JNCMSP87

Having worked in a Cath lab as well as CVICU, a cardiac med floor, and as a travel nurse (mostly to CVICU's), I can say that having a Cath lab staff that will come pick up and transport a pt to the lab if the floor staff is busy, not only makes sense, but will accommodate the Cath lab flow and is more efficient to the overall hospital flow. The floor staff is busy enough. In most hospitals, the lab schedule is a guideline so staff knows timing is not guaranteed. So if the floor nurse is in the middle of a discharge or other activity, and no other RN available to transport, the charge nurse should be able to request the lab staff come pick up the pt. The lab staff doesn't need to sit around and wait. By the time they call for the pt, the room/meds, etc are either already prepped or getting there. As a bonus, on the way back to the lab, the Cath lab RN can ask any pertinent questions and get that part of the assessment completed.

Please review the 7-2 Supreme Court decision in 1905. That's right! Over 115 years ago! I inserted the paragraph below and chose the section to bold, but the link for the entire case follows. This is established law (not a lawyer, like to look up answers). In summary, mandating vaccines is NOT NEW, NOT ILLEGAL. If you don't like it, take it up with your representatives and good luck overturning this one- it's not just about vaccines but also protecting the "common good." -------------------------------------------------------------- Jacobson v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S. 11 (1905) We come, then, to inquire whether any right given or secured by the Constitution is invaded by the statute as interpreted by the state court. The defendant insists that his liberty is invaded when the State subjects him to fine or imprisonment for neglecting or refusing to submit to vaccination; that a compulsory vaccination law is unreasonable, arbitrary and oppressive, and, therefore, hostile to the inherent right of every freeman to care for his own body and health in such way as to him seems best, and that the execution of such a law against one who objects to vaccination, no matter for what reason, is nothing short of an assault upon his person. But the liberty secured by the Constitution of the United States to every person within its jurisdiction does not import an absolute right in each person to be, at all times and in all circumstances, wholly freed from restraint. There are manifold restraints to which every person is necessarily subject for the common good. On any other basis, organized society could not exist with safety to its members. Society based on the rule that each one is a law unto himself would soon be confronted with disorder and anarchy. Real liberty for all could not exist under the operation of a principle which recognizes the right of each individual person to use his own, whether in respect of his person or his property, regardless of the injury that may be done to others. This court has more than once recognized it as a fundamental principle that "persons and property are subjected to all kinds of restraints and burdens, in order to secure the general comfort, health, and prosperity of the State, of the perfect right of the legislature to do which no question ever was, or upon acknowledged general principles ever can be, made so far as natural persons are concerned." https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/197/11/#tab-opinion-1921099

I am not "grateful" for my income, nor do I believe any of us should feel that way. What we do is HARD WORK!! I earn every penny I make. Nursing is NOT volunteer work! Management should be feeling grateful that any staff is even around these days! As previous posters have mentioned, CEO's and other mgt can all take pay cuts if they want the bedside staff working their butts off to remain - especially if they don't want to hire travelers. As a former travel RN (3 years of it), I certainly cannot resent anyone who wants to do that job. It's frankly the only time in my career I felt my pay was what it should be. If we all made that kind of $$ our industry would be far better off! Let's be clear about priorities. WE SAVE LIVES! When our work is devalued, care suffers and lives are lost.

Back to the original question of how to respond to the patient's wife: As healthcare professionals we have a responsibility to keep our patients safe. In a pandemic with vaccines available that can help protect not just the vaccinated person but also those in close contact, I would argue that a patient does have the right to know vaccination status of all staff who enter the room. The wife is advocating for her husband's safety. An unvaccinated individual is statistically a bigger threat to his health.

Here's my experience: I took an 8.5 year "maternity" break, which included moving to a new state for my partner's job. I obtained my RN license in the new state and maintained my former state license. Continued to obtain CEU's (went way over yearly requirement), continuing ed, attended a few conferences, and in general tried to keep up. First job I applied for is in home care, and they hired me after a 2nd interview. All previous experience was hospital; I didn't have any home care experience. I was told that they liked that I kept current (I obtained CEU's pertinent to home care). It's part time, fits my schedule, and while the pay isn't as good as hospital, it's also lower stress. I don't know if home care is something you would consider, but a casual glance at a quick google search indicates there are lots of available positions across the country.