Treasure30

Hello All, I have never ‘ghosted’, but I have worked whereas a co-worker went ‘ghost’. I have been in nursing for over 20 years and seriously considering changing career path. There are still some great accountable, responsible, and knowledgeable nurses, but working with some of the others types, gives nurses a not so good name. I have yet to see a great Nurse Manager, who really has leadership, managerial, or solving problems skills. I still say patient care should be hospitals’ FIRST goal. I went from clinical nurse to a contract nurse because my co-workers would not speak up on behave of a guideline for safe nursing practice, the hospital would not follow. Hummm, they created based on evidence base practice, yet they would not follow it, so who suffers,...The Patients. And please don’t give me the budget, I have only seen one top management (CEO) take a pay cut, in my 20+ years. Excuse my language, but if the top managements primarily focus is NOT patient care, it’s only a matter of time, it will spread down, ... so ‘ghost’ is one of the fruit from who’s running the place. Solution, ... return back to patient safety as their first priority, with there actions and not just lip service, ... CEO take a pay cut, add another nurse or two on an already understaff unit.

Get down from there, Mr Electrician,

Baby you going to be alright. Take a few deep breath,...plan and organize. Don't turn into "Brizilla". Now the marriage is when you gonna need help. It's your wedding, if it's important, you gotta get some rest and go pick that dress, :). Remember Breath. Your gonna be a beautiful bride.

Hello Michiganian Nurses, When I read the title, I thought this was the Class Action law suit against St. John, DMC, Henry Ford, Bon Secours, Oakwood, etc. A nurse who worked in Michigan did some research and found that these hospitals had violated nurses' pay, these issues covered the year of 2002-2006. However, just wanted to add, I started off as a nurse in 1987, and I know personally that DMC have violated discriminatory acts. They continued to get away with these violations, . "It's like they have the JUDGES in their pocket",. I pray on a regular basic that justice come upon those representatives of DMC and those judges that has allowed them to violate the law and just overlook it. Justice. I think it's a shame and disgrace that the DMC's nurses had to asked approval to the Governor for a labor union, just disgraceful and they still don't have a union. The Governor's office sent me an opionion card to vote 'if DMC's nurses should have the right to have a labor union'. Anyway, I used to be a Michiganian Nurse, but yall can just about guess, why I'm not anymore. However, traveling nurse give you more time to focus on patients care,.

Hello Everyone, Yes, I have heard several Medical Assistances refer to themselves as nurses. Educate, Educate and educate. Yes, I have heard medical offices having All medical assistances. Educate, educate, educate. I educate my family of roles and schooling requirements with health care provider. I informed them to asked, "who are they speaking with and asked for that person name & title (if they have not introduce themselves or / and if they do not have a badge). Fact number 1, it is a JACHO / insurance thing to where badges. Fact number 2, it is a JACHO thing to introduce your self (name & title). If enough of us whimmy nurses get in our head that we have POWER (most of us are caring & conscientious) and become assertive and professioanal, we will not have to feel threaten by the MA, no matter how or what they were train to think. This is what I do if I'm a patient or if I am taking a friend or family into a health care system. I'm alway pleasant. If they don't introduce themselves, I say, "Hello, are you going to introduce yourself?". The physicians usually give their names & title & show their badge, the nurses usually give their names & title & show their badges, however the MA just give their name." I then say to the MA, may I see your badge. Lots of time they get upset and go inform the doctor that I'm a difficult patient. When the doctor comes in, instead of the nurse, I know the place is ran with just MA's. I remain pleasant, while the doc is kinda of perturb, cause he / she have to do what MY INSURCE IS PAYING FOR ANYWAY, PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE. Normally, after I inform the doctor that I could have been the JACHO / insurance people in disguise, he / she become pleasant and begin to act like a Professional person. Once the people are educate on who they are speaking with and are taking care of them, and realizes their insurance is paying for Professional people to assess them, they will start requesting to see that professional person. I hope, I did not offend anyone. My sister is a physician and my mother took a course for Medical Assist & obtained her certificate. My mother worked as a MA in my sister's office after she retired. I never heard my mother refer to herself or even answer the phone as a nurse. However, my sister did hire a Professional Nurse (LPN).

