NurseyK

We have one of these nut-jobs with us too. She believes that SHE is "in charge" (and, yes, to a certain extent she is) - but *not* of Nursing and Nursing Issues. She generally steps all over my (Charge Nurse) toes -- to the point when one day I actually threw the ER charts and Nursing schedule in front of her and said, "Here, since YOU are such a better Nurse than I -- handle this" (PS: she couldn't). The abuse ended for a while with me, but the target just changed to another experienced nurse on our nite shift. We tried going up the chain of command - don't bother...it didn't work. My solution: After a shift from he## with this woman, I mean, to the point where I could not even SEE straight, honestly, I locked the wacko in the break room and let her have it, politely yet firmly Since this time, approx a few weeks now, I have not had a problem on MY nite shifts. Unfortunately, she is still giving others grief. They know what I did (they were there that nite) and see the obvious change in her attitude with me (when they work on my nites). Best thing I ever did. Heck, I should have done it sooner (when someone else suggested this to me). Bottom line: Direct confrontation always gets the bully off your back. Good Luck! Kat :)

Natalie - I was only specifically responding to JT about working 20 hrs. Get off my back. All - Maybe I'm not making myself clear...our hospital is union. We HAVE to work 20 hrs if we are mandated. Refusal = termination. We are not "volunteering"..we are "mandated" by our Mgr....Following me yet? It's not that difficult. Let's all not give me a lecture about how I have lived on a weekly basis for the past 6 yrs. I'm leaving nursing. Done. You all can enjoy the fight.

Contrary to your belief, there is no "wasted effort" when it comes to fighting for restricted nursing hours. You and I will have to agree to disagree on this issue. (I'm leaving nursing, technically, one could argue, 'then why do I care anyway?') MY bill has passed the House and is sitting in the Senate. Why is it sitting in the Senate Labor Committee, you may query? The *hospital lobby*...they are much stronger/powerful/have more $$$=influence than us tiny, unorganized, screaming-mimi nurses. If the Senate/hospital lobby has a problem with my simple bill restricting the amount of hours a nurse works in a day/week...do you really think they'll take a better stance on NYSNA's more restrictive one? Think carefully on that... ....so, meanwhile....I, and many hospital's full of nurses "up here in the sticks" continue to be forced to work for 20 hrs on, then come back for our regularly scheduled 12. Hell, a 16 would be a vacation... There is no option of refusal...refusal=fired, end of story. ..the next time I'm in my 19th hour on (which translates to 22 hr awake), and working on a Trauma pt., let's hope I don't make a mistake because I'm tired...let's hope I don't kill someone because I'm tired....let's hope it's not you or yours....heck, let's hope I don't kill myself or others in an MVA when I drive the hour commute home... Scary thought, huh? Or maybe it's not to you, you've never walked in my shoes... [This message has been edited by NurseyK (edited March 29, 2001).]

JT - The bill I speak of is A2025/S1318...the precise bills of which you speak of that NYSNA does NOT support. This Bill actually began to put in words and motion SOMETHING that addressed nursing hours here in NY. NYSNA has not gotten on board with any of my ideas/drafts of bills, that began in 1998, until last year...how do I know? I am personal friends with the Assemblyman who sponsored the above bills. I have numerous e-mails and hard copies of documentation from my politicians and from NYSNA re: this matter. In fact, NYSNA refused to enterain any of *my* ideas unless *I paid them* a minimum of $500 "consulting" fee. (Yes, again, I did save this doosy of an e-mail.) As far as "not allowed to work over 16 consecutive hrs"...let me emphatically inform you that there is NO NY State Labor Law on the books at this time prohibiting the number of consecutive hours a nurse can work. The max number of consecutive hours any person, above the age of 16, can work in NY State is 20...yes....20 hours...(I also have e-mail and hard copy confirmation of this fact also...do your homework...) So, while you and NYSNA are paying lip service to "no tolerance for mandatory OT," there are many hospitals (even those that have a union) that are currently continuing to mandate their nurses for 20 hr shifts...patients are continuing to be put in jeopardy because the great paper-pushers in the sky have loudly nay-say'd a bill that would have, at the very least, done SOMETHING to end this unsafe practice... I will give my question to you, as I have to many others....have you, personally, ever worked a 20 consecutive hour shift? (no sleeping now, you'll get fired...) My gut response is: your answer is "no".... Just my $0.02... Kat [This message has been edited by NurseyK (edited March 28, 2001).]

