WOW! I became in house registry with a Medical Center in Orange County California over a year ago after working 5 years outside registry. I enjoyed the staff at this facility and had begun to feel "at home". However, since the staffing ratios went into effect, this facility decided that the nursing staff should absorb the increased cost by eliminating our CNA's. In fact, forcing them to sign letters of resignation. That makes us primary care for 6 patients from a demographic profile that includes homeless frequent flier med seekers, non compliant chronics, SNF patients with aspiration pneumonia on NGT who must be restrained, patients with stage 4 on clinitron beds who require frequent cleaning, turning, not to mention feeders. Enough of the "cue the violins" and on to the reality....We are non union, non contract staffers who, upon voicing our concerns were told by Administration "you voted for the ratios, what are you *****ing about?" and the ever famous "If you don't like it, there is the door." Many of my commrades have been with this facility for 20 plus years and risk losing pensions, benefits and are ill equipped to place themselves back in the market.
I have been vocal regarding the potential impact on patient safety, work place injury and the unscupulous practice of Human Resources in "coercing" our dedicated CNA's to sign letters of resignation. Well, my big mouth paid off.
I was told by HR that I was being terminated for inciting "insubordination". I am back in the trenches as a Registry Nurse and am hoping that those who are left behind at this facility will take a stand . What a mind blower huh?
Yes, I knew after I refused to allow them to sweep that incident under the rug (my chart being read by my manager) that it was just a matter of time before they would find a way to fire me. The nurses I worked with gave me full support, stating that they had helped me turn & reposition this patient & that the bedpan could not have been there for an extended peroid of time on our shift. To no avail, I challenged their authority & they were determined to get rid of me. I know for a fact that this patients record was altered after the fact in order to frame me. His admit H&P was blank on the day I took care of him and then weeks later when we were in a meeting it was complete. When I pointed out that fact the chart was taken from the room & I was never allowed to see it again. That is why so many of my fellow nurses resigned so quickly. They saw the screwing I got & got the hell out before it happened to them. I remain in touch with many of them to this day. We get together for lunch once a month or so. To show you just how excited the Vice Pres. was to get me out of there, he fired me himself, a task usually performed by presonnel. The dept. director cried. She knew what was being done was wrong, she also knew if she spoke out she would be fired too. In a right to work state they bank on nurses staying in line & taking whatever crap they are handed. If nurses ever wise up & co-ordinate a walk out managment would get a real sense of just who makes a hospital run. And guess what....it ain't them. Without nurses, nothing happens.............ozoneranger
Yes, I knew after I refused to allow them to sweep that incident under the rug (my chart being read by my manager) that it was just a matter of time before they would find a way to fire me. The nurses I worked with gave me full support, stating that they had helped me turn & reposition this patient & that the bedpan could not have been there for an extended peroid of time on our shift. To no avail, I challenged their authority & they were determined to get rid of me. I know for a fact that this patients record was altered after the fact in order to frame me. His admit H&P was blank on the day I took care of him and then weeks later when we were in a meeting it was complete. When I pointed out that fact the chart was taken from the room & I was never allowed to see it again. That is why so many of my fellow nurses resigned so quickly. They saw the screwing I got & got the hell out before it happened to them. I remain in touch with many of them to this day. We get together for lunch once a month or so. To show you just how excited the Vice Pres. was to get me out of there, he fired me himself, a task usually performed by presonnel. The dept. director cried. She knew what was being done was wrong, she also knew if she spoke out she would be fired too. In a right to work state they bank on nurses staying in line & taking whatever crap they are handed. If nurses ever wise up & co-ordinate a walk out managment would get a real sense of just who makes a hospital run. And guess what....it ain't them. Without nurses, nothing happens.............ozoneranger
Im just a newbee in my first year of school. I havent even seen a patient yet and you all are scaring the heck out of me!
Knowledge is power...don't be scared. Suggestion: sometime in class if you get a receptive teacher, ask him/her to comment on some of the things we post about here and ask for suggestions of how to improve things without getting on management's shyt list. I'd be interested in what your instructors have to say about this issue.
