KTYRN

I was recently asked to join a committee at my workplace that consists of the CEO and nurses from each unit. This committe is basically set up to brainstorm ideas and put into action ways to retain the nurses that already work at the hospital. I know what would make me happy, but I would really like to hear ideas from everyone else. I would appreciate anyone's input on this.

Wow, I guess I really opened a can of worms with this topic. I respect everybody's point of view and I appreciate the feedback. As for the nurses from India coming here, I will definitely keep everyone posted on how it goes. As for the pay rate of new grads only getting $22/hr. that's great! In our area they only get $18., that's with a union. I think I'm ready to move, LOL. I think I live in the lowest paying area of the U.S.

We are very short staffed. It's getting pretty bad and the attitude on the floors really stinks. People are tired and burnt out. The wages aren't the best, there is really no program in place for retention of staff. We are unionized and that does seem to help somewhat. It's just very frustrating. I finally got into a unit where the nurses actually work together as a team and they really stick together. I love it there, but I know the tension on the other floors is still pretty bad, It gets pretty cut throat. I see what some of the nurses do to each other, I can only imagine what it's going to be like when the nurses from India come in.

Ok, here's my thought on this today. I think these nurses who are being brought in should be set up with a buddy or something like that. Another nurse who works at the hospital, but not on the same floor. They will already have a preceptor on the floor to train them etc... I think if they are set up with like a buddy or something, they will have someone to vent to, ask questions about the area, help them get to know peolpe etc... This is a first for our hospital and I would really like to see it go over well. I just know if I were going to a different country to work without my family, with different culture etc. I would be a little nervous. Our hospital doesn't have the best reputation as it is, what hospital does anymore? I just would really like this to be a positive thing.

These nurses are being brought in from India. I guess they can speak English. I am interested to see how things go. I'm hoping it will help with our shortage of staff and they are recieved well by the staff.

Not sure how I feel about this and I'm wondering if anyone out there has experienced this with there hospital. The hospital I currently work in is bringing 15 nurses from another country in to work at our hospital. These nurses have 3 yr. contracts with the hospital. I here a lot of buzz from other nurses, saying they aren't going to stay if they are brought in, they won't be welcomed etc... I'm trying to see the bright side of this, this will help with the shortage of nurses. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone else has had this experience and what the thoughts are on this?

you can handle the smell of a pt. on a bowel prep all night long, but you want to hurl when a doc comes in plastered in cologne.

Hey Paula. I borrowed every CD for every book that I could possibly borrow and just studied them. The ones I liked best were the ones that gave you instantly if you were right or wrong, if I got it wrong I would sit and figure out why I got it wrong. Also I didn't apply any of the stuff I learned as a GN from the hospital I work at. I found that at the place I work at would pretty much fail the boards if tested. Take a deep breath and try to stay as relaxed as possible. Good Luck!

Thank you to everyone for your kind words and support. I feel a little better about the situation. Our shift constantly works short and I just get very frustrated sometimes and this morning was especially frustrating. Our charge nurse never helps out if it means getting her hands dirty. She doesn't like to put people on bed pans, take them to the bathroom, stuff like that. She likes to just kind of hang out at the desk and complain a lot. There was one other RN there that was my saving grace. She was awesome and we worked well together. I wouldn't have made it through the night without her. I made sure I told her how much I appreciated the help. This site is really great and thanks to everyone for the encouragement. It feels really good to vent and get some kind of constructive criticism and words of support. I have a feeling I'll be posting a lot of threads. I'm going to just stay focused on my patient care, do my job to the best of my ability, learn as I go and hopefully work my way up the ladder and some day make changes and make a difference in this crazy nursing world.

I'm a new RN, I got my license in September. I started a job at a hospital on a med-surg floor. I don't know if the problem is me or if I really have a valid complaint. I work 12 hr nights 7p-7a and have put in for a day position. Last night I had 6 pts. One who was a new admission(I had to do the assessment and admission orders etc...), who needed one on one because the pt. was intoxicated, beligerent and verbally abusive to the staff. Two of the pt's were total care,( inc. care, T&R q2h,etc...). I had to hang blood on one pt., another pt with a new colostomy and in a lot of pain. Plus two of the pt's needed IV's started. I had no nurses aid and no LPN, it was only me to do total care, pass meds, check orders, call docs, check vitals, chart, all of it. I went to my supervisor this morning and vented about this and about how my charge nurse doesn't like to help the rest of the staff. Well my supervisor's response was "maybe you shouldn't come to the day shift". No encouraging words like "hang in there", no compassion like "it sounds like it was a rough night", nothing, just "maybe you shouldn't come to the day shift." Not only do I feel like just another warm body on the floor, but now I feel totally not wanted there. Am I crazy or is it just me because I'm new to the profession? I would appreciate anybody's feed back on this.