Sound like ... Anyway I started in a larger hospital as a new grad. I guess if I would have started in a hospital similar to where you are practicing, I may have the same concerns. I think I delivered my first baby on my own, without a doctor or other staff, I had been a RN approximately 15 months. I remember working in the L&D as a nurse extern and almost delivering by myself, as I went to take VS, & the pt said, "I feel like I have to push". I looked under the sheet, & she was crowning. The baby was coming, so all I did was put on some sterile gloves & remember the stages ... rotation, extention, flexion, etc & how the doctors would tell them to breath at certain points of the delivery. OH BY THE WAY, THERE WAS NO RN ON THIS SIDE OF THE UNIT AT THIS TIME. The LPN walked in & told me later, I handle the whole situation like the Doctor. When I started, we didn't have central monitoring. Don't have no suggestion. Treasure

Interesting LLG, Disgruntled employees, :rotfl:. JACHO does not think it's trivial, 2 hospitals I travel to this summer, changed their policy due to JOINT COMMISSION and this eating at the nurses desk allowance. JOINT even did a walk through to one of the hospital and eating at the nurses desk was their focus. If you remember, the studies has showed, if NURSES / Employees just wash their hands, a lot of diseases would not be spread. People thought washing your hands was trivial. Don't be surprise if they change that (eating & drinking at the nurses' desk) specific policy at your hospital. Thanks for your opinion. Treasure

MySimplePlan, Bless your heart. You don't know me from Adam & I don't know you from Eve. I come to work to take care of pts. I have been blessed to do it well. I believe rules & guidelines should be followed. They are usually placed there for SAFETY issues. I am a type of nurse who help the lazy, the new nurses, etc ... I believe in teaching the pts & their families. I believe that pts have rights even if I don't agree with them. I don't believe & do not take a pt & complain about them or their care, all day. I believe God has bless me with a position & knowledge and that is who I am accountable to. I take the pts. no one else wants & that's a plus for the nurses who didn't want the pt. I asked you, Do you want a nurse who just want to get along or do you want a nurse who is accountable? I'm not going to call you crazy. My history is, I get along well with 98% of the nurses I've worked with, 100% of the doctor & 100% of anxillary staff. 98% of facilities I have worked at, request for me to return. 90% have offered me administrative position (they said name my price). It's just those 2% that are either threatened or intimidated by my gift to nurse. I do call it a gift, because everyone can not be a wholistic nurse. I Thank You for your comment, I believe, I have found my answer. Treasure

Canoehead, Yes, it is a labor issue. However, it is also a Sanitation issue. JACHO, I believe says, 'no eating at the nurses' desk'. When JACHO come in, don't you see the unit / hospital ABIDE by the guidelines? State labor staff, take long to investigate. Changes are made, when drastic measures are done. Believe me, hospitals have the money to pay for another nurse, so everyone can get their lunches. They just have the nurses brain washed, so they don't take their lunches. DO SOME RESEARCH & SEE HOW MUCH YOUR CEO'S ANNUAL INCOME WITH PERKS ARE, :uhoh21: Treasure

Answer to the 1st question, I spoke to our 24 hour contact person, & she stated, 'She don't believe in being taken advantage off. I needed to do what I needed to do'. The answer to the 2nd questions, 'Accountability'. JMGRN65, Who watches your pt? You'll be back in a few minutes? Do you get lunch break or do you get few minutes break? Do you work day, afternoon or midnight? Do nurses believe they are not entitle to lunches or break anymore? Treasure

Are they still striking? This is a subject no one wants to discuss. I've watch family feud many years, but never new the history. The Hatsfield & the McCoy. I've been on both sides (part of a union & nurse who crosses the line). I really support those striking nurses. I also support those nurses who cross the line. I say that because, I would be grateful that there is someone to take care of my community while I negotiate with the hospital. Nursing is the only field I know can put in a few applications & get a job within a week or two. It may not be what you want, but sometimes we have to SACRIFICE. The Kentuckys' pts & most of the community were loving people. However, I thought this strike would only be less than 4 weeks. I learned the Hatsfields' & McCoys' spirit remains in Kentucky & West Virginia. Now, it's the striking nurses & hospital administrator. I rooting for the striking nurses & the pts. I will add that the Hospital administrators are wrong. This is only my experience while I was there in West Virginia & Kentucky. I also add that the decision of the hospital administrator drove me from that strike, not the nurses calling me scabs. AGAIN, I SUPPORT THE STRIKING NURSING IN KENTUCKY & WEST VIRGINIA. If for any reason, there is a strike in my state, these nurses are more than Welcome to take care of my community while I'm in negotiation. Treasure

