Please Tell Us If You Are Contacting Legislators/ANA, etc. Re: Nursing Concerns

barton · Mar 29, 1999

Canrckid,

So we disagree, huh? I like that--it keeps life interesting and encourages new ideas! :-)

Sounds like you've had better experiences with HMO's than I. I agree that, as far as I can tell, "HMO's were often the only choice available"-----BUT----it was still a CHOICE we had to make. We could have CHOSEN to refuse HMO's, leaving a lot of us uninsured. Sure it would have been a mess--all those uninsured people who could probably receive only free ER care (sorry ER nurses), but it would have sent a powerful message, and I like to think it would have meant an immediate and positive change in the insurance benefits we would have received.

I have to say that I can't argue your point about pharmaceuticals, though........

By the way, I do have HMO insurance and it is because that is the only insurance offered.

Thanks for your opinions.

barton

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elle · Mar 30, 1999

hi! everybody thanks to joellen i found this site. I am a traveller and everywhere I go there is this sense of hopelessness among the staff regarding staffing and acuity issues. Years ago,I was a union delegate and found much satisfaction with our negotiations. Our demands were met. we had adequate staffing and we received a 15 pct. pay increase over two years. Anyway, management was accountable for their actions as well. We had written a policy concerning staffing and acuity which forced management to document the actions they took to resolve the short staffing of that particular unit that night, regardless of the outcome. Anyway, the nurses were happy and going to work was okay it was not like it is here where you never now what you are going to walk into which is rarely ever good. I have seen both sides of the spectrum. I was beginning to give up hope and go back to waiting tables, but I am willing to put up a fight. Two weeks ago I started to copy the assignment sheet for some reason I wanted proof of what is going on isn't that a coincidence. I feel like we are treated like subhumans. We have simply been disregarded when it comes to our needs which is ridiculous considering they can't run a hospital without us! I am ready!

barton · Mar 30, 1999

Hi elle,

Thanks for posting and thank you Joellen for referring her to this BB!

I'm glad to hear that you're not ready to give up, elle. First of all, I think we owe it to our pts. not to give up, and secondly, I think we owe it to ourselves---if we give up, then I think we just give nursing schools and hospitals the opportunity to flood the market with lots of new, less costly and inexperienced nurses and these new nurses might have fewer mentors and might not realize, since they are new, that working conditions weren't always this way.

If nursing hadn't changed much over the years, and if we were not responsible for learning and implementing more and more advanced procedures, then I might believe that paying nurses increasingly higher salaries, and giving us more authority, would reach a point of diminishing returns. However, I think most of us realize that this is not the case, that we've been given greater responsibility and less time in which to perform more.....so the only reason I can think of that we receive the treatment we do from administration, is that we've accepted the increased responsibity and risks without the benefit of any real authority.

From what I've experienced and read on the BB's, it seems that nurse's demands in the workplace are seldom met----in fact, I don't even feel a sensitivity or respect for our concerns and needs---just a condescending and scathing disregard.

I'm not particularly fond of unions but, if our concerns are regularly dismissed and we have no power to demand that situations be corrected, I think that we have to put ourselves in a position where our demands MUST be met.

I believe that anyone reading this BB can see that our efforts in contacting the ANA, legislators, etc. have been met, several times, with less than satisfactory results.....so it occurred to me that perhaps we nurses need to become self employed, meaning that we, as a newly formed organization, would no longer be employed by hospitals---that we would contract our services to hospitals, but within the terms of our organization--(develop our own acuity system, have final say in the number of staff required for each shift we agree to work, and a long list of other "safe nursing" concerns). I think that as long as we are employEES, and have littlt or no control over our working conditions, that we are powerless.

I'll be the first to say that this would probably not be an easy transition and that it would take some time to organize and implement, if in fact it is possible at all.

If this isn't possible, maybe a union is the only way to go. Having said that, I'd like to ask elle to describe her experiences in this area so that we are at least informed about another possible solution.

I'd like to be CLEAR on this---I don't wish to stray from our current efforts, only to look at all possibilities.

Give me your input all, OK?

barton

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[This message has been edited by barton (edited March 30, 1999).]

CHUBBY · Mar 31, 1999

Barton et al,

Maybe the winds of change are coming. The "system" I work for recently declined to renegotiate its contract with Aetna/US Healthcare citing slow and low reimbursement. Alot of the people that work here have Aetna, if they don't come to an agreement by July 1st- all the employees who have Aetna, not to mention all the patients who walk in the door, will have no coverage.

As far as what it takes in healthcare for things to change...just look at how ,all of a sudden (said sarcastically, of course),

more emphasis is being placed on comforting and adhering to the wishes of the infirmed/dying...with begrudging mention of Dr. Jack Kevorkian?

