW WHAT?? How can we get that group power that allows us to band together for the good? If you are waiting for a law to get passed, it will be a long wait, SO what did sweat shop workers do to improve thier working conditions years ago? If I sound condesending, PLEASE forgive me , I dont mean to, I just want to hear some opinions from my fellow nurses as to HOW we can affect change. I really dont know myself, but have some ideas.

I'd like to know the answer too. One nurse speaks up, the rest follow along with the program like a bunch of sheep, and the outspoken nurse gets labeled as a troublemaker, or they make it look like she is crazy, or she is the one with a problem.

There is power in numbers and nurses united could make changes, in my opinion.

How to get nurses to stick together and stand up for themselves as a group? That's a good question. They just don't do it.

Simplepleasures · Nov 26, 2006

Again I guess I keep coming back to the same conclusion, a STRONG UNION, now I now this will get negative responses by nurses (especially management of course) that have worked in a facility with a innefectual union.Who out there can recommend a STRONG union, OR HEY YOU UNIONS out there convince us that you are worth paying dues to. I have seen the California Nurses Association website, I am impressed but dont know first hand how they REALLY do. Anyone out there a member of CNA or any other union with some clout?

RN mom of 2 · Nov 26, 2006

Unfortunately, many conscientious and caring nurses (myself included) were so disillusioned with the profession during nursing school, that we chose not to work as a nurse at all. It's an extremely sad state of affairs, IMO.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2006

Why can't we pass on what's not done to the next shift? I mean we can all go home closer to our projected going home time if we would all just accept that we work x hours in a shift. Sure there are some things that can't and shouldn't be passed on like charting and, in critical care, ROAD TRIPS! Delaying a road trip for the next shift is definitely a no no. I tell the people who report off to me to leave it for me to do and I will get it done. By the same token, I want the same courtesy. Mostly it's not an issue on my unit.

I think that nurses are largely responsible for the decline in the nursing profession. We expect too much out of ourselves and conversely our fellow nurses and support staff. We're competitive for the medical staff's respect. We don't want to admit our shortcomings but are quick to point out someone elses to a third person who will be quick to pass that little tidbit of information on to a fourth. We try to fit ourselves like round pegs into square holes into hospital specialties that we're just plainly not suited for. Not everyone is suited to be an ICU nurse but something tells us that anything else is "lower". We stick it out because everyone tells us "it'll get better". A nice pat answer to everyone who asks which trips off the tongue with ease but not sincerity. We're not cookie cutter nurses. We get stressed out to the max because we don't allow ourselves time to take care of ourselves, get sick, and then get written up for calling off. We're encouraged to self-report med errors but have to spend half an hour writing ourselves up. That half hour by the way is after you've reported off or it could be your lunch or dinner break. You choose. I try to take a lunch break and even leave the floor for the cafeteria. A view of daylight from a different window and some sustenance can be what gets me through the rest of the day. I don't wait to use the bathroom like I did as a brand new nurse. And if I'm really sick and just can't move, let 'em write me up. Make my day.

Hospital nursing is something I look at as a necessary starting place. Try finding your first nursing job outside a hospital or a nursing home. As soon as I work off my contract in one more year, I'm outta here but not outta nursing. It might be home health or hospice but either way, there will be another new nurse with a fresh face and the cycle continues.

Barb101 · Nov 27, 2006

Wow isnt it great we all have different view points. Thats probably the start of the break down. I know just when we get a group together working on the same page & actually understanding our team mates we get disbanded. So much for team work! But getting back to our different view points I personally think we need to give a bit & take a bit. If my pts are not comprised I'd like to think I am a fairly lateral thinking type of person.

Barb101 · Nov 27, 2006

The only touble with standing up is that it presents our backside which tends to be booted to the most obnoctious place with in the system. So the bullies win again. Having a union is great but are they going through hell with you during anyone's time of struggle, sorry I havent seen it.

medtwo · Nov 27, 2006

Good question. Most nurses leave their job because they are: 1.understaffed 2. under appreciated 3. underpaid and 4.under-you-name-it. The average nurse working in a hospital today has more patients then she can manage, approximately 3 hours of her 12 hour shift at the computer terminal entering useless nursing drivel into the computer. It all looks good to someone, but who reads whatever you just put in the computer? I used to glance at the previous nurses notes when they where hand written. Not any more. If you use eMAR, it is safer for sure but did the hospital make it "friendly"? Probably not.

Do you always have a secretary? Have the physicians stopped yelling at you? Did anyone consider who was going to care for the bariatric patient when the hospital decided to "cater" to that group of patients? Have you turned that 500 pounder q2 yet?

Started the Amirodione drip on the 89 year year old stroke patient yet? Admitted the 85 year old DNR to your ICU because the PCP wants everything done except for CPR? He just became your third patient?

So many reasons to leave. So few to stay. I have been a nurse for more years then I care to mention. Before most of you were born. I make about $5.00 more then the new grad. Too late for me but consider. I was a director of ED for many years. Had 70 employees. $4 million budget and made half of what my friends made supervising 10 people in the computer lab or even the principle of our local elementary school with 20 employees.

I am finally in a job that is a non hospital job, where I actually feel I make a difference in the health of the people in my state. I still don't make enough money and still work in a hospital on the weekends, but I am a much happier person.

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · Nov 27, 2006

One nurse speaks up,..., and the outspoken nurse gets labeled as a troublemaker, ...
How to get nurses to stick together and stand up for themselves as a group? That's a good question. They just don't do it.

My supervisor recently called me "The Speaker of the House". I am tired of being the one who takes the complaints to the managers. I told one of my co-workers yesterday (who was complaining AGAIN about something that was leftover by the other shift) to either tell the manager or deal with it. Bad attitude, I know but others should speak up, too!

maangelic · Nov 27, 2006

hi... I have been reading all yours reply...

I live in Paraguay and ours situation is almost the same as yours, with the difference that last week we got a low for nurses...

Time for lunch, job time 6 hours per day, a better salary...

but this is happening because all nurses are leaving but to other country principaly to u.s.a.

They think that things are different and better but from I can see things are the same...

I am very sorry for you and for us, because this means that work conditions are not changing and my compatriot are having a very bad time...

far from their families,from home....