iggynan

I was not really familiar with HMO's until I moved to AZ. I was from NY state, where the physicians strongly opposed them. It was culture shock for me when I first relocated. Since 1997, I have worked as a UR Nurse and then as a Case Manager for a Nursing Home. I presently have Cancer and I assigned my benefits to a local HMO. It eliminates a great deal of out of pocket expenses. I see numerous specialists, in fact more than I care to see! My opinion of the HMO concept has changed drastically. In fact, it simply boils down to an enormous attempt to try and contain health care costs, without jeopardizing the patient. :)

How uncaring can you be? You really shouldn't be so quick to lump all those who can't afford Health Insurance into the burden category. This is why in America there are millions of people who cannot access health care. I was a hardworking RN who landed up with Cancer and could not afford my health insurance. Fortunately, my husband got fired from his job and I was eligible for Medicaid, otherwise I would have been accruing catastrophic charges, or gone without treatment. I think it is very sad that you feel like you do. You had a hard time and you feel no one helped you, and you resent it so much, and you are so bitter that you feel no obligation to help the less fortunate. I ,for one, am now on Medicare after 24 months of disability, and I feel an obligation to take a very strong stand for Health Care Reform. I would strongly encourage every nurse to join their local chapter of Americans For Health Care or Put Families First. Health Care Workers can have an educated and strong voice to call for action if we band together. :balloons:

This is a cynical statement for a student nurse. I have never known any nurses with hardened hearts, nor ones who didn't care about their patients. Well, maybe I have known one or two supervisors who fit this bill. Before you pass judgement, please realize that nursing is very stressful at times. You will need to set priorities, but it doesn't mean you don't care. Also, you may look to people like students or volunteers, or auxiliary personnel from other departments as an added resource when help is needed. Keep an open mind and don't be so quick to criticize! :rotfl:

I have both degrees. It's an individual decision to go on. I will say that you don't really need the BSN, and certainly most employers don't recognize this in a monetary way. The Nursing Associations encourage further education. Personally, I feel the BSN program made me a much smarter and well rounded nurse. They offer courses in things like advanced pathophysiology and advanced pharmacology, therapeutic communication, community health and yes, even statistics and logic were of a benefit. My favorite course was nursing research. I wouldn't trade my BSN, I'm glad I completed it, even if it never really benefited in dollars and cents. :)

QUOTE=moondancer]Wow! how sad is that, and could've been prevented probably....what is with these docs??? We had a close call last week w/one of our pre-termers, PPROM, barely missed delivering her 27 wkr in the bed in our hi risk ante partum unit cause the docs (read: residents :uhoh21: ) didn't believe that she was contracting, in pain, etc. They held off getting her into L&D all night until finally that am after 2 RN's and the Charge had to push it, she went over. She delivered minutes after getting there....babe is in NICU of course; however can you imagine her delivering alone, no newborn resus at the ready?? I'm new at this, but this situation hit home with me and I had to have my turn. This happened to me when I was about 19 yrs old. No matter what the situation is it's important to be an advocate for the patient, and stand up to the Docs if you have to. I knew I was going to deliver at 29 weeks and I couldn't reach the attending. I went to the hospital. They said I wasn't in labor, they refused to call my own Doc, they sent my husband home, they wouldn't listen to me and kept me helplessly in the labor room. Not one person would listen to me or take me seriously, after all, the resident there knew best, right? Wrong. I KNEW BEST. My baby was in jeopardy and was stillborn, right in the bed. Remember, a nurse, just one, could have made all the difference. I went on to become an RN and I listen to my patients, with care. :angryfire