I guess I must be reading your posts incorrectly? are you for or against mandatory OT? (key word here folks: MANDATORY) I have personally spearheaded a campaign here in NY re: Nursing OT. A pending bill passed the House and is now under review in the Senate. The bill addresses a MAX number of hours a nurse can work in a day. This legislation came about after I wrote every politician in my area, from Assemblyman to the Governor, re: my hospital's practice of mandating nurses to work 20 hr shifts (we ER and the Critical Care nurses work 12 hr shifts and are mandated for an extra 8 hrs if there are call-ins/schedule "holes"/etc). Truck drivers can only work 8 hrs a day, medical students even have a cap on their hrs...I'm holding another human being's life in my hands...and you want me to work how many hours in a row? Do you really want me to take care of you or yours if they were involved in a Trauma, in my 19th hour of work? I don't even know my NAME at that time...yet, I'm pushing drugs that could kill you. This upcoming bill addresses only MANDATORY OT - not "coming in for a extra shift or 2." Basically, the max is 16 hrs a day (consecutive or non-consecutive) with a minimum of 8-12 hrs off/between shifts; and a max of 60 (or so) hrs/week. Cases of disaster, etc. are going to be excluded (per the latest word, I hear). The most frustrating part about the whole process that I have been going thru for the past 2 yrs with this bill: NYSNA and ANA do not...let me repeat that....DO NOT support it. How's that for our "nursing representatives"? Do you know how many times I have repeated the phrase, "Have YOU ever worked a consecutive 20 hr shift in the ER of a busy Trauma center?" "How about a consecutive 20 hr shift, in general, working on HUMAN BEINGS - not shuffling paperwork?" Funny, I never get a response from the paper-pushers after that.... Even though I will be leaving nursing and attending Medical School this Fall, I hope to continue my crusade to abolish this deplorable practice....Heck, can't accuse me of not "remembering where I came from"... Kat ------------------ The grass isn't greener on the other side -- it's just different grass

In our ER, the MEDICAL Director keeps getting a wild hair up his..ahem...and demands that all patients be "brought straight back to a bed", "no lines no waiting", "we don't want those pt complaints now." OK great...I'll pack the beds in with crap that could conceivably wait to be seen; then when the MI/CHFer/etc walks in gasping his last..well then, I'll just put 'em in the hall....never mind those ambulances coming in.... Triage is an ER's most valuable asset. This is where your most experienced nurse can weed thru the non-urgent, emergent, and just plain can-wait-in-the-WR-until-tomorrow people. (JCAHO and EMTALA demand this of us) I would start first with Triage by parking your most experienced RN out there. You might need a meeting with the staff to get everyone "on board" with the idea of cleaning the place up. Also, it sounds like you need to recruit your OWN nurses (not agency). JMHO Kat

What kind of pabulum-puking managerial bullsh#t is this? Document...yeah, right. Ya know what? The first poster is right; nursing is WRONG no matter what. I have spent time responding intelligently to absurd on pt complaints. The vast majority of my (legal) incident reports are thrown away...ahem....I mean..."on someone's desk somewhere." (Good thing I have my own copies, huh?) For the last complaint of "I waited 8 hrs in the ER and no one did anything for me!" I wrote a 10 page discourse complete with numerous pages of *well* documented, corresponding times from various independant sources/departments/computer log of when I did X, Y, and Z (the pt. spent a grand total of less than 3-4 hrs in ER). This complaint has been packed away into my personnel file (complete with my response) as well as the hospital's response telling the pt how they were *so* right and I was *so* wrong and being "repremanded" for it. HUH?!?! Has anyone heard of Pavlov's dogs? How about enabling? This crap will stop when we all make a stand (from management down). These people are in OUR house, OUR playground, and need to play by OUR rules. I certainly don't go into, say, my accountant's office and tell him he's a "piece of sh#t" and "worthless" and every other word/phrase we are all subject to on a daily basis. And what would he do if I did? Kick me out and tell me to get a new accountant, that's what! It's like the waiting room patient who throws himself on the floor screaming he's having "chest pains" just because he wants to be seen sooner (and not wait his turn). What happens next after this high-drama, my friends? You guessed it...everyone in the waiting room starts throwing themselves on the floor screaming some kind of bullsh#t complaint just so they can be seen sooner than anyone else. (A good experienced Triage Nurse cuts thru all this kind of crap. When people realize that the soap-opera mentality does not work, they go back to sitting (if they are truely sick) or go home (if they just came to the ER for the show of the nite.) As a side note, always remember - be wary of those patients and families who are "too" quiet...they are truely the sickest and need to be paid close attention to. We are all professionals and should be treated as such. To accept childish, rude, and demeaning behavior from our patients should NOT be tolerated under ANY circumstances. Patients should be told this flat out when they "act up". Remember those bullies in grade/high school? When did they back off? When you picked up your skirt and grabbed your balls...you stood up for yourself. Try it. The complaints will stop. They have for me.

