madmominavan

Great thing reading what others are saying or get. Gives one many ideas. Have you approached any of the drug and uniform companies in your area to sponsor or fund any of your events? Astra Zeneca, The Lanits drug company which is here in my area, It takes a letter on letterhead paper and an e-mail to the corporate head at any of the companies; give a time frame you need a reply. We have asked for soup to nuts and have lucked out most of the time, even food from local venues... not just pizza. Bagels and the breakfast fare, lunch from Chinese to Italian and the evening and nights shifts were treated to foods and treats as well. Local merchants gave us all kinds of things. Some useful and other things that either not needed or of no use. I have a treasure box for my kids and thier freinds. There are things I send to a local elementary scholl I once worked to fill the principals treasure box which the kids get to chose from when they have a birthday or a hard day and need attention, lose a tooth, etc. Good luck with next year and taking the time to organize the event. Good on ya!

Working for a year is pretty standard. I was also lucky to get a sign on bonus and not to work evenings or nights although I did rotate by choice. I wanted to know what the other shifts were doing and the patient outcomes since I was the team leader on our unit before I became the Case Manager. Good luck with your studies and work!

I'd do anything to get a free massage... I'm envious. I pay $50.00 to have theraputic massage!:omy:

Isn't nice to feel a part of a small "family-like" facility? Kudos to all of you for taking the time to do something nice for each other!

Thanks for your note! I know that administrators have to do something and some do nothing, but if we can treat each other with respect and appreciation all the better. those wo accept and appreciate feel good and those who don't... well some live in pessimism and have learned those behaviors or are unhappy not just about work or recognition. My opiniopn and observations. I work with some of the poorwest and under served people and communities, who are so appreciative of any gesture of kindness and resepct. It means more to me than anything these days. I find other rewards in life. I teach this to my adopted and foster children. I have one child.. well she is 18 who hs little care and appreciation. She is not me biologically and I can expect nothing from her because she has harbored anger and resentment for the last 17 years. I put myslef in the place of other peopel first bdofe judging or concluding when I really don;t know them. I oncew asked a patient "do you live like a pig at home and wallow in your grief?" I then did a follow up visit since I am a case manager and found she was nothing like the person ( by way she was our hospital's ADON) we hd as a patinet nor was she the stoic unapproachable person we knew as an ADON. Life is a journey in progress.

Justrissy, Thanks, but I am not a mad momper se... it is a joke from my adopted and foster children. I am the main chaperone, bus driver and many other things in the course of my day, including being a P.I., Homeroom Mom, Health representative to the H.S. health teacher and outside community resource people, volunteer for art goes to school and assist the nurse practitioner from the college I attend for my MSN in a free clinic to name a few. Not in the least superwoman and use the word "No" frequently. Had a car that did not accomodate the gang and thier friends... it was 11 years old and on it's last leg. A local radio station ws sponsoring a contest and I called in as "madmominavan"... and won a new honda odessy! I am well beyond years and have been in nursing since the "ice age" when nurse's were handmaids.( the '70's) Have alot of experience good and bad under the belt. I learned in nursing school and later in a psychology class that one's ego gets in the way of things and our feeling are hurt when not recognized, especially when one works short staffed, underpaid and long hours with the sick and infirm... and those who feel entitled. I learned that one can recognize themselves with and open-mind and good judgement.

Years of experience speaks volumes!

