Tiara

Hey Hoolahan aka MargaretH! Sorry to hear about your stones! I don't know why, but my husband managed to have the attacks on holidays - so beware, you did it once! He has a long history of stones. He has some gravel now that's just sitting there but it's been a while since he's had a bad attack. Good to see your post and take care of yourself!

Glad you refused. We, as nurses, have to remember that we are not responsible for the staffing patterns in the hospitals. We are responsible for the care of the patients and our own licenses. How can you give good care and guard your license when you are consistently working tired? The hospitals want our loyalty to administration but if we are patient advocates then we are torn and our loyalty cannot be with both.

Unfortunately, when you think about becoming a nurse and helping people, you don't give a lot of thought to the physical side of things. There are nurses who manage to get by without knocking themselves out, but if you really want to do a good job and take responsibility, guaranteed you will be exhausted in today's hospital scenario. There are many, many nurses out on disability with back and neck and other injuries from the job. It is hard, physical work and the idea of holding someone's hand and helping is just part of the whole picture. I never worked with a nurse in the hospital who was over 60 (on the floors, that is); most retired by early 50's.

My thoughts and prayers are with your aunt and family. God Bless.

When I worked the closed unit, there were quite a few nurses who were always glad to pick up an extra shift. We were occasionally floated someone else if no one on the staff could make it. The nurses on this unit looked out for one another.

I worked on a closed unit once. We were responsible for all our own staffing. In short, this meant covering for each other, working over, etc. However, there were periods in this unit when the census was down and nurses were told to go home. Sometimes they had the option to float to another unit, but otherwise, you went home with no pay. Staffing your own unit can be a risky situation at best in my opinion.

There has been a lot of talk about the image of nursing. I really think the image went down the tubes with the advent of silly print jackets and scrubs and ugly sneakers. I don't think wearing white takes away one's individuality. There is not a lot of respect attached to some of the cheap-looking print scrubs you see out there. Just my opinion.

That's a big, controversial topic and there's a lot to cover. If you search the internet, you should be able to find something. Assisted suicide is, of course, illegal in most states. Euthanasia gets into passive and active and there are a lot of gray areas in this issue. If someone is removed from a vent, some do not consider this euthanasia but technically it is a form of passive euthanasia. I know nurses who stopped working with ventilator patients in ICUs because this was against their beliefs.

Your aunt will be in my prayers. God Bless.

I agree that it is all about compassion and doing for others. I believe that. However, you can have the best intentions in the world and make an error, omit something, lose your judgment for a minute, and it's a write-up and possibly your license on the line. Altruism will not help you with this situation. I know many nurses who are trying to do their best with compassion and good intentions, but the conditions can be unsafe and your license can be in danger.

I find it interesting that the American Association of Nurse Executives has come out in opposition to the mandatory overtime bill introduced in the House on Thursday by Democratic Representatives Tom Lantos, CA, James McGovern MA and Hilda Solis, CA.

Buck, I'm glad you found another position elsewhere. This is the kind of petty nonsense which contributes toward passive-aggressive behavior in nurses. It is deplorable.

If things are as you say, then what are the reasons for nurses wanting a union? There must be something lacking. Do they have input with administration re conditions and what directly affects them (nurses)? Unfortunately, because things might be worse in NY or somewhere else, it doesn't mean they aren't better somewhere too. I would be interested in knowing their reasons. Perhaps there are issues of which you are not aware?

If you read the articles about mandatory overtime (www.healthleaders.com) bill, you will see 55,000 RNs and LPNs in California are choosing not to work in hospitals. There are many nurses across the country of the same opinion. I think you can safely say the reasons for the shortage have to do with mandated overtime and short staffing. Many nurses are leaving and have left. New nurses are finding other better-paying positions both in and outside of nursing and hospitals. I think nurses need to develop more respect for each other and unite; however, I would not attribute the shortage to this. It is directly linked to conditions in the hospitals.

Natalie: I did notice that the first paragraphs are personal! Yours mentioned your letter and mine mentioned the press. Ha. Maybe his clerks know us!