Nurse Smiley

Wow, thank you ever so much for writing this article. I had no idea that there were so many other nurses going through the same experiences. All of these comments are so valid. I have been told that I possess the traits listed above and have been complimented by many staff and management, however, some of them have vandalized my new car six times. I have spent almost $5,000.00 in auto body work including the torn off passenger side mirror. I have been ridiculed for curling my hair and been lied on because the guys in Culinary Services say "Good Morning" to me. I overheard one of the CNAs saying that the PT Assist "should be brought done and peg" and that she is the one to do it. On page 4 of this article the writer wrote about two employees in particular sitting down with their phones and saying that they are "busy". I worked at this place too. It is astounding to think that there is one more like it. If this is truly the same place; now you know! Good Luck! It is not healthy or fun to be bullied but I will not sacrifice a high level of health care to get along with this screw jobs. Nurse Smiley Yeh

I am glad that your co-worker is not in HR! The nursing shortage would be more severe with such a philosophy. Most of the students in my nursing class were ages 30 - 65 and all of us excelerated very well with A/B averages. We asked questions in class, did our homework, had the best Major Nursing Care Plans, excelled in clinicals, and enjoyed the program. There were a few "young ones" who were in the program because their mothers made them join and one really wanted to be a rocker. You can surmise the results. Graduation was wonderful with all of the academic honors going to the 40+ students. My first job was two months after I passed the NCLEX. We are all working and I am in management now. Good Luck to you and enjoy the experience; it is incredible! Nurse Smiley

Hi Kenrb27, Congratulations on your ambitious goals. You might want to sit down with good old fashion paper and pen and write your realistic goals with priorities. All of your choicies are admirable and are certainly attainable, however, you need to decide which has more merit and satisfaction for you first. There is nothing wrong with working as a CNA first to gain the initial experience of working in a clinical setting, interacting with staff and co-workers, and earning an income! This may lend insight to your decision. Emotions and finances do go "hand in hand". Good Luck, Nurse Smiley

Hi eriksoln, You are fortunate to have worked with nurse leaders with a commitment to change this phenomenon. In the book there are analogies to tribal group behavior, professional tradition, and examples of overt and covert hostilities with various styles of individual and group dominance, mandatory submission, ostracizing new and transferred nurses, or the "victim of the week" etc.. This book will empower you. I hope that you give it a read. You are correct about the "lashing" out of each other whether knowingly or sometimes hard to believe "unwittingly". Smiles Forever, Nurse Smiley

Hi KelRN24, Great! I hope that you really enjoy it! Please let me know your feelings and perspectives once you have read and finished it. Happy TGIF, Nurse Smiley

I recently finished this book, Ending Nurse-to-Nurse Hostility, Why Nurses Eat Their Young and Each Other, by Kathleen Bartholomew and it has some great insights that might help numerous nurses on both sides of this experience. As a four year nurse, I have experienced wonderful nurses and bullying types of nurses. I finally came to the opinion that nurses are representative of the rest of the world even at work. The majority are terrific and helpful but even the bullies are still good nurses too. I have learned to try and let their behavior not affect me and pray that I am not the recipient of their actions. :chair: There is a companion book by Nurse Kathleen Bartholomew titled Speak Your Truth, Proven Strategies for Effective Nurse-Physician Communication. Both books are excellent and will also give you four (4) CEUs. Good Luck with your plights and I am still happy to be a nurse. Nurse Smiley

Hi Akkrite909, Your CNA/LVN goals are admirable and ambitious! However, I wholeheartedly recommend that you do all of your clinical hours before challengning the Boards! I am a two year LVN, graduated from an excellerated 18 month program, and am now a Wellness Coordinator. I have worked extremely hard in the past two years and I can write to you with experience that there will be experiences that you need to draw upon from your advanced clinicals and hours on the floor. This is critical for the patient and yourself. Please do not get stuck unaware!!! My advice to you is to do the program in its entirety and graduate as a confident, competent nurse and you will have a successful and rewarding career. Also, which facility is going to hire you with only three months of clinicals? Most employment postings read "Must have graduated from an accredited LVN program". This is with good reason! Please rethink your choices. Best of Luck, Nurse Smiley :loveya:

Hey Angie O' Plasty, That was really a funny one! :rotfl: I was ready to contribute on the "serious side" too! Thanks so much for the hearty laugh! :roll Power to All Nurses, Nurse Smiley

Hi kizzykatlove, Please explain "What is a retention bonus?" I am a first year nurse and I have not yet heard of this bonus plan. Thank you, Nurse Smiley

ebear, Best of luck to you in your new adventure! Power to all Nurses, Nurse Smiley

RN1989, Thank you for the excellent career advice. We will see what the future will bring to our unit. There is current communication regarding hiring additional nurses. "Let us pray"! Nurse Smiley

I love the title of this seminar and I totally agree with ebear! I cannot stop laughing at the name. I was told last week that I will soon be alone to take care of 35 residents in a SNF and without a Unit Coordinator. Half of these residents have dementia. I will be the Med Nurse, TX Nurse, the Unit Coordinator, and the Charge Nurse! Who has had the "hocus pocus" done on them here? Power to all Nurses, Nurse Smiley

Thanks Zenman, We are not doing comfortably well on either! Nurse Smiley

Hi RNsRWe, No, you are correctly reading my post! I was astounded too! The union negotiator said that it is called "front loading"! The facility will give the nurses a larger increase the first year and a pitance the second and third year! I have another name for it but I cannot type it here! This is the reason that I decided to share the new financial phenomenon with the all nurses community! I have never head of such a tactic in my life either! Nurse Smiley

Hello Nurses, Is anyone out there working in a facility where the new management model has the Social Worker as the Unit Manager? If so, how is it working for you? Nurse Smiley