Modern nursing--Administration - You do what you're told, and no backtalk!
How it used to be--Administration - Thank you for bringing up that issue. We'll be sure to take care of it.
Modern nursing--Administration - Remember, the customer is always right.
How it used to be--Administration - Remember, the nurse is right until proven wrong.
Modern nursing--You're getting more patients. There are too many out sick already.
How it used to be--Since we're short on staff today, I'll help you out.
Modern nursing--He/she thinks he's/she's Mr/Ms perfect. Well, let me tell you a thing or two about him/her.
How it used to be--Do you need help? I have some free time.
Modern nursing--You are not allowed to attend your award dinner, because you're being mandated to work a double. (Something that I actually witnessed.) The nurse worked a double.
How it used to be--Of course you may have that evening off so you can attend that special function.
Modern nursing--Get with it, Nursie, or whoever you are. And DO NOT take time to pee. You have too much to do.
How it used to be--Nurse relieving herself in the bathroom, "Ahhh!"
Modern nursing--Administration - When the insurance companies say jump, you need to ask, "How high?"
How it used to be--Administration - The health insurance agencies did not question nurse/patient care. The company's philosophy, "If the doctor ordered it, then it's needed. No problem, we'll pay.
Modern nursing--I'm going to sue the pants off of you, the doctor, and this hospital!
How it used to be--I understand. Everyone makes a mistake now and then.
Modern nursing--Doctor - Hey, you! What do you mean, doing that? Don't you dare bother me. You solve that problem yourself!
How it used to be--Doctor - Okay, I'll be right there nurse.
Too many people today are ready to sue at the drop of the hat. Instead of working for their income, they'd rather sit on their you know whats and get easy money from someone else.
The insurance companies run most hospitals, so the hospitals and staff bend over to please their clients.
How it used to be--People and insurance companies earned their keep, they also gave a helping hand when needed.
Specializes in ER, PED'S, NICU, CLINICAL M., ONCO..
:) Come on! Angelbear,
It is a dialectic interchange. Just the art of arguing in order to find the truth or at least a point close to balance.
Dialectic allows us to grow as professionals and as humans too.
Let a beat of combustible get in the oven of our communication.
It is just a game-play, we're not enemies but colleagues.
Working on groups, the leader/conductor must consider of a real value each single angle coming from its members, positive or negative, green or red. No angle is of better value or importance. We all make the whole thing, everyone contributes with his/her own.
I'm one of those who use to post negatively and believe me; nevertheless, my love is with each one of you, there and here.
I agree. sometimes the disagreement will actually change your point of view or at least allow you to hear someone elses side. Sometimes one is so passionate about a topic that they set them selves up to get jumped on and it is important to defend your argument logically and speak from a position of experience not idealism. On other occassions people are just talking out their butt and want to work you up (see: NP's are not really nurses...or something like that by Plato ).
The world of BB is also so much safer than the outside one where if you said what you think every minute you would eventually end up friendless with your house torched. I think sometimes we have all posted and then thought later...'oooh, that sounded awful'. But this is a world where i think most all are welcomed back.
However, on your point...I was just recently involved in a discussion and got mildly flammed and the original poster has yet to reappear. Sometimes you wonder what happens to some people. ( I have one particular person and I wish I had the nerve to ask like you did.)
Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
I remember too, Mattsmom.
In fact, when I worked the day shift, we cleaned all the wheelchairs together every Wednesday. In addition,
I was the activities co-ordinator. I started a men's discussion group named, "The Cracker Barrel Club." I would share some local history that I knew about, and that would get them to share some of their past experiences. Our meetings were held once a month. The men liked it so much, they made me a jewelry box out of an old wooden cigar box. They covered the outside with tiny tiles, and lined the inside with gold taffeta. It was one of my treasured possession for many years.:)
In addition to that, I was also the publisher for our monthly newspaper named, "The Gay Nineties Review." I also wrote news about the Cracker Barrel Club meetings, wrote poems about a few of the residents every month. The title of that column was, "Life BeginsAt 80."
And a co-worker/friend and I decorated the entire two floors one year for Christmas. In the sunroom on the second floor, I wrote the words, "And He was born" with artificial snow, on the main window facing the road.
