anderon830

I have been an R.N. for 37yrs and have worked in various settings i.e. office, hospital, ER, psych, intensive care. I have also experienced an entitled attitude in many patients who are on medicaid. I believe its important to be aware of the insurance status of our patients in order to meet their needs. Unfortunately our Medicaid system has fostered this attitude by numerous unfair practices. For example in OB many private health insurance companies will not cover the epidural but Medicaid does. So you will see young mothers with healthcare coverage going through labor without the benefits of an epidural because they can't afford the $300-$600 charge. Most private healthcare companies require justification for any lab work ordered but not Medicaid. So we often see patients dictating what lab to do because of curiosity not medical need. The Doctors don't mind because they get paid either way. Then there's the self-pay patient who is asking about every procedure or equipment needed as to the cost and will go without to save money instead of providing for their comfort. I too feel strongly about not "labeling" any patient but when you have a system in place that allows these and many other unfair practices the outcome is as we see it. So don't feel alone in your frustration but always remember that your patients are unique individuals and continue to treat them so. Sincerely, Pat

As a psych nurse we rarely see what happens to our patients and families. I worked with a 10yr old boy for 6 months who had been severely abused physically and sexually. Whe he was 18yo he returned to our hospital and asked to talk to me. He told me how our relationship and his experience at our hospital was the only thing that helped him through his life. He was currently enrolled in college with a 4.0 and had a positive outlook on his future. Can we ask for more. I cried and hugged him. This keeps me going day after day. pat

I have been an Rn for 37 yrs and have worked in many different settings ie. ICU, med-surg, ER, and Psych and in many capacities ie staff nurse, supervisor and DON. I have remained in Nursing because I needed to support 3 children as a single parent. In my experience I have seen nurses who "eat their young" and nurses who really enjoy working with students. I do believe that nurses aren't valued as we should be for the expertise and caring that we provide on a daily basis. I also believe that nurses do not stick together to ensure that we can provide this excellent care needed for various reasons. As a group we shy away from unions as this dehumanizes exactly what we represent and therefore we have no way to present a united force. Our American or National Associations for nursing have provided little assistance with reguards to adequate compensation and benefits leaving each individual responsible for that bargaining position which doesn't come naturally for a lot of females and especially those with a giving heart. I am not burnt-out but i can see things more objectively from my many years of experience. I leave you with one question...why do male nurses as an average make more per hour than their counterpart? sincerely, pat