Curlytop

After working at the same hospital for 11 years, I recently found out new grads are making $19/hr. The interns (nursing students) make $13/hr. I started out as a NEW RN @ 12/hr!! I now make $25/hr after three "across the board" raises totalling $4 over the past 18 months. And our crummy 'merit' raises are a pitiful 2 to 5%. And no matter what- I get 3%. I was told by my supervisor that the "across the board" raises were instituted to compete with other hospitals to recruit new grad-nurses. This was the first time such raises had occured. It kills me that the "suits" are so out of touch with reality to not do something about the ever DECREASING numbers of experieced staff (>5 yrs where I work). I'm a dying breed in my hospital. There is a an ever-revolving door of new nurses coming and going within a year or two. And they even have the NERVE to complain that their pay isn't enough:(

:chuckle :chuckle HILARIOUS!

Just Go Pee is the correct title of this subject. I get so tired of nurses saying "i've been so busy I haven't even peed today!" PLLLLEEEAAASSSEEE-- It takes 3 minutes top to pee and wash your hands and I'm sure there are restrooms on your unit. ----AND it's absolutely disgusting to watch someone coming out of the bathroom as the toilet IS STILL FLUSHING!!!--- obviosly didn't wash their hands--- just plain NASTY!! I also always make time to go to lunch for 30 minutes, preferably off the unit to get away from the madness!

Do I sense a bit of Anger?!! I have to say I probably would feel the same way if I were routinely sent to the floor. I've been an ICU nurse for 10 years and have only been sent twice to the floor. I was completely lost (I am not ashamed to admit). It takes a completely different set of organizational skills to work there. And unfortunately, floor nurses where I work routinely have 8 - 12 pt assignments. I say send me to the floor when you start pulling them to take care of ICU patients!!!

Families, families my #1 stressor. I work in a 38 bed general ICU and it kills me when each and every individual family member, church member, friend, "just LIKE a sister", of a certain patient insists on getting updated from me. I always insist that there be ONE spokesperson (the wife/husband, mother/father, so on) and have THAT person talk to the doctors and receive updates from me and let him/her decide on what to tell the rest of the family. Granted- most of my patients on unable to make that decision for themself (too ill, intubated, etc.) in my unit. Of course - the majority of visitors just don't get- for which I respond "would you rather I take time away from taking care of your loved one???THANKFULLY, they cannot call directly to the unit and must call the ICU waiting room.