LadyCharge

you go girl! i think your case sounds like a "perfect" example that needs to go on television! why not contact your local news media and sit down and talk to a reporter who would love to expose these kinds of injustices considering the so-called, nursing shortage??? if your case were to go to trial, it will be expensive, however, perhaps there is a way you can obtain funding to help offset these costs? i think these people need to be held accountible and used as an example to every hospital in the u.s. from what you are telling us, it sounds like you have an excellent case and you are right; if you didn't have your nm on tape, you probably wouldn't have a leg to stand on, short of witnesses. i have sadly found here in the south that southern nurses do not have cujones because they are job scared - which is a way to control nurses. as you say, you lost all your benefits and this has affected your family. though my experience hasn't been as severe as yours, i can truthfully say that the hospital i once worked is no different than yours. its all about their new buildings, profits, bonus's, and megabucks they pocket for themselves. i resigned from my hospital last year, gave proper written and verbal notice, and my nm cheated me out of 2 days pay thinking because i moved to another state i would do nothing about it. well, i've been trying to collect the money i earned for over a year now and they still have not paid me. i went through a process to no avail. they are now forcing me to go the labor board before the statute of limitations runs out. all this trouble for two days pay! i earned it, why do they refuse it? i am telling you the truth before god, those people cheated me out of my fair wages! and this is a popular hospital in my area who has done this! however, i will not go away because its a matter of principles and taking a stand for whats right. i wish i could write a column in the news paper exposing this hospital for their greedy practices. there is more to this story, and this is not the first time they have shorted me (and many others) on our pay checks. they get away with it because they are a huge corporation and hide behind a smug, self-assured, power. however, all it takes is "one" person who has the gutts to stand up to them and expose them, as weak as they think we are. standing up for truth and righteousness is very often not an easy task, but it doesnt negate or justify our responsibility to do it anyway regardless of the might and power of the adversary! i have learned to pick and choose my battles as i get older. some people, who have been given authority, and misuse that authority and power need to be confronted and held accountible. many in management have not the character, let alone adequate skills to lead a team! they are blind guides leading the blind - they will both fall into a ditch. my prayers are with you and your family. though i do not know you personally, i want you to know that i for one, (and i think many here on this forum as well) are very proud of you and stand with you. if there is something your attorney can think of that can involve the assistance of other loyal and dedicated nurses to our profession, then let us know. we want to see you win!!!!! because you are right!

Panhandler, You are telling it like it is! I like your style and wit. You are right on target as I read through your posts and others here. I have been out of circulation on this forum due to a family emergency that has just now settled down. Coming back online and catching up has been interesting. The question you ask is whose got the cujones to take on this outrageous problem is a good one. All I can say, is the nurses in California, COLLECTIVELY, took on the problem in their state and have made some very good changes. I just don't see that happening here in Florida - though it's not impossible that one day it may happen. Someone will rise to the occasion (hopefully). I for one...am planning to relocate to California, network with those in unions so I can glean the knowledge necessary to empower nurses in the South. It all starts with 'one' person who has the cujones - who is fearless - to stand up to those in power. If we 'lay down' we will 'stay down.' Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I for one believe that 'ALL things are possible with God on your side." And if God is for you, who can be against you? That is - if you Believe God! I also heard, 1 + God= the majority. Many hospitals in this country boast they are Christian hospitals with so-called christian values. Pa-leeeaaase! I may need an emesis basis as I ponder their values. It really is about profit and for whom? Obviously, not the patient let alone the nurse and ancillary personnel. Obviously, administration is very well compensated, not to mention their annual "bonus" is higher than an experienced RN's annual income. They are indeed making a profit and we who idly stand by allow this.

just go to an online real estate website and you will see what the costs of homes are. I can tell you they have doubled. Homes are not cheap and rentals are not cheap anymore. It all happened after Hurricane Ivan. I thought I was living in California for a while with the housing costs! I would strongly urge you to contact a realtor before your move. And make sure where ever you decide to work is going to pay you enough. Because the pay rates here suck.

What are the terms for that bonus? How do they distribute the money to you? Is the going rate for a graduate RN $16 per/hr?

