South African Theatre Scrub RN: Would like to communicate

[surgigaltheatre]

Hi all!! I am a South African Professional Registered Nurse, working at a private hospital, and would like to communicate with anybody interested. I have been working as a scrub RN since 1994 and really enjoy my job, although I feel that we in South Africa are not paid what we are worth. We do not have night staff, and have to stay on after 19:00 to finish the lists, and then have to be on call for the rest of the night, and because we are short of staff, we have to be on duty again at 07:00 to start the day again. We also do weekend call duty, wich means that we are on call Saturday and Sunday (48 Hours). My problem is this: We have one general surgeon whom does cold cases at night, I have now come to a stage where I am refusing to go back to work at night for cold cases, as I feel that a patient who has been in the hospital the whole day, and treated conservatively, may as well be done the next day. I really do not mind to be called out for an emergency, but to be used as day and nightshift worker on cold cases, is rediculous!! I just feel that somewhere, somehow, mistakes are going to be made!! It is expected of me to be functional at all times, and working these long hours, is definately taking its toll physcically and mentally!! Am I being unfair? How do you guys out there feel?? Please help me!!

[karmil]

I am very interested in your education in SA to get your RN and what your job description involves. My daughter lives in SA and I would like to go there and volunteer. I am an LPN. Do you have LPN's in SA? She is married to a SA Dentist and he cannot practice here in our State. Thank you.