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I am absolutely against hospitals spending massive am't of $ to recruit nurses from overseas when they won't spend a dime to recruit back ALL the American nurses that got fed up and left . Staffing according to acuity went out the window so now they staff according to NUMBERS! Consequently, they put nurses on call and leave those working so short staffed there's hardly a shift goes by that someone is not in tears from overwork and exhaustion! There are plenty of nurses around, all they want is decent working conditions where they can give good pt care and a decent salary. On the other hand, foreign nurses aren't quite as "mouthey" as American nurses. They're grateful to be here and will do most anything asked of them in order to remain. Mandatory overtime? No problem..I've seen some foreign nurses work 10-12 , 12hr shifts in a row!!!!! Hospital administrations love them, they do what they're told and never complain. What we need now is nurses who will stand up and fight for better working conditions, better pt care, better pay. We can't just lay down and take it anymore.

Dear weary nurse, all I can say is AMEN, AMEN!! I have been an RN for 33 yrs!! and have finally gotten to the point where I don't think I can take this anymore either!! It's so sad and I feel it is probably the same all over the U.S. The last 10 yrs. healthcare has gone down the tubes and nurses are leaving the profession left and right ! When will administration ever get it? In 4 short yrs. this country will be 500,000 nurses short!! They should be bending over backwards to make sure we are taken care of instead of worked to death! All I can say is, it's time to become politically active!! Join the Nat'l organizations that are able to fight for us in congress. Stand up and SHOUT!! But most importantly, don't let them take away your spirit OR your joy! It's not worth it! Make your voice heard and then move on. We women have not yet learned how powerful we truly we are!!! A big hug goes out to you! You will find your way!! fQUOTE=New CCU RN]It is sad to see how my impressions of reality have changed so very much in the last two years. While in many ways I feel as though I have grown stronger, in many ways I feel quite degraded. It was just a short time ago that I honestly thought I was entering this great profession and that I was going to help save the world. Reality shock can't even describe these sentiments that have seem to overcome my being. I have never before felt like such a second class citizen. I have never before felt like my knowledge, skills, and persona are devalued. I am not the type of person that needs to be in the spotlight, that needs continuous recognition. However, at the same time I cannot remain a martyr. I cannot even count the number of times that physicians, ancillary staff, patients, family members, and fellow coworkers have taken out their situation on me. I don't want to be a frustrated worker meandering around and just dealing with it. At the same time, I feel that nurses in many ways truly are voiceless. While we truly are the eyes and ears of the facility, our voices have been muted. We are just a "number" regardless of our background, our strengths, and our weaknesses. If you are new to a facility, you are a hindrance and if you stay too long, you are mediocre. The middle ground gets pretty slippery as you are handed more responsibilities and duties and told phrases such as "flex up". Meanwhile, your patient in bed A is screaming in pain, there is a physician shouting from bed B for this supply, and there are four patients in the ER that are awaiting a bed and while come to you aggravated because of the wait. Your fellow coworker is a few days out of nursing school and so you are keeping an eye out for their actions and the nurse who you replaced from the previous shift was negligent in her duties and so you are trying to play catch-up. You are talked down to by newly made doctors. When you suggest something, it is dismissed as being incorrect regardless of it's validity. Rather than being able to care for your patients, you spend the day documenting your actions, trying to find supplies your patients needs, dealing with equipment that is truly embarrassing you are still using, and pleading with a doctor to just listen to your rationale. Why do we remain? I have been trying to find answers and they are truly slim.

You're not going to believe this but it's the truth! The hospital where I am working offered ice cream bars on one of the days when I and one other nurse were working but wouldn't give me one because I was a traveller!!! Talk about feeling unappreciated..I wasn't worth a $1 ice cream bar!!(14hr day and I hadn't even had lunch!!!) (My co. sent me a lunch bag...I added it to my collection! ) So very sad!!

My advice to you is to go into education. There is a desperate need for nurse educators although you and your students would probably benefit more if you were a nurse first!! Good luck to you!!

Boy, that email could have come from me!! I too am ready to go ANYWHERE there is a hosp. that cares about nurses and patients. Let me tell you, it is NOT Albuquerque Regional Med Center!!! I too am desperate. Please share with me any good news you hear.

So where is this rural hospital?