My God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. On Thanksgiving day, I spoke to my oldest sister, who is an Internal Medicine physician. I was telling her my recent hospital experience in 'a matter of fact' conversation. Her response was, 'I WOULD REPORT THEM TO JACHO'. Okay, here is the story. I got a new assignment in Michigan, 13 wks. The nurse manager & I agreed, I only needed 2 days to learn their paper work. The assistant nurse manager wanted me to be precepted a week. I was precepted by the nurse mangers' choice. The assistant nurse managers' choice became a reference source the next week. All the nurses even the charge nurse asked her for advice. Reference Person went behind me & found my nursing care & my documentation was "Good" as she continue to state. My 2nd day Preceptor was the educator, no problems. She also gave me a lunch. Let's go forward, I asked the Reference Person for a break or what time were lunches. Her response to me was, 'I can't do that & we don't take lunches or breaks (it was not busy), ..... I return to my pt care. My pt was not in her room, I asked her if I could run down for 15 minutes & get something to eat before they close, again she said 'no'. Then she added, "You might as well start bring your lunch & try & eat like the rest of us are, anywhere & everywhere. Matter of fact, "YOU CAN GO & GET SOME CHEESE & CRAKER OUT OF THE PANTRY" I try to explain to this reference person & the charge nurse that I wanted to run down before it got busy, this is a 12 hour shift. They again say 'no'. The supervisor came up & they said, 'you can talk to the supervisor if you would like'. Okay, I was not feeling well, when I went to work, BIG time PMS & left sided calf pain, (just finished 2 10 hours trips & 4 weeks before that, 13 hour trip). I spoke to the supervisor in private. Supervisor stated, she would speak to the nurse manager about breaks, AFTER WE OBSERVE 7 NURSES, SITTING AT THE NURSES' DESK, EATING, WITH ONLY 6 PTS & 2 IN TRIAGE. These nurses were walking around the desk eating FOOD. WOULD THEY GET SITED IF JACHO WALKED ON THE UNIT AND SEEN THEM EATING AT THE DESK. UNSANITARY. After almost 6 hours into the shift, I called the supervisor & went to ER. That next afternoon, I got a phone call, they didn't want me to return, :uhoh21:, , . I had mix feelings, . My youngest sister, that's the 1st advise she gave me, a week ago, 'REPORT THEM'. She's always reported company & people to the authorities. Anyway, I'm not sure, what to do. This is not the first time a facility has told me, I have good, sometimes even excellent nursing care, but have let me go by telling me I have an attitude. I spoke to this nurse, as humbly as I could. My youngest sister tells me, that I am going to continue to run into the problem until I do what God wants me to do. Plus, I am reminded that these hospital do have finances to hire more help. If they cut a nurse, it's just a nurse's salary that goes into their pocket. They just have the nurses' brain washed & continue to tell them 'the budget it short'. I have prayed for these people, I have prayed for these facilities and I have prayed for myself. SHOULD I MAKE A CALL TO JACHO? Treasure

Hello, I'm trying to say something encouraging. Okay, I've been nursing for 20 yrs. I am a travel nurse, now. Every now & then I go back home, Michigan. I've worked O. Main, twice. Once, when I had only 2 yrs of being a nurse & the other time, 18 yrs of being a nurse. The 1st time I left, the second time, I worked 87 days & they called me in the office & told me "I don't fix". I was told my nursing care was good, the doctor liked working with me, but 'I just didn't fix'. The night charge nurse was sneaky. I was told if I continue to asked for a lunch break, that I would not be around. The night charge nurse didn't believe in giving lunch break. I was told if the new nurses continue to come to me instead of the charge nurse, I would not be around. My preceptor (3 yrs. of nursing) handed me a vial & told me to give the medication to the pt. I informed the preceptor that I needed to see the order & I didn't hear a doctor give a verbal. After she insisted, I said to her, "you give it since you heard the verbal order" and I walked in my pt's room to continue giving nursing care. Anyway, the doctor changed his mine & the pt never did get the medication. I know it was a set up. I've worked at Annappolis without problems, before Oakwood bought them. Thyme39 if you want to work at Oakwood, try it. It's plenty of work out here for Nursing. JUST WATCH OUT FOR THE HATER. Learn as much as you can. Observe or asked questions about the nurse with the most experience & learn from her. Most experience includes wholistic nursing & 'bedside manners'. Good Luck, Treasure