Course my experiences are probably the worst mine and others in employment at will areas. My union area where I trained operated much more pleasantly and nurses were much happier. I'm just an unhappy Yankee union agitator stuck in the southland...that's what my DH calls me...LOL!!
Sorry to scare you...nursing CAN be very rewarding! We all enjoy our patients, its the 'other stuff' that gets us! LOL!
Im just a newbee in my first year of school. I havent even seen a patient yet and you all are scaring the heck out of me!
Knowledge is power...don't be scared. Suggestion: sometime in class if you get a receptive teacher, ask him/her to comment on some of the things we post about here and ask for suggestions of how to improve things without getting on management's shyt list. I'd be interested in what your instructors have to say about this issue.
Course my experiences are probably the worst mine and others in employment at will areas. My union area where I trained operated much more pleasantly and nurses were much happier. I'm just an unhappy Yankee union agitator stuck in the southland...that's what my DH calls me...LOL!!
Sorry to scare you...nursing CAN be very rewarding! We all enjoy our patients, its the 'other stuff' that gets us! LOL!
I'm not sure what a "Registry Nurse" means. I am assuming that you are RN? At any rate, it is commendable what you have done and this is your opportunity to get all the CNA's organized and UNIONIZE so this does not happen again ANYWHERE because if it happens in CA, it can happen anywhere!
You have given me an idea but that's another story.
What if you did organize all the CNA's? You have a very valid point and I have seen the nurses rely on them a lot. The CNAs have a very important role and for some overworked nurses, they are the eyes and ears that have the most contact with the pt's. Nurses depend on the CNA's. CNAs have an invaluable positions even for the MD's. Management in their infinite "wisdom" probably think that they are the "fat" that has to be trimmed and they are sooooo wrong.
I am a nursing student and have seen what CNAs do. I appreciate and have learned from them soooo much that every time we end a clinical, we get a gift for the nurse preceptors, and a separate gift for the CNAs.
I need someone to send me some news about this ratio. I'm not aware of this because I have been so involved in my studies. I would appreciate this and I will try to educate the students here in TX.
I'm not sure what a "Registry Nurse" means. I am assuming that you are RN? At any rate, it is commendable what you have done and this is your opportunity to get all the CNA's organized and UNIONIZE so this does not happen again ANYWHERE because if it happens in CA, it can happen anywhere!
You have given me an idea but that's another story.
What if you did organize all the CNA's? You have a very valid point and I have seen the nurses rely on them a lot. The CNAs have a very important role and for some overworked nurses, they are the eyes and ears that have the most contact with the pt's. Nurses depend on the CNA's. CNAs have an invaluable positions even for the MD's. Management in their infinite "wisdom" probably think that they are the "fat" that has to be trimmed and they are sooooo wrong.
I am a nursing student and have seen what CNAs do. I appreciate and have learned from them soooo much that every time we end a clinical, we get a gift for the nurse preceptors, and a separate gift for the CNAs.
I need someone to send me some news about this ratio. I'm not aware of this because I have been so involved in my studies. I would appreciate this and I will try to educate the students here in TX.
I don't know you but I want you to know that I don't want you to quit. I would really like you to take a look at the fact that it is only the facility which is bad, it is not the career. When you made the decision to be a nurse, you became a better person. You care for other people and that, in itself, is a profession of God (what ever your God is).
why don't we get organized? I'm just a student and right now I have no time for anything but get me on May of 2005 and I'm your contact for TX, CT and FL. (I live in TX right now, I'm moving to CT when May comes, and I have a huge amount of friends in FL).
How do we organize, how do we start? Shouldn't we be contacting ANA? CNA's should also organize to their union. I'm not sure the ANA backs them but I am sure that nurses are unionized through ANA.
It pysses me off that I'm not out there yet and I'm hearing of these things already and it is a matter of justice. It is a matter of right and wrong. What makes these people so "above the law"?
