Would you go to work tommorow?

[royr]

I would like to post a hypothetical question. As an RN with an established career, or a nursing student with 1 year or less to finish nursing school - would you go back to work or school tommorow if over the weekend you discovered that you sudenly don't need to any more? For instance, what if you discovered that you were critically ill yourself, had no chance of survival but probably have a few good months left before you become a patient yourself. Or what if you won the lottery, inherited money or had another situation positive business situation like a law suit payout that made you suddenly feel that you did not need the wages anymore to support your family? Would you continue nursing? Would you tell your spouse if you were ill, or keep on with business as usual until you could not physically do the job or persue your studies any further? How would you feel about not continuing to care for your patients? Would you make a video tape explaining everything - and place it in a bank box with you will and insurance policy? Or would that be a bad way of dealing with the family survivor issues of spouse, children and freinds? Remember - just a hypothetical question - all thoughts are welcome.

[snowfreeze, BSN, RN]

I would hire an investment specialist. I would continue with what I love, nursing... to some degree. I think I would make a concerted effort to make some changes that I feel without monies would never even be heard by administration or state licensing departments. I would also go on every talk show who would have me to educate the general public about my issues about nursing. Hey I am dying and putting invested monies into things to help everyone!!!! Yup I would go out with a bang!

Futility is the first issue I would approach. At least half of our ICU patients should be hospice.

Responsibilty for self is the next pet peeve of mine, poor diet, no health care, and an attitude. You get sick and I am suddenly responsible for everything and you become an instant invalid. Q 10 mins call light and can't even lean over to pick up a glass of water.

Education and preventive mental health.

[FroggysMom]

I would like to post a hypothetical question. As an RN with an established career, or a nursing student with 1 year or less to finish nursing school - would you go back to work or school tommorow if over the weekend you discovered that you sudenly don't need to any more? For instance, what if you discovered that you were critically ill yourself, had no chance of survival but probably have a few good months left before you become a patient yourself. Or what if you won the lottery, inherited money or had another situation positive business situation like a law suit payout that made you suddenly feel that you did not need the wages anymore to support your family? Would you continue nursing? Would you tell your spouse if you were ill, or keep on with business as usual until you could not physically do the job or persue your studies any further? How would you feel about not continuing to care for your patients? Would you make a video tape explaining everything - and place it in a bank box with you will and insurance policy? Or would that be a bad way of dealing with the family survivor issues of spouse, children and freinds? Remember - just a hypothetical question - all thoughts are welcome.

After the day I had yesterday, absolutely NOT!

[ZASHAGALKA, RN]

No and No.

I'm in it for the money. I'm good at what I do, but I do it so that I can get paid.

But. Obviously - because of the profession I chose - I don't place THAT high a value on money.

And ANYTHING in my life more important than money, of which that includes many many things - those would not take a backseat to earning money if my life changed in ANY of the ways that you suggest.

And no, I would not make a 'video' tape. If a family member did that to me, it would take years and years and tons of emotional effort to work through it and finally, maybe before I died, forgive them for such coldness towards me. Grieving, you see, is a process that you have NO RIGHT to keep to yourself. Not only is that incredibly selfish; it just makes things worse.

Can you not imagine how that last amount of time would, AFTER THE FACT, be constantly revisted for the hints that should have been noted. Would you really want the replay of your last month of life to be one of cruel second guessing on the part of your loved ones?? "I've should have seen this when she did this, or that. . . ." What terrible agony the final memories of you would become in they eyes of your loved ones!

~faith,

Timothy.