HAngel

WOW!!! To this entire board!! I can't imagine getting away with that behavior... I've gone 12-15 hours without more than potty breaks every 6 or so... no lunch or anything... not common, but we really don't get breaks, we're lucky to get lunch!! I expect that if I'm busy with the tasks I've been assigned that a nurse will pitch in and help grab a light, but gosh, that bhvr is ridiculous!!!! I don't even see why mgmt would keep people like that!! Why pay someone to be a warm body???? Hangel :):)

you will always have SOME problems in the workplace, but this is absolutely unacceptable!!!! I'd get the heck out of there right away!! I promise, MOST (not even 1/2, but MOST) CNA jobs are much, much better than that!!! hangel :)

agreed, unprofessional... but with the whopping 40 hours of training for NA's, I'm not sure what people expect. Professionalism isn't addressed in NA school, as NA's aren't to be treated like professionals according to most... I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, but I honestly think this is the truth... They're not addressed in a way that is professional, typically, they learn nothing about professionalism in the brief education, and they're not encouraged to act as professionals (but rather as scut workers who not only have their assigned duties but also are to be at the beck and call of all patients and staff)... again, not trying to be a jerk, but sometimes I think staff and mgmt expect NA's to have the professional attitude of the nurse while they are not treated or trained to function in this capacity... Hangel

techs being pissy is ridiculous... we knew what we were signing onto when hired... however, I think the same should go for nurses. I get tired of running around like a madman while the nurses sit and sometimes gossip... I know there's other stuff you have to worry about, and you could never get your job done doing all the tech stuff + nursing responsibilities... however, more respect all around is helpful... I look to our mgmt a lot in this situation... they support everyone working hard for the patients... that means I can say, "Sure, I'll get your blood in room 10, but would you please run this lab down for me?" Mutual respect and assertiveness (vs. passive aggressive bhvr) does help... I'm sorry for your situation... while I wouldn't turn into a heinous you-know-what, I think being kind but assertive is warranted... she'll just keep walking all over you if you let her... you could consider asking her what it up, too... you might be surprised to find out she's been mistreated by other nurses, etc.. Thanks for your consideration... you are a kind soul to not become nasty with her... Hangel :):)

I'm really not sure that I've ever confronted a patient... I've been assertive, especially those that are inappropriate (God bless Friday nights in the ER:), but never anything like that. More of when someone says something inappropriate saying, "I do not wish to be spoken to in that way." (which we are allowed to say and do.) She was completely out of line... I'm not a mgr (just an aide and BSN RN student) , but I would expect someone with that attitude to be spoken to. That's a legal issue and an ethical issue. Hangel

AWESOME!! :) Agree!:) Hangel

THANK YOU :) Hangel:)

Hang in there... I don't think you're paranoid, and I think sometimes nurses that are all gossipy and (whispers) lazy are threatened by those like you... I agree with the others... involve the NM... if you let them walk all over you, it may not stop anytime soon... GOOD LUCK!!! (((((((hug))))))) HAngel:)

I've been a CNA for over 6 years now (and have 1 year left to graduate with my RN BSN). I have worked in two different years for a combined time of 3 years. The experience is well worth the investment. See what your hospital accepts- ours only takes CNA's and student nurse techs (no EMT's in the tech role) but another I have worked in did accept EMT's. We get to do EKG's, draw blood, insert urinary caths (uncomplicated), assist with codes, transport patients/ specimens, assist with procedures, etc.. We get to do so many things, it really has helped me learn how to organize my time and how to be more assertive (as the ER clientele can sometimes need instruction or requests beyond "Mr. so-and-so, please don't yell the **** word at me again, now." :) Good luck with all endeavors:) Hangel

:)I will graduate with RN BSN next year. Our nursing school received over triple the number of applicants that they have slots for this semester. It's kinda wild really. But I know in my own department we're short. I think I'm sorta innocent in my outlook (want to change things:)) but at the same time I'm somewhat jaded (as I've been a tech for 6+ years, and have seen the attitudes in both hospital administration and in nurses). My peers are somewhat innocent, but at the same time, some are very cynical. Many entered nursing school because they want to pursue CRNA or other graduate studies. Not many intend on being at the bedside for long. Many are interested in working with disadvantaged youth, but few really want to be in the hospital long-term. We have more and more foreign persons in our program. Not a bad thing (we could use diversity in my city!), but it might be evidence of the going to other countries and promising jobs. That's really screwed up if that is what's happening. Happened in the 40's or 50's too, telling people in the midwest that there were jobs in california- people would migrate out, and there'd be nothing. Sucks. I worry how older nurses perceive us young 'ins:) We want to be helpful in the field, not harmful, threatening or anything else negative. Thanks... Hangel:):)

For one, many church hospitals didn't sell theirs because of not wanting to be in the sick people business. How do you think a charity hospital really survives? I work in one- believe me, we have less supplies, less flashy of a hospital as our corporate competition. But I feel a difference there, as do the patients who choose our hospital. Things like COBRA/EMTALA help, but in reality, we get a lot of dumped patients that the other hospital doesn't treat so well. In a capitalistic society, it's not realistic that most charity/ non-profit hospitals have a decent shot. If the attitude is "Give us your tired, your poor, your needy", as reimbursement is ****ty, the hospital can be adversely affected. I'm not trying to be offensive to you- I agree the "calling" has been missing and needs to be remembered (to paraphrase Matthew Modine's character in And the Band Played On, "When doctors turn into businessmen, who do the people go to for doctors?" this applies to our attitudes as wel). However, I don't think it's so much that churches or charities have had an attitude like "uh-uh- you take it- we don't want it anymore"---- it's that this system is not set up to help hospitals provide the kind of care that said institutions give---- equal, just care to all people in need. I am not proposing that corporate hospitals don't take care of people or have justice in mind in their caregiving. It's just a different type of deal, that's all, when dealing with profit and non-profit. Hangel:)

I think for the level of education required, being a nurse allows for a lot of flexibility and decent $. I agree that it sucks at times, and while we may not be in a total shortage now, we will be soon (as it has already been mentioned). Also, graduating BSN's are not staying in the field typically for more than 5 years. That adds to the problem. I get what you are saying about there not really being a shortage, but rather nurses who don't work because of crappy conditions. So what do you think the answer is? For us to do? For our employers? Thanks! Good discussion:) :) Hangel

I hope the ER staff didn't think me coming down with a KS was silly. I live alone and just have myself to depend on. They sure did help me out - the pain was unbearable. Just a little anecdotal story. NO WAY! I've never seen a nurse or doc be frustrated for a patient about a kidney stone- they hurt!!! Hangel:)

Cannot refuse a patient. They must be examined by a physician and deemed "stable". If stable, they can defer tx. For our frequent flyers that use us as their PCP, some of our docs check them to make sure they are stable and then continue to refer them to follow up. Sounds cruel, but patients who come in for refills when they've already been told to f/u with their PCP can truly drain the system Hangel:)

I would want to be prayed for. Your intentions are known by the patient- good or ill. Whether or not they have passed on, I don't think it's inappropriate to pray for the patient. I pray silently for a lot of my patients- if they ask me to pray with them, I will aloud, but only on request. I wouldn't force someone to participate in such an intimate thing as prayer, but how could it be bad to pray for a patient? While not all, I think most people (especially in my area) believe in a higher power or some sort- in death it seems most appropriate to pray to the higher power to help that person. As nurses (or nursing students), we want to care for a person throughout their process- once they leave the world, we can no longer be with them to help heal their pain. It seems helpful to both the patient and even ourselves to hand this burden over to One we feel can still be with and care for the patient. Peace, Hangel:)