Nursing Texts Highest Rate of Theft in Barnes and Noble

lindarn · Oct 27, 2009

The crappy care that patients receive in hospitals and nursing homes in places like Florida and Texas, is do to the so called, "Tort Refom", that made it very difficult to sue doctors and hospitals. There is no incentive to provide good care, because of the hoops patients and families had to jump through to receive justice. And from what I have heard from nurses who work in these areas, these states are a magnet for the doctors who have been sued up the you know what because if their imcompetance. They are a nightmare.

Everyone thought the "Tort Reform", was the greatest. It had been shown to be a disaster for the elderly, and the young, who have no economic worth. Be careful what you wish for, because you might really get it! JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 27, 2009

The crappy care that patients receive in hospitals and nursing homes in places like Florida and Texas, is do to the so called, "Tort Refom", that made it very difficult to sue doctors and hospitals.

I live, work, and practice in Texas.

A local nursing home physician was recently sued over a death that occurred in 2004, and a multimillion dollar judgment was issued against him a few months ago. Texas is also the same state where a whopping $267 million judgment was issued against a Dallas-area hospital over the death of a teenager with cerebral palsy.

Tort reform? Maybe so, but Texas is still a very litigious state for healthcare professionals to practice, and it is certainly reflected in the expensive malpractice insurance premiums that we pay. We pay more than double the $100 yearly premium for NSO insurance coverage, and this will only buy a $100k policy.

MystyqueOne, BSN, RN · Oct 27, 2009

I went into my local South Florida Barnes and Noble. I am starting a program in May. Was looking for some books to get early so I could start studying.
They had to put all of their Nursing text books and study aids behind the counter. The manager told me that those books get stolen five times more frequently than any other category of book. (The second was the Bible!)
They were losing so much money on nursing books. Medical and other types of professional books (pharm, fire, police, GRE, etc.) had a very low rate of theft.
What the heck? What am I to think? Could it be related to my demographic area?
I have seen some really terrible nursing care down here, when I have had family members treated so badly by some nurses -- one told my grandmother, who needed a bedpan, to just crap herself in bed and he would clean it up "later."
I am wondering about my future classmates and co-workers. I also wonder if this has anything to do with the recent thread about new grads not having any clinical skills.
Is new nursing going downhill? What the heck?? Very strange.

Makes me wonder if these nurses are truly "registered" nurses... Or are there people out there stealing the books, educating themselves enough to get by, and impersonating as a registered nurse? Here in Arizona, we actually get a monthly magazine from the State Board that shows those Nurse Impersonators. I'm sure there are companies and hospitals out there that don't verify credentials if the person can pull it off well. It's sad to say, but I wonder.

Maybe, if this were true, that these people either are just looking for a quick buck or can't afford to attend the school of their passions (nursing). Only they would know.

Crux1024 · Oct 27, 2009

My texts cost me almost $1000 the first semester..so it makes sense to me!

I bet those would be the ones for sale in pristine condition on eBay.

vivacious1healer · Oct 27, 2009

What gets my attention is that the Bible is the second on the list of most stolen books.....

ahahahahahahaha:yeah:

SnoopysAunt · Oct 27, 2009

I'm in MD. I always wondered why B&N did this. Now I know. Pretty sad...

DawnSue · Oct 27, 2009

I didn't mean to imply that all nurses in Florida are bad. I am just worrid that things are changing and I have a low tolerance for insolence and laziness, and of treating people badly.

Lot of family members in and out of hospital in recent years. We have met some very bright, competent, kind nurses, but also, some that have been so bad I have complained about them. It seemed to go by floors, not necessarily by hospital, so I am assuming that nursing supervisors have something to do with this? Am I wrong?

Once my step dad and grandmother were admitted to same hospital in same week -- different floors -- and they could have been in different hospitals. My grandma's med/surg floor was so bad we stayed with her nearly around the clock. You ask them for something and they cut you with a look as if you insulted their mothers. They also moved SO slowly, like they couldn't be bothered to do anything. It was rare to get help. My grandma would have never had a bath or bed change unless we did it.

My stepdad was in cardiac wing recovering from bypass surgery and you would have thought he was in heaven. Seriously, you got off the elevator and you heard angels singing. The vibe was totally different. Do they have fewer patients/less stress in cardiac?