Your very welcome. I'm not sure about where you live, but here (in Upstate New York) our Classified Ads are FILLED TO THE BRIM with openings for office nurses and office "techs". I would start there - calling, visiting, writing them. As far as getting into a hospital from there, you, again, have to watch for the postings at your local hospital(s), in the newspaper, etc. Others may tell you that this route is not possible (believe me, I think every ONE of them tried to discourage me), but I'm living proof it can be done. You know....keep your mind open and don't discount the possibility that you may even *like* working in an office. In fact, because there are so many nurses who do, there exists an organization called the American Association of Office Nurses (I'm not sure if there is a web site. I've thrown away most of my nursing stuff - there's a crappy long story attached to that). I remember Springhouse Corp. published their magazine....Their home office is in NJ.... Letters of rec: school teachers/clinicians for the job, doctors and nurses from job for next job, and possibly those teacher ones for your first hospital job - one place I applied to actually asked me for them [This message has been edited by NurseyK (edited March 13, 2001).] [This message has been edited by NurseyK (edited March 13, 2001).] [This message has been edited by NurseyK (edited March 13, 2001).]

Your very welcome. I'm not sure about where you live, but here (in Upstate New York) our Classified Ads are FILLED TO THE BRIM with openings for office nurses and office "techs". I would start there - calling, visiting, writing them. As far as getting into a hospital from there, you, again, have to watch for the postings at your local hospital(s), in the newspaper, etc. Others may tell you that this route is not possible (believe me, I think every ONE of them tried to discourage me), but I'm living proof it can be done. You know....keep your mind open and don't discount the possibility that you may even *like* working in an office. In fact, because there are so many nurses who do, there exists an organization called the American Association of Office Nurses (I'm not sure if there is a web site. I've thrown away most of my nursing stuff - there's a crappy long story attached to that). I remember Springhouse Corp. published their magazine....Their home office is in NJ.... Letters of rec: school teachers/clinicians for the job, doctors and nurses from job for next job, and possibly those teacher ones for your first hospital job - one place I applied to actually asked me for them [This message has been edited by NurseyK (edited March 13, 2001).] [This message has been edited by NurseyK (edited March 13, 2001).] [This message has been edited by NurseyK (edited March 13, 2001).]

You do not specify if you are an RN or LPN graduate, but I'll go on with my little "story" for ya Nursing school was a post-bacc career change for me. I went thru LPN school first and, towards the end of LPN school, was initially hired at a busy, multi-physician family practice office (part-time). I then enrolled in RN (ADN) school with advanced placement. My jobs began to reflect my increasing role in nursing: changed to a "doc-in-the-box" free standing urgent care clinic, then worked my way (with my LPN license) into a local Emergency Department with a Prompt Care/Minor Emergency area that was staffed with LPN's (I spent any down-time I had in the department in the "Main" ER helping the RN's). Upon getting my RN license, I was hired into the "Main" ER, received a 3 month orientation by an outstanding 20+ yr veteran ER nurse, and took many classes (Basic Critical Care, ACLS, PALS, NALS, TNCC, ENPC) and received my national Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) accreditation within a yr of hire there. I have worked my way up the ladder to our local Level II Trauma Center where I am a Senior/Charge RN in the ER. This fall, I will be attending Medical School. Sorry so long winded. I hope this short discourse helps to illustrate to you that no matter where you start out, you can cut any pathway to your goals. You just need fierce determination and the mindset of never accepting "no" for an answer. Look for an office that is multi-provider (MD/DO, PA, NP)and busy - ex. family practice, multi-specialty. While you are there, get your nose into everything and be a little information sponge...oh, yeah, and get those letters of recommendation! Best of Luck to you! Kat