Sophie · Apr 1, 1999

Hello again! I hope you all are continuing to email and write the legislators. Please keep documenting at work!!! I have found that if you are to report anything to a watchdog type of agency, they want specifics... dates, shifts, whether persons involved are RN,LVN, assistants etc., floats, etc. Keep a log of your efforts to tell your administration of the dangerous situations, so they can't deny knowledge of it later. Our facility hasn't decided whether to give our critical care nurses an increase in the pay differential (which another hospital nearby has done), and although they hope no one will leave, they seem to be putting us off and counting on us not leaving. Our hosipital was even quoted in the local newspaper as having already given us the increase! Quite presumptious on their part. It gauls me to see how the administrations figure they can LIE to the paper and 'John Q. Public' will believe it. Yet, these are the same administrators that have watched almost 2 dozen staff leave this unit in 1 1/2 years, and they still don't think anyone will leave!? Everyone has their own battles to fight, but please let's keep up our efforts to bring this situation to the attention of 20/20. I think we are at that point. If not now, when would the time be right? When med errors are made on a daily basis? When 2 more people per week develop bedsores? When situations such as the one described by a nurse on another thread (situation where her father rec'd horrible care and wound up dying)happen to each of our families? What do you think? Let's get some facts together and call Sylvia OK? Sophie

NurseyK · Apr 3, 1999

Joyful news all.....

Received word today my Assemblyman has introduced a Bill here in NY State to limit the max. hours a nurse can work in one shift to 16....For those of you newbies, I am employed by a hospital that mandates housewide 20 hr shifts when staffing is short. (I am an ER nurse there - put one and one together and obviously you have a dangerous situation.) The ENA (Emergency Nurses Association) is helping research info re: optimum shift lengths so I can pass it along to my Assemblyman. For those of you here in NY, PLEASE become active in support of this pending legislation! and for those of you still trying to write to the ANA and your State Nurses' Assoc. - don't be disappointed when they give you lukewarm responses. Write your local and state political figures and tell them it could be them or their loved ones on our dangerously understaffed units....also write to your individual specialty associations (ENA for example in my case), I have found the most support from them.

Everyone keep their fingers crossed and pray this Bill passes.....Thanks!

barton · Apr 3, 1999

NurseyK,

Congratulations!

_____________________________________________

Hope that all in N.Y. will SUPPORT this, as NurseyK has asked!

_____________________________________________

Good luck!

barton

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bluesboyj · Apr 4, 1999

barton, I also have another site I go to called [email protected] There are a lot of nurses with the same concerns and desires as us so I e-mailed them this site, hospital.hub and policy.com I figure the more nurses we get involved the better for all of us especially those under our care

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If Ya' Don't Love The Blues, Ya' Got A Hole In Your Soul

barton · Apr 4, 1999

Bluesboyj,

THANKS for the input, and thanks especially for giving them the info about these sites and policy.com!!

I think it's great that you TOOK THE TIME to tell these people, for the sake of our patients.

I think that most nurses are willing to write/email, if only they knew WHERE to send their concerns----YOU provided that for them.

I hope others are as well.

Thanks!

barton

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Origcyn13 · Apr 5, 1999

I am so very relieved that I have found you guys!! I am in need of information like you have been discussing. I have been keeping track of staffing. I write incident reports and cite unsafe staffing. I often use the expression that the Patients are at risk for injury. I need help with my co-workers. They are afraid or "getting fired". I keep telling them that they do not have to take the assignments, but they do and do their best. The other night, I started with 7 patients. I work on a busy Telemetry unit. I am not whining. I can usually handle 7 patients.{not give them GOOD care, just barely adequite care.} But, to make a long story short, I immediatly told the CN and Super that I would not take any more patients. Several hours later, my CN told me I was getting my 8th. With a dope gtt. and all! I told her "no, call in help or have the super take it. I am not able to handle any more. I have seen some of my patients only once as it is." Her reply was to storm off and call the super. I told the super the same thing and she said for me to call Day shift and find someone to come in early!! Now, you guys tell me....If I dont have time for my patients, How do I have time to make phone calls? This is becoming the typical night!!! Someone help me here!!!!!!!!!!

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Cyn...stiring the mix

Marty225 · Apr 6, 1999

I just received notice from the ANA N- Stat group that the Patients Bill of Rights is now being considered by Congress The Congress is in recess till April 11 On April 9 Clinton and Gore and members of Congress will participate in events calling for this legislation. We as nurses and pt advocates need to make sure that a stong bill gets passed This strong bill is S.6/H.R.358 It not only includes whistleblower protection for nurses and doctors but also ensures that treatment decisions are made by health professionals and not insurance companies. The Republican version S.300 and H.R.448 do not provide any of these provisions. You should contact your reprsentatives and senators now to Support S.6 and H.R.358 (the Real Patient Bill of Rights) You can also sign on line by going to ANA site www.nursingworld.org or www.familiesusa.org.Time is running out. We must do this for our patients Write or call today. Thanks

Martha CarnesRN

[email protected]

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Martha

Marty225 · Apr 6, 1999

I just received notice from the ANA N- Stat group that the Patients Bill of Rights is now being considered by Congress The Congress is in recess till April 11 On April 9 Clinton and Gore and members of Congress will participate in events calling for this legislation. We as nurses and pt advocates need to make sure that a stong bill gets passed This strong bill is S.6/H.R.358 It not only includes whistleblower protection for nurses and doctors but also ensures that treatment decisions are made by health professionals and not insurance companies. The Republican version S.300 and H.R.448 do not provide any of these provisions. You should contact your reprsentatives and senators now to Support S.6 and H.R.358 (the Real Patient Bill of Rights) You can also sign on line by going to ANA site www.nursingworld.org or www.familiesusa.org.Time is running out. We must do this for our patients Write or call today. Thanks

Martha CarnesRN

[email protected]

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Martha