Then something wonderful happened. On the front page of our local newspaper there were written in large bold letters the words, "And He was born" with a large photo of our decorated
window. And beneath that, there was an article that stated,
"Rarely is a religious theme given in Christmas decorations. But the Sullivan County Nursing Home is. Those responsible for those decorations are, Frances Worden (my maiden name) and Carol Prince." There was also a second picture of the two of us
standing in that room in front of the Christmas tree on an inside page.
All of that was done, during our free time, with the exception of the decorating. The head nurse freed up some time for us so we could do that. In fact there was one head nurse we all loved. She would even fill in for us if she saw us doing something that added to the quality of those people's lives.
Then when we worked the second shift, two of us cleaned the linen closet every Wednesday night. And we always ate a free hot lunch or supper, plus always had a 15 minute coffee break that included the head nurse too if she could get there.
I believe the new nurses are missing out on the wonderful experience of how nursing was back then. How very tragic indeed. I would not trade those experiences for any of the new technological advantages nurses have today, because they made some wonderfully fond memories that I will always have.
I remember on a quiet night we had time to do the 'little extras' for our patients and the unit...we didn't mind then because nobody was canceled off because census was low...we were all there, enjoyed the downtime and kept busy doing extras that needed to get done.. Stuff like deep cleaning (we didn't mind doing it then), stocking, assembling chartpacks, cleaning out old closets, making lists...stuff we would do at home when we had downtime!
Back then, nurses didn't mind pulling together doubling, working short, etc...because when the boss asked us to we knew it was really 'in a pinch', not business as usual like today. And when we did it back then it was a favor...appreciated... not mandated like today.
Today I come home whupped from a 12 hr shift ALWAYS short a nurse, with no breaks, often charting ONLY after finally (whew) turning over my load of patients to the next nurse...knowing the manager will likely browbeat me about the OT. Even though she knows I am one of her best when it comes to time management....we can only skimp so much with today's critical patients. I am constantly biting my tongue...speaking out when I can safely...at the 'right' time with the 'right' tone of voice...but some days I lose my cool ; one day it will probably be the end of my career too...:stone
Perhaps us older nurses in our extraordinary work ethic have enabled managers in their abuse...we keep trying to recreate days past but we have different players now..and by trying so hard we have become stooges of the money hungry administrators we have today.
So......IMO we gotta slow down...my new favorite saying at work is " I only have two speeds and if ya don't like this one ya sure aren't going to like the other" :roll
mattsmom I totally agree with every word you wrote here! And I almost lost my juice when I read the one about the two speeds :rotfl: :roll !!! LOVE IT!
doing something that added to the quality of those people's lives.
I believe the new nurses are missing out on the wonderful experience of how nursing was back then. How very tragic indeed. [/b]
That was such a wonderful story. No wonder the residents thought so much of you. I think many of these experiences have become extint. Back then many were commonplace. How many of us have attended wakes of favorite patients or had them come back just to say hi.
I believe the expectation of the corporate world has replaced the heart of nursing. It is such a shame.
After 20 plus years in the same small hospital I moved away and am now in a larger city hospital. I am getting a real eye opener. What happened to real Leadership? Is it just warm bodies taking positions who really have no clue how to deal with people? All we get is "if you don't do this or that you will be written up" WRITTEN UP!!!!!!. I am not a child. Deal with individuals and problems as professionals instead of threatening us. IT USED TO BE that we were spoken to as individuals now its email at work with messages. I recently complained about an individual's lack of work (its been an ongoing problem that has never been dealt with) suddenly the charge nurse had an idea to say something to her on the day I was working with her and now I am the bad guy. Oh well the truth hurts. Individuals should be dealt with long before they become a real problem Nip it in the bud, don't let the patient care suffer more than it is already.
I would not trade those experiences for any of the new technological advantages nurses have today, because they made some wonderfully fond memories that I will always have.
vemiliob
90 Posts
:) Come on! Angelbear,
It is a dialectic interchange. Just the art of arguing in order to find the truth or at least a point close to balance.
Dialectic allows us to grow as professionals and as humans too.
Let a beat of combustible get in the oven of our communication.
It is just a game-play, we're not enemies but colleagues.
Working on groups, the leader/conductor must consider of a real value each single angle coming from its members, positive or negative, green or red. No angle is of better value or importance. We all make the whole thing, everyone contributes with his/her own.
I'm one of those who use to post negatively and believe me; nevertheless, my love is with each one of you, there and here.
:kiss