Hello New Grad, I'm not sure what you are experiencing. I am trying to think of some words to encourage you, but right now it's hard. I am a traveling L & D nurse, mainly because I didn't like the politic of the hospitals. I just left an assignment, nights, on L&D because they didn't believe in giving lunch breaks or any breaks. She told me to go get some cracker & orange juice from the pantry, while 7 RN & 1 tech sat at the nurses' station & look at a board of 7 admitted pt & 2 in triage. my pt was ambulating, on a monitor & all my charting was completed. Not one of these pt were active & only one had a deceleration after an epidural. These 2-6 yrs know it all, insecure, low self esteem nurses, drive me,.... No, No, No, Mama said, 'If you can't say nothing nice, don't say nothing'. Anyway, asked for your breaks & lunches. JACHO said, 'You can't eat at the desk, yet the last 3 places I worked at night, didn't take breaks or lunches, they eat at the desk, on the floor & any where you think you may want to eat, :angryfire. Some times the board (pts' status) don't permit a break, but it is a labor guideline & maybe even a law, after every 2.5 - 4 hours, an employee should be given a break. My nurse manager told me 20 years ago, stay calm, no matter what everyone else is doing, 'STAY CALM'. If you are a passager on a plane & the pilot acted like some of the L&D nurses, you would look for some reason to sue, too. STAY CALM. God brought you through nursing school & place you in L&D, 'STAY CALM'. Find someone who seasoned & don't mind teaching you obstetric. Be careful, some of these preceptor get intimadated. Stay confident on the nursing that you do know. Listen, Listen, Listen, some of the doctors don't mind teaching. Good Luck, Treasure Oh, I worked in the Bronx, NY, the board was busy, sometime short of nurses core, yet 98% of the time, we got lunches & breaks.

:) I don't think so. I worked with a 2 seventy year old. They got around better than the 20's, 30's & 40's. I think their values system keep them going, :) As the young people says, "I'm ain't mad at them". Treasure

That's great! Treasure

These numbers seems reasonable. I haven't worked in the Detroit area in a while, however 18 yrs ago on the L & D unit this is what they used. The charge nurse was not assigned patients. She was resource & made sure the pt's were covered. It worked. Again this was LDR, this unit has know been change to an LDRP unit. The other hospital in Dearborn, Michigan, which has the 2nd largest numbers of delivery in the state of Michigan practices those same nurse-pt ratio. It worked over there in 2006. Patient are always covered, however you do have to beg the charge nurse for a break or lunch on nights. Days do get their breaks & lunches.

Good Morning Brandi110, I did it, Discipline, Studied & Sacrifices. BUT BABY IT'S ALL, ALL, ALL WORTH IT, :wink2: . I had little support, I love my divorce parents, but my parents had not been to college, so they didn't understand. My sister was in med school in another state. Occassionally we encouraged each other. I was a fresh divorce mom, 2 children, son 7 yrs & daughter 4 yrs. I started off working 1 job, went to the PTA meetings, the football games on Saturday morning, took the child to practice, church on Sundays, met for the study groups twice a week, which was so fun. I had to adjust my schedule & go part time once. It had it's up & downs, BUT BABY, IT'S ALL WORTH IT, COMPLETELY SATISYING,:roll :roll :pumpiron: :wink2: . We don't get paid enough, BUT BABY, THAT'S COMING TOO. I heard the studies & research says that nurses will be making 3 digits & that's not including overtime. WE ARE OVER DUE AS A PROFESSION. It all depends on the person & how they adjust, keep them babies 1st. Include them in some of your studies, be creative. I pin post card of the muscles on my children one week. The next week it was the bones, STAY AROUND POSITIVE, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE, :wink2: . Treasure

Good Morning MyToon38, Does she really? I net $1,200.00 wkly on a sit down nursing job & $1,350.00 on 12 shifts / 3 days. A waitress make that much, wow. I know my daughter was thinking about posing. My niece posing, is paying her way through college. She has no delayed gratification. As my son who struggle through college financially, after I hit a tough spot in my life say, "I CAN'T GET MAD AT MY NIECE". She got to do what she got to do. Treasure

