shee1a

Yes absolutely. It goes right back to the same thing. If nurses were able to charge for each service they perfoemed rather than their pay be included as part of the hospital room cost we could better negotiate wages. Resp. therapists charge $30. to put a pulse ox on someones finger yet at my place but every service i do for the patient is considered part of his room fee. HR tells me that this is one reason why it is hard to change nurses salaries, because they would have to increase room fees and then comes the concern that the hospital is not as competitive as the one down the street.

I felt that I was adequately prepared for practice when I graduated. As my instructors said "all the knowledge is in your head now transfere it to your hands" so i did. I found my biggest transission problem was organizational skills. Who to see first, etc. That they cant teach you in school. One is either organized or not. Those who cant learn to prioritize quickly drown.

Im with you and glad you left that job. I did the same thing. I was told to stick it out and refused to believe that this was how nursing was to be. I am now on a floor where I have good ratios. 1:4 on days, with two aids and 1:6-8 on nights with 2 aids. Question what are your LPNs allowed to do? At the last Hospital I worked at they used them as aids at this one there are no LPNs in the hospital?

I was looking at agency work recently, and some actually offer benefits now. They to have felt the nursing crunch and are trying to be competitive. FYI.

I agree with the above statements. Nurses as a whole are overworked and underpaid. the overworked part dont bother me, if we were getting compensated appropriatly for our activities. Unlike doctors, we will never get rich from this profession. As far as one letter up above, I also have a husband and a brother who both have H.S. diplomas that make twice what I make and have the potential for alot more with stocks options etc.

Hi I also used to work for home health care. We recieved .32 a mile and it was tax free. Loved home health, but felt I neded hospital experience, so here I am in cardiac. Good luck