My sister in law has been an RN for 2 or 3 years. She sees a lot of shoddy attitudes, laziness, and inappropriate behavior. She is a good ER nurse. Works hard, is a team player, treats patients and co-workers right. She is pretty fed up and is telling me not to go into the field. She is trying to get out of hospital and into an office. She hates dealing with the incompatence and snotty attitudes, and supervisors who give scheduling preference to nurses from their same country, and treat her like she is nothing, simply because she is American. Seriously.

My stepdad, an ER doc, ran his ER like a family/tight-run ship. He has been retired for some years now and is telling me that I should be fine, as long as I work like he taught me, and study hard. Not sure he knows how things have changed. I remember spending time in his ER as a high school kid and it was amazing.

I was a CNA/phlebotimist some years ago in another state and I was moved to tears on ocassion by the high quality of the nursing care on the floor I was on. These nurses went above and beyond for their patients and took time to teach me when they didn't have to. That's the kind of care I want to give, but is it possible if I am surrounded by folks who don't care?

Why don't bad nurses get fired, if we no longer have a shortage?

Why is poor attitude tolerated?

How do I find a place to work that has staff that likes to hustle and give good care?

My step-dad always says to "light my corner" and I know I can suck things up, but if I have to suck it up for an entire career, it might be a little hard.

Anyone want to make me feel better?

honeymist · Oct 27, 2009

Just moved to MA from South Florida where I took most of my pre-reqs for nursing school...judging by the caliber of students in my classes (constant cheating, just absolute laziness like I've never seen before) I'm not surprised that South Florida would have issues like this.

Let me give you an example: I was taking a difficult Chem class (organic) and had a 100 average...I worked by butt off...all while taking 3 other classes and working 40+ hours a week. When the teacher announced the highest grade (mine - he didn't say my name but a few other students turned and asked if it was me), I admitted it was me and they all said "wow you must not work, have no other class, etc". I explained "no, I do work full-time, take 3 other classes, plus I'm paying for this all myself (no financial aid) and I just force myself to study like mad". They all kinda waved me off saying "oh well, that's why...you're paying for it yourself. when you have financial aid paying for it, you're like ah whatever, it's not my money". I didn't know what to say...

blackpants22 · Oct 27, 2009

I was sickened when one of my friends and classmates admitted to me he had stolen an nclex review book from Barnes and Nobles....I lost total respect for him, especially because he thought it was funny. I had a hard time talking to him after that. I had never heard of a classmate stealing before or stupid enough to admit it. I could never steal and would be very embarrassed to admit it if I did. He ended up barely passing school and has failed the Nclex twice.....sometimes I really do believe in karma...

Alibaba · Oct 27, 2009

I miss the days I could go to B&N, take a nursing book from the shelf, get a cup of coffee in the cafe and sit for hours reading and reviewing. Then put it back after I finished. Cant do that anymore. In my local B&N, the nursing books are in the back of the store (not behind the counter). Have to buy any book you wanna look at. I guess that's really how it should be for the authors to make $. I guess there's always the library.

elkpark · Oct 27, 2009

I went into my local South Florida Barnes and Noble. I am starting a program in May. Was looking for some books to get early so I could start studying.
They had to put all of their Nursing text books and study aids behind the counter. The manager told me that those books get stolen five times more frequently than any other category of book. (The second was the Bible!)
They were losing so much money on nursing books. Medical and other types of professional books (pharm, fire, police, GRE, etc.) had a very low rate of theft.
What the heck? What am I to think? Could it be related to my demographic area?
I have seen some really terrible nursing care down here, when I have had family members treated so badly by some nurses -- one told my grandmother, who needed a bedpan, to just crap herself in bed and he would clean it up "later."
I am wondering about my future classmates and co-workers. I also wonder if this has anything to do with the recent thread about new grads not having any clinical skills.
Is new nursing going downhill? What the heck?? Very strange.

Nursing and nursing education have been going downhill for decades, in the view of many of us (of course, I'm an old fogey battleaxe now, so my opinion doesn't count :)). You are aware, aren't you, that, as bad as things may seem now, the FL legislature just passed new legislation last summer that loosens/reduces the standards for nursing programs? You think things are bad now ...