All Nurses Read This

Brownms46 · Apr 5, 2001

Questions

1)RN, LPN, or CNA? ...LPN

2)Years as a nurse?....21+yrs

3)Area NW

4) Are you satisfied with your pay? NO, this contract is the lowest paying in the last year as a traveler, but I wanted back in the ER, so I accepted it. But the completion bonuse will be nice!

5)with your benefits? NO, but at least I have them, and having free fully furnished private housing with utilities paid is nice also.

6)your hours? Yes work 12hr shift

7)Do you believe your supervisor is competent at his or her job? NO

8)Do you trust your employer? YEs, the Travel agency not the hospital I work at, as I'm on a new Travel contract, and today will only be my fourth shift there.

9)Does your institution have a nursing education Dept, or has it been cut recently?Have no idea

10)Do you enjoy being a nurse? Sometimes, when a pt./family member hugs me, or when someone says if they had to come back to the ER, they hope they got me! Then I'm in heaven!

11)Does your employer have mandatory overtime? NO, and wouldn't be there if they did! The only time I worked for a hospital with mandatory overtime, was when I was a new grad, and didn't know any better.

12)How often do you get a break at work?

Usually 30 mins, but supposed to get two 30 min., plus one 15min.

13)Do you work Days, nights, or rotate?

1p to 1:30a, and I never rotate!

14) How many Holidays did you spend with your family or signifigant other over the last year? None, but my choice, my children are grown, and double time on the holidays is great!

15)Are you for or against the idea of a nurses union in your area? Against...I have no opinion on that as Unions don't effect me, as I Travel for 13weeks at a time, and make my own deals through my agency, and handle any problems that come up, though my agency.

16)If you were in a union, would you be willing to strike,picket,or have a work slow down? Only if the union was going to work to get me something worth going on strike for.

17)any other comment I believe we should all walk out, and let management, MDs, PA, residents are others care for the patients. There is that old scenario of "Nobody can do my job as good as I do it", running rampant again! If we all got together, and informed hospitals, that we intended to walk out, do you really think they wouldn't try, and work something out with us??? And if they didn't, believe me, it wouldn't take no time before they caved in, and started making some meaningful changes. And as for MDs not talking/backstabing each other in the back. Why should they?? They have us to beat up on! They can be as nasty as they want to whomever they want including pts. I have seen MDs say stuff, you never could to a pt., and still have a job! They also determine, when they will come in, and put the fear of God in a lot of nurses, to not bother them after hours. They have managements ear at all times, and are listened to, and catered to. If I was a doctor, I would have very little agression against my fellow doctors either. They don't have to agree with anyone, ask anyone for orders, have management tell them when they will work, how long or how often they will work. They d/c their pts, on Friday, so they won't be bothered on the weekends or holidays. They use NP, or PAs to make rounds when they don't want to be bothered. It has been said that nurses exhibit the s/sx of an abused person. Afraid to challenge authority, inability to stand up for themselves, eagar to please, failure to recongize their situation without feeling everything will be ok, if they just work harder...so on, and so on. This is my opinion.

Brownie

jo1998 · Apr 5, 2001

Originally posted by buck227:
Please respond to this on this thread so we can all learn about each others situation

Questions
1)RN, LPN, or CNA?
LPN
2)Years as a nurse?
seven
3)Area (i.e. U.S. NE, N central, NW, Se, S central, south west, Arkansas, or other country or location)
NE central New Jersey
4) Are you satisfied with your pay?
satisfied now that we are making bonuses due to nursing shortage
5)with your benefits?
pay $150/monthly for medical, dental, eye for a family plan. Have paid much lower for equal benefits
6)your hours?
their okay, would prefer 12 hour shifts
7)Do you believe your supervisor is competent at his or her job?
she is too new to evaluate
8)Do you trust your employer?
my hosp has been bought/sold three times in six years, what do you think?
9)Does your institution have a nursing education Dept, or has it been cut recently?
we still have a very good education dept.
10)Do you enjoy being a nurse?
i love being a nurse
11)Does your employer have mandatory overtime?
no
12)How often do you get a break at work?
80% of the time
13)Do you work Days, nights, or rotate?
i work evenings, sometimes picking up an extra day shift
14) How many Holidays did you spend with your family or signifigant other over the last year?
only part of the holiday, but all of them. i really do miss being with the family on the holidays
15)Are you for or against the idea of a nurses union in your area?
in my hosp the RN's have JNESCO, it is a wonderful union, and because of it our work environment benefits. i am all for unions!
16)If you were in a union, would you be willing to strike,picket,or have a work slow down?
no striking, but picketing has proved effective at my hosp.
17)any other comments

Please respond on this thread. I think it is important for us to understand each others work situation as nurses and to get a feel for what is going on in other areas of the country and world. Thanks to all for your time,

buck

fertilitynurse · Apr 6, 2001

Originally posted by buck227:
Please respond to this on this thread so we can all learn about each others situation

