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.
"The states of Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Virginia are the only states that do not currently recognize the exemption."
Exactly. You said "in an 'employment at will' state they can fire you for any reason or no reason at all and awarning or explanation is not required," but the link you cited here says exactly the opposite. The states without exemptions are the ones that can fire you for any reason and without explanation, but those states are in the minority. In fact, there are only 3 states (Delaware, Massachusetts, and Montana) in which this is true because all of the rest of the states either have implied contract or good faith exemptions, or both.
Any employer that has been in business for any length of time knows how to word the paperwork to get around the exemptions. The employee will always be at a disadvantage. So yes, they can fire you for any reason all they have to do is spin it.
But if you have the money to fight it good on you. I felt the same as you until it happened to me and I got the shock of my life. And yes, I was wrongfully terminated.
Then why did you bother to ask me? I don't like feeling like I'm being set up.
Agree! I'm not sure why some here chose to post beliefs and opinions as if they are facts. I (and likely Wuzzie) are not union representatives, shop stewards, or even really care if anyone chooses to join their local union. I'm definitely not disputing that there are negatives aspects to unions, but in the end, many nurses work for some kind of a business (nonprofit or otherwise). That said, employee's interests and employer's interests are often at odds and as Wuzzie pointed out, in most states, non-represented employees can be wrongfully terminated tomorrow with norecourse whatsoever.
I bet if you talked to everyone who was ever terminated, 90% of them would say it was "wrongful". The truth is sometimes people just aren't a good fit for whatever reason. A lot of times it's something as simple as a personality conflict that is disruptive to the work environment. In a union setting, there is a much more narrow list of things people can be let go for. Again, good for the union person, bad for those around that person who have to work in that environment.
To relate this back to the original topic of this thread, which I think we are getting far away from at this point, this is another reason many of us dislike unions. I've worked in unions - the atmosphere is not something I like. If some of you feel you need them for whatever reason then more power to you, but the topic was why do some people not like them.
In a union setting, there is a much more narrow list of things people can be let go for. Again, good for the union person, bad for those around that person who have to work in that environment.
This is patently untrue and is one of the fallacies anti-union people frequently use. A union employee that needs to be fired can be fired as long as the proper paperwork is filed. The reason they aren't has everything to do with the manager and not the union.
I bet if you talked to everyone who was ever terminated, 90% of them would say it was "wrongful".
You can't just make up statistics to support your claim and I'm not sure what you are implying. I have seen people run out on a rail at the whim of a new manager who simply did not like them. I have worked for managers that did not like me. Some recognized me for the good nurse/employee that I am and chose to overlook our personal differences and I have much respect for them. Others chose to mete out a personal vendetta full of lies and write-ups for non-existent situations. Trust me when I say that as an employee you will have zero power to fight these. But if you want to lead the charge go right ahead.
I've worked in unions - the atmosphere is not something I like.
Have you worked in a nursing union? Like I said earlier it's nothing like the Teamsters. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to notice a difference in the "atmosphere".
Wuzzie let's just agree to ignore each other. Your need to continually reply to someone's opinions is really tiring. Best of luck to you.
The beauty of the US and of this site is I'm free to respond to anything I want as long as I am not violating the TOS. I'm sorry you don't like that I disagree with you so may I suggest you put me on "ignore" that way you won't be bothered.
jinct
57 Posts
Actually, all 50 states are at will states.