Kojak

Here's a list of Health Information Management/Nursing Informatics programs that would take him completely away from the bedside: http://www.himss.org/content/files/EducatorsSIGdirectory.pdf

Thank you for proving my point. Why do you feel it necessary to take a personal stab at someone simply because they feel differently than you about unions?

I sympathize with you. I've been at my workplace for over 20 years, and the answer I get from union proponents is, "If you don't like it go work somewhere else." This from a "nursing" union that has been in place for only a year. Many people complain about management, but what they don't realize is that the union is just more of the same. They don't care about individual nurses. They take away the choice of the individual nurse. They have their own agenda. And it's either their way or the highway.

Never mind. . .

Just be careful. I took the RN Coder course 4 years ago. During the course, there was much hype about online coding jobs for RN's, so I went on to get my certification through AACCA. I spent a lot of time and money on it only to find out the instructor/owner was still trying to get her online coding business going. No coding job for me. If you check out the certification site, AACCA.net, you'll see that much of it is outdated. Very disappointing.

I don't know what NPR stands for but PALS is Pediatric Advanced Life Support. You can most likely find courses through americanheart.org.

Of course the time is the issue. I'm not saying I agree with the practice, but if the norm is that some nurses just leave a taped report when they get off at 11:00PM, it would behoove the nurse that is staying to check her assignment. Again, I am saying I don't agree with this practice. But the O.P.'s choices are to try to change the practice (which I would strongly suggest) or cover her XXX (not to mention the patient's) and check her assignment again at 11:00PM. Once again, I don't agree with the current practice at her facility. Someone leaving sick or for an emergency at any other time is not the norm and doesn't apply to what I wrote about the situation. BTW, did I mention that I don't at all agree with the practice at that facility?

You had a patient for 2 1/2 hours that you didn't know about? You've just described one of my recurring nightmares! You have every right to be angry. However wrong the practice, it sounds like this is the norm for your place of work. You can either try to change how things are done or change the way you do things and just make it a point to recheck your assignment at 11PM.

Hi Wheaties, I don't have a lot of advice--just a few questions... Your facility sounds like a great place. A hospital with supportive management is hard to find. Are you sure you want to leave? Would you consider asking for a leave of absence? How far away do you want/need to get from your parents? Would moving out but staying fairly close to work be acceptable? For some people, smaller steps are easier to take. But if you have the means and are looking for a major change, then go for it. You certainly have plenty of time to do some planning if this isn't happening until the end of next year. Good luck!

That and the fact that ours is a closed shop. RN's have NO CHOICE at our hospital but to be represented by the union and pay its dues. I can't tell you how steamed I was to see part of my hard earned money go to support the #$%#@ Michael Moore produced.

I currently work in a unionized facility and I FULLY understand the significance of the union in my workplace. I could write a book about "my" union, but I'll just make two points. One - I did not join a union. "My" union did not give me a choice in the matter. Two - The political agenda of "my" union is very much opposite of my own political views. I don't ever remember a questionnaire being sent to members asking their views on the issues. Why not? Because the agenda is pretty much set in stone; it's not going to change. "YOU are the union" is not the reality for a lot of people. If you don't see that, perhaps you don't understand what unions are all about.

I pay $44 per paycheck/$1144 per year for CNA "representation". With approx. 700 nurses at our hospital, CNA is raking in around $700,000 per year. Ain't no way they're spending that much money on lil ol' us.

Well said! I have been a nurse for over 20 years and have been a "squeaky wheel" for much of that time. I belong to a professional organization for my specialty and have used the strength of that organization to effect positive change for the nurses in my department and the patients we care for. All nurses in my department. . . Whether or not they belong to my specialty organization. . . If it benefits patients and nurses, why would I not want it for everyone?

If you are living in a right to work state it should be as easy as writing a letter. You can find out about specific laws in your state here: http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm Info on resigning from union membership: http://www.nrtw.org/a/a_3_p.htm (Disclaimer: The nrtw.org is obviously biased against unions, however the articles I linked give pretty much straight-forward, objective information.)

It's a tough situation that you are in especially with jobs so hard to find. Unfortunately you are already in it neck deep and it's not going to go away no matter how much you try to ignore it. This CNA has no qualms about approaching you for drugs even after you have refused to provide them. She has no qualms about threatening you. How far will she go to get what she wants? Will she intentionally jeopardize your job if she doesn't get what she wants from you? Will she steal from patients or do harm to them? You've already sacrificed your peace of mind. How much more are you willing to sacrifice? Your patients' safety? Your license? I would suggest you document in detail every instance she came to you and give this documentation to your supervisor. You never know, someone else may have tried reporting her in the past. If management takes the CNA's side, send a copy of the documentation along with management's response to the Department of Health Services (or whatever your equivalent is). I feel for you because you are in such a difficult position. . . Let us know what happens.