You do not specify if you are an RN or LPN graduate, but I'll go on with my little "story" for ya Nursing school was a post-bacc career change for me. I went thru LPN school first and, towards the end of LPN school, was initially hired at a busy, multi-physician family practice office (part-time). I then enrolled in RN (ADN) school with advanced placement. My jobs began to reflect my increasing role in nursing: changed to a "doc-in-the-box" free standing urgent care clinic, then worked my way (with my LPN license) into a local Emergency Department with a Prompt Care/Minor Emergency area that was staffed with LPN's (I spent any down-time I had in the department in the "Main" ER helping the RN's). Upon getting my RN license, I was hired into the "Main" ER, received a 3 month orientation by an outstanding 20+ yr veteran ER nurse, and took many classes (Basic Critical Care, ACLS, PALS, NALS, TNCC, ENPC) and received my national Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) accreditation within a yr of hire there. I have worked my way up the ladder to our local Level II Trauma Center where I am a Senior/Charge RN in the ER. This fall, I will be attending Medical School. Sorry so long winded. I hope this short discourse helps to illustrate to you that no matter where you start out, you can cut any pathway to your goals. You just need fierce determination and the mindset of never accepting "no" for an answer. Look for an office that is multi-provider (MD/DO, PA, NP)and busy - ex. family practice, multi-specialty. While you are there, get your nose into everything and be a little information sponge...oh, yeah, and get those letters of recommendation! Best of Luck to you! Kat

I like www.embbs.com myself

Work 7p-7a shift in ER...wouldn't trade it for the world! All the interesting little critters come out from under their rocks when the sun goes down....hahahahha

Ok, ok....here comes my $0.02 worth, take it or leave it..... I believe SubQ has stated what not a small number of us have been experiencing of late especially, and increasingly, with the event of the nursing shortage, money issues, etc. I don't believe he stated it as eloquently as he *could* have (sorry SubQ), but, with that aside, he makes some valid points...we must all, deep down inside, admit that at the least. I take heed with the comments about cops and virtue. I am a 10 yr spouse of a former Marine and retired State Trooper. The man, IMHO and our State Governor who has signed his numerous commendations, is a stand-up guy, at home and (formerly) on the job. For 10 yrs of marriage that is all I have heard from him, "..Nursing's a woman-dominated field, that's the problem," "all you all need is some bal$s," "take an example from say, the teachers' union and unite and stand up for yourselves, you all have the numbers". Needless to say, I started with no bal$s when I began nursing, and now have a huge brass set... This, I must admit all, has taken me far. I don't meakly ask and cave in and make do...I demand and receive (no, not in a bitc&y way -just quietly and to the point, no yelling and carrying on). When I don't, I climb the Chain of Command until everyone knows exactly what the problem is and how I solved it and what each supervisor/administrator's response was to my attempt at getting them to solve their own problems, complete with HUM reports cc: to everyone from the CEO down, recording FACTS, my friends, not personality issues...cold hard numbers, copies of charts, etc. Stuff that would hold up in court, no hearsay and he-said-she-said crap. I no longer receive patient complaints re: non-medical/care issues (you all know - the B.S. ones that should be thrown away because they are blatant lies about time spent in waiting room/on stretcher/for meds/etc), because of my lengthy/accurate responses to them (read: cold hard facts that would stand up in court). I do not wield my weapon wildly or haphazardly...I choose my battles carefully, it is in this way I get those in power to listen. I'm not even going to go into the whole gossip/catty thing...I have plenty of examples of such (including but certainly not limited to: not ONE of my fellow NURSING male or female co-workers congratulating me on being accepted to medical school this fall)...please!....the one poster was right, maybe it's a genetic thing we gals must consciously overcome (such as she commendably has).... After 6 yrs as an ER/Trauma Nurse, I command respect because not only do I give it, but, dammit, I deserve it. We all do. To paraphrase what one poster said, 'Take the doormat off your back'.......you'd be pleasantly suprised at the results...

TRN - Welp, I'm one of those nurses jumping ship. I've been accepted to a handfull of DO (DO -osteopathic vs. MD - allopathic) medical schools (my choice) first try and will be a MS-1 this Fall. Do I believe the grass will be greener? Heck no. I believe the grass will only be *different* - an exchange of "headaches," if you will. Is this the right decision for me? Yes. I can look in the mirror and be confident in myself and my decision to make my life a living he%# for the next 7 years or so.... Only you can answer the question of whether going the MD/DO route is for you. It requires a lot of sit-down honest soul searching on "why am I leaving/going into medicine" and "where do I see myself" and "what responsibilities to I want to take on", etc, etc....not the easist questions, I know. I spent *time* thinking, thinking, and then....I thought some more..... Good luck to you...feel free to e-mail me. Kat ------------------ The grass isn't greener on the other side -- it's just different grass [This message has been edited by NurseyK (edited February 16, 2001).]