I wonder......

[rncountry]

I wonder if someone collected stories from nurses all over the country about what is happening in healthcare, what we experience, the short staffing, the mandatory overtime etc... the REALITY of why there is a nursing shortage and why it is unlikely to get better, I wonder if such a book would sell.

I think this book should talk about the idea that patients aren't patients anymore, but "guests" or "customers" the stories of nasty and idiot physicians and how they often treat nurses. The stories of clueless administration, the no breaks, no lunches days. You guys know what I am talking about.

Would enough of the public read it and begin an outcry that would force change? Would they care or not?

I would like some imput on this.

[Genista, BSN, RN]

RN country-

This is a great idea! We need to do SOMETHING. Maybe the public won't buy the book, but maybe they will. It's definately worth a try. As it stands now, things are not getting any better. The public does not know what is going on behind the scenes at the hospitals. The media perpetuates this myth that there aren't enough nurses to go around...meanwhile, many of us continue to burn out & leave nursing.

The way hospitals are run right now is totally unacceptable. It's a huge coverup, and needs to be exposed. It's only going to get worse for nurses and patients. Time for a change.

I think this book idea is fantastic! I would love to help further this cause.

[rncountry]

I have seriously considering doing this, thought how one can publish a book on their own now, though not sure how that works. I imagine I could find out with a little research. I have also thought about working on a march idea again. I think that with the news finally waking up to the nursing shortage it is possible that they may pay attention this time around. Who knows? I'm just feeling angry and quite militant right now and think something SUBSTANCIAL needs to be done, and done soon.

If I were going to write a book I would not use nurses real names, I would however want the names of the their facility, the real names of the administrators and the physicians. I think it important that if we are going to do something than it is time to start naming names and being forthright. If a march was done it would have to have nurses who were willing to stand up in front of many people and be true about the things we are experiencing. Before doing anything like this I would speak to an attorney to ensure that it was done in such a way that there would be legal protection. I wish there was a way to be able to reach every single nurse in the country, RN and LPN, without it costing a bloody fortune. I've thought of things but would have to investigate ways to do them. I made some contacts with different people in the past and wonder sometimes if I could scare them up again. Just thinking out loud here. Once upon a time a friend and myself thought about doing something like this and naming it the nurse liberation organization. :)

Maybe I'd name the book, So goes Nursing, So goes the Healthcare System. Or something like that. Give me ideas, I want to play this around in my mind.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

ANA Resource:

Electronic Publishing: How, What and Why?

http://nursingworld.org/ojin/topic11/tpc11lnx.htm

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Healthleaders.com is always interested in"White Papers"--research pieces also Health Affairs.org ----much clot with that publication.

These publications reated and quoted by movers and shakers in healthcare industry.

P.S.: I'll supply bibliograpy/resource list.

Too busy to do more than critique/proofread

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

You'd get much further with your own web site. Then you can post what you want, won't have to conform to anyone else's rules, etc.. The web site itself could get the attention of many of the above mentioned media.

I for one have very little faith in the media's portrayal of the nursing shortage. Someone informs them of deplorable conditions at X hospital. What is the first thing they do? Call up the admin, who is certain all ducks are in a line when the touring begins and the cameras roll. They need to follow one nurse. To see how many times his/her phone rings after he/she has worked a 12 hr night asking him/her to come back in at 3 pm if possible for another 16.

I also think th book is a great idea, but you will have to try another angle, not sure what, in order to market it to the public. Something like "What everyone needs to know before going into the hospital." Now that is an attention grabber! Or, "How not to die when going into the hospital" OK that is really dramatic and out there, but it would sure grab atention!

[Roland]

is to work with malpractice attorneys making the shortage a LIABILITY issue in these cases. If nursing can "feed" information to attorneys surrepticiously or otherwise and make hospitals PAY enough money, they will choose to pay the wages, benefits and respect that it takes to get and retain enough good nurses. Pay them and they WILL come.

[Youda]

Originally posted by rncountry

. I wish there was a way to be able to reach every single nurse in the country, RN and LPN, without it costing a bloody fortune.

You can. The BONs publish lists of licensure. If the State BON has a website, many can be downloaded. How do you think you get all that junk mail?

Another thought. Why not include CNAs and CMTs?

[Youda]

In two years, it will be another major election year. It can be a major campaign issue. If we make it one. :)

[SmilingBluEyes]

I feel strongly the public is too enthralled with TV and it's silly versions of the medical/nursing world. And til it affects them PERSONALLY, they are not likely to give much thought to the shortage we have or the plight of nurses who are left to cope. Til there is no one left to care for them when they are in need; no one to medicate them, comfort them, hold their hand, clean up after them.....THEN they will take notice. When it is just too late. Isn't that way we all tend to be? Hindsight is damn near always 20/20.....

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

How about we aggitate for ER to do a two hour episode the focused on the nurses - with the MDs in the background - and not just the ER nurses - followed a patient from Admit to discharge. Focusing on the amount of Nursing care - credentials also - and lack of time MDs actually have with the pt. People pick their MDs, not the Hospital (w/good ratios), yet nurses may have more effect on pt outcome.

Any one find it ironic - almost all of the MDs on ER have turned over and left - the only "faithful" actors that have stayed have been many of the nurses (and Jerry the desk clerk). If realty when shown, it would be the other way around.

[andrewsgranny, ASN, RN]

Maybe we could write to Dr. Phil Mcgraw. And he could pick our brains on why we became nurses and why we stay in this position even after we figure out theres not much money in it. And maybe he can figure out why there is always so much concern about teachers salarys and not nurses salaries. I say Dr.Phil. Yea! he's the one.:roll :roll :roll

[Scavenger'sWife, RN]

YEAH! Dr. Phil!!!!!

Tomorrow I will be followed for my entire 12+ hour shift by the CEO of my hospital. He is going to wear scrubs so the pts don't (hopefully) realize who he is. My Nurse Manager will be with him too. As I am also precepting a new RN this little train of people ought to make it interesting. Our hospital finance manager followed another nurse last week. And I think the VP did too. My manager took me aside and warned me of this and said to maek sure I did not "sugar coat" any of my day. She wants it to be as bad as it possibly can be! Oh, this should be good.....

Am I naive, or does this sound as if my hospital is trying to do something about conditions here and why the nurses et all are unhappy?

Wish me luck:roll