jeffrey_rn

This is THE definition of a nurse's worst nightmare!

There's the rub... when you're responsible for the health and safety of a ridiculous number of human beings (and living in a lawsuit-happy world), you can't know enough fast enough. If it feels wrong, unsafe, overwhelming- stay away! I work in a hospital, so the ratios I hear in this forum freak me out. I know the level of care is different, but I would NEVER EVER EVER assume care of dozens of people. I thank you all for the heads up. Won't be searching the job listings for LTC facilities in this lifetime. If our society cares so much about our elderly, why is it so unwilling to pay for the care providers needed to do the job?

This reply comes a year late and probably a dollar short but for those who do read this and are in a similar set of circumstances, I want to refer you to The National Association of Qualified Developmental Disability Professionals. It is a great resource for QMRP/QDDP questions and a nice central link hub. And, of course, there's always Google! The NAQ- http://www.qddp.org

Hopefully, those were two different husbands! I've seen that last excuse used by a nurse to leave work.

I was discussing this topic with some nurses at work today. One nurse had a contribution. She said she had recently called in and was asked for the reason: Nurse: "I'm sick." Nursing Services: "What kind of sickness?" Nurse: "The kind that makes me miss work!" I know, they had no business asking her what her sickness was but she didn't miss a beat!

We certainly are a diverse group. But unable to unite for that diversity? I don't know. I'm a pretty skeptical guy but I think we will. Maybe not now, but it will happen in time. Nursing is a unique profession but not so dissimilar that we are an exception. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, auto workers- all have been able to form strong political bodies. I can't believe we are any more or less opinionated or diverse than these groups. Lawyers argue the color of the sky! Doctors are divided into sub-sub-sub-specialties. If these trades can organize themselves, I know we can. I would first like to see the ANA become stronger and more politically active, but I haven't written off supporting a union. Again, my instinct is to stay away but I have seen things get overwhelming for nurses in my hospital. I have been forced to open my mind to drastic solutions. And I have watched hospital administrators tremble at the mere whisper of "union." I don't believe our forum debates, even when they devolve into heated arguments, prove that we can't get along. This is a great place for us to work out our thoughts and opinions, even blow off some steam. In fact, I think our active presence here implies that we do get along. We do come together. We are together even as we stand as individuals, with our own stouthearted opinions. We need this forum for a lot of things. But I bet if you could pour through every discussion, you would find a lot of agreement and unity. The disagreements tend to put off a lot more heat than light and stand out more, yet there is greater solidarity here than meets the cursory scan of the forums. We are going to make nursing better. And participating in these forums inspires me. I find myself becoming more political (and thoughtful, especially after reading others' ideas) and the nurse activist in me is coming alive. My future is getting brighter and I plan on playing a part in making the future of nursing brighter.

you're gonna be a great nurse. i can just tell from your comments! i hope today is a memorable one (in a good way!) and i wish you the best. i also hope you will keep us updated on your progress and experiences as you get your feet wet (that's water you just stepped in right?). remind us of our early days with your stories. and remember: we're here for you. :yeah:

Now that's funny!

I suggested those who want socialized medicine move to a place where there is a system which supports it. I never ever told anyone to leave because their opinions were different from mine. I love the debate. I was probably too aggressive though. I don't intend to attack. But I guess I'm just a spirited debater. As you clearly are! I like it though. Bring it on. And I did read the posts that I responded to. I don't think I took any quotes out of the contexts within which they were meant. But you see it differently and I apologize if I did take anything you said out of the context in which you meant it. Still, I don't think I did. I can't agree with you that I have been contradicting myself. I think a more careful reading of my posts will reveal a very consistent ideology. I don't need to reiterate that here. It's all right in the forum for all to scrutinize. I stand behind my comments and will be glad to personally clarify any points which might confuse. And lastly, I have read many of your posts and I enjoy the heck out of them. I appreciate your thoughts and your insight. I am happy to find nurses with such passion and energy. I'm glad you're here. I will try to be more sensitive to others with my comments. I get carried away with enthusiasm and often go beyond my points, making statements like "move there." That's not really necessary is it? Of course not. I want to be a productive member of this community. For anyone else who was offended by my words, I do apologize. Still, I hope I don't need to walk on eggshells around here. I am a nurse who works with nurses and my experience suggests we are a much tougher bunch than the average. Not many thin-skinned nurses on my floor! But I'll be a little more gentle. Peace, Love, and Understanding

Everybody loves Canada, eh!

