dontwakeme

No, I'm giving it until next Monday to start investigating our options in that direction. I understand we call them "Patient Advocacy Groups" now...for sure, the administration is not advocating for the patients.

No, but I'm wondering now whether it's better to be fired for union organizing activity than to lose my license. I work in an acute care setting, a small inner-city hospital. I don't believe it's safe, especially when we could leave four acutely ill elders in the care of a brand new nurse. Not that brand new nurses aren't great...

About a year ago. I got an email from management, stating that the other healthcare organizations in Milwaukee had stopped offering weekend staff the "full time" status that gave us things like cheaper insurance and more sick days. They left our pay alone, so I didn't complain, but I really don't know what to do about the latest cost cutting measures. Our boss had introduced a new staffing matrix that cuts us back to a single RN on the floor when the census gets below 5 patients. She comes from a Rehab background and just recently sent out an email stating that it was not illegal to staff in this manner. She has further stated that our matrix is no more severe than other units at our acute care hospital, but I know for a fact that the general med/surg floor never staffs less than 2 RNs on the floor. What is going on here? I'm afraid I will be caught in a situation where my license is at risk if I continue to work here.

Sweetie, I've been working nights straight full time 5 days a week since January, and I only manage it because I have plywood boards that I put up over my bedroom windows when I sleep. I take melatonin, a natural sleep hormone to help me get to sleep, too. I turn off the phone. You need to sleep regular hours...sleeping pms is a possibility. Take care of yourself first! Good luck, it won't last forever!

I've been an RN for almost two years now and I've seen nurses throw the most amazing trash into sharps containers. We were taught in school that sharps waste was paid for by the pound and it's the most expensive trash in town, and never never to put anything in there that wasn't a sharp. We don't have a very clear-cut policy on this, does anyone else?

I think doctors are more goal-oriented toward curing disease, while nurses focus more closely on patient comfort. To that end, on our (geriatric) unit we have palliative care orders and I recently completed a class in that area for continuing education. The guy clearly needed more morphine, which improves ABG values in COPD patients because it relaxes the drive for respiration. The mild euphoric also works against the anxiety, but if you can stop the pain, that's the best part. What were the doctors worried about, that he'd become an addict for the next six hours of his life? In the end, you'll carry this guy in your heart somewhere for the rest of your life, and if he inspires you to change and grow, then you're lucky to have known him. Don't feel bad about it. Respect your education and intentions and trust with time you'll realize you did a fine job of caring for him.