RyanRN

If my patients' pressors run dry I ether do pharmacys job and mix my own or they die, If there is a spill on the floor or needle boxes are overflowing on the counters ether I do houskeepings job or someone(maybe me) gets hurt, If my patient needs turned, cleaned up, watched ether I do the N.As job or my patient suffers, If the docs want a stat Xray, central line kit, labs- if the unit clerk doesn't enter it I have to or my patient is at risk. As a nurse I have to do everyone elses job when they don't or my patient suffers or worse- I'm not willing to let a patient go down the tubes to make a point. And the fact of the matter is THEY COUNT ON IT!!!! They may or may not realize that the nurse has NOONE to 'count on' but themselves!!!

So did the Unit Clerk get called to the office too? 4 hours is too long for picking up ANY orders - "now" ones or not? (gonna bet not) WHO would be held completely and totally responsible for any negative outcome of this patient? (only you) The doc will just say he did put the little red flag up "it must have falled down". You know he's off the hook. (reality check) I feel your frustration and have been there. However, blowing off steam in the middle of the unit does tend to set a negative atmosphere in any workplace. And you are the outsider, in this case. Maybe privately speaking to the charge nurse about some of the real problem issues you see would have been better. As you said it did help with the insulin coverage - so they proved they will listen. Anyway - you sound like a conscientious worker who is willing to really 'hear' what is being said to you and make changes. I'D WORK WITH YOU IN A HEARTBEAT!!!!

Thoughts: Team up with CNA or another RN from your unit - do her pt., then yours! Helps with the 'uneasy factor" and gets the job done quick. For best 'best' hints - ask an experienced/helpful CNA - their knowledge is priceless. Families *love* when their relative and linen are clean and sparkling. Some patients (my mother) never wanted "someone washing her", she was an elderly, private person, and embarrassed. Give them the opportunity to do what they can themselves - I've seen some just run in, take over, and railroad the patient - mainly because of time factor.. Not good - or kind. Truth is sometimes it's just not a "priority", esp. in ICU. Do the best you can when you can. Not often - there are patients that truly need a CAR WASH (always tried to come up with some gagit that would do that - and make me a million bucks! Never happened. Good luck - all things become easier - the more you do it!!!

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I cannot believe you have a 45 days wait period. "Force" this issue if you have to. This may not be life-threatening, but it isn't exactly a 'wait and see' surgery either. If I had a choice of paying back the thousands this will cost or pushing a little harder to have Medicaid cover - well you know! You'll be a working nurse soon (emphasize "working") and your 'pay back' to the system will be for the next 25 years. Go for it and good luck to you.

You'll get lots of other perspectives if you look up FLOATING NURSES by babsRN

LauraKo ,nowhere here did I see anyone state that one type of nursing was 'more important' than another. Rather, the point was well made that nursing consists of many "different' areas. That old refrain "a nurse is a nurse" has been imposed on us by the purveyors of health care business as far back as I can recall. It may be good for business but it just simply is not true. If you feel comfortable shifting from area to area then that is about *you*. It's *your* gift and does not automatically mean that nurses are not 'flexible'. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our daily setting and job demands extreme flexibility but working outside our knowledge zone is dangerous. Would be a folly to agree to do so. I am not comfortable working with and being responsible for a balloon pump and I won't allow that patient to suffer for my lack of expertise. And YOU shouldn't want me to be the nurse for your family member who has one. And you don't me birthing no babies. As someone else on this board stated they went to a specific area of nursing for a specific reason (NICU r/t injury) now, would we rather not have that person in nursing at all rather than letting him do what he knows he can do best! Hogwash! You know a well as I do that the profit margin rules in hospitals. Of course they want to move us around like chess pieces rather that spring for extra staff.(MandinMS floating to THREE different places on one shift - using us a pawns!) I often wonder what their response would be if told "Ms. Nursing Supervisor you will be "supervising" maintenance today, they are short. Or, Mr. MBA Accountant your MBA expertise is needed Computer Dept. today, get going. Or Mr. DON, the DON of our sister Nursing Home is out sick you'll be covering her this week! They have got to get a grip. The old adage A NURSE IS A NURSE just doesn't get it anymore. babsRN since you consider your staff "professional" for putting on a 'game face' and floating (and making themselves liable in any untoward situation) I would hope you would consider me 'professionally assertive' for not doing the same. I know my limitations. While I consider med/surg one of the hardest areas to work, I do understand that a PCU nurse would handle that more effectively than am ICU/CCU/ER nurse - who's job has a completely different focus. One last thing, it would be a cold day in Haiti when I floated over a per diem, pool, or part time nurse. What other advantage do I have for being a full time employee? None that I know. All that said, I AM a team player, I DO understand the predicament, I DO jump in to help - BUT so am I very tired of laying down and letting everyone walk all over my back. Old age, do you think?

In a case like this I'd definetely fill out a Protest of Assisnment form - whatever your hospital has. You're taking a big chance by not doing this should an untoward event happen. CYA. Just an observation: I find it ironic that anyone who has to work under these conditions STILL gets to take the heat when patients and families (even nurses as patients) complain that their hospital stay was less than ideal. We all hear the horror stories - and yet the position we are put in never becomes a valid 'reason'. We all just want it all!

