Ever feel like a prostitute?

Speculating · Jan 24, 2004

Originally posted by pinkscrubs
Anyone ever feel like presenting your patient/employer with a waiver stating that you will not be held accountable for errors occurring during a major staffing shortage on the floor?

Anyone ever feel like offering to take a 25% cut in pay in exchange for caring for less patients? I wish that was an option.

It's your license not theirs so if you feel uncomfortable about a seventh pt then just say NO WAY. They may not smile at you for a while but who cares. I've done it on more than one occasion when it felt unsafe to me. Secondly, if I felt like a gigolo I'd probable love going in to work - might even pickup a couple extra shifts.

pinkscrubs · Jan 24, 2004

True. :)

Sometimes I think it would be easier to look myself in the mirror at night if I were a prostitute..

Over the past decade or two, health care has turned into 'profit making business' and greed seems to rear its ugly face.

The other day as I was driving home from work I got a depressing feeling that being a nurse was not a mission of mercy, but more like helping a system that takes advantage of the sick and needy.

At least blackjack dealers and prostitutes are taking advantage of people who are there by choice. I sometimes feel like the hospitals are 'pimps in business suits'.

Sorry, just venting tonight.

Rapheal · Jan 24, 2004

What you describe is a normal day on my unit. At least you can refuse a new admit after 6. I thought the California law specified that the hospitals could not cut ancillary staff. How did your hospital get away with that or am I wrong about the law?

Either way I understand exactly what you are talking about. It is very hard for me to go into work knowing that I can not provide the care that I find acceptable. I hope things get better for you.

live4today, RN · Jan 24, 2004

pinkscrubs.........vent on if you need to. I actually agree with your take on things in the hospitals today. It's sad and pathetic to say the least. I really feel for the patients who entrust their lives to healthcare staff not really knowing the dangers that are truly at stake.

I see that you work in CA. Are you familiar with Tenet Hospitals?

I'm thinking of taking a travel nurse assignment next month in CA at a tenet hospital. Any advice for me since you live there already? You can send me a private message if you prefer. Thanks! :nurse:

pinkscrubs · Jan 24, 2004

Tenet seems to be trying to head in the right direction. I work for a non-union hospital, but according to CNA Tenet is trying to cooperate. You can read about it here:

http://www.calnurse.org/oldmainindex.html

live4today, RN · Jan 24, 2004

Originally posted by pinkscrubs
Tenet seems to be trying to head in the right direction. I work for a non-union hospital, but according to CNA Tenet is trying to cooperate. You can read about it here:
http://www.calnurse.org/oldmainindex.html

Thanks a bunch for the link, pinkscrubs! :)

Geeg · Jan 24, 2004

As long as we are using the prostitute metaphor, I think that the public needs to know that the hospital administrators are the "pimps."

RN-PA, RN · Jan 25, 2004

For information on Tenet, please read the following threads and think twice.

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=49154

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53981

live4today, RN · Jan 25, 2004

RN-PA...thanks for posting those two links as well. I did read them, and will move with caution where Tenet is concerned. :)

dphrn · Jan 25, 2004

Originally posted by pinkscrubs
I work in a hospital in California (medsurg unit) which has cut us to barebones for the sake of staying within mandated 6-1 staffing. Yes we have 6, occasionally 7 patients now, but in turn we have no CNA's on the floor at all. Not only do we do Heparin protocols and mostly tele patients, but now we must also do complete primary care on six patients..this includes passing trays, feeding patients, etc. I don't mind getting my hands dirty but I am finding this nearly impossible to monitor labs, communicate with physicians, cover IV meds on 4-5 patients for an LVN, and do primary nursing for six of your own patients. Is this what it is coming down to?

Anyone ever feel like presenting your patient/employer with a waiver stating that you will not be held accountable for errors occurring during a major staffing shortage on the floor?

Anyone ever feel like offering to take a 25% cut in pay in exchange for caring for less patients? I wish that was an option.

After working in five hospitals in four different states, and conditions getting worse in each hospital for nurses...I am no longer making hospitals my choice for employment. Needless to say, I am the happiest I have been in five years!

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2004

Originally posted by pinkscrubs
Anyone ever feel like offering to take a 25% cut in pay in exchange for caring for less patients? I wish that was an option.

When I worked med-surg, I told my NM that I would be willing to take a 50% pay cut for a guarantee of no more than 4 pts to care for at a time. Of course, she blew me off.

I will not work in a hospital again, until things change, big time.