On sabbatical?

[abrenrn]

I find myself on sabbatical from nursing because:

My license tells me that the patient comes first.

Employers tell me, no, we come first.

Physicians often tell me, we come first.

I can only put one thing first at a time.

Is anyone interested in a grass roots organization? An organization of nurses and other interested parties that tell the truth about health care: it's about the money and egoes, not the patient.

Does anyone know how to go about it? I'm serious. I'm a lousy manager. It would have to be grassroots because so much of the media is caught up, financially via advertising, with the health care players. Also, they don't seem to find nurses interesting.

I suggest The National Organizations of Nurses on Sabbatical, The "NONOS"; who say NO to -

Mediocrity, incompetence, dollars over patients;

Physicians handmaiden (not in my license)

Hospital gofer

We say YES to:

Professional role of nurses

Patients first

Respect for the professional nursing role.

Anyway, something like that. We could start with bumper stickers, small ads in papers.

Anyone interested?? Have ideas?

[Dr. Kate, BSN, RN]

Going back to the original poll: maybe the benefit that is really needed in nursing, more than better pay, ratios and the aassorted other things we all would like, is real sabbatical time, just like in academia.

Think about it. Three, six, twleve months paid time off with insurance paid, every seven years. Time to rest and refresh one's outlook, psyche, and body. Time to go to school, to take classes for enrichment of one's personal and professional lives.

When nurses are recognized as needing and deserving time to renew all their resources, and supported by the organizations that employ them in this, then nursing will truly be a profession.

Now, as for work life. I occ. work as a house supervisor. I have been told by other house sups that I am "too good at saying no."

As nurses we must learn, or get the therapy needed to learn, to say "no' to those things which are detrimental to us as human beings. We need to know the difference between doing a favor and being taken advantage of because we want to help or just can't say no.

[Youda]

Maybe I'm being pessimistic, and would like to continue this discussion. No offense intended. But, I don't think saying "No" or "negotiating" solves the problems for individual nurses. This seems overly simplistic to me in view that very few employees have an input into decision-making within their work environment, conditions of employment, expectations for workload, benefits available, stress level, staffing ratios, adequate equipment and supplies, insurance plans, retirement benefits . . . The assertive approach is one that I can certainly appreciate; and it works well in certain circumstances. But when an entire industry is ailing, being assertive falls short of fixing the problems. For example: if I go into work and say, "Hey, NM! I will no longer take more than 4 patients, and I will need another $5.00/hr. to bring my salary up to the median wage for nurses of my educational level. Also, since my birthday, I've started to worry about my retirement; so please arrange to have a retirement plan for me. Oh, by the way, the deductible is a little high on my health insurance. Please take care of this as soon as possible, OK?" Now, assuming I could muster up a tactful and assertive and positive way to say this, and also assuming I had input into decision-making, I can guarantee you that I would find myself unemployed by the end of the week. Perhaps it is different for a traveler, because they need the nurse bad enough to pay agency wages in the first place. But, for a long-term, until the day you retire? You wouldn't get those options, and if you did, they'd get rid of you at the first possible moment. The problems of nursing can't be solved by just saying, 'no.'

[abrenrn]

The problems of nursing can't be solved by individual nurses saying no.

They can only be solved when all nurses, at the same time, say no.

One of these days, they won't let the guys take vacation either. You'll be the only ones left.

[globalRN]

When you go to the negotiating table:

first ...they must value your contribution...otherwise you have no bargaining power.

So, don't hide your light under a bushel....take credit when it is your due. Most nurses are too modest about our work.

If you go to the table and speak their language: eg. what your ideas mean in terms of saving $$, 'more bang for the buck' etc the bosses will sit up and listen ...cause money talks. They want to know what is in it for them and how what you want is in alignment with their goals.

There are always many ways to skin a cat

[abrenrn]

Yes, divide and conquer. Thrives in nursing.