Here's the ticket - listen politely, don't make a big deal and DO THE HELL WHAT YOU DARNED WELL PLEASE!! No way would I fall for this crap. It'll disapear as soon as everyone 'forgets' to follow through. And people get PAID to dream up this stuff!!!!!!!!

"------- teeituptom Senior Member- Just remember what goes around comes around, Some day she(/he) will get her(/his) just rewards----" (NURSE VS>NURSE THREAD) Yeppers, truer words were never spoken! __________________

So technically we become a cross between a NA and a Tech with continuous monitoring, distant assessments and second guessing. What about our experince, will it count? I mean if you have some off campus people just sitting there ready to act on any minute change in status without first hand input won't it lead to overkill? For example, if I have a guy with uncontrolled hypertension, assess that, use my judgment and PRN treatment(IF I feel it necessary, only I know if he's upset, anxious, excited, in pain etc.) I'm gonna keep a close eye, not jump in too fast, wait for a nice mean and a 'feel'. Are these guys gonna be calling me every 5 minutes or let me make the judgment call? I hate to poo poo everything new, but I don't have a handle on whether this will turn out like they think. You do though. Keep us posted.

Wrightgd---"But if I could outbid you for a shift, and I was willing to work for free, then the only concern anyone should have is that I provide competent care for my patients. I hope that is sincerely everyone's concern who has posted here... Not ego, not pride, not professionalism..." So far off based can hardly contain the millions of words in my head. And how many other professions would be willing to act the same? My guess, none. Groveling with thanks for filling positions with such 'creativity' so I don't have to work short handed after 'THEY" caused the very problem doesn't get the candy. Not for one minute do I believe this innovative marketing ploy was created for the benefit of bedside nurses. It IS all about money and in this case - the hospital is beneifiting. And, yes, I DO need money to live on. And that shouldn't in any way be in opposition to the compassionate,professional, competent, safe,knowlegable and prideful experienced way with which I care for my patients.

Just had a bout with a 3 day migraine so I was surfing WEBMD.com and found this information (never heard it before either). Hope it helps. "Rare migraine conditions include these types of neurological auras: Hemiplegic migraine: temporary paralysis (hemiplegia) or nerve or sensory changes on one side of the body (such as muscle weakness). The onset of the headache may be associated with temporary numbness, dizziness, or vision changes. " WEBMD.COM

jadednurse I literally, spit-my-coffee-all-over laughed out loud! This IS crap!! If the hospitals had done the right thing for Nursing to begin with, there would be NO need to seek outside agency help. They got themselves into this mess and I personally resent being used as a guinea pig to try and save their own arses. I thought we were all striving to remain PROFESSIONAL - this would be a giant step backwards.

rstewart - stated so well! Strange how we hang onto treatment ideas because 'that is what is always done' even after valid research. I work with docs who do both! It's up to us, the nurses, to tactfully initiate conversation that may drive them to check out the newest use of drugs/treatments. Yep, these drugs can be dangerous but the hospitals have a self-serving interest (money/staffing) on why suddenly they are allowed on step down units where today you have 6 patients to monitor and yesterday in was 2! Yeah that safe and in the best interest of the patients! NOT!

PDR say no IV only IM

Congratulations and thank you. Well done!

Personally, I might like someone watching out for us. Ours is so politically hooked up we are forced to house MRS, VRE,eceterbactor (sp) and c-diff with CLEAN patients in four bedded rooms!!!!! When they need a bed - anything goes. As far as the docs and IC nurses having differences - why not refer one to the other and stay out of it!

If 32 was 'too old to start' then you's lose a good proportion of working nurses!

ZuchRN - nurses can and have been fired on the spot, without incident at my hospital. Things are not always equal, I suppose.

Here's just one example (of something?!) Busy bee nurse fills in every single box on every single piece of paper, completes every single extra form created by the hospital, JHCAHO, and the health dept., follows up on every single lab or change of pt. status, charts litigously, caters to familes for the sake of PR, makes most of the inservices, labels every single IV and piece of tubing, updates the careplan, EVERYDAY, yadayadayada. Lazyass nurse does the bare minimun, completes no forms, (I didn't know we had to do THAT one),doesn't change out of date IV sites, leaves treatments for the next shift, disappears or takes lunch during visiting hours, EVERYDAY. yadayadayada. Everyone KNOWS who's doing what, and yet the Busy Bees are chastized by being forced to complete the undone stuff, make sure everything is updated, has to review all the forms and get charts and tasks up to par and this happens EVERY SINGLE DAY. BusyBees and Lazyss Nurses are both still employeed. And although we realize the prediciment middle managment is in, we are also TOLD to folllow the chain of command, and YOU'RE IT! We're stuck between a rock and a hard place with no place else to go. That's part of your job too.

What's an AMBU bag? Very nice, graceful, kind instructor - just explained it to me and moved on.

She would have been decked and seen stars about 10 seconds after "Eric is dead, get over it". This person is toxic and needs years of psy. help. Run as far and as fast away from her. asap. You must be a saint.

Konni - just a thought, what if everyone in your hospital just said NO, then gave their 2 week notices. Bet there would be some sudden solution better that screwing their staff! I don't think you'd really have to leave after all.

Sure, and they have caught plenty of mine! Goes with the territory of working as a TEAM!