Recently there's been a spate of write-ups I've heard about that are basically bogus. Minor infractions that no one else would get written up over. I'm furious.
On the surface, it doesn't seem to be a big deal. But anyone who's been in health care can tell you--our nursing culture teaches us that bogus write-ups are a warning to get outta Dodge; it's useless to fight; easier to just change units.
So these nurses have all left for greener pastures.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the nurses were targeted because they earned more than new grads. Because coincidentally, there are a few new grads on each of these units, and the basic "numbers" of the nurses has not changed. In years.
So 'fess up, Managers, what's the deal? Is this what really is happening out there? Is your budget such that it looks better for you to keep the new grads rather than the experienced nurses? Do you use bogus writeups to "encourage" certain nurses to leave?
Exactly, exactly. You think mgmt would see some of the advantages of older nurses. For one thing, many of us will never have to take a maternity leave!
Um........*raising hand*......first child born at age 42........surprise packages happen all over the age spectrum!
Um........*raising hand*......first child born at age 42........surprise packages happen all over the age spectrum!
:w00t:
It is fun, isn't it. :monkeydance:
Right now my 5 year old has his black cowboy hat on and is putting batteries in his "Elvis" swinging hips clock while listening to Toby Keith.
Not to worry - my oldest boys used to wear Wranglers and listen to "I really really really like girls" . . .now they wouldn't go near Wranglers and listen to all kinds of music.
You have to admit though most babies are born to younger nurses, under 40. But that shouldn't even be a consideration.
I seriously doubt there is widescale weeding out of "older" which includes us in our 40's, nurses. Isn't the average age like 45 or something like that. I know when the Hunter came in and recommended a massive layoff of nurses, it was the younger one's who got the axe, but for some LPNs who got the axe because they were LPNs.
You have to admit though most babies are born to younger nurses, under 40. But that shouldn't even be a consideration.
I seriously doubt there is widescale weeding out of "older" which includes us in our 40's, nurses. Isn't the average age like 45 or something like that. I know when the Hunter came in and recommended a massive layoff of nurses, it was the younger one's who got the axe, but for some LPNs who got the axe because they were LPNs.
I agree with your first point - I just couldn't resist.
As to older nurses getting the ax first, I agree with your point that there probably isn't widespread weeding out going on.
And there are many articles on the difference between generations of nurses - the main difference being younger nurses seem not to put up with mandatory overtime and unsafe staffing ratios - they seem to quit within a year or two.
When I started working 9 years ago at age 40, at first I bought into the work ethic at the expense of family and personal health and well being. But that changed fast when I found myself preggers.
My family is first. And I'm not the answer to the hospital's staffing problems.
We are hurting for nurses here . . . there is no weeding out. The amount of $$ spent on agency nurses and cna's at my hospital is causing a real budget problem.
Actually, the newer nurses I see are less apt to take the crap that older nurses did when they first started.
You're right about some of them taking less crap...and sometime's its not because they are standing up for themselves. Many (not all) times its because they do not have any idea what real life can be like, what senior nurses have gone through to get where they are, the responsibilities involved in a successful career, the value of mentorship, the idea of teamwork or working for satisfaction instead of just the all-mightly dollar, what respect actually means and how to show it and receive it, or what the words empathy or compassion mean. I'm only saying this because I witnessed it many times in my nursing school (the way some "young" students treated our instructors) and at my place of employment (the way some "young" nurses treat each other and their co-workers). Of course, this doesn't only occur in the "young", but they seem a lot different then when I was their age. Maybe I'm just getting too old (I'm a new nurse, but not new to the working world)...I don't know, but its kind of sad. Please do not write me mean e-mails...just thinking out loud...something I don't really do very often. Thanks.
You're right about some of them taking less crap...and sometime's its not because they are standing up for themselves. Many (not all) times its because they do not have any idea what real life can be like, what senior nurses have gone through to get where they are, the responsibilities involved in a successful career, the value of mentorship, the idea of teamwork or working for satisfaction instead of just the all-mightly dollar, what respect actually means and how to show it and receive it, or what the words empathy or compassion mean. I'm only saying this because I witnessed it many times in my nursing school (the way some "young" students treated our instructors) and at my place of employment (the way some "young" nurses treat each other and their co-workers). Of course, this doesn't only occur in the "young", but they seem a lot different then when I was their age. Maybe I'm just getting too old (I'm a new nurse, but not new to the working world)...I don't know, but its kind of sad. Please do not write me mean e-mails...just thinking out loud...something I don't really do very often. Thanks.
I would never write you a "mean" email.
I'm sure there are nurses like you describe.
What I found when I started working was an older work force of nurses who always said yes to being called at home when the hospital was short. Some nurses brought their kids into the hospital to sleep while they worked nights. Some nurses had marriage problems because of the time spent away from husbands and kids. Some nurses stayed overtime all the time at the expense of their families.