Questions
1)RN, LPN, or CNA?
2)Years as a nurse?
3)Area (i.e. U.S. NE, N central, NW, Se, S central, south west, Arkansas, or other country or location)
4) Are you satisfied with your pay?
5)with your benefits?
6)your hours?
7)Do you believe your supervisor is competent at his or her job?
8)Do you trust your employer?
9)Does your institution have a nursing education Dept, or has it been cut recently?
10)Do you enjoy being a nurse?
11)Does your employer have mandatory overtime?
12)How often do you get a break at work?
13)Do you work Days, nights, or rotate?
14) How many Holidays did you spend with your family or signifigant other over the last year?
15)Are you for or against the idea of a nurses union in your area?
16)If you were in a union, would you be willing to strike,picket,or have a work slow down?
17)any other comments

Please respond on this thread. I think it is important for us to understand each others work situation as nurses and to get a feel for what is going on in other areas of the country and world. Thanks to all for your time,

buck

fertilitynurse · Apr 6, 2001

Originally posted by buck227:
Please respond to this on this thread so we can all learn about each others situation

Questions
1)RN, LPN, or CNA?
2)Years as a nurse?
3)Area (i.e. U.S. NE, N central, NW, Se, S central, south west, Arkansas, or other country or location)
4) Are you satisfied with your pay?
5)with your benefits?
6)your hours?
7)Do you believe your supervisor is competent at his or her job?
8)Do you trust your employer?
9)Does your institution have a nursing education Dept, or has it been cut recently?
10)Do you enjoy being a nurse?
11)Does your employer have mandatory overtime?
12)How often do you get a break at work?
13)Do you work Days, nights, or rotate?
14) How many Holidays did you spend with your family or signifigant other over the last year?
15)Are you for or against the idea of a nurses union in your area?
16)If you were in a union, would you be willing to strike,picket,or have a work slow down?
17)any other comments

Please respond on this thread. I think it is important for us to understand each others work situation as nurses and to get a feel for what is going on in other areas of the country and world. Thanks to all for your time,

buck

R.N

22 years..god, that long???

Infertility practice, former ob/gun

no

no benefits

no...too long

yes

most of the time

forget it we teach ourselves day to day

Love it always have no matter what position I have held

no mandatory overtime

days

all office is closed on holidays(did that for too many years)

for...got out of hospital nursing due to frustration at lack of staff and low pay.Maybe if we united you hospitals girls(guys) would get better working atmospheres

yes

Love my job, love being a nurse but again I do remember the frustration when I worked in a hospital. Even Ob units get very busy and there are times when its just dangerous the way hospitals ae staffed.

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Louie18 · Apr 9, 2001

Buck,

You got 63 responses to this post, all taking the time to fill out your questionairre. If you would have gone to the webmaster of this or any other nursing site they could have made it more available and convenient. this is good info, but without reading your follow-up post I already feel like you are building your case and finding out (like a politician) where your cards are before you voice any opinion.

Louie

MD_Rn · Apr 9, 2001

1. RN

2. 6

3. Maryland

4. no

5. yes

6. yes

7. no

8. no

9. no

10. I love being a nurse, I hate all the politics that go with my job

11. no

12. I work a 12 hour shift and generally take about 20 minutes of my 1/2 hour lunch and none of my 3 15 min breaks

13. 12 hour days

14. half

15. Pro

16. for the right reasons, yes

vicki444 · Apr 9, 2001

Originally posted by theboss:

Originally posted by buck227:
Please respond to this on this thread so we can all learn about each others situation

Questions
1)RN, LPN, or CNA?
2)Years as a nurse?
3)Area (i.e. U.S. NE, N central, NW, Se, S central, south west, Arkansas, or other country or location)
4) Are you satisfied with your pay?
5)with your benefits?
6)your hours?
7)Do you believe your supervisor is competent at his or her job?
8)Do you trust your employer?
9)Does your institution have a nursing education Dept, or has it been cut recently?
10)Do you enjoy being a nurse?
11)Does your employer have mandatory overtime?
12)How often do you get a break at work?
13)Do you work Days, nights, or rotate?
14) How many Holidays did you spend with your family or signifigant other over the last year?
15)Are you for or against the idea of a nurses union in your area?
16)If you were in a union, would you be willing to strike,picket,or have a work slow down?
17)any other comments

Please respond on this thread. I think it is important for us to understand each others work situation as nurses and to get a feel for what is going on in other areas of the country and world. Thanks to all for your time,

buck
HEY BUCK KEEP IT GOING !!!
1.LPN
2.6.5 YEARS
3.OKLAHOMA
4.NO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A LITTLE MORE.
5.NO
6.12 HOUR SHIFTS FINE WITH ME...
7.YES HE IS A GOOD RN AND A GOOD MANAGER
8.NO
9.YES, ALL NURSES GIVEN THE OPORTUNITY TO KEEP LEARNING
10.YES I LOVE IT.
11.YES BUT WE ARE ABLE TO WORK IT OUT AMONGST EACH OTHER
12.IN THE ER IT IS EITHER FEAST OR FAMINE SO TAKE IT WHEN WE CAN
13.6P TO 6A AT ONE JOB 3-11 AT THE OTHER LIKE 12,S BETTER
14.XMAS AND THANKSGIVING NOT BAD SINCE I DONT START WORK UNTIL 6P,UNLESS I VOLENTEER TO WORK AT 2ND JOB.
15.YES AND NO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE??
16.YES IF I FELT IT WAS NEEDED WITH NO OTHER OPTION..
17.THIS WOULD BE A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE.BUT IF I FELT IT WOULD BENNEFIT OUR AREA I WOULD JOIN THE CAUSE....

