If you speak your mind will you get a bad assignment? Come on..come clean!

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My girlfriend seems to be afraid to speak her mind because of the fact that the management system can always send her to the lesser or busier hospitals as a float pool thing shes in.

from cherry:

a, that's not my name.

b, the "way it is" is not because of things that we do. i can think of one patient, out of thousands, that walked away from a half a million dollar bill. please, fix that, and get back to me. i can't make them pay it, sorry. and i can't pay it for them. if the hospital isn't getting paid, we can't afford to pay staff. that's simple math. speaking up doesn't change this fact.

c, i didn't say they were a problem for me, i said your posts don't make sense in spite of them. you come off as trying to appear more intelligent than your points make you out to be, that is my issue. please read and comprehend before replying

translation: blind adherence :rolleyes:

p.s... rns are wayyy up there in my book. amazing human beings... but there has to be a transformation of knowledge in a primitive,dated, backwards system.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

You are obviously going to see things how you choose to see them, regardless of what you are told (hm, sound familiar, OP?).

Your original question was, "If you speak your mind, will you get a bad assignment?" The answer is no. I just finished a two year term on our hospital's shared governance council, and I am a person that speaks out loudly, and often, about staffing and other issues. Were my assignments affected by my speaking up? No.

You say that nurses should speak up, and not be "lemmings." Many of us do. Does it change things? No, it doesn't. That apparently is our fault, too. What would you expect us to do? Vote with our feet and quit? Ok then....there are countless threads about new grads (and veteran RN's) that cannot find jobs, because places aren't hiring (read my previous statement on economic concerns). If we quit our jobs, there will be nurses to replace us. System then stays as is. Possibly gets worse for incoming nurses, as training costs a lot of money, and therefore, staffing would need to be adjusted to accomodate orientation costs.

You speak of your girlfriend's FEAR of speaking up. So, she hasn't even DONE it. Kind of hard to make an argument based on something she doesn't even know will happen, because she hasn't tried it.

Your bottom line is, the way things are are our fault, and it's our job to fix it, no matter what. So, O wise one, what do you suggest? Since you are so set in this idea, and refuse to hear any rational explanation to the contrary, I'll simply shut up and let you explain how to fix this massively broken healthcare system that goes way, WAY beyond us. You have all the answers, it seems, so please be so kind as to bestow them upon us.

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from cherry:

a, that's not my name.

b, the "way it is" is not because of things that we do. i can think of one patient, out of thousands, that walked away from a half a million dollar bill. please, fix that, and get back to me. i can't make them pay it, sorry. and i can't pay it for them. if the hospital isn't getting paid, we can't afford to pay staff. that's simple math. speaking up doesn't change this fact.

c, i didn't say they were a problem for me, i said your posts don't make sense in spite of them. you come off as trying to appear more intelligent than your points make you out to be, that is my issue. please read and comprehend before replying

translation: blind adherence :rolleyes:

p.s... rns are wayyy up there in my book. amazing human beings... but there has to be a transformation of knowledge in a primitive,dated, backwards system.

so what suggestions are you offering? i was really waiting for your response to cherrybreeze's point "b". how do you handle such issues at your job, maybe these "blind adhering" nurses can learn a thing or two from you.

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Be right back.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

to the posters who have healthy working environments, safe and fair assignments, responsive management and administration and happy work lives, i say that's terrific. hang onto your little piece of turf and be thankful. as a moderator here for the last 3 1/2 years i have read literally thousands of posts that suggest that your situation is far from the norm across north america. many, many units are labouring under incredible workloads, short on supplies and equipment, on overcrowded units with uncaring and uncommunicative management, where even very experienced nurses dread going to work every day because they know it will be more of the same. so while we can't paint the entire world of nursing with one dirty brush, nor can we gloss over the reality that so many of us face.

