LibraSunCNM

Sorry your ex is going through that. I agree our system is ridiculously complicated and expensive! I feel like we need to totally wipe the slate clean and start from scratch with healthcare in the U.S., but that's just not gonna happen. There are so many different systems around the world that work better, but not for as large a country as the U.S. My friend moved to the U.K. and works for the NHS, which sounds like it's awful in other ways--even worse staffing than the U.S., terrible pay--although access to basic care is guaranteed and no one goes bankrupt from medical bills. We're currently hosting an au pair from Germany, and their system seems better--there's much wider access to government-funded care than there is with Medicaid in the U.S., but also plenty of private options and seemingly no issues with wait times for procedures. I think the original ideas for the ACA were really strong, but got too watered down, and that was even with a Democratic majority in Congress. Politicians don't want to jump out of the corporate pockets they're comfy in.

I read this yesterday! I actually wasn't familiar with the case at all, but finished the article totally horrified. It really does seem totally trumped-up and that she just happened to work a lot of hours at a desperately under-resourced facility.

Sorry you're dealing with that stress. Frontier is a wonderful program didactically, but I just can't get past the whole setup where students find their own preceptors.

Have you tried the birth center? https://ctbirthcenter.com

I've always felt that the lesser the acuity/adrenaline level of a specialty (on paper--obviously we know med/surg patients can be VERY sick), the less the respect. LTCs are even worse. Vent away, and I hope you have a better next shift.

Right, but how does it actually HELP the hospital? I just don't get the point of the entire concept.

That's so bizarre. What is supposed to be the benefit of rotating from days to nights q3months? I can't believe in this day and age ANYONE is still mandating rotating shifts, with as much research as we have that shows how unhealthy it is.

Few people enjoy confrontation. But the situation you're describing truly cannot be managed in a healthy, mature way if it doesn't start with you having what we call at my job a "courageous conversation." You need to approach the other nurse directly, in a calm and professional way. It doesn't have to be as scary as it seems, especially you're saying she's otherwise a sweet person. Ask to talk privately at a convenient time. Use "when you do ___ I feel ___" statements and ask curious questions. Only if it doesn't get resolved then do you then go to the DON. I feel like our society is completely losing the ability to have civil discourse and communication these days.

Unless things have changed wildly in the last few years since I moved--no, that is not correct at all. I worked at an NYC hospital where the nurses were unionized and they did all of those tasks.

All of this! My mind is blown that your institution operates like this, but at the same time I've witnessed enough different unit/hospital "cultures" to believe it's possible. The bottom line is they're asking you to practice in a way that is blatantly illegal. You have to decide if it's likely to change, and/or worth it to you to continue.

Same, I know plenty of nurses who are anti-vax. The science courses in nursing programs typically aren't overly rigorous, IMO. It shouldn't be a thing but it is.

I'm a CNM and also recommend going that route. Plenty of CNMs only do outpatient care, but if you do decide you want to attend births, you can.

Strongly agree. The number of males entering OB/GYN has dropped dramatically. Every year at the large academic medical center with which my birth center is affiliated, the new class of residents typically has 6 new interns, 1 (and some years none!) of which is male.

Not to derail, but--what?!? What is this device that can thermally scan for hidden skin breakdown?

Thus far those do seem to be the main arguments against a system like that, spurred on by an excellent system of fear-mongering propaganda from the right wing.