I worked full-time, 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. and many many weeks I worked way over full-time. Then I would still make it to my sons' football games on Friday night, get home at 11 p.m. and try to sleep until 1:45 a.m. when I would get up for work. I was very burned out after 2 years of trying to do it all at work and at home.
Maybe my pregnancy at 43 was God's way of slowing me down. I decided then and there that I would not, no matter how guilty I was made to feel by my "teammates", go in to work if I didn't want to.
I believe in teamwork, but not at the expense of my family.
Thanks for the response...it wasn't mean at all! :wink2: I guess what I meant when I was talking about "crap", was more geared towards attitudes about work and co-workers once there, not really anything about working extra hours, being taken advantage of, or stuff like that. I'm definitely for self-time and family time and setting limits to assure one's own mental health and security. I'm talking more about the "me, me against you, you" attitude. I've had more than one "very-close-to-graduating nurse" tell me to do something myself (in no uncertain terms), when I've asked them to help out, and believe me, I'm in no way an authoritative figure. There's a big difference between holding one's self true and resisting being taken advantage of and just not wanting to be bothered and being disrespectful about it. This is a bummer and not the only example. I guess I'm just out of touch with the world...not sure...still sad.
P.S. I'm jealous you're in Nor Cal. Moved two years ago from my life-long home in Bay Area and still extremely homesick! Say "hi" to the water and the trees and the mountains and...well, you know what I mean!
Thanks for the response...it wasn't mean at all! :wink2: I guess what I meant when I was talking about "crap", was more geared towards attitudes about work and co-workers once there, not really anything about working extra hours, being taken advantage of, or stuff like that. I'm definitely for self-time and family time and setting limits to assure one's own mental health and security. I'm talking more about the "me, me against you, you" attitude. I've had more than one "very-close-to-graduating nurse" tell me to do something myself (in no uncertain terms), when I've asked them to help out, and believe me, I'm in no way an authoritative figure. There's a big difference between holding one's self true and resisting being taken advantage of and just not wanting to be bothered and being disrespectful about it. This is a bummer and not the only example. I guess I'm just out of touch with the world...not sure...still sad.
P.S. I'm jealous you're in Nor Cal. Moved two years ago from my life-long home in Bay Area and still extremely homesick! Say "hi" to the water and the trees and the mountains and...well, you know what I mean!
I'm in the "real" Northern CA - northeast of Redding in the mountains where I can see Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen.
I do agree with the attitude problem you mentioned and have experienced that and it is awful - but it is not limited to nursing - there are jerks everywhere.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Steph, it never fails to make me smile when you talk about having a 5-year-old.:wink2: Until my 13-month-old grandson was born, I'd forgotten what it was like to have a little one around the house.........it's like discovering life all over again!!
While I admit I'm glad I'm well past my own childbearing years---by the time I was 43 my youngest was in fifth grade---it's so cool to watch this little guy learn about the world. I didn't really get that chance when my kids were little, I was too busy trying to keep body and soul together, working, going to school etc. that I didn't have the time or energy to get down on the floor with them and really try looking at the world through their eyes.
Now there's nothing I enjoy more than sitting outside in the yard with Eli, blowing through a blade of grass and making a funny noise and seeing his reaction. I love to walk him up and down the porch steps---he is very proud of this new skill and practices it every chance he gets!---and show him the squirrels and the deer that come to visit. EVERYTHING is new to him, and even though he isn't talking yet, his facial expressions and his way of pointing at the things he wants to know about tell me that he is a very observant and intelligent little being.
OK, enough bragging..........now back to your regularly scheduled thread.:wink2:
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
what i found when i started working was an older work force of nurses who always said yes to being called at home when the hospital was short. some nurses brought their kids into the hospital to sleep while they worked nights. some nurses had marriage problems because of the time spent away from husbands and kids. some nurses stayed overtime all the time at the expense of their families.
it could be that some nurses had marriage problems because of the time spent away from husbands and kids, and that they stayed overtime at the expense of their families. it could also be that the reverse is true: the marriages were falling apart, and the nurses were working the overtime so they could afford to leave. they brought their kids into the hospital to sleep while they worked nights because it was safer than leaving them home with dad who might be falling asleep with a cigarette in his hand or out drinking half the night or abusive or . . . .
i'll share with you one thing that i've noticed -- when you see someone suddenly start spending a lot more time at work, it's usually because the homelife is already in the dumpster and work is either a safer or more pleasant place to be. i'll also comment that i myself worked an awful lot of overtime to keep me out of the house toward the end of my ex-husband's approximately 12 week cycle when he was looking for something to fly into a rage over.
of us older nurses will never have to take maternity leave.
TazziRN, RN
6,487 Posts
Um........*raising hand*......first child born at age 42........surprise packages happen all over the age spectrum!