This was a good post I enjoyed reading as well. Its interesting to see how many nurses are going through this or have been. And you are right on target when you say hospitals are an 'Industry' now. Indeed they are...capitalization is a good thing but not at the expense of human beings! Like you, I just dont understand what motivates other nurses to do these cruel things. I have some theories however. And for the most part, I do not think these nurses have any financial kickbacks/gains from this so the motives must be some sort of emotional need; or they are just plain witches! lol! For some NM its power driven aimed at a career goal in higher management if not CEO of Nursing Administration. I know one NM in particular who is the most disgusting brown-noser I have ever witnessed in any job I have had, including the military! However, for those who are not motivated to advance their careers in administration, I really believe they have a deep-seated emotional need that they crave. Just a theory from observation of many, many nurses who are attention seekers and the reasons why. Its really very sad that people do not care who they hurt from the nurse to the patient...that they would be so selfish to say or do anything for an unethical NM or administrator just to get their approval. I have seen it! They are the spies in the hospital...if not henchman. And so it goes with human nature. I have seen it all and I am sure you have too in psych nursing...though we do get a few of those incidentally in Med-Surg as well.

Panhandler....I like you! And you are so right, don't get emotional about this. Its about facts and getting desired outcomes...hopefully the right outcomes given this pathetic match between the strong arm health system vs the caring, ethical, highly knowledgable and skilled professional nurse. One nurse against an entire healthcare system with her attorney seems pretty dismal...but alas...laying down and saying uncle is what they hope for. But its people with a strong resolve that often make the changes! Surely you know the game and how its played. I pray TN NURSE wins this and I am encouraged to know there are some pretty savy nurses on board here with great counsel! God bless you and Godspeed to TN. I am reminded of my personal faith....One + God = The Majority. Hope others can take comfort in this.

Kim, I'm so sorry for everything the U.S. Healthcare System has done to you. Sadly, evil is alive and well in the hearts of self-seeking men and women and free enterprise has been corrupted in using our poor, elderly, and terminally ill and it matters not to the administrators and board of directors how hard we work for 12 hours plus, with no breaks and even a pathetic 30 minute lunch! Many times I felt like I need to insert a foley cath attached to a leg bag while putting on a pair of roller skates to take care of far too many patients...the average being 8-9 on a Med-Surg unit....and those patients SHOULD HAVE been in PCU because of the acuity as well as the diagnosis and prognosis...many needed to be monitored much closer and managers knew it, physicians knew it, and administration knew it, but the reason they did nothing is because PCU was already full. So here I am with the other nurses on my unit taking care of PCU patients...except not 4 which is standard for this type of patient...but 8! And all the nurses tolerated it while they complained to each other, but never to management. Very typical. I have a very good understanding what you went through as I have also worked in the OR and also in plastics. Personally, I feel that RN's should be regarded in the same light as a physician! We are professionals yet regarded as subserviant and the lawyer who questioned you thinks much too highly of himself and physicians. They do not have a clue! Many times I bailed a physician out of trouble and saved his butt! I doubt I will ever go back to work in a hospital again; unless I were to give another shot in California where working conditions have improved. Nursing has been the most demeaning career I have had and I served in the U.S. Military which is far more professional and appreciative of its staff. Health Care in the U.S. is all nothing but BIG BUSINESS and PROFITS, capitalizing off the sick. This should not be so. But politicians turn their heads and look away, until enough of us get angry enough about it and unite to force changes. Alas! Nothing like forced cooperation...and such is the nature of mankind short of an awakening. Blessings to you and your family and take heart that many of your sister nurses empathasize because we have walked in your shoes as we too endured this kind of abuse. This is not for me any longer however. I have decided I have other talents I am going to cultivate and earn my living in a different career. Until then, I remain constant in trying to make a difference for nurses in the U.S.

I have a good friend whose a pastor that lives in Oakland and told me this the night before last. Since I live in Florida I do not keep up with all the news there. However, I did hear Swartzeneggar speaking on our news channel recently, appealing with what the media said was a "humility tactic" apologizing for his mistakes as an effort to get re-elected. My friend keeps up with these issues and he informed me that the teachers and nurses in California are angry with him for cutting programs and giving them to other special interest groups. He said that he is not going to be re-elected. Obviously, with your claim this has not happened yet. However, this doe not detract the reality that nurses in your state are successful in getting laws passed in terms of nurse/patient ratios and organizing unions. In my opinion, the nurses in California are setting a standard thats been long overdue and leading the way for the rest of us throughout the nation to take notice and start doing something about this! May God empower us as we take a strong stand for justice and righteousness for our sick and those of us who care for them. Thank you for the tid pit of info however!

