cubsfan

I don't participate in any of these activities. I like spontaniety too much. I've tried different health clubs and hobbies, but quickly get bored with all of them. I like variety. The closest I get to meditation is when I get on my floatie in my pool and listen to a book on tape while I float in the pool. That is probably the biggest destressor I have. Just thinking about it I think my heart rate and blood pressure dropped.

When something is bothering me and I can't quite figure out what it is, or maybe I know what it is and I can't do anything about it I will do what I call "nesting". Most other people think of it as spring cleaning or organizing. I'll clean out closets or cabinets or the garage. My husband knows to stay out of my way when I have a closet or cabinet emptied out. It can be very cathartic.

When it comes to work related stress I usually rely on my work friends for support. One of the most difficult things is to try to share the death of a preemie with someone that knows nothing about medicine, which in my case is my entire family and non-work related friends. If I'm stressed over general job related things I can talk to my husband or sometimes just losing myself in a bookor playing with my dogs is enough to relieve my stress. I don't think nurses ask for help enough. Sometimes it's because they don't think of it because they get caught up in what they are doing, sometimes it's pride or fear of being seen as a failure, sometimes it's because they don't think anyone else is available to help or they don't think anyone else can do it as well as they can. One way to increase social support systems is simply by making time for them. It is like the rule for saving... always pay yourself first, then pay the bills. When you are making your schedule, make sure you start with time for yourself and then schedule all of the other appointments.

I am very late in getting active and I apologize. Nurselittlek asked if we would consider going to a salaried pay structure. I would have to see a proposal before I would answer that. I can say that I am salaried now, but I do not work at the bedside and I definitely work well over the number of hours that I am technically paid. I like being salaried, because of the flexibility in my schedule. I wouldn't have that flexibility at the bedside.

I empathize with Calzonan about the torture of being a nursing student. Although what you describe sounds much worse than what I experienced 20+ years ago. It seems that the nursing shortage has finally made it next to impossible to solve our problem. Now, not only do we not have enough nurses to take care of patients, we don't have enough nurse educators to teach new nurses, so we have people that want to become nurses that have to wait for a spot in a program. Then to make matters even worse, when we get people into a program, the nurses are so burned out that they don't have the patience to nurture their novices along. Talk about a nightmare!!!!!!!

I definitely like the idea of recognition for continuing education. I think nurses, historically rest on their past education and many are reluctant to advance their practice. This would serve a dual purpose. The nurses would be getting the recognition they so richly deserve and the institution would be getting smarter happier staff.

Hello group, First a little about myself. I have been a NICU nurse for 20 years, the last 9 in Az. I left the bedside 5 years ago to do developmental care in the nursery. I like to say that now I get to do the fun part of what I did before, with less stress. Now to answer our moderator's questions. 1. Yes, we do have a shortage of nurses. 2. We have an active recruitment and retention committee. They have tried several different programs. Everything seems to work for a short time, but loses its effect very quickly. For example, weekend program, bonuses for so many extra shifts in a given period (usually a 6-week schedule,) reduced holiday commitment for seniority, conference registration for extra shifts, etc. We also hire travelers. They actively monitor the market to keep salaries competitive. 3. Of course, staffing shortages force nurses to prioritize patient needs. Many times the nurses have to choose between priorities, any time that happens he/she will be stressed. 4. Nursing is as glamorous as it was in the 50's and 60's. Let's face it, nursing is primarily a female profession and women today want a career. Back then they were looking for something to tide them over until they got married and could stay home to raise a family. Nursing salary is stagnant, there is very little range in salary for the bedside caregiver. Young women that are looking for careers are not going to go into something that they see as having no economic future and makes them work weekend, nights and holidays. As I am writing this I am wondering, how do we sell it to this me generation????????? 5. They're leaving for many of the same reasons stated in #4, as well as lack of professionalism. No other profession allows people with such a wide range of credentials to practice at the same level for the same salary. We are also a very self-deprecating group. My boss describes this as nurses being like a crab bucket... you never have to put a lid on a bucket of crabs, because if a crab tries to crawl out of the bucket, just as it gets to the top of the bucket the rest of the crabs will drag it back down. 6. I think the emphasis on education and evidence based practice is bringing up the level professionalism, but this is a very slow moving change. I would like to see more nursing autonomy and nurses shown more respect by physicians and management. But I have to put in a caveat here - they have to make sure that they have earned the autonomy and respect. I have seen way too many nurses that think they should be given autonomy that I wouldn't trust with the care of my dog.

How dare anyone minimize anyone's expression of pain! Whether that child truly had physiologic or psycholgic pain he was expressing pain and it needed to be addressed. Your concern should be commended. He may have been afraid or been looking for attention, but our job is to find out if he is in pain and if he is not find a way to distract him. That is what Child Life is for. Please take this experience with you to your practice. Any expression of pain must be believed, until proven otherwise. Our patients are innocent until proven guilty. Sorry for going on, but I am sick and tired of nurses and doctors that don't believe patients that express pain in unorthodox ways. Good luck in your career.