I work at Disney World now!!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

In high school my marching band got to march at Disney World. We got the whole speech about being in character in the park. And now I've officially gotten it at work (I didn't even hear that Disney bought us out!!)

Please remember that when you are in any public area of our hospital... you are "on stage"....

I don't mind being friendly, but don't call it being "on stage." There comes a point where the customer service just crosses a line. This has crossed the line and gone so far that it can't even see the line anymore.

May not get respect as a professional nurse, but hey, maybe now I can get respected as a professional actor!

Well, it's no big suprise that management, administrators, and even other nurses live in some sort of fantasy land, I personally like to refer to it as "La La Land". They see the world in one way and then there's reality. In their world I'm seen as "grumpy", they want me to be Cinderella, in the real world I'm a damn good nurse.

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:lol2:

I'm Sleepy.

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Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.
Well, it's no big suprise that management, administrators, and even other nurses live in some sort of fantasy land, I personally like to refer to it as "La La Land". They see the world in one way and then there's reality. In their world I'm seen as "grumpy", they want me to be Cinderella, in the real world I'm a damn good nurse.

Here's to reality (GrumpyRN FROM La La land BTW)

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
Doesn't Disney have a deal with the local EMS that no one is to be pronounced dead on the property? Might be an urban myth, off to check snopes.com...

Edit: According to at least one medic, this is true, although snopes classifies it as false, because most people aren't pronounced dead until they reach a hospital anyway, regardless of any "deal". But I digress.

MY personal experience was no urban myth. It happen to me. And it turned us off, so much, that my three grandchildren have never been back to visit. And you are partly correct. A good portion of people are not pronnounced until they arrive at the ER. But Disney will not allow anyone to be pronnounced on their property. Even when it is obvious the person is dead.

Woody:balloons:

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I once had a fellow patient who had been an R.N. at Disney World. What she shared with me made me sick. To protect 'other park visitors' the rescue squad team must enter thru the underground tunnels that run under every part of each park. The ill or injured visitor must be moved from the public area. The paramedics are not allowed to be seen by any of the other visitors. She shared a story about a middle age father, there with his wife and three children, who suffered an arrest and dropped to the ground in the Main Street area. The supervisors were more concerned about moving him from public view then allowing her and another nurse visitor to start CPR on him. They were eventually allowed to and continued until the paramedics arrive. She told me she later learned he had died in the ER. She handed her resignation in the next day.

She told me they paid the worse of any employer in the Orlando area. And they are more concerned with protecting the family image then they are about getting help for the ill or injured visitor. I was there in August, one year, the hottest part of the year. I was in a wheelchair because I was recovering from injuries suffered in a car accident. I passed out, in my wheelchair, and my SIL sort help from a Park Supervisor. He wanted to wheel me into a back area. My SIL was infuriated, demanding they call for emergency help. He got so angry, I later learned, that my daughter feared he would punch the Park employee. I was transported to an area ER and received treatment. I haven't been back to Disney World since. And it was almost fifteen years ago. Nothing the Mouse's House does surprises me.

Woody:balloons:

Not only that, but the pay is crappy AND I read an article about how they were trying to keep a low income housing development being proposed nearby out because it would be bad for their image. The development would house... Disney workers who could not afford housing in the california market.

Disney does not care about people at all. It uses child labor to make their products, it is lawsuit happy, it pays their workers poorly, and their whole princess thing is so regressive. I wish people would stop buying their crap to tell the truth.

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Specializes in oncology, trauma, home health.

I would bet my last Disney dollar that you work for Providence....do you have the 5/10 rule too?

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I understand customer service is important, but I think I am providing a service already. Competition is there for contracts and customers, so we have to be "nice". I think there ought be to be some public education on what to expect and how to act in a hospital. Not TV stuff, the real thing.

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Specializes in Mother-Baby.

This is interesting thread and kinda scary. I actually tell people my "dream" job is to be a RN at WDW someday - when my son is grown and gone. ha. I LOVE Disney, and WDW! We are taking a trip there in December, to celebrate my graduation from Nursing school May 2007. :lol2:

I'm sorry the OP has a rough work environment, but I'd like to believe the HR dept is just a little excited about their job and reading a lot of "how to" books. I think another poster mentioned that we have to be careful regardless, because we really do need to be concerned about what patients and their families overhear, and that's true.

God Bless & Happy Thanksgiving!:balloons:

txpixiedust

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I think there ought be to be some public education on what to expect and how to act in a hospital.
Kind of a sad commentary that something like that is even necessary...
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Specializes in orthopedics, ED observation.

Wow. I'm a little bummed out after reading this entire thread.:sniff:

I clicked on it thinking "What a cool job opportunity". Not only was it NOT a cool job opportunity, it sounds like it (Disney) wouldn't BE a cool job opportunity. So many hopes dashed at the same time...

I think from time to time it would be interesting to follow the NASCAR circuit as a nurse. But, I'm usually convinced this sounds more appealing than it really would be... Maybe a retirement gig to check out... :idea:

Anyway, how frustrating to see Wooh's decription of the communication re: customer service. While I get (and agree wholeheartly with) the idea that we are to present a professional image, I thought I was getting into Healthcare not a customer service industry. I guess my new-grad rose-colored glasses are not all the way off my face yet... :coollook:

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I guess perky programmed animatronic nurses are next.

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Specializes in SICU.
I would bet my last Disney dollar that you work for Providence....do you have the 5/10 rule too?

I'm almost afraid to ask, but what's the 5/10 rule?

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