Nurses Forever!!!

Nurses General Nursing

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Governments can under pay us cut funding, and treat us like crap.

But one thing we are united and will fight them till the end.

Nurses Forever!!! I just watched a video at uni about the nurses strike in Victoria, Australia back in 1986, they just inspired me!!

They went on stike for a whole month, even though the didn't like it, they still had to stand up for better conditions. Interesting point was made at the end of the film. The Victorian nurses association president said, 'what we do in the next five years will affect nursing in the future'. Though they won some of the battle in 1986, eg. better pay and some better conditions, in the present day nurses are no better off than what they were in 86.

I guess the Victorian nurses union president was right in saying what they did then, will affect the future. Nurses did what they could the governments in my opinion destroyed nursing, they affected the future. Nurses are leaving in droves and not taking up nursing. Not only that, the workload due to staff shortages is getting worse. I want to know what are your views, on nursing in your own countries and nursing around the world.

I have been fortunate enough to visit medical facilities in several countries (not Australia YET). Many cultures view people who do menial (butt washing) labor as servants and many nurses are treated as such. It is hard to draw the line between "trained" and "educated", when nurses required both to do their job. Yet "educated" people deserve more respect and financial reward. If people would realize that hospitals would be nothing without nurses and support our efforts to provide the best possible care, progress could be made. It usually comes down to money. That is why we hear "nurses SHOULD do ...." as if we are all Sisters of Mercy (who, by the way, provide a real service). Is it a job or a calling? Can it be both? I think so, but WDYT?

Nurses where I live are treated as if it is their duty to take care of every one for free. This attitude has cost me my reputation and my life. If any one has any suggestions I would appreciate it?

Originally posted by Malt2390

Nurses where I live are treated as if it is their duty to take care of every one for free. This attitude has cost me my reputation and my life. If any one has any suggestions I would appreciate it?

:confused: can you explain a little please??

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

your LIFE malt? I am curious as heck as to what your post means, too. Could you please elaborate?

I think for some people nursing is a calling. For most other people, if you like it you do it if you don't you get out. I liked nursing and now i'm doing my RN's. I never had any plans to do nursing, when i finished school i started doing a science degree at university, didn't like it and left. My dad is a psych and DD RN, he works with people who have developmental disabilities currently.

He saw an advertisement in the paper for assistants in nursing, and asked if i wanted to try it, and i did and enjoyed it and enjoyed nursing. I know people who started doing there assistant in nursing in the hospital where i trained they didn't like it and left. By the way in australia, RN is the highest then comes the Enrolled nurse and at the bottom are your assistants in nursing, which i am proud of!!! Most people think nursing is all butt wiping, and there there always will be butt wiping going on. But there is more than butt wiping, there is the care of the patient, and the highs and lows of nursing. Unfortunately, the public still thinks we wipe butts which is sad, it is up to us to say yes there is a bit of that but it's not all butt wiping. One of the posts in here says hospitals wouldn't run without nurses i totally agree. We provide the care and emotional support, where as doctors provide the diagnosis and bang there gone. I certainly agree we should be paid more as educated profesionals we should enjoy the benefits other educated professionals recieve. Doing your RNs isn't easy at university it's a lot of work, i think that should be recognised. Anyway what are your thoughts, i have raved on enough!!! :) :) :)

Cheer Up Fellow Nurses - just think - it's only been recently that men have decided to take up nursing as a career. Maybe then we'll start to see more mutual respect from the predominently male physicians.......it's about time we had some more diversity in the profession of nursing - and I call it a profession because that is what it is! I have the student loans to prove it.!!!!!Cheers

Originally posted by Rav_810

I just watched a video at uni about the nurses strike in Victoria, Australia back in 1986, they just inspired me!!

They went on stike for a whole month, even though the didn't like it, they still had to stand up for better conditions.

Hey Rav, I was one of those nurses!!! I was a 3rd year student, just at the end of my hospital training. Sure dates me huh:D

I remember many of nurses back then agonising over whether to strike or not. We left a skeleton staff though, and no patient missed out on care. I remember working in casual clothes on those days.

Interesting the comments you make re being no better off...I agree. Although Victoria has made good progress lately with the implemntation of a nurse-patient ratio

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