The reponse to nurse's week ecognition is interesting. I detect some negative feelings as you relate information. Some of the facilities or groups do plan recognition however mundane and insignificant. As I metioned to someone else, I leraned not to rely on these tangible methods... it was moe improtant that peer recognized me in the unit or in a peer-evaluation, a patient or family/friend thanked me in some small way... a glance, a wink , a smile or some acknowledgement. That I personally did and knew that my values and judgements as a nurse were morally, ethically and legally right and ptients/children and whomever were well cvared for, respected as an individual even when they may have bee the worst, angriest or most hostile patient or family/friend. There were little hints in the daily relationship and my personal feelings were not the foremost ting in my delivering quality care. I know myself. I know for myself I do a good job and am empathetic, compassionate and dliver wuality care with what I have at hand under the guidleines, policies and procedures. I suggested to a friend of mine who is never happy about how she is recognized in work or in her general life for that matter, to join the recognition committee or start a committee on her unit with the okay of her manager, ask for a budget and do what she and her team feel would make everyone happy and recognized. I also suggested she write in a journal her days as a nurse and find ways she is recognized through her writings. There are so many things we can do for ourselves first and just appreciate that someone somewhere cared enough out of duty to recognize thier work force. If they do for one then they have to do for others as well and so it is up to the marketing and human resource peopel and the administratiive dept. to determine the budgets, who and how they will recognize during recognition week or at another time. They canpt satisfy us all so they do what everyone else does, lunchl treats, corporate and products for manufacturers, drug companies, etc. At one time a drug company had " Friday Night Pub Nights" for nurses. It benefitted the day shifts and specialties. When the residnets and docs got involved things got a tad risky and ruined the chance of haviong down time, music, beer, treats, dinner, dancing and the whole nine yards, It moved to an off site location, and again, soome of the younger nurses and docs and other health care givers got into risky behaviors and business and it was shiut down after administration got wind. It wner back to the luncheons, free meals, a carnation lapel corsage, gift cards, t-shirts and other things from drug companies and corprate sponsors. I used alot of thos things, never had topurchase pens or id holders, stheoscopes which are expensive in themselves, glad to have book store gift cards and other things. But, ultimatedly, my wiritngs and recognizing myself and my peers was far more rewarding. my mentor used to say to me as a new grad," be thankful for what you get... expect nothing and you will not be disappointed. You will know in your heart that you have done good for the right reasons and satisfaction.":flwrhrts::flwrhrts:

Know this routine... as a young idealist nurse, these little gifts were meaningful. It meant less when a suprvisor who has given me a good evaluation turned and retracted the evaluation after the fact and gave me perhaps the worst eval because I had advocated for a patient. I in essence was "questioning the administration". The resident was a biased and bigoted asian who looked down on blacks and the poor and forgotten wence he came with his family... the poorest of poor. After that I learned that I had more control over what I knew was right morally, ethically and legally and that my values were not so biased or influenced but from what I learned as I grew up from a parent, church and teachers who inspired me through life and in nursing school. To this day, I am a student at age 57 in a catholic college working on my MSN, not a catholic but a lutheran who has great faith and beliefs. What is imporotant is that I can recognize myself and not rely on others to reward me. A patient, a child or anyone else may give me kind, thoughtful words, but even the most angriest or hostile patient may make me see something good in myself for the right reason. Stuff the t-shirt and make it one of many pillows and "things" as a reminder that tangibles are not necessary rewards, just things when you now in your heart you did right and good.

Go online for the handbook... buy a used copy... there is one on amazon for $2. & change + shipping.

I will look for these items and fax to you. I am in process of cleaning out and moving. I have three households in my living room, dining room and bedrooms. My mother died and I sold her house and my aunt, her siwster died recently and i have all her things to liquidate and settle her estate. But, I will get the info to you. Startt by going online to aamcn.org and the ana.org Memebership fees are high but worth it, if you can get your employer or human resorces to pay the fees. It is a tax write off. I am a member , get CEU's, have acces to updated information and legislation, etc. I attended a conference which was awesome and packed with information to take back. I found a computer info program to try for our dept since we are still doiing everything by hand and on paper!

The school district I work for as an indendent consultant Case Manager did not recognize the work force. Neither did the certified nurses who were recognized by thier Union. We are still looked at as bandaide pushers and not essential entities to the individaul facilities we cover. The Principal of one of the elementary schools did appraoch me and commented on how much I was missed and how my skills and compassionate demeaniore was appreciated when I worked in the facility. To me, I di not necessarily need tangible gifts from my superiors. I get rewards daily from a child or teacher who ngive me a nod, glance, a smile, a little chat as they pass the Nurse's Suite( whihc was a closet at one time). Other rewards such as a parent who stops me ion the gorcery or at a public event and says things good and/or negative are far more rewarding than lunch, breakfast, gift cards and the like. I received a letter from a patient I onced cared for who every years writes me an appreciation. Means all the world to me. I have a file of these notes.

