Readers Digest Helping to Spread the Word

oramar · Jan 29, 2003

I hope everyone reads the second article"gambling with your life". It explains what can happen when the person on the phone tells you your symptoms are minor. If you don't think they are minor you better be ready to advocate for yourself.

fergus51 · Jan 29, 2003

There was also an article about the nursing shortage in the Canadian version this month. It even listed the number of nurses praticing in each province and the number needed, as well as discussing workplace conditions and salaries.

-jt · Jan 29, 2003

Fergus, can you post a link to that article?

There was supposed to one in the US version this month too but I can't find it online. Anybody get the US version Jan 2003?

Keely-FutureRN · Jan 29, 2003

I don't really understand the first story regarding why it is bad for a nurse aid to care for you. In Utah, it is REQUIRED that you become certified with 2 months imprisonment and a 1,000+ fine if you are caught practicing without certification. In regards to the types of care that you need to "ask about", certified nursing assistants are not allowed to perform these so it would definitely need to be a nurse or doctor. So why is it telling people you should ask who is performing these? Just because they're nurse aids, doesn't mean they're incapable of caring for people. :confused:

Keely

FullMoonMadness · Jan 29, 2003

Keely,the aides at many hospitals do foley insertions,blood sugars and dressing changes. Its a way for management to get the most while spending less.

Keely-FutureRN · Jan 29, 2003

Thanks FullMoonMAdness,

I am currently in a cna certification course and was misinformed about these. Thanks for clearing that up. :)

Keely

RainbowzLPN, LPN · Jan 29, 2003

I have worked at a rehab hospital in the past (before I was a CNA), & I was called a rehab tech. I was doing blood sugars, changing dressings, etc. I found out that I didn't even need to be a CNA to work there, & that made me uncomfortable. I'm going on to be a nurse, & I'll be there to help do dressings, & other procedures, but that just made me worry abt my job, I didn't want to be responsible for hurting a patient. :eek:

fergus51 · Jan 29, 2003

Ask and you shall receive

Called "where have all the nurses gone?". Some of the info is uniquely Canadian because it deals with how we lose nurses to the US, but most of it is very relevant to the US as well.

http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2003/02/nurses.html

fergus51 · Jan 29, 2003

I thought it was a good article. It mentioned the lack of full time work, which is the main reason I am leaving my hospital and moving to another province.

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 29, 2003

yes, fergus, i notice that. there are HARDLY ANY fulltime/ 0.9 FTE's posted anywhere, but lots and lots of 0.6 and less (oncall were the majority I saw). for those needing benefits,this is such a grand rip-off. another way to cheat people and chase nurses out of the field, for sure.

fergus51 · Jan 29, 2003

Exactly Deb. The interesting thing was in this article they interviewed Rob Callnan (head of the CNA, our ANA) about a unit he managed in Vicotria. The first thing he did was cut the number of beds and hire more nurses. He was 60 000$ underbudget by the end of the year because of less sick time and better retention that comes with more full time positions.

I managed to get a full time in a NICU in another province. I have been here almost 4 years and still haven't got full time. It's been a big issue for me and I am happily leaving it behind...