to the posters who believe that the op's girlfriend is fearful of something that hasn't happened yet, where do you suppose her fear has arisen from? do you think this is some irrational jumping-at-shadows phobia or do you think perhaps she's seen it happen to someone (or several someones) and doesn't want to be that person? witnesses to this sort of behaviour experience stress reactions themselves and worry about themselves becoming targets, become afraid to say anything at all and may even leave the workplace to escape the negative environment.

on my unit, i'm the squeaky wheel. i am the one who utilizes the processes developed jointly by management and staff to identify issues and make suggestions for solutions. this failure of mine to follow the path of least resistance and protect the status quo has led me to walk around with a bullseye on my back. i am routinely given assignments no one else wants, am given assignments far below my skill level, am assigned the suppertime admission when there will be no one available to help me, have my schedule changed on a regular basis, been preferentially held back from completing career advancement opportunities, am summoned to the office on a regular basis to defend my actions... basically i'm being bullied. i know it and they know it, but i haven't backed down. it isn't just a top-down phenomenon either; some of my peers are at the head of the line. so i can understand airbrushguy's girlfriend's reluctance to rock the boat.

for more on bullying in the nursing workplace:

http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/21/5/189

certain modes of behavior and attitude are the norm and are rarely questioned, and thus they become part of the culture of the organization, or the "way that we do things around here." "successful" people are those who are able to adapt their behavior so that it is not in direct conflict with this culture. "unsuccessful" people have difficulty with this, and many either opt out or become very stressed.

http://www.nursingworld.org/mainmenucategories/anamarketplace/anaperiodicals/ojin/tableofcontents/vol132008/no3sept08/articleprevioustopic/nursetonursebullying.aspx

now... there will be no more sniping tolerated on this thread. please state your point in clear, unambiguous terms and leave the animosity behind. otherwise, a very valuable discussion will be terminated. thank you.

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If you would re-read the post Katie-bear... I had already told you that I hear her friends ( other nurses ) on the speaker of her cellphone, scared to death to speak up because they will get sent to a hospital that has either #1: high volume/horrible protocol/oversight or #2: get shafted out of overtime for " Standing up for their true reservations. eh? :)

I may not agree with what you say nor how you say it, But I do recognize your right to say it. I give you kudos for your staunch support of your girlfriend and her fear.:)

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To the posters who believe that the OP's girlfriend is fearful of something that hasn't happened yet, where do you suppose her fear has arisen from? Do you think this is some irrational jumping-at-shadows phobia or do you think perhaps she's seen it happen to someone (or several someones) and doesn't want to be that person? Witnesses to this sort of behaviour experience stress reactions themselves and worry about themselves becoming targets, become afraid to say anything at all and may even leave the workplace to escape the negative environment.

On my unit, I'm the squeaky wheel. I am the one who utilizes the processes developed jointly by management and staff to identify issues and make suggestions for solutions. This failure of mine to follow the path of least resistance and protect the status quo has led me to walk around with a bullseye on my back. I am routinely given assignments no one else wants, am given assignments far below my skill level, am assigned the suppertime admission when there will be no one available to help me, have my schedule changed on a regular basis, been preferentially held back from completing career advancement opportunities, am summoned to the office on a regular basis to defend my actions... basically I'm being bullied. I know it and they know it, but I haven't backed down. It isn't just a top-down phenomenon either; some of my peers are at the head of the line. So I can understand Airbrushguy's girlfriend's reluctance to rock the boat.

.

It still remains what it is- fear of something happening. How do you propose she continue work if she has that looming over her shoulders. Why not take the bull by the horns? Does submerging her feelings make things any better...there it remains, haunting her.

The people who she keeps it hidden from, don't know nor feel a thing- she does.

You empathize with her Fear because you say your situation is quite like hers.

Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere.

Somehow our devils are never quite what we expect when we meet them face to face

Worry is a complete cycle of inefficient thought revolving about a pivot of fear.

How much pain they have cost us, the evils which have never happened.

