WILTW 1/8/17: Who's on FIRST?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

This week has been full of bonus money, committee meetings as well as navigating through the new union contract.

This week is the annual underway for summer vacation selection; in negotiations, this was a HUGE issue amongst nurses and administration; it was a tiring process that even got thrown around when nurses wanted to discuss more issues, such as staffing, benefits and wages. There were times when I needed these icons :facepalm: :banghead: to express my frustration when we would have a proposal to discuss, and then the administration would present vacation selection as a part of discussion.

With the contract settled, ratified, and in effect, the language stating seniority is the tie breaker when it comes to key situations such as transfers and-you guessed it-vacation selection-it can pose challenges.

In the past, I never really had an issue with summer vacation selection because I vacation primarily in the spring and fall; however, with Memorial Day included as a "summer holiday" despite it still being the spring and around my birthday, it remains to be seen if I get my vacation.

The benefit of being a part of creating the contract, is to be the point person to discuss aspects of the contract, whether it be my home unit or another hospital unit.

Having a joint effort with staff and management in terms of staffing, especially during a high peak time and to plan while maintaining the contract can be challenging and be a collaborative process that can be successful.

With my unit having a ton of turnover that has since subsided, I am considered being a part of senior staff-unless someone more senior is going to be a part of the tie breaker, I may get my request.

If I don't, I'm not as inclined to be upset either.

I think I have evolved enough as a nurse to know the value of seniority-I don't long for the days of building experience, then moving to another organization in order to gain a substantial increase in income; when helping build a wage scale that even includes cost of living increase, incentives that the more years you have as a nurse, the benefits increase.

Working on making a better workplace for the benefit of patients and peers has made me reflective of how I DO want to stay, even though there is still more work to do.

If that means working more years at a facility and unit where I have the opportunity to collaborate and continue to grow as a nurse, then I can stand in line and be able to be first.

What have you learned this week?

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I'm 30 weeks pregnant, finally! Between my gallstones & my Gestational Diabetes I pretty much feel like crap 99.999% of the time. Also, I can barely eat anything due to both. I'm so ready to not be pregnant any more.

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Specializes in ED, psych.
I'm 30 weeks pregnant, finally! Between my gallstones & my Gestational Diabetes I pretty much feel like crap 99.999% of the time. Also, I can barely eat anything due to both. I'm so ready to not be pregnant any more.

I "liked" this in support. You're almost there!

I'm sorry you feel so bad though ❤.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I "liked" this in support. You're almost there!

I'm sorry you feel so bad though ❤.

Thank you! I'm just thankful I have a healthy baby & I'm so close to the end!

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I'm so nervous about my blood sugar being too high. It's hard to find meals to eat & I don't eat enough. I'm either starving & my sugar is within range or I eat enough & my sugar is high. I ate healthy for dinner but apparently it was too much & my blood sugar was 150. I'm so depressed & stressed. I don't want anything to happen to my son because I don't/can't control my sugar.

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