rabbitgirrl

I went to neither the graduation nor the pinning. I had three good, compassionate nursing teachers. As for the rest, they were disrespectful, unprofessional, theiving and lacking in compassion for students as well as patients. I taught myself nursing and graduated in spite of them. I did not go because they did not earn the right to pin nor to pass me. The majority of my teachers have inspired me to be a better nurse only through negative example.

Need...air...Can't...breathe Laughing too hard!!! AAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Ratios have gone down? Care to back that up with some figures from a reliable source? Did you remember to factor in that pt acuity has risen steadily in the last few decades as well as the complexity of medical treatments and the scope of nursing practice? There is quite a difference between the "nurses having to work" and being too busy to take a pee in 12 hours. I am embarrassed on your behalf for making the inference that nurses are lazy. If you think that the situation you described your workplace to be is safe, then you are not a prudent nurse, and I wouldn't want you to care for me or my family. Seems you think that the big, bad nurses are overpaid, and that the poor widdle hospitals are the victims. Sorry chief, that one doesn't fly either. Clearly, you don't mind being a butcher--seems you are proud of it, but personally, I do mind neither of us have any business taking assignments like this.

whthfk ???!!!

First, I must say that I am so sorry to hear this is happening to both you and your patients. What they are asking (telling) you to do is ridiculous. When I have been in similar staffing ratio situations, I felt like I was colluding in patient abuse by accepting the assignment. These aren't nursing jobs, they are butcher jobs. You will not loose your license over abandonment if you refuse an assignment, but you may if you leave after you have taken report. Management knows what they are doing, they just don't care. If I were you, I would look for another job (in any field) ASAP

What they are asking (telling) you to do is ridiculous. When I have been in similar staffing ratio situations, I felt like I was colluding in patient abuse by accepting the assignment. These aren't nursing jobs, they are butcher jobs. Management knows what they are doing, they just don't care. If I were you, I would look for another job ASAP.

I think ooottafvgvah has a great point that low emotional intensity is the place to start in these kind of confrontations. The thing that was left out of consideration, though, is what I heard the loudest- It just didn't feel right. I think the intuition thing is greatly discounted, especially in this sort of situation. She noted the creepy gut-feeling, verified with another nurse and took action. Clearly, this guy was pulling out the stops to act offended, anyway and the situation would have gone where it went eventually anyway. I wouldn't have given a New York nanosecond's worth of thought to creepy guy's feelings. If he had been innocent, he would have acted embarrassed instead of huffy. Also, I think maybe some people don't know that in most nursing homes there is no security, and many, many visitors with ulterior motives who are all too willing to misrepresent themselves. Add this to having 20-40 pts and very little time to doodle around with the nuances of questioning the validity of instinct. OP, I think you did a really, really good thing. Keep up the good work!

Wow, what a great story! I hope some day that I will be able to think that fast. Also, well put about the issue. Of course, I pray inwardly for my pts all day, but I feel that the patient almost always should initiate or request any spiritual care given overtly. When that happens, I think it should be patient centered and never, never, never a case of the nurse imposing her beliefs on the patient. When a patient asks me what I believe, I try to turn it back to them by asking what it is that they believe about a situation, to facilitate them working it out with whatever beliefs they have. I don't think a nurse should be automatically fired for praying with patients, but close scrutiny about appropriate boundaries is O.K.

I am interested in getting involved in my state. How did you get involved? How did you find out where to go? How do you get access to a debate? how do you get listened to and shot down? Also, I am thinking that I need to be prepared--I think any really successful lobbyist can count on being turned away at the door for employment by the organizations that want him/her to shut up. OOPS! just saw your post nursekaren, thanks!

I, too had this problem (and occasionally still do). The only thing that helped me was to think of someone(s) who you look up to as completely capable, for me it was my aunt and another nurse, but it could be a movie role or anyone who exudes competence and confidence. Then, I would pretend I was them. Soon, I would be issuing quick, confident instructions to patients and their families. "Sit down. Not until 6:00. That will be a problem for you if you continue to do it. If you can scream, you can breathe. I don't know, but I will find out. Stop biting me. Now." Remember: it may take a while, but things WILL get better. One foot in front of the other, things will be O.K.

Haha! I used to work at a huge university hospital in a state with a HUGE football following. On game days the ER would take a poloriod of the drunks when they came in and tuck it into their belongings when they left. I thought it was a great policy!

Like what? I am serious, we must have some good writers among us! What sort of plot do you think people would watch? What would you watch?

Spot on, gentlegiver, You know that would be so. I think the undercover documentary would be way more effective. Only if it were a coordinated effort across several facilities, and then one would have to find a distributor who's parent company had no vested interest in health care. My apologies for off-topic, but I am sorry to see you leave, G., where are you headed? (I threaten to defect to starbucks about every other week).

I think we REALLY NEED a few shows that help the public understand what nursing is. Shows like House, ER and Scrubs TOTALLY misrepresent nurses and what they do. On Grey's Anatomy and other shows, its the Doctors, doctors, glamorous doctors that are holding patients hands and giving nose-to-nose care. Nurses are for handing you things and bringing pillows. Of course, a traditional reality show would be out of the questions (HIPPA!) but maybe ordinary people could try to change a poopy adult while doing dosing math, taking and order and listening to the aide say she will be back after her cigarette. Of course, the market would be wide open to have a great nursing soap/drama, kind of like "private practice". The nurses could start all in school together, then go into separate nursing fields but stay friends. It would be a nice public service for the network, and maybe more people would come to the field. Also we COULD make some headway with educating people about ratios, nursing homes, etc.

Whoa! I am sorry that is happening to you; that is just plain wrong. I don't think it is med-surge that you hate, I think it is REALLY crappy management. Not all med-surge is like this. You might want to try another place. You could try HH, it is less stress, unless you are asked to supervise (if you are an RN, this is definitely what you will be doing) If you supervise, that means signing off on nurses all over the city and betting your license that they did what they said they did. Also way less money. You could do agency. The problem there is, the minute you leave, all the mistakes of the shift get blamed on you. This is only true for some facilities, and you will know which ones pretty quick. You can always refuse to work in a specific place. Also, there is usually a non-compete agreement, saying that you will not take a job at a place that you worked for the agency for a year after you worked there. The money is as good or better than med-surge in a hospital. It might be a good bridge until you find another job you like. Best wishes for your happiness.