I'd suggest, she either relieves herself of the worry and speaks to her supervisor, again, in a professional, non-confrontational, disciplined manner. Or ....( my "or" is a bad:nono: option).

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this is my point exactly.... there is this commonwealth of "that's just the way it is" that keeps the system mired in a predictable state of benign comprehension.

i'm in agreement with you, airbrushguy, and i feel despair every day at the way we are treated on our unit. the favoritism here is beyond the pale. retaliation is inevitable with speaking up or speaking out. sycophants are rewarded. but i have to ask you, airbrushguy, what do you mean by a "predictable state of benign comprehension"? you have me puzzled with that statement.

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If you would re-read the post Katie-bear... I had already told you that I hear her friends ( other nurses ) on the speaker of her cellphone, scared to death to speak up because they will get sent to a hospital that has either #1: high volume/horrible protocol/oversight or #2: get shafted out of overtime for " Standing up for their true reservations. eh? :)

So, your girlfriend has issues with confrontation....how surprising is it that she would choose friends who also choose to not confront.

There's a reason that anecdotal evidence is the weakest form around. This is worse, it's 3rd hand anecdotal evidence.

Next you'll be telling us how your friend's brother's sister-in-law's cousin once removed had the same problem....

I'll leave you to stir the pot some more, I actually have things to do.

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to the posters who have healthy working environments, safe and fair assignments, responsive management and administration and happy work lives, i say that's terrific. hang onto your little piece of turf and be thankful. as a moderator here for the last 3 1/2 years i have read literally thousands of posts that suggest that your situation is far from the norm across north america. many, many units are labouring under incredible workloads, short on supplies and equipment, on overcrowded units with uncaring and uncommunicative management, where even very experienced nurses dread going to work every day because they know it will be more of the same. so while we can't paint the entire world of nursing with one dirty brush, nor can we gloss over the reality that so many of us face.

none of us live in fairy land, but isn't it common to hear more about when things are going wrong? how many people are motivated to create a post just to state how healthy their work environment is vs. the dysfunction that is going on?

of course we hear more about them on this board.

to the posters who believe that the op's girlfriend is fearful of something that hasn't happened yet, where do you suppose her fear has arisen from? do you think this is some irrational jumping-at-shadows phobia or do you think perhaps she's seen it happen to someone (or several someones) and doesn't want to be that person? witnesses to this sort of behaviour experience stress reactions themselves and worry about themselves becoming targets, become afraid to say anything at all and may even leave the workplace to escape the negative environment.

on my unit, i'm the squeaky wheel. i am the one who utilizes the processes developed jointly by management and staff to identify issues and make suggestions for solutions. this failure of mine to follow the path of least resistance and protect the status quo has led me to walk around with a bullseye on my back. i am routinely given assignments no one else wants, am given assignments far below my skill level, am assigned the suppertime admission when there will be no one available to help me, have my schedule changed on a regular basis, been preferentially held back from completing career advancement opportunities, am summoned to the office on a regular basis to defend my actions... basically i'm being bullied. i know it and they know it, but i haven't backed down. it isn't just a top-down phenomenon either; some of my peers are at the head of the line. so i can understand airbrushguy's girlfriend's reluctance to rock the boat.

if it's as bad as you say, why on earth would you put up with it?

i'm new to nursing, but i'm not new to working. i don't care how scarce jobs are, life's to short to feel like you're walking around with a bulls eye on your back. if you feel that way and continue to work there, are you a part of the problem?

for more on bullying in the nursing workplace:

http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/21/5/189

certain modes of behavior and attitude are the norm and are rarely questioned, and thus they become part of the culture of the organization, or the "way that we do things around here." "successful" people are those who are able to adapt their behavior so that it is not in direct conflict with this culture. "unsuccessful" people have difficulty with this, and many either opt out or become very stressed.

http://www.nursingworld.org/mainmenucategories/anamarketplace/anaperiodicals/ojin/tableofcontents/vol132008/no3sept08/articleprevioustopic/nursetonursebullying.aspx

now... there will be no more sniping tolerated on this thread. please state your point in clear, unambiguous terms and leave the animosity behind. otherwise, a very valuable discussion will be terminated. thank you.

is disagreeing sniping? if so, it will be a short discussion for sure. you cautioned after another of my post's in this thread where all i was doing was explaining why i didn't think the op had a valid argument using his analogy.

i understand that you agree with the op, but that shouldn't mean that all who don't are "sniping."

