Nursing is pathetic... - page 24

1. 
   Aug 16, '02

   Hello Glad...kinda makes ya wanna curl up and cry.....l love to quote Erma Bombeck..''the grass is always greener over the septic tank.''...and as l have said on other threads...seems like they are all septic tanks......but we still can't let the suits off the hook...yes it's bad for us....but just think about our patients...ug!............LR
2. 
   Aug 16, '02

   All I'm gonna say is this, if you don't want to be a nurse, don't be one.
3. 
   Aug 16, '02

   :chuckle LIllRN
   ok, but just remember you can take the girl out of nursing but you can never take the nurse out of the girl. ........peace:kiss
4. 
   Aug 16, '02

   LR,
   You are absolutely right. I agree nursing is one of the most overworked and underrated professions, and there is no one I give more admiration to than a really good one. And a really good one can feel very confident that they have marketable skills that are due compensation. Won't get rich but sure aren't going to starve either...other professions have that distinct possibility.
   
   I think that a place to start, and I am not sure how to do it, but I posted an earlier thread "This really irritates me" or something like that, why it is that job offerings in the ads regarding nurses almost never cite salary or benefits: that means they (suits) still have the upper hand, and somehow we need to convert that where it is spelled out to a degree, and let them bid for our services and expertise....I don't know how to accomplish that, but would welcome any thoughts on it because I truly do think it is the first major step toward acheiving better salaries and working conditions, and thus better patient care.
5. 
   Aug 16, '02

   Starkid, I'm from Texas. And to tell the truth, I am not all that fond of nursing.....there are a million things I would rather do. But nursing can be a safe haven, a career, so on and so on. I think that what nursing needs is some older full of piss and vinegar guys like me that see opportunities to be exploited for the good of all. And somehow someway I am determined to make an impact upon it.
6. 
   Aug 16, '02

   I came into nursing in my 40's, after working in the accounts depts in various places, stayed home after having my kids, until I became a single mom, on welfare. Volunteered in the local hospital, and got interested in nursing. I worked as an aide in a gradeschool, while doing my prereq's.
   
   I love my job, appreciate 12 hr shifts (nice to take a week off without using vacation time) RN's received a $3 per hr raise a couple of months ago new grads start at $25 per hour + diffs. We are short of nurses, and the hospital decided to try to keep the ones we have, and recruit some new ones. Yes, I get tired, sometimes my legs ache from standing most of the night, it's a busy level II nursery. It's hard dealing with sick newborns, but the families can be really bad, they often have no clue that babies can have problems, and being born can kill a baby, or damage it for life. And with a sick one, we don't have much time to talk to families until things settle down. It's also good to see a sick baby or tiny premie get better and go home.
   
   I've also worked med/surg, on a good night with several nurses and 6 pts, on a bad night with 1 lvn and a cna and a couple of dozen patients between us. I'm glad staffing levels will be mandated, although my area may get worse.
   
   If you are not satisfied with your job, try different areas, travel nursing maybe, then if you are really burned out, find something new.
   I don't believe how poorly some RN's are paid. We have travel nurses from other states because they aren't paid what they are worth at home. Of course the CEO's etc always receive a good salary.....
   Don't know how to fix that, except maybe unionize.
7. 
   Aug 16, '02

   Hi
   Glad2behere, Yep you and Mimmi are so right. When i started nursing 15 yrs. ago
   of course things were so different. I started out on an ortho floor, the average stay was about 10 days for a ORIF of the hip, now there out in 4 days,
   we had a 7:1 ratio with a CNA assigned to each nurse.
   Those days were nice, and the patients recieved the care they needed. It is a shame for them today as these poor people are really sick and can not even get a nurse when they need one as theyare to busy. That is really what also turns me off of nursing. I want to give good care and the collars as you call them will not let us. But what can we do
   unionize like mimi said, so hosp. are but i so not think their conditions are the same.
   It just seems it is the trend these days. All for profit, and the CEO's drive BMW's and take vacations to europe!
   Well, maybe it will change, until then i'm out.
8. 
   Aug 18, '02

   So Does anyone have any comments?
   What is your most pathetic nursing story?
   Mine has to be when i was 7mos pregnagnt with my daughter, working in the ER and there was a Baker Act sittiong right in front of the nurses station. Well this guy smelled SOOOOO
   bad i wanted to gag.LOL. I told my co-workers "you people have no Mercy for a pregnant woman. Pls. put him in a room down the hall. I had sprays, masks,
   nothing helped. Finally they moved him.
   This i will never forget.
9. 
   Aug 18, '02

   Starkid...gee...what is a Baker Act?......LR
10. 
    Aug 18, '02

    Irae, Hi A backer act is when a person brought to the hospital by the police because the were considered to be harmful to themselves or others for various reasons,IE: intoxication, drugs,
    sucidial behavior, or very cobative,depression. These people are required under law to stay for 72 hrs. until a psychriast can evaluate them and plan for continued tx. Believe it or not these people come from all walks of life.
    Usually, they are insane and make alot of noise in the unit. LOL it gets wild.
11. 
    Aug 18, '02

    Not recommended.
12. 
    Aug 18, '02

    what is not reccomennded Nursing?
    or baker act? I assume nursing, how come just curious?
13. 
    Aug 18, '02

    never heard the term bakers act, but boy oh boy, am l familiar w/ the patients...they show up in my ER too.........LR

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