Well, those aren't very humorous but they are all very good excuses. My dog passed and I was out of commission for several weeks! But back to funny...

There's two answers: 1. Your hospital most certainly has a time frame (ours is 2 hours before work). 2. As a charge nurse, the appropriate amount of warning is AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! If you are sitting at home before you go to sleep and realizing you're not feeling too well or you're just not up to coming to work the next day; pick up that phone. If you wake up in the morning and decide you feel ok, call and say you are good to go. I'm sure arrangements can be made to get you back on the schedule. Trust me.

My initial instinct is to stay away from the union. However, because Texas does not have much experience overall with unions, I have to be honest and admit that I don't really understand everything that a union entails. I am aware of the most superficial aspects of the costs and benefits but I would really love to hear from those of you who pay union dues. Tell me how things are better. And tell me the downside too. If it were a perfect thing, unions would be sprouting up like weeds around the country. But they're not. Why? I am here to learn. Thanks ahead for taking the time to share. -a fellow nurse-soldier

...or your patients!

yikes!

You make relevant points. I certainly don't want my opinions to suggest that I don't want others to speak out for their own perspectives. My suggestion that religion and universal healthcare are connected comes from some folks mentioning that it is a Christian duty to take care of others and that universal healthcare is the natural extension of that belief. I am addressing those with such an opinion. Like you, I do not believe these two things are inherently connected and that is actually the point of my "argument." I do welcome your comments. It's always great to hear intelligent voices, no matter if they agree or disagree.

There's no need to apologize. We are here to opine! Important topics bring out the passion in us all. Sometimes we cross the line but we are not china dolls and those who can't take the heat generated from debates on important topics need to go crawl back under their security blankets or grow thicker skins. People need to stop being so damn sensitive and so easily offended and so quick to run to a lawyer or Big Brother to protect them. As far as universal healthcare being a personal issue for you, well... there's nothing personal about "universal" healthcare. If you were talking about your own healthcare- that's personal. But you are talking about everyone providing healthcare for everyone else. There's nothing personal about that (unless it's personal for us all, and thus it's universal).

"Universal health care is a right..." Who says? You? That's an opinion not a fact. Interestingly, I have the opposite opinion. In fact, I don't believe health care is a right at all. No one has a right to receive health care from some one else for free. No more than universal feeding is a right. Do you believe that McDonalds should give away their food just because you're hungry and have no money? Should Walmart give you clothes because you're naked and broke? Do you really expect doctors and nurses and counselors to help you because you're sick and poor? Just do it for free because it's a nice thing to do? Do you think all that kindness will feed their families or pay their bills or pay for THEIR healthcare? Do you really believe you have a right to my tax money to pay for your bypass? Do you exercise daily? Do you eat fatty foods? Are you fat? Are you lazy? Do you have the right to make me pay for all of that too? I think I have a right NOT to pay for your problems. I've got my own problems to pay for. Instead of declaring our rights to this and that, maybe we should talk about our responsibilities. I have a right and responsibility to take care of myself, my family, my friends, and others. But it is MY right and responsibility to do so and to determine how I do so. No one else has a right or responsibility to make that decision for me. Not you or any government. Keep your god and government out of my pockets. I mean it. "Providing health care to people who couldn't otherwise afford it should not even be a debate at all." Shouldn't be a debate at all, huh? It should just be your decision and the rest of us should just abide it. No vote, no debate. I think perhaps you are in the wrong country. See, this is a democracy. We debate everything and allow all opinions (no matter how absurd) to be expressed. Then we decide, together, which way is best. It's not perfect but it's a pretty good system. You may feel more at home under an authoritarian regime such as North Korea or Iran. Travelocity has some good deals on one-way tickets. See you (actually, we'll probably never see you again!) and good luck (you'll need it).