Thanks for your respnse. Glad you found a nic...

Go online to the Case Manaers association. Join or get your employer top pay for the membership. There is a gide book on line you can print out. Get the case manager's handbook, Borders or Barnes and Npbles carry it or will order it. Hospital based Cm has similar guides and jopb descriptions. I can look for mine and fax you a copy. I have worked both sides corporate insurance agent and in hospital. I also cover the mental health side since I have a back ground in psych. It is mostly drug & ETOH. As Er CM you have a 24-48 hr window depending on the state you are in to get the ER info to the UR/insurance. If the client is admitted or a 23 hr client. Be sure your state & facility has guidelines if you need to be certified in any other states. I get transient patients and have to be certified in several states, like NY, NJ, Delaware, Flordia, etc. Alot of our patients come to this area for heart surgeries from all over the USA and abroad. I have a child who is from Puerto Rico without insurance. I cover the ER for a colleague. I am not required to work the ER. I get a report from the dept and then from the ER. I follow who is getting work up, admitted or are ER hoppers. Call attendings or primary doc, liason with specialist and primaries, make sure the patient/family has referrals and networks or see that there is a discharge plan for either the Er or that they are admitted and will be inhouse for procedures. I also make sure procedures are timely and that because a doc ios off or not in that there is no delay and we would get a denial. I call reports to UR and Cm at insurance companies. I may see patinets who need to be motivated to get out of bed and will approach anurse toget organized and attend to the patinet to get them up and about becasue of the authorizationl I also act as an advocate for patients who know little about insurance and guide them. You can not do thier foot work. I also let them now what they are eligible for and that entitlement and genrally things are not free... always some co-pay. I have a great network of services and referrals. I also follow up on patinets who may come back for one reason or another. I watch frequent flyers in the er esp. ones who are drug seeking or have not given acurate information. Chart reviews are time consuming but necessary. We use Interqual, Robertson, Miller and Pediatric Guides that help us get authorizations based on acuity. I may have to try to transfer a patient for a procedure or negotiate for lower level of care if not an acute admission. Some days I have atients coming and going. I try to capture savings and keeping thier admissions acute and try to get outpt. services initialted if I can beofer going to the floor or pass on the info to the nurse for the case manager that will cover that day or the next. It is about being knowledgeable and organized and wearing many hats. CMA also can help you with a standard generic job description if you don;t have one inplace or if it needs to be updated. Good luck. I find this position to be very rewarding. I get alot of rewards and perks from my patinets... meaning thank you's.

I am a member of the CM Association. There is a guide line book online you can print out. Itis for any Cm particularly hospital based nurses. CM Handbook can be ordered on line or in any University book store. Barnes and Nobles and Borders. Would suggest getting one... it is the Bible for Cms. The cost of a course in your local can be expensive but worth every penny. Also the CMA has sample tests for review. Follow the guide the questions on the certification tests; follow the handbook and test guide- each gives you some of the categories. If you have a chance down the road take an insurance course. They also an be done online. I will look for my books and send you the names or information. I have worked for both sides... hopsital, workeman's comp and the corporate side as an agent for major trade union insurances as well as IBC/BS, AETNA, BC/BS and other insurnaces. I found several private insurances in the midwest , Oklahoma and Alaska to be somewhat risky fort the clients but, was always able to advocate and negotiate for my cleints. An average caseload for hopsital CM is 50. I have more at times and I have a larger case load of long termers. In the corparate side I had up to 200 cases. Some could be closed or placed on an inactive status or are diaried becasue theyonly need month to month reviews or authorizations. Right now I have a resource for those who have no insurances who will fund as long as we use a local/state network. I happen to live in a county in PA that has many resources for services and we now have a free clinic that we can refer pt. so they stay out of the ERs. I always thought I would be wearing white and growing fat and remaining in the hospital, but the opportunity for nurses especially older boomers like me are vast. I found my nic and really like it. Good luck. :wink2: