CGB1

Nursing is the heart and soul of healthcare. I joke that we can survive a day without a doctor, but they'd never survive one without us. While it's a joke the sentiment rings true. That being said, we are often treated as numbers by hospitals. Expendables. One hospital I worked for, in a 56 bed MICU, many of the nurses were new grads. The turnover was so fierce that they had nurses of a year or two precepting new comers. When one quit, they'd hire another. So merciless was the pace of business that those jaded few that stayed the years, and I do mean jaded, were the most incredible, hardcore resourceful people I have met in my career. I left, of course, for better pay, work environment and benefits. Nurses need to unite as professionals and demand work life balance, pay and acceptable nurse patient ratios. And I mean demand, or leave unhealthy work environments that are causing us physical and emotional distress. Nursing is such an incredible profession. We need to recognize ourselves as such. New grads do not have unrealistic expectations. They have a vision of a work environment where they can provide exceptional care and have the need of their patients and their own needs met.

Why would it turn into 14-16 hour shifts? Nursing is 24/7. When the next shift comes in, report is given and off I go. 730-8.

As a nurse who has only worked 12s, If they ever implemented a 5 day 8 hour work week I'd be looking for another job. It's funny to me that this article points to this and speaks nothing of acuity and nurse patient ratios.

This is exactly the reason why we need mandated nurse to patient ratios on the federal level. This is why nurses need to organize and have the ability to negotiate with facilities. I for one would never work at a facility where an ICU ratio is more than 2 patients to 1 nurse. It is obvious that the facility cares more about beds and profits than they care about employees and patients.

Nurses are way too important to work for free.....just saying.

This is a prime example of why nurses need unions. Allowing the suits and clipboards to dictate working conditions and policies leads to punitive cultures.

Just wondering how many of you carry your own liability/malpractice insurance. I have always done so working non-government hospitals. I just finished my first year at the VA and I was looking at renewing my NSO insurance, but all the coworkers I have spoken to do not carry their own. Any opinions. Thank you!

I work in a busy teaching hospital in a Medical ICU. Lately I have been thinking about checking out the ED. I am sure everywhere has its stress, we are dealing with sick and or trying to die people, but I find myself getting burned out on the chronic and often futile care in the ICU. Any thoughts? Guess it can't hurt to shadow.

Thank you so much for your thorough reply. I very much appreciate it, and it is very useful to me. There is a great deal to consider, and I am grateful for those willing to share their experience.

I am a ICU nurse in a large northeast teaching hospital. I just got my AZ license, and I am working on CA (I will be there Monday on vacation for a week and I am going to livescan). I have a house costing about 1300/month mortgage/taxes. I consider selling it. I am in CT and have never been in love with the state. I guess my question is; does anyone travel without a tax home? If so, is the tax hit so substantial that it is no longer worth it? Yes, I am in it for travel and adventure, but money is also important, no? Also, if you do not have a permanent residence how do you maintain a drivers license and voting stuff? Anyway, I thank you for your time in reading this and any experience, insight or advice you could give me. Cheers!!

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I just sent AZ my application for license by endorsement.

I work in a large east coast teaching hospital. I have worked medicine floors for two years and going into my third year working in a medical ICU. I have been thinking about a move to Flagstaff. I love the area. I was wondering if anyone had any advice or comments on job availability and pay. I know the cost of living is high. It is very high here as well. Best wishes to all my fellow nurses!!

I am very interested to hear replies to this. I am an RN at a large teaching hospital in CT. I have two years on a busy med/surg/infectious disease floor and currently have spent the last year in medical ICU. I have been thinking of a move to CO. I used to live in California, bay area, and though the pay is great the cost of living is out of site. I have always loved CO. The rockies are gorgeous. I was wondering what the pay is like for RN's with experience and the job market too.

Ever hear this mantra in the hospital setting? I am currently in a very busy MICU and they expect that we will be able to do more with less, which includes caring for two patients when one of them should be a one to one. Frankly, I give all I have. Maybe it's time to go back for that MSN. Doing more with less also includes hiring freezes. This equals that I will be allowed 7 shifts off all year even though I have a plethora of PTO. Guess I will have to do some strategic call outs. And this is a a large, reknowned teaching hospital. When will nurses ever control the profession?

I love being a nurse, yet I fundamentally disagree with the just be happy to have a job crowd. The RN isn't just working a job, we are fulfilling a professional role with our primary responsibility being our patients. If the situation in hospitals, whether it be staffing, mandatory overtime (that is manipulated for non-emergent situations) or pay and benefits for our profession does not reflect our commitment to pt safety and outcomes, then yes we should complain. Who we complain to is the question. And how we complain. A lone voice or a collection of over 3 million colleagues.

This is a great question. I have only been an RN for a year and four months, and I find myself getting fried already on a med-surg floor. All the rooms are single, so either patients are on contact, or they often have some behavioral issue that makes it so they can not be cohorted. I find I often spend more time dealing with behavioral problems than actually tending to the physical reasons for admission. I think the fact that it is a teaching hospital doesn't help either. With the next batch of residents and students constantly making order errors and what not, the frustration can become overwhelming. I think the comment about how a floor is run is so true. Real support and hands on management could make a difference for sure. This is my first nursing job, and I feel like I will tough it out for another year, but after that I really want to move away from med-surg. I am debating ED or ICU. I am sure those environments are stressful as well, but I feel that once I start expanding my skill set in a new environment I will become reinvigorated. Good luck in your career

You should really think about sticking it out. Firstly, in order for it to be affordable, you will have to acquire residency. CA community colleges have great tuition rates. CT is considerably more expensive. I moved back to CT after I found out that I was on a 4 year waitlist in CA. I was born and raised here, so they did give me residency as a state native right away, and I am starting school this fall. The community college closest to you is probably Capitol, in Hartford. I would start by contacting admissions there. Good luck.

I just found out that they are planning on offering a class through the American Heart Association at Gateway for incoming freshmen in the next couple of months. Thank you!

I have been having a hard time getting information about what exactly is needed from Gateway. I am about to sign up for CPR for the Healthcare provider through the Charter Oak chapter, because they have the most classes available, it seems. I am thinking about doing a full Saturday course on the 13th of June. I am hoping this is the right class to take! Have most of you already fulfilled this? And if so, what was your experience. I was a certified first responder, but that was some time ago. Thanks!

Thanks alot. I do find it a bit frustrating to not know what is going on as we come closer to the orientation and the Fall semester. Hopefully these packets will arrive soon. I am going to sign up for CPR today. Look forward to meeting my fellow classmates!

I will be starting at Gateway in the Fall and was wondering the same thing. I was also curious if people have become healthcare professional cpr certified yet?

Definitely review the manual, and spend time with the math as suggested above. The first time I took the exam, I did not even finish the math section, so be sure to move right along. The rest of the sections I had plenty of time. Also, know that you are allowed to retake the exam after 90 days(I think its 90), so it's not the end of the world if you don't get it down as well as you would like the first time. Good luck!

I have the same questions. I was told that if I had all the Co Requisites done, then it is possible to work no more than 24 hours a week, though I would love to here about the experiences of those who have or are going through this now. Thanks.

Well, I am excited to be accepted to Gateway's Nursing Program. I only need to take the core courses for nursing. All other classes are done. This will put me at part time status. I have two questions. Any ideas for classes I can take in the fall that will work toward a BSN when I am ready? Also, has anyone worked who had only the core courses to take, and how was it? Being part time status will lessen any financial aide package I might be offered, and I am thinking about a part time job while in school. Thanks for any and all input!

I am about to send my acceptance return to Barbara Bickford for the Spring 2010 at GWCC, with a request to change to fall if any space becomes available! It's been alot of work so far to get to this point, and it hasn't even started yet! Congrats to those who got in, and to those who didn't, keep on striving to achieve your goals and I am confident you will find a way.