Show Bedside Nurses the Money

RN-PA, RN · Apr 30, 2003

Originally posted by -jt

I for one (and there are others) have spent a lot of time educating & informing people here of what they can do & how to do it. I dont think we're all just complaining. In between posting their opinions and venting their frustrations, a lot of nurses are becoming pro-active and taking action.

I know, jt-- My own frustration was showing and of course we need to vent and post opinions. I am fairly pessimistic right now and sometimes feel like it's a losing battle, but realize that if every one of us did one thing to try to improve our situations (writing letters to our representatives, letters to the editor, etc.) we could possibly make a difference.

I have stuck my neck out and been more vocal at meetings at our hospital and get sick and tired of feeling like a voice in the wilderness, and probably being labeled as "difficult" or a complainer. I know my fellow nurses feel the same as I, but they do not express themselves, in spite of my encouragement and example, so to change a huge and unwieldy system, I'm not sure how to begin when so many are unwilling to do what needs to be done.

funnygirl_rn · Apr 30, 2003

Tell us what we can do-- realistically-- rather than just starting these same threads and complaining about our lot every 6 months or so. [/b]

Hmmmm.....I believe jt, NurseKaren & many others (sorry, I don't know all your names by memory) provide the board members with numerous informative posts, web-sites and/or email addresses for us to take that "first" step to informing our congress officials that we want/need "changes" in our profession. They have done the legwork to keep the majority of us informed by posting these said web-sites. Often, I do my own searches to find more officials to email as well....but, I find that every email or phone call is another step to making a change. Eventually that mountain will be moved...if enough of us write congress, attend rallies & speak up by letting our voices heard. Complaining can be a good thing...it releases tension & also could pique interest in others in getting them to take that "first" step as well.

betts · Apr 30, 2003

What about salaried nurses? 'State' was just in and I logged 64 hours of which 24 is without pay. By the way, another "NO TAGS for Nursing Department!"

betts · Apr 30, 2003

UPDATE of; I Said HUH... Post #1

(Post# 126)

Mr. Governor,

I applaud your approach, admirable as it is; it's not the major problem. What about nurses that come to Florida after the 2 to 3 months wait for a license, only to be told that they've NO Experience practicing as a Nurse in Florida? Granted, we will need to educate ourselves to the laws here, but we knew that when we came. Why should facilities (Corporations) be allowed to "Skirt" the age discrimination laws with the above?

I returned here, and have almost 30 years experience in healthcare, at my expense in hopes that 'Home' would be different. It's expensive to fly here, rent an auto, temporary housing w/utilities, and then find affordable housing to purchase, without being "Rejected' because we've not had any "Practice" as a nurse here.

A "Nurse is a Nurse"; "Professional Caregiver", and what we do isn't "Practice", but years of "Education", "Skills Learned and Applied", proven over years of working in short staffed facilities, long hour's, and all to often, with uncaring "Corporations" that terminate us for unjust causes because we "Care about those we Care for".

Mr. Governor,

We want the "Respect", and the "Dignity" afforded other "Professionals", such as "Firemen and Teachers" get with home purchases. Relocation expenses, and the right to do our "Jobs" without "Fear" or "Intimidation". In short "JOB SECURITY". Immediate and affordable "Health Insurance", without the 90 day constraints.

Our motto:

"We Care What's Given and We Give What Cares"; "We're Healthcare Professionals".

Respectfully,

Letter sent to Governor Bush in Florida commenting on his new law concerning nurses in Florida.

Posted 06/04/2002

August 27th,2002

Low-rate loans target nurses...

In an attempt to lure more nurses and other health-care workers to Florida and retain them, Gov.Jeb Bush announced a program Monday that will make them eligible for low-interest mortgages and student loans.

The state has partnered with Fannie Mae, to promote up to 100% financing for home loans to nurses and select health-care workers in Florida.

Knoxville-based edsouth is offering Florida nursing students or nursing graduates working in the state a 1.06 percent interest rate for their student loans.

orlandosentinel.com

-jt · Apr 30, 2003

>

Forget about who doesnt want to do what. Just take little steps & do what has to be done. Your comments say it all for a lot of us. Youre not alone in those feelings. Dont you just "love" when everybody in the unit is grumbling amongst themselves complaining about something, and asks you to tackle the problem for the group, but when you do & bring it out in the open, and need them to support the effort, help make their case, and speak openly to management about their concerns, they all shut up & suddenly have nothing to complain about? And management looks at you like your the crazy one.

And what about the specialty organizations, and professional nursing organizations? We have millions of nurses and only a smalll % belong to any nursing organization at all. They arent joining their own specialty organizations. Even less get involved in any political nurse activism on any level - not even in their own states.

BUT some of them are very quick to complain about the nursing organizations that they dont belong to and dont support - usually stating the organizations "dont do enough" for them. How quick they are to criticize those of us who are active and are members and are the only ones paying to fund & support national and statewide political action to benefit all nurses - yet the uninvolved complain that thoswe of us who are active arent doing enough, fast enough, well enough.

All I can say is we ARE moving mountains little by little (evidenced by news article after news article about the nursing crisis, public awareness, national laws for recruitment & retention, new state laws for staffing & forced ot, etc, bills for same & more in Congress, etc) - but if nurses want us to move those mountains faster and further, they need to come help us push.

In the meantime, the rest of us will just keep doing what needs to be done.

funnygirl_rn · Apr 30, 2003

Hello RN-Pa. We must have been posting at the same time. Anyway, I have the same feelings at times..often being characterized and/or depicted as a complainer or trouble-maker. Co-workers will complain and not speak up when management approaches, which makes myself & another co-worker look like a fool or branded as a trouble-maker. But, I don't let them deter me....I continue to speak up & do my part.

If you ever need to vent, please feel free to PM me.

RN-PA, RN · Apr 30, 2003

Originally posted by funnygirl_rn
Hello RN-Pa. We must have been posting at the same time. Anyway, I have the same feelings at times..often being characterized and/or depicted as a complainer or trouble-maker. Co-workers will complain and not speak up when management approaches, which makes myself & another co-worker look like a fool or branded as a trouble-maker. But, I don't let them deter me....I continue to speak up & do my part.

If you ever need to vent, please feel free to PM me.

Thanks funnygirl! It's great that we have this forum to vent and to post ideas and be with like-minded people. I can't NOT speak up and continue living with myself when I see all that's wrong with the systems and treatment of coworkers at our hospital. Being a part of this bulletin board has fueled my fire even more, but as jt has said so well, "All I can say is we ARE moving mountains little by little (evidenced by news article after news article about the nursing crisis, public awareness, national laws for recruitment & retention, new state laws for staffing & forced ot, etc, bills for same & more in Congress, etc) - but if nurses want us to move those mountains faster and further, they need to come help us push." We need to encourage other nurses to put words (complaints) into action and work toward change rather than just griping about it. It just seems monumental and overwhelming most of the time, and many just don't (or won't) make the time and energy to do something...

JillRene · Apr 30, 2003

-jt: I can't thank you enough for your proof that things are so out of whack!! I knew the money was going somewhere. I've always been referred to as the trouble-maker, so much so that I will no longer take a staff position in a hospital. I do travel contracts and agency perdiem because I could no longer stand by and watch CEO's and hospital management take advantage of me. But because of allnurses and your posts in particular, I will be doing more research, emailing everyone I can get a hold of. Enough is Enough!!!! Are there certain organizations that are better at getting info out? Do you have any reccomendations of websites that are informative?