RN--28yrcurrent employer-OREGON,70m from Portland--$24HR-BENE FAIR--ed hours on hold- union yes(currently neg for 8%,5wks pto--breaks sometimes--no mandatory OT,but dbltime when full)work 4/10,no holidays in OR-RR--best nite diff@$4--LOOKING TO HIRE-windsurfing,ski,ocean beaches,salmon fishing---couldn't strike,pickets off time-yes on trust-contact me if you want to know more vicki

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vicki444

SharonH · Apr 9, 2001

Originally posted by buck227:
Please respond to this on this thread so we can all learn about each others situation

Questions
1)RN, LPN, or CNA?
2)Years as a nurse?
3)Area (i.e. U.S. NE, N central, NW, Se, S central, south west, Arkansas, or other country or location)
4) Are you satisfied with your pay?
5)with your benefits?
6)your hours?
7)Do you believe your supervisor is competent at his or her job?
8)Do you trust your employer?
9)Does your institution have a nursing education Dept, or has it been cut recently?
10)Do you enjoy being a nurse?
11)Does your employer have mandatory overtime?
12)How often do you get a break at work?
13)Do you work Days, nights, or rotate?
14) How many Holidays did you spend with your family or signifigant other over the last year?
15)Are you for or against the idea of a nurses union in your area?
16)If you were in a union, would you be willing to strike,picket,or have a work slow down?
17)any other comments

Please respond on this thread. I think it is important for us to understand each others work situation as nurses and to get a feel for what is going on in other areas of the country and world. Thanks to all for your time,

buck

1) RN

2) 21

3) Eastern Canada

4) Definitaly not

5) NO

6) No

7) Absolutely not

8) No

9) No

10) Yes

12) Not regularly

13) Rotate

14) About one half

15) For

16) Yes

17) No

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nurseinanutshell · Apr 9, 2001

1) RN

2) 15

3) Southeast

4) Yes--I work as a Per Diem, so no benefits but remarkably good wages.

5) As mention I receive no benefits. I have health, etc. coverage through my husband's employment, but I do miss the Paid Time Off!

6) Varies according to my needs, but usually 7a-7p.

7) Old supervisor-no, new supervisor-yes

8) Yes

9) Yes, a pretty good one

10) I enjoy it wholeheartedly

11) Not for Per Diems

12) Lunches-every day, other breaks--maybe

13) Days mostly, some evenings (by my own choice)

14) All holidays except Thanksgiving and Labor Day (if that counts)

15) Against

16) None of the above

TopazStone · Apr 11, 2001

1) RN

2) 5

3) Midwest

4,5) Pay isn't bad, work full-time, non-benefited

6) weekends AM and PM visits (home care)

7) that would depend on which supervisor-- most are out of touch with reality. I think after a few years away from patient care, they forget what we really do out there.

8) To a point. If it comes to my butt or theirs, I know who'd go . . .

9) No

10)Usually, yes. There are days I wish I did OR-- the patients are unconcious! (4 kids here LOL)

11) No, they operate by the "guilt-complex theory of management"

12, 13) n/a

14)I get at least a few hours with the family on holidays, but I have worked most (see the guilt thing)

15) FOR! FOR! FOR! I would not leave my patients in danger, but I have never worked hospitals so things can be done around the strike to keep them safe.

16) The only way I'd cross is if they held a family member hostage on the other side!

17) I'd like to be treated with a little more respect-- seems like you have to be contingent to get that at my agency. I had one day where I was scheduled 10 morning visits in all parts of the city, and 12 night visits-- could have done it if I could fly, but being human, I was limited to my car. I hate having to run in, do a head-to-toe, give meds, do a treatment a split. The biggest complaint our clients have are that "the nurse doesn't have enough time to spend with me."

[This message has been edited by TopazStone (edited April 11, 2001).]

buck227 · Apr 11, 2001

Just 12 more days before I start compiling data. Be a part of this survey! Thanks to all of you who have given your support.

buck

sus_rn · Apr 12, 2001

Hi, I'm new to these boards and couldn't resist puttin' my two shiny cents in!

Here are my answers:

1. RN

2. 15 years.

3. North East

4. no, I think we all are worth more!

5. yes (opted out of health coverage)

6. yes and no. I work part-time. Would like more but this is one way I can have some control over my life.

7. yes

8. yes, for the most part.

9. yes, recently expanded.

10. yes, even after some of the worst times in my life, yes.

11. yes

12. no breaks.

13. rotate 3 shifts.

14. all (the dept. I work for now is closed most holidays)

15. for

16. tough question, I'd have to know all the details of the specific issues, union views, hospital views, etc. before I would give a blanket answer yes or no.