Do nurses have a voice?

Nurses Activism

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Or are nurses bullied, harassed, frightened, or coerced into silence from discussing nursing issues?

If we report conditions as we see them, are we still risking our licenses?

If we lodge complaints and nothing is done, is there a remedy (besides "voting with our feet")?

Do you feel that nursing, as a profession, really has a voice, that we are able to effectively get action regarding our profession's issues?

Recently, I was cornered in a med room with an angry male co-worker, another nurse. The man has about 12 inches up and about 70 pounds bigger than me. No contest here physically. And since he blocked the door, I could not just walk away. I could only back up about 4 feet, still well within striking range.

He began with loud shouting and ended with some threatening body language. I kept my voice soft when I spoke at all. "I understand you're upset . . .blah blah blah."

I filed a grievance against this coworker for disrespectful and unprofessional conduct. I later found out that there had been other "incidents" with this male nurse by other female nurses, but he continues to work there, and apparently doesn't pay much of a price for his behavior.

I have no idea if he was disciplined as a result of my grievance. However, ***I*** was disciplined, because the NM believed that since I was there, I must be responsible and as guilty as the male coworker. I got a long lecture about professionalism when I hadn't done anything wrong. I was also written up for 3 other very minor infractions. In other words, I made some waves by speaking up.

I'm not one to keep silent when I feel strongly about something or when something is wrong. But, it's real easy to talk about speaking up here, and give each other support and encouragement. It would be VERY nice to believe that by my grievance I would give others the courage to do likewise. Yet, somehow I don't think that's what's gonna happen. Other nurses will see that *I* got a write-up for speaking up.

I have given you ONE time when I have spoken up. Some of the others are more heinous, but they have mostly all ended up with me finding another job. Sorry to be so pessimistic here. But, that's been my experience. I fully agree with SleepyEyes. If we don't get together, we're gonna have to put up with these kinds of things from here on out.

Joan of Arc was burned.

Norma Rae lost her job.

Do we have a voice?

Individually, NO!

Collectively, YES!

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

Kevin.....thank you for your comments regarding my post. It has been my personal experience that most nurses will NOT back each other up.....push come to shove.....they fear saying anything that may give them a bad evaluation, lose brownie points with the NM, be blackballed by the NM as a 'troublemaker' on his/her unit, lose their job, blah, blah, blah.

Heroes are those people who conquer their enemies EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE FEAR SURROUNDING THEM........NOT in the ABSENCE of fear!!!

Someone has to be the "hero".......regardless of the consequences. Our cemetaries are proof of this fact by containing a bazillion bodies of dead military troops.....people behind bars for trying to defend their own lives and the lives of their children or someone else....policemen who lay their lives on the line every single day to serve and protect our towns and cities so that we might have a safe community in which to live and raise our families......the list of heroes is endless.

The nursing profession is not recognized as a profession because SOME nurses cower to the belief that they do NOT have a voice simply based on the way things use to be for females. We are freer now......women......to speak up, and have a voice. Having the right to do so and actually "exercising that right" are like day and night. All talk.....no action......no professional recognition.

Sleepyeyes......I love ya.....but we are NOT victims UNLESS we CHOOSE to stay victims to what is dished out to us. It does take GUTS to conquer that which we fear.....nonetheless....it can....and it MUST be done if we are to ever make EXERCISING our voices effective.

It's not the degree that will give us the respect.....it's our voices....demanding without fail....through perseverance and consistency.....that will bring our profession to the top of the ladder of recognition.

Creativity is necessary.......failing to exercise our creative juices is death to our nursing profession as a whole. Do we really want recognition? Well then nurses.......we must fight for it!

One by one.....together or apart.....people have succeeded in this life......with PURE Determination! :nurse:

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Heroes are those people who conquer their enemies EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE FEAR SURROUNDING THEM........NOT in the ABSENCE of fear!!!

Someone has to be the "hero".......regardless of the consequences.

But, Renee, I don't want to be a hero. I don't want to have to FIGHT for basic human decency while I'm at work. I don't want to have to fight for a patient just to get them basic standard nursing care!

Yet, that's the situation, isn't it!?! We, as nurses, just want to go to work and do a GOOD job and care about and for our patients, collect our paychecks so we can make the mortgage payment . . . you know, have a LIFE. But, to have those very BASIC things, we have to FIGHT for it daily, hourly, and RISK IT ALL just to go to work everyday.

Yes, changes start with individuals and an individual can work miracles. Norma Rae got her union. But, oh, at what a price!

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Originally posted by Youda

But, Renee, I don't want to be a hero. I don't want to have to FIGHT for basic human decency while I'm at work. I don't want to have to fight for a patient just to get them basic standard nursing care!

Yet, that's the situation, isn't it!?! We, as nurses, just want to go to work and do a GOOD job and care about and for our patients, collect our paychecks so we can make the mortgage payment . . . you know, have a LIFE. But, to have those very BASIC things, we have to FIGHT for it daily, hourly, and RISK IT ALL just to go to work everyday.

Yes, changes start with individuals and an individual can work miracles. Norma Rae got her union. But, oh, at what a price!

Yup. Easy to talk the talk.

But I'm finding that I may not be up to the walk. Like so many others before me.

:o

And no, I still don't think there's anything wrong with US as people or professionals because of that.

I just think that for now, a lot of our "personal issues" are really coming from this nursing fact of life and our inability to resolve the conflicts between "what-oughtta" and "what-is"

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

I have always been taught that "good things come to those who work and fight hard for them". It's never failed me yet!

Nothing worth having comes easy! I learned this growing up in the fifties, the sixties, the seventies, the eighties, the nineties.....and now that it's year 2002.......the fight continues......it's never over.....it is just something that must be done......so whining about it, won't change what needs to be done in order to have a profession that receives respect.

Respect is earned.....not given freely. :nurse:

BTW.........JUST MY PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL OPINION.

I respect your take on things, and wish that I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth so I could have had an easier time of things, but I was born poor.....but I'm only in the poor state of mind IF I choose to stay there.

Fight or take the abuse? Fight or take the abuse? Fight or take the abuse?

I think I'll keep on keeping on fighting for what should be.....and not settle for "what has been".....when what has been is ever soooooo unjust.

Sleepyeyes......I -- for one -- am among the human beings who don't believe in "just talking the talk"......I am an upfront and in your face kind of person who "always always always" WALKS THE TALK!!!

I believe in standing for what I believe in EVEN IF I am the only one standing! Love ya dah-lin! BTW.....I respect your opinion, too. I just have LIVED my take on this, and seen it work for me over and over and over........and NOT without fighting for what I want, either. I'm a born fighter.....no offense to those who are not.....but I am.....and I accept my fighting gift as a blessing from my Creator. :)

Nighty night ya'll! :nurse:

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Fight or take the abuse? Fight or take the abuse? Fight or take the abuse?

I don't think there is a choice. At least not for me. I have to keep fighting. But, I also know there's a hell of a price to pay, either way.

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I AM ONE LOUD NURSE (hear me from over the big water?)

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.
Originally posted by semstr

I AM ONE LOUD NURSE (hear me from over the big water?)

Me too semestr.......HEAR ME ROAR????? :chuckle :kiss :nurse:

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