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"Using big words does not constitute wisdom..."

LOL, I was thinking the exact same thing :lol2:

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upon reflection i indeed ( indirectly ) have "branded" nurses as lemmings and that is indeed not cool, so i appologize....some are ..and some are definately not.

but i will stand by my guns in saying that ( especially after reading all of the responses to this post ) that there are many who seem to be mired in a voiceless, reactionary, cauldron of beaurocracy and know that many things are wrong via how it relates to the human condition and the real velocity and temperament of the vocation itself ( nurse to patient ratio and the idiosyncrasys that permeate the environment ).this causes division, fear, neurosis and competition.....thus .. clicks.

so what do we do? some certainly dismiss this as the "circle of life" scenario, and some perhaps seek to stand up and do something productive about it. on a daily basis i get to see a woman ( my girlfriend ) waste the precious minutes of her life because she cannot give her patients the quality care they deserve because of the monetary restraints of the system. i guess i want nurses to get to actually know the patient they are working with and to actually be able to gain a sense of redemption to their lives on a daily basis... thus adding fabric and texture to their overall-well-being....thus symbiotic ( best for all concerned ). i guess i want some of google's attitude sprinkled on some of the hardened, linnear, left-brained, overacting personalitys that run and manage the power grid in what we know to be broken and un-yielding.

our personal thresholds are sometimes our personal limitations via the frames of references that we are conditioned to..thus social hypnosis and placated theorys based again on a self preserving structure, not a structure that conforms to the relevent disposition of the human condition.

i definately understand one simple thing... no money.. no smaller nurse to patient ratios... i "get" that... but the bottom line is that if everybody who was nauteous by this system got the word out in some way shape or form, then there definately could be a toxic shift through government, unions, whatever. to put it simple.. look at the number of nurses compared to the number of managers. eh? think about that. if the thousands and thousands of nurses got on the same page and consolidated a certain body of information, and appropriated that information at low levels of government, and conjoined that information with change that was relevent to the well being of the survival of the patient...who knows what could happen. it all starts with passion and spreading the word. look how micheal moore has actually created an "in the middle" demographic with his latest movie. alot of people on the "right" now like him.. but i wont even open up that can of worms lol.

if i had the answer on how to fix this system then i would be in here wasting hours asking all of these esoteric questions right? i am an artist so i do not know how to fix the system, but i will not let this system constantly rust my girlfriends passions to the point of desolation. i will mobilize information to its fullest extent, i will create viral videos on youtube that will change the cultural "shift of perception" on how the rn position has and is being walmartized, diluted, propagated, and placated by the monetary structure that feeds it. i will interview nurses i guess and build from there..build a body of information myself and see what happens. this is the start of a nice little project for me.

but the bigger question is what are we all doing about it? the woman who posted the info here ( who is on the council ) is a big hero in my opinion because she is definately a doer and not a watcher. the moderator who jumped in here is definately someone who i know could create authentic synergy in any environment he/she works in because i can tell that these people have a sincere passion for the human condition..and not just the patient...but those who care for the patient.

so i leave you with this... real change starts with you. critical mass happens in numbers, not whilst watching wheel of fortune every night after a depleting 12 hour shift. do you look forward to your next shift? if not... why? be honest now.. do you? ( and im not just talking about the opportunistic nurse who works 1-2 shifts a week.. im talking about the full-timers ) eh? :)

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