By the way, in regards to the snooping, there is a HIPPA number you can call and report these things. If the other nurse was on your side, contact her and make sure you secure her testimony in a court of law. Being fired as a retaliation is not a practice that goes unpunished and is obviously making the nursing shortage even worse. There is such a thing as a Legal Nurse. Contact one in your area and let her know about what was done to you.
I don't know you but I want you to know that I don't want you to quit. I would really like you to take a look at the fact that it is only the facility which is bad, it is not the career. When you made the decision to be a nurse, you became a better person. You care for other people and that, in itself, is a profession of God (what ever your God is).
why don't we get organized? I'm just a student and right now I have no time for anything but get me on May of 2005 and I'm your contact for TX, CT and FL. (I live in TX right now, I'm moving to CT when May comes, and I have a huge amount of friends in FL).
How do we organize, how do we start? Shouldn't we be contacting ANA? CNA's should also organize to their union. I'm not sure the ANA backs them but I am sure that nurses are unionized through ANA.
It pysses me off that I'm not out there yet and I'm hearing of these things already and it is a matter of justice. It is a matter of right and wrong. What makes these people so "above the law"?
By the way, in regards to the snooping, there is a HIPPA number you can call and report these things. If the other nurse was on your side, contact her and make sure you secure her testimony in a court of law. Being fired as a retaliation is not a practice that goes unpunished and is obviously making the nursing shortage even worse. There is such a thing as a Legal Nurse. Contact one in your area and let her know about what was done to you.
This a horrible incident for any caring, considerate, qualified nurse to endure. I really admire your spunky attitude. I have read the posts on this BB with interest, so much of what has been written here has been a mirror of what has happened in my career or to some of my co-workers. I think it is wonderful we have support, honesty, and concern from nurses all over the states and even other countries who understand our concerns. I really want to thank Bloodman, MattsMom, and Cheerfuldoer, just to name a few, for their posts. Let us hope, the public and patients someday realize the games hospital administrators play with their lives and the morale of those they trust to care for them.
This a horrible incident for any caring, considerate, qualified nurse to endure. I really admire your spunky attitude. I have read the posts on this BB with interest, so much of what has been written here has been a mirror of what has happened in my career or to some of my co-workers. I think it is wonderful we have support, honesty, and concern from nurses all over the states and even other countries who understand our concerns. I really want to thank Bloodman, MattsMom, and Cheerfuldoer, just to name a few, for their posts. Let us hope, the public and patients someday realize the games hospital administrators play with their lives and the morale of those they trust to care for them.
Sounds like they actually did you a favor if things are as you say. Best of luck in registry and looking for something full time if that is what you desire.
Sounds like they actually did you a favor if things are as you say. Best of luck in registry and looking for something full time if that is what you desire.
ozoneranger
373 Posts
Yes, I knew after I refused to allow them to sweep that incident under the rug (my chart being read by my manager) that it was just a matter of time before they would find a way to fire me. The nurses I worked with gave me full support, stating that they had helped me turn & reposition this patient & that the bedpan could not have been there for an extended peroid of time on our shift. To no avail, I challenged their authority & they were determined to get rid of me. I know for a fact that this patients record was altered after the fact in order to frame me. His admit H&P was blank on the day I took care of him and then weeks later when we were in a meeting it was complete. When I pointed out that fact the chart was taken from the room & I was never allowed to see it again. That is why so many of my fellow nurses resigned so quickly. They saw the screwing I got & got the hell out before it happened to them. I remain in touch with many of them to this day. We get together for lunch once a month or so. To show you just how excited the Vice Pres. was to get me out of there, he fired me himself, a task usually performed by presonnel. The dept. director cried. She knew what was being done was wrong, she also knew if she spoke out she would be fired too. In a right to work state they bank on nurses staying in line & taking whatever crap they are handed. If nurses ever wise up & co-ordinate a walk out managment would get a real sense of just who makes a hospital run. And guess what....it ain't them. Without nurses, nothing happens.............ozoneranger