Good Morning NBMom1225, I believe you will be a excellent nurse. You will be able to touch patients & their families in ways where other can't. You walk it. Don't ever give up. Treasure

:welcome: I started working as a contingent nurse in 1990's. I stayed there for about 6 yrs. I returned last yr., as a contingent,:) :) . I alway enjoyed working @ Riverview, L&D, Med/Surg through agency & there Rehab nurses were great. I heard that rather Karmanos buy Riverview or not, They were closing in June, 07. Riverview has always had financial issues. You know what I say about hospital's & what they say about lack of finances, SOMEONE DON'T KNOW HOW TO MANAGE THE MONEY OR SOMEONE IS PUTTING MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS THAT OTHERS CAN'T SEE. DMC should be shame , AS MUCH DIRT AS THEY HAVE DONE TO OTHERS IN BUSINESS. DMC'S are dirty. I pray that they have gotten better. I did some agency work at Karmanos Center. It was great. The nurses were professional, loving, caring & compassion. I felt honored , I was told the nurse manager was selected with who worked on those unit. Treasure

Good Afternoon, Can we just all get along. Always something out there to create a separation. First of all, we all need each other. Second, it depends on the individual. I've been in both programs, ADN first & BSN 2nd. Yes, I have a BSN & very glad those instructors brain wash me to get my BSN. ADN's are not more competent than the BSN's. Most BSN program cover everything an ADN program with clinical & practical application. Now there may be an ADN individual who have access himself / herself (knowledge) with multi experiences in nursing. I have worked with ADN and knew they were an ADN's. I have worked with an LPN & would take her before I take an new BSN grad. Again, it depends on the indiviual. Treasure

Genneaver, OBC class consisted of medical personnel, ie, nurses, doctors, dentist, veternery (animal doctor) & Biologist. Maybe, they change the course name. Treasure

Good afternoon Homicidalnurse, The college I attended required a 2nd language for graduation, but that's 1 class. For some people, if they are not using the language, they forget it. My grandson is taking a 2nd language in his 1st grade class. Treasure

Good Afternoon, The experience or the dream? Okay, I had my 1st child @ 16 yrs. The 2 white nurses were excellence, great, caring & gentle. They could have been nasty, prejudice & treated me like dirt, but they didn't. I decided that day that their job seem rewarding. Okay, I had the dream @ 17, but didn't remember it or understand it until I was 28. Simple dream, I was dress in teal scrubs in a sterile environment between double doors, with a work badge that said "DONNA WARE, RN, BSN". Listen @ 17, I didn't know what RN nor did I know what BSN meant. I just wanting to finish high school so I could rest, Anyway, after going through a divorce, had 2 children, single parent status, no child supprort, working 2 jobs (one full the other part time), full time nursing student carrying 13 credit hours, going to football game every Saturday morning, attending all school functioning (I'm tearing):zzzzz, sacrificing & wearing 2 outfit for 3 semester, I FAILED ONE CLASS, RIGHT BEFORE GRADUATION BY 0.5 POINT. Did you here me 0.5 point. 0.5 point. I was quitting & never going back to nursing. Then that same dream kept haunting me every night, (I'm tearing again). {See, you have to understand the school, only 8 black students out of the 66 nursing students. Several instrutors kept trying to get the black students to change their major. They kept telling us we may fail the boards. Not one of us failed the boards. However, 12 of the white students failed. They cheated throughout the semesters. They would get the test prior almost every time we took test. Don't get me wrong, 2 of the ones that failed, I assisted them with their studies. We worked nights together}. Anyway after about 2 weeks of the dream, I jumped up out of the bed. The dream encouraged me to go back to nursing. I looked that Dean in her face as she begin to tell me (I'm concern...) and said, "I overtax myself this last semester. Something you will never understand. You don't have to be concern about me passing the boards the 1st time, be concern about those 12 students that failed. I WILL PASS". God spoke to me in a dream & here I am, :rotfl: :). Nursing & enjoying every bit of it. It's so rewarding. I sometimes get those pts, no one else want and take them with a smile. I think that's why my co-worker like working with me,:smilecoffeecup: . Oh I can laugh at the 0.5 point & those instructors. One of the instructor was a patient of mines, L&D, 2 yrs after graduation. I couldn't be mean or nasty. I could have, I had the power, I was charge nurse & precepting, I had a great repretation. God is Good! Treasure