CVSICU20

Recently we had an incident of a first year nurse being assulted. The courts can truely differentiate between aggression and dementia,but because of our "tasks" to preform during our shift, we encounter the aggressive patient in the line of delivering medical care to them. They are generally on a hair trigger to say the least and can explode without warning. Why should they be treated any different than anyone else that would assult you in a dark alley, corner drug store, gas station or medical surgical nursing floor?

WOW! All she asked is what is wrong with nursing. I don't think that ASN vs BSN is the problem or I would have been out of a job many many years ago, although I did go back and get my BS at a later date, with the promise of a higher wage that never materalized. The hospitals now consider patients customers and there is a much harder drive for that bottom $$$$$. Management wants to make more money without expending more fta's, that means more patients per nurse. The Doctors have not given us anymore respect, although we are responsible for more intense task/duties than we were a few years ago ie inserting PICC'S, pulling chest tubes, removing pacing wires. Because of the medical oriented shows on television, the public "think" that they are medically savy, and some are because they have access to the internet, but do they understand all that they see and read. They let you know that they do, so you need to have alot of patience and understanding as you help them through their loved ones health problems. Medicare and JACHO have tremendous guidelines that they expect us to abide by or the hospital will not be able to keep their doors open ie. no job for nurse, therapist and all other personnel. The list is overwhelming if you would want to dwell on it, but we all go out there day and night and care for the sick because they need a tender touch, a gentle voice and an unwavering desire to make the ill better than what you found them at the beginning of your shift. That is why you start and continue being a NURSE, no matter what the initials are behind your name. I have had many LPN's and aides that were much better people and nurses than those that had a PHD in nursing. The problems in nursing is individual and what you make them is your perception either positive or negative. Ok, this is toooo long, but the question is like opening pandora's box! From some one who has been in nursing since before most of you were born!