With all due respect, I don't want someone's religion involved with my paycheck. I'll decide who I want to help with it. I don't need the government or what Jesus did in the past deciding how to best spend my money. I am not God. If there are hungry to feed and poor to shelter, then he can take care of it. Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. But it should be my decision, not a bunch of far right holy warriors or far left pity hippies forcing Uncle Sam to steal money out of my pocket to give away to those less fortunate. And by the way, all that good fortune fell in my lap after I worked my ass off for many years in school while working many jobs. I have lots of debt and lots of callouses. But if you're feeling extra touchie feelie, feel free to send my some of your good fortune. Amen.

"Envy" for Canada's socialism? Move. Go there and work and give your money to the government and let them redistribute it as they see fit. Please go now.

Just the other day, an employee decided to call-in on his last day of employment with our hospital. His brother is a nurse on my floor so that's how I know he called in with the following excuse: Employee: "I'm not coming in today." Nursing Services: "And your reason?" Employee: "I have *** blindness." Nursing Services: "Excuse me?" Employee: "I have *** blindness. I can't see my *** coming into work today." Hangs up phone. Now, I've heard this one before. But this was the first time I had actually heard of it being used. Only recommended on your very last day on a job at a place you never plan on returning to! So what's the funniest excuse you've ever given or heard about?

The only necessary response to a patient who is upset with your lack of a timely response: "I apologize. How can I help you?" Anything else you say will be taken as "excuse making" and it won't make a difference either way. Just apologize for your delay and move on to the solution to the patient's problem(s). Ultimately, YOU know why you were delayed and that's all that matters. Save your excuses for your superiors in the event that they confront you about the problem. It will matter to them. But your patients don't need to be burdened by your burdens.

I know I wouldn't want a nurse caring for me, especially if giving me IV medications, if she or he hadn't gotten any sleep the night before. And as a nurse, I wouldn't want to be caring for patients, especially if I have to give IV meds, on no sleep the night before. To me, it's a no brainer. Brains need rest.

It may be a bit perverse, but I think a crisis will be the best thing for nurses. If it gets bad enough, perhaps that will be the fuel that drives the motor for change. When hospitals have no more nurses to pick on, they'll have to play nice. It's kind of like the situation in Iraq. It's so bad and hopeless now, Bush and those who tell him what to do (e.g. Cheney) are now having to entertain the idea of holding talks with Syria and Iran, their sworn enemies. Well my fellow nurses... I'm pretty sure that the hospitals (the boards), in all their greedy arrogance, hold us in similar contempt- we are their Syria's, Iran's, and North Korea's. So when it gets bad enough, then they'll HAVE to talk with us. Just like the Bush Administration has to make nice with Iran & Syria in order to make things better in Iraq. I'm sorry to compare our profession to states of terror, but I do so from the eyes of the hospital executives. We are the terrorists that threaten their profits. THEY know that. They're just hoping we don't collectively realize that. Perhaps our "bomb" is a union. Hmmm.... or just a matter of time and critical circumstance. I hear a code blue...

A veteran nurse on our unit gets a relatively large amount of positive feedback from her patients. It perplexed us all for a long time; that is, until one shift when a coworker overheard her (for what can only be called) coaching her patient on how to give positive feedback. She was providing phone numbers and addresses and who knows what else to the patient. Now, with all due fairness, if the patient felt this nurse was doing a poor job, I don't think this tactic would succeed. But it sure wasn't hurting this (in my opinion, mediocre at best) nurse from receiving a large portion of the unit's positive feedback. For me, doing a good, even excellent job, is THE job. I try to do my very best and be as kind and caring as I am able. I believe this is what nursing is about. I have had patients profess their gratitude. I have seen sad and sick patients smile. I have watched them get better. To encourage them to make phone calls or write letters goes against the spirit that drives me. I do it because I want to do it. And I do it well because that's the only way it should be done. I am motivated internally by excellence. That is the reward. To be recognized is certainly gravy. But never the main course. So I don't need a thank you card. I appreciate it but I don't expect it. My patient's return to health or even having a moment of "better-ness" is my dessert.