I really don't understand. I am a newish nurse that landed my "dream job" in the icu. My hospital is the biggest and best in the area and we are currently on a journey to magnet. I feel like I was lied to about how this would help nurses and we would be supported and taken care of.
In my icu we have a very high acuity. We are constantly short staffed and tripled. 1:1 for ccrt pts is advertised but never actually happens!
I have seen a patient self extubate during the holy interdisciplinary rounds due to that nurse being tripled and spread out across the unit. None of the bosses said any thing and just went on to round on the next patient.
The majority of our assistants will not help unless asked and it's like pulling teeth just to get them to help with a blood sugar check. Often they are sitting on their cellphones or just catching up on gossip. But since they have worked there a long time it is widely accepted by the staff.
We have are losing staff nurses left and right.
I have been talked down to by our surgeons and blatantly disrespected on more than one occasion for trying to help a patient but not enough to be considered abusive so that I could report it. Once, I calmly asked a doc to update the close family members of a dying patient at their request. Since a distant family had been updated, the doctor was visibly offended and proceeded to call my charge nurse and say "I got in her face" which was completely false. Luckily the charge was within ear shot and heard everything. This was swept under the rug.
During my new nurse orientation the nursing instructor preached against unions especially since we were going magnet and would have so many benefits.
I feel like a strong nurse union could solve many of our problems and help our patient care. But the majority of nurses I have talked to are completely against it. I can't understand this for the life of me.
Sadly, my dream job has turned to hell. I love my sick patients and family but sick of being overworked, tripled, never even getting a lunch break, all while being talked down to and humiliated by the Dr.s that see me as a stupid new nurse.
I believe the low participation is due to the increasing number of Right To Work states, and concomitantly, the demise of closed-shop employers.
As for me, I negotiated my starting pay when I got hired as a brand new nurse a few years ago. It was substantially higher than more experienced nurses on my floor. Didn't need a union to do what I could do.
As for me, I negotiated my starting pay when I got hired as a brand new nurse a few years ago. It was substantially higher than more experienced nurses on my floor. Didn't need a union to do what I could do.
Pay aside I have been on the receiving end of trumped up charges that resulted in me being fired (but oddly not reported to the BON or the authorities given what they said I did) because I pissed off the wrong person. Had I been in a union I would have either not lost my job or left with a nice settlement. That alone is enough for me to support unions.
Pay aside I have been on the receiving end of trumped up charges that resulted in me being fired (but oddly not reported to the BON or the authorities given what they said I did) because I pissed off the wrong person. Had I been in a union I would have either not lost my job or left with a nice settlement. That alone is enough for me to support unions.
That is the first and foremost reason for union protection, pay and benefits are icing on the cake. I assume many people who are against unions feel that way because they have neither seen nor felt the sting of wrongful charges and the unjust actions employers have full authority to take. You are correct, this would have been prevented in a union or at least some sort of actions taken to reduce the shock of losing ones job suddenly. Right to Work laws are huge boons to employers and take all the power away from employees even tho such laws are ludicrously written to 'protect' both employers and employees. I'm sorry you were on the receiving end of such actions as that should not happen to anyone.
As for me, I negotiated my starting pay when I got hired as a brand new nurse a few years ago. It was substantially higher than more experienced nurses on my floor. Didn't need a union to do what I could do.
Interesting, I was just assured by a union supporter that this is not possible. ?♂️
Well, I did. I started at $20/hr during residency. After residency, the starting pay was $23/hr, unless you had prior experience. I did, and gave documentation. They asked if I would accept $27/hr or what would I want. So yes, it is possible.
Well, I did. I started at $20/hr during residency. After residency, the starting pay was $23/hr, unless you had prior experience. I did, and gave documentation. They asked if I would accept $27/hr or what would I want. So yes, it is possible.
Like I said salaries are based on experience. You had experience. They plugged you into an algorithm and produced a rate that anyone else with your experience would have gotten as well. They weren’t going to give you any more than that. Asking what you wanted was a ploy. Had you asked for more they likely would have moved on. It’sthe same everywhere. It feels like you are negotiating a great deal but It’s only an illusion.
Not a ploy. The nurse recruiter and I talked about it and she had a range to negotiate in. She actually asked me if $27 wasn't good, what would I want?
Not a ploy. The nurse recruiter and I talked about it and she had a range to negotiate in. She actually asked me if $27 wasn't good, what would I want?
Sorry, but Wuzzie is right. Nurse recruiters may have some latitude in negotiating a salary but it is a predetermined range based upon years' of experience and sometimes, educational preparedness. I am betting that offering $27/hr was within their purview and not based upon your bargaining ability.
Do you realize what you're saying? You're actually agreeing with me. Whilst there was a range, I could negotiate in that range and not be forced to accept what they initially offered. A union goes in to negotiate, and there is a limit to which the corporation will set as a maximum. Synonymous with range.
In my area the union steps are historically higher than the “range” offered by non-union hospitals hence the “market adjustment” that usually follows a contract re-negotiation but doesn’t quite match. So instead they offer “perks” such as a personal grocery shopper which only works for 9-5 employees (management) and other such nonsense.
And there are union dues, fees, etc., correct? And unions also have a political agenda, which is something that everyone might not agree with. So to be fair, each way has its advantage.
The hospital I work at just had all the techs and service workers unionize. The hospital policy in force before was a standard annual raise of 3%, up to 5% if you did really well on your review. The union contract gives them 2% annually. They also lost 2 paid days off per year. Of course, now they pay dues on top of it. In return, they got "solidarity."
As I said earlier, I'm not "anti-union" in that I don't go around and share my opinion on the subject nor do I try to influence others. However, the union just doesn't seem worth it to me. On top of that, they are way too political for my liking. There's a reason they are in decline.
Guest957596
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I believe the low participation is due to the increasing number of Right To Work states, and concomitantly, the demise of closed-shop employers.
As for me, I negotiated my starting pay when I got hired as a brand new nurse a few years ago. It was substantially higher than more experienced nurses on my floor. Didn't need a union to do what I could do.