CuriousJim

It's quite a beautiful experience, to read what so many nurses have shared, unabashedly, on these pages re: patient's expressions of appreciation. I wanted to share a post (to show that there are many others on your side) from 1999 by Joevarn who probably retired in 2014, the content is self=explanatory, the effort an illustration of a person's participation, albeit unrealized, in changing the status quo... if only he had 1,000 clones Nuring would have become a joyous professon again, as it apparently was 60 years ago when two RH's saved my sanity and physical well being with their laughter, smiles, candy and, yes, motherly affection. To me Nurses and Gramms are Angels ... That is the not so humble opinion of the author of this post, Jim Harmon.. September 22, 1999 All Department of Veterans Affairs Nurses Attention: Title 38 Nurses An open letter to all Department of Veterans Affairs Nurses, Subject:Senate Bill S.1399 H.R. 1216 To All Department of Veterans Nurses: Please write or call your local representatives and encourage them to support this Bill As submitted by: Rep LaTourette, Steve C H.R. 1216 and Senator Mike DeWine S.1399Department of Veterans Affairs Nurses Appreciation Act of 1999 (Introduced in the House) To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that pay adjustments for nurses and certain other health-care professionals employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs shall be made in the same manner as is applicable to Federal employees generally and to revise the authority for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make further locality pay adjustments for those employees. This Bill would stop the Salary injustices that have taken place throughout the system And allow the Department to retain and recruit a quality workforce that will insure that Veterans get the best care possible. Thank you, Joseph Amenita Registered Nurse

The problem was two-fold and being put forth here for the benefit of anyone that has not considered the possibility of a similar experience. 1. The individual relied on a 'script' of 'I'm powerless, helpless!" Her valuation of what could be lost was, apparently, not part of her consciousness. 2. She did not seek advice from a professional advocate nor her peers, rather she relied on her emotions to guide her through unfamiliar, dangerous, costly maneuvers. I am suprised that this is not part of any curricula, the vulnerability, the importance of documentation, (IN THE CHART!) and that malpractice insurance is not a requirement prior to employment. It IS a shame to have to go through this; one should not have to suffer such significant distress without recourse to a bipartisan appeal mechanism. Further, a judgment based upon limited information is parochial at best.

MedChica wrote: "Frankly, this media is handling this badly.+ The media is handling it the very same way that they handled Viet Nam, Desert Storm, Wall Street. Banking, the Mortgage debacle: As a means to an end. Watching "All In" with Chris Matthews I was greatly impressed with the Co-President of a Nursing Advocate group: She knew PRECISELY what was going on and had no qualms about going into detail: First: the administrators responsible for the RESULTS spent their time with the usual 'wordsmiths' to 'cover their 'aaaaz'. Don't know why; we haven't held anyone in public service accountable no matter how egregious. They usually get to 'testify' and, for that testimony, are granted immunity. Look at the VA: they just threw Billions at it until it faded from the news. You, MedChica, are a Human Being as are those not stricken with that early childhood disease which robs them of their humanity: Sociopathy. Those that create a crisis to generate fear and anger in Human Beings are a mutation of the Species. YOUR agenda is clear: you get warm fuzzies from your exemplary professionalism, knowledge, experience, YOU know that you CARE, to put it short and simple. Second: How can we use this situation to destroy our enemies? War on Ebola? We Human Beings have let something more deadly run rampant all over the World. The Cure is known to everyone, can be administered with negligible discomfort; without an injection of any kind... however most of us do not have the self-esteem, the confidence nor the belief in our own abilities, that WE are FREE to CHOOSE.. and we have chosen poorly, again and again and again. We spend our energy looking where we are TOLD instead of how to get the facts, get the bad guys, find good guys, Amen. What's the Cure? Your Vote. Re-elect NOBODY until THEY get the message: "We are mad as hell and we are not going to take this any more!" ... and that's all I have to say about THAT...

This expression of 'entitlement', of self-righteous entitlement, is pervasive in all walks of life by almost all of humanity since it bolsters a self-image of significance which is usually beyond appreciable perception by others.

Shared the card on my Facebook Timeline, thanks!

You, No Stars In My Eyes, have shared, quite cogently, in my not so humble opinion, an impressive narrative, a refreshing point of view that one would only learn from having walked in your shoes. You deserve the self-respect that you obviously have. I admire the strength of character acquired on your journey and your willingness to publicly express your feelings. Some will learn and change from your comments and the world will be a slightly better place for it. I do want to disagree with you on one point: You suggest that you have little knowledge of 'people'. You do not, apparently, treat people as ordinary which is indicative of a deep understanding of 'People'. Thanks for the glimpse of your 'rainbow'!!

re: Wow. What was that? Just a different perspective: one can feel (and actually be) powerless and distressed in the face of such situations... a much more simple and quick way to discharge the negative feelings is to picture the individual naked... if THAT doesn't at least bring on a smile then one may need a little more practice doing so..

Ok, mynursey, you have it. Permission. To rant. Next? If you have any energy left at the end of the day how about a party with a group of like-minded associates at which you might consider what to give a few of your more obstreperous colleagues as a holiday 'token' gift: A kind of do-re-me list/litany of please do and please don't recorded in a fun, sing-song fashion, package it nicly, give it an imaginative title that would be certain to appeal to your audience.. "How Physicians can gain an hour of free time with each visit to the hospital" or 'How to make friends and influence nurses' "Secrets ALL Doctors must know but nurses don't want to tell them!" I'm sure you could pull something together that will cause all of you to scream with laughter before, during and for a long after! Just so you know: Nurses' are Saints, Doctors want to sheppard sheep not discuss the virtues of evidence based medicine i.e. A spinal tap, insisted my primary, is needed. Will the results change my treatment, my condition, my quality of life, asks the not-a-sheep? No. says he. No says I and good bye. P.S. I added this and only afterwards did I see the string of professional comments that preceded it. Haven't really read every word; apparently there are issues yet to be resolved in any suitable homogenized fashion. My sympathies but never forget: Laughter is the best medicine...