Indeed....Panhandler, I love your posts! I have sadly and reluctantly these past few months been in transition of changing careers because I cannot work under the authority of unethical, vindictive, and selfish adminstration in this kind of "Business" any longer. I will never reach my full potential in this environment and I really saw that! God Bless my sister nurses who do stay in this profession, but I am too old to tolerate this crap any longer. I just can't stomach it anymore! LOL A large reason is because the core of my nature since I was even a child, is that of holding "Justice" as paramount; which is a quality of what authentic love is. My manager told me one day in her office as she was giving me the axe (ironically), "Now, we are alike...I have a high sense of doing what is right just like you do!" What a crock!!! She is oblivious to justice and doing what's right! I call the healthcare system "The Evil Empire." We need hospitals for the sick, but somehow we in Florida must find a way to subdue them, control their ability to do harm, and take our power back. This was magnificently achieved in California. How? Those nurses organized, united, and tightening their ranks with a mission to take their power back. And rightfully so, because only a "nurse" really cares about the patient. Until Florida nurses "Get this" they will continue to suffer along with their patients. Is anyone aware that Governor Swartzenegger is no longer governor of California? Did you know a major reason he was voted out is because teachers and NURSES joined ranks "Politically" to vote him out a second term? Yes, there is POWER in NUMBERS! One of my old nursing instructors tried diligently to get this truth across to her students. We nurses in Florida are aware that we are being taken advantage of and controlled by the whims of an evil empire whose only motive is more profit for themselves. It makes me sick that we allow them to define who we are as registered nurses. Who gave them this power? Think about that..... We do. I am no longer working as a bedside nurse, but I can assure you I am not out of the game entirely. I plan to contact California Nurse Unions and get in touch with the people who made those positive and courageous changes in their state. While I am an older nurse, I still have a good 20 years to contribute to our profession. We must train our young nurses who they are...a professional and we should be respected as such. That is not going to happen until we come together as ONE. That kind of strength is what's needed to totally overturn the tables in these big corporations. I promise you...if even HALF the nurses in my city went on strike (bad word in my hospital), they would not survive financially. You cannot run a hospital without a nurse.... We must change our thinking. We must mobilize, unite, and create what the hospitals fear the most...a nurse union. This takes money. And it is well pointed out that hospital administration is so wealthy it is futile for one single nurse to pay all her life savings to hire an attorney as a futile attempt to get justice. However, we as a WHOLE, do have power! This is exactly how the nurses in California set the standard and made the changes! We have got to stop being passive and continually rolling over, bending over, and tolerating these wrongful behaviors any longer. Anyway, loved your post Panhandler. It is so comforting to know that someone in my area relates to me. For a while, I was thinking that Florida nurses were under some kind of spell, put in a trance, with their heads stuck in the sand while I am being labeled as a radical. I'm sorry, but it takes doing something radical to make right choices and forcing those in power to live by the high standards they pretend to.

The pay here sucks. Cost of living has doubled for owning a home and even doubled for rent. My rent for a 3 BR townhouse was $1250!!! With a pay rate of a puny and pathetic 19.47 per/hr I cant do this! Hurricane Katrina caused the housing to sky rocket. Its the old "supply and demand" business term. People took advantage and many realtors got rich. Hmmmm...maybe I should go into real estate?

I worked at Baptist and Sacred. Neither are good places to work. However, I hear Baptist has improved, but the main hospital is not in a very nice place of town. However, I have heard nothing but raves about the Baptist Hospital in Gulf Breeze only about 10-15 miles away. Its clean, in a good area, and the managers are ethical. However, I wouldn't advise Sacred, nor would I take my dog there to be treated. I worked there several years. It looks so wonderful with their new hospital and all the new buildings and quite impressive. But dont let the outer shell fool ya. Inside you will work short-staffed, be underpaid, and they could care less if you are a specialty like critical care! You get paid the same as a staff nurse on any other floor. I you want to work for the Pharoah of Egypt, building bricks without straw...work for Sacred. I promise you, you will learn how to be very resourceful because nurses actually HIDE IV pumps because there's not enough of them. We run out of supplies too often, and of course they have no problem short-staffing and expect you to be a team member by tolerating it with a smile! The best thing about Pensacola are their beaches. The beaches here are virtually unparalled. Sugar white sands...sea oats, secluded....awesome blue ocean. But thats about ALL!!!! After the beaches whats left??? Local bars? If your into that then okay. But if not, short of a small zoo and museum, and an occasional concert at the Civic Center....you better like the beach ALOT. The weather in the summer is hot and humid....MUGGY. I hate it. You def need an air conditioner being from CT. It will take some getting use to for sure. The spring and fall are great! Perfect weather. Winters can be chilly but that wont be a problem for you! Housing cost have nearly doubled since Hurricane Katrina and be prepared to pay a hefty homeowners insurance because of it. Mine tripled!!! And what makes this bad, is the pay for nurses totally SUCKS here! I am a seasoned RN with 10 years experience in all units. I get paid a mere $19.47 per/hr. In my opinion thats horrible for a seasoned experienced nurse. Sacred has a WOW (work on weekend) program which pays about $28 per/hr (last I heard) but you have to work three 12 hour shifts every weekend be it Fr/Sat/Sun or Sat/Sun/Mon. You get one weekend off a quarter...if your manager doesnt cheat you out needing your body in her count. Truthfully? When I am asked advice I tell it like it is. Ive lived her 20 years and when my daughter graduates Im leaving. The only thing I will miss are the beaches. And hey...if I want to see the beach then I can always come back for my vacation! Good luck

