If you could change NURSING what would you change?

[1BlessedRN]

hello fellow nurses i have studied alot of these posts and i see a lot of pros/cons in our profession and i would like to know if you could change anything about nursing what would you change?

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

The changes we need include more respect, strong unionization, reasonable work-loads, and getting rid of many of the new types of UAPs.

Additionally, what the public knows and does not know of what nurses do and what nurses know needs to change.

[leslie :-D]

The changes we need include more respect, strong unionization, reasonable work-loads, and getting rid of many of the new types of UAPs.

Additionally, what the public knows and does not know of what nurses do and what nurses know needs to change.

christina, that was perfect.

i especially appreciated the public's image of nsg and its' lack of respect.

i'm with you, as always.

leslie

[Winknme]

I would have to say realistic nurse patient ratios would be my #1 thing to change about nursing.

After that, increasing the numbers of support staff, less abuse from physicians and families, and more support from management so that we don't have to take the abuse from the physicians and the families in the first place.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

Thank you, Leslie

[Furball]

I think nurses should totally separate from hospitals....create our own practice groups and contract our services out to hospitals. We can obtain health benefits, et al, through our "group". We could follow the model of legal firms or MD group practices and charge for services independently. The different "groups" will be owned and run by nurses only, of course....maybe even get tax breaks because of the nursing shortage, eh?

...just a thought....

Oh yeah....and change the title "nurse" to something else ...anyone? anyone?

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

Fantasic idea, Furball.

I am attached to the "Nurse" moniker, though.

[steve0123]

I think nurses should totally separate from hospitals....create our own practice groups and contract our services out to hospitals. We can obtain health benefits, et al, through our "group". We could follow the model of legal firms or MD group practices and charge for services independently. The different "groups" will be owned and run by nurses only, of course....maybe even get tax breaks because of the nursing shortage, eh?

...just a thought....

Oh yeah....and change the title "nurse" to something else ...anyone? anyone?

What a great idea! I was thinking the other day how nurses seem to revel in being the underdog profession (ie: working "for the man", limited earning potential, etc; whereas other professional groups like medicine/law/etc are truly independant service providers) and of ways that we could change that -but I was living inside the square and couldn't think of anything... The only drawback is that we haven't been militant/outspoken enough to assert our rights to exclusive practice - I think that in countries such as the USA, where the "tech" is prevalent and healthcare is privatised (and owned, in many cases, by physician groups), some hospitals might consider expensive nursing services expendable despite an obvious decline in care. Plus it would require a massive culture change from within, and one hell of a PR exercise to convince the public (who pay too much for health care as it is). The more I think about it, the more it seems idealistic but unattainable in the present climate of rationalising services, etc.

Just my two cents... But I like the name nurse though... Sense of history associated with it... What else could we change it to anyway?

[faithrn2002]

It would definately be the nurse/patient ratio.

It needs to be lowered, but the bottom line is $$.

Also more respect for the doctors.

[Furball]

Also more respect for the doctors.

They are already treated as if they are God...what more do they need?

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

The **** BSN RN vs. ADN RN vs. Diploma RN vs. LPN debating ********. That energy should be directed towards a job well done, whatever the education may be.

[RN4NICU, LPN, LVN]

I think separating from hospitals and working as contractors is a FABULOUS idea. They could try to lessen their needs for "expensive nursing service" but research (and trial and error) has already proven that that crap won't fly. The fewer RNs taking care of patients, the more patients suffer complications and/or die. To not provide RNs just because they are "expensive" is the corporate version of negligence. How about letting "ivory tower" salaries take a hit if they are THAT worried about costs? Why should trimming the budget ALWAYS start with nursing? The hospital would function just fine if the vice president of patient butt-kissing took a pay cut or was eliminated entirely, for that matter. How about cutting back those CEO of insurance company salaries to make health insurance more accessible for all? (If more patients had insurance, hospitals wouldn't be so far in the red to start with). How about breaking up those pharmaceutical company conglomerates to encourage price competition? How about breaking up those hospital chains so health care won't be reduced to "their way or the highway"?

A slight variation to the contracting idea would be to make nursing a "bill for service" profession, just like law or medicine.