I would really do my homework before moving here. Call the home health agencies and hospice here and get a telephone interview. Housing has almost doubled here since Hurricane Ivan. Things have settled down quite a bit, but this city is a far cry from Chicago! The pay for nurses here is horrible and not worth the headache of doing this career (at least here) for me any longer. If pay is important make them give you an offer before you go to the trouble to move and ask for relocation reimbursement. With hospice or home health however, I would be surprised if they did. Good luck

I dont know about UWF, but avoid PJC at ALL COSTS!!!! Unless you want to teach yourself. At one time they were a good nursing school, but trust me they aint been so in years now. Also, I wouldnt work in any of these hospitals. They are low pay, and nurse/patient ratios are not acceptable. If you want to be a nurse, don't do it in this area. Keep doing your homework...this is a good start. And word of mouth really does count cause we have been there and done that and I wish someone would have warned me. Good luck:)

I just read through this entire thread and first of all I want to tell you how greivous this is to me because I have experienced the same thing, and I too, felt "sad in my heart" as you described in an earlier post...so NO you are NOT corny one iota for feeling that way. First you are stunned, then the sadness and hurt sets in. My heart truly goes out for you and if I were in critical condition or one of my loved ones, I would want YOU as my nurse! I've only been a RN for 10 years and over the past 3 months I have taken a much needed sabbatical and I really am feeling I never want to work in a hospital again. I have just had it with administration. Its not about the patient or their so-called "values." We all know that its about their selfish financial gains. Managers are rewarded with hefty bonuses if they keep their budget low. I had a manager that was so disgustingly, sticky-sweet, phoney, fake, two-faced, almost angelic looking, but beware! There's a knife hidden under her lab coat. I saw so much unethical behaviors, falsifying of MR, and implying even the good docs were getting old and forgetful...(when they were not), as an attempt for cover-ups. And I am talking about a very well-known hospital. Yes, I've been railroaded. One time I reported my hospital to a hotline and the next day administration had an impromptu employee meeting on my floor whose real purpose was to locate the whistle-blower and fire them. There were numerous safey issues that they continually glossed over. My heart is with you TN Nurse. I love nursing. I love the challenges and the satisfaction I get from helping to save a life and make the smallest difference in a person life. But my eyes have been opened in the medical profession...its really not about any of this with the people in charge. Its all about their money and building more buildings and profit, profit, profit! I loved Panhandle Nurses post! Boy did you hit that nail on the head! Follow your heart and do not back down. If your attorney thinks you can win then go for the throat because I promise you they will go for your jugular. Your ex manager should be FIRED! And anyone in upper management should be investigated and terminated as well. This seems to be difficult to prove however. But not impossible. I would have NO PITY on them, and for heaven's sake get rid of the sentimental attachment to that hospital! Trust me, I have had the sentiments thinking they all loved me, would never hurt me, cause Im one of the best nurses they had, and how often I heard it...but oh yes, I am living testimony thats all a joke. Nursing in the south sucks. The nurses here, (no offense) have no backbone to unite and make the desparately needed changes. The nurses in California do not take any crap and united and take a look at the wonderful changes they made for their patients and their careers. If I am to stay in nursing I am moving to Northern California and leaving the armpit of nursing here in Florida. If I have to stay here...I promise you I am getting out of this profession. It has been one of the most demeaning jobs in my entire life. God Speed to you...keep us posted.