Nursing: You Wanna Know What I Think?

New Nurse Staffing Bill: Don’t Stop Believing

2013-05-17T18:05:00Z

The social networks among nurse are all abuzz about the new staffing ratio bill being introduced to congress by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). Like the cicadas, this attempt rolls around every few years when someone in power like the good senator tries to get this done. Odds are she was recently exposed to a hospitalization situation and saw some things first hand that didn’t sit well with her. Maybe a friend couldn’t get to a CCU bed for 16 hours. Or maybe her daughter had to wait and hour for pain...(read more)

Nurses Are Simply the Best!

2013-05-08T16:54:00Z

My gosh, where does the time go? I almost missed my annual homage to National Nurses Week! I guess it's not on the front burner because I'm retired, but make no mistake...I still consider myself a nurse who can comment on Nurses Week. Retirement has been interesting. I've slept mostly. (Don't let anyone tell you that you can't catch up on sleep.) I've also been working on the yard, playing with the boat, and oh yeah, I rescued an older dog. Two old gals together. Anyway, I know I've taught you about...(read more)

Nursing Salaries: Who Deserves More?

2013-04-17T15:03:00Z

A friend and colleague came for a visit recently, and as he read the newspaper, he commented on the fact that a baseball player had renewed his contract for several million dollars. My friend is good at math, and calculated that the ball player would get roughly $130,000.000 each time he got up to bat. I don't know a lot about baseball salaries (or math for that matter) but even my brain recognizes that as a bit excessive. We then began a spirited dialogue regarding this unbelievable salary...Who...(read more)

When Nurses Dream

2013-03-25T12:27:00Z

I dream at night. In fact, when I sleep, it's a guarantee that I will at some point, be the star in my very own subconscious movie, in vivid color. It's reported that all of us dream, but surprisingly, a number of people believe they don't. A number of people say they don't remember their dreams either. Not me. I remember most of mine. I also have several dreams that recur, but I only have one recurring work dream. It's an interesting one to me for several reasons, but mainly because it has nothing...(read more)

CPR ‘Refusal’: When Does Policy Override Judgment?

2013-03-11T13:19:00Z

I have been sitting on this story for a week now. I had a real hard time not knee jerking an opinion like I usually do, because I wanted to see if my knee jerking predictions were going to be correct concerning the outcome. All were, except one. The story I'm referring to is the one about the nurse who allegedly refused to do CPR on a resident in a senior living facility in California. The resident died at the hospital after EMS transport. There are so many issues here and just as many opinions!...(read more)

ACLS Recertification Online - Really?

2013-02-27T22:53:00Z

It doesn't happen often, as my friends will tell you, but I find myself without an opinion on something. I'll give you a minute to absorb that... Now that I am no longer affiliated with an institution since retirement, I've realized that I will actually have to PAY for any classes I want to take. For example, if I want to continue my cruise job, I will need to re-certify my ACLS before the end of May. To do that, I will need to actually find someone and pay them to re-certify me. I've never paid...(read more)

What I Won't Miss About My Nursing Job

2013-02-17T20:07:00Z

My friend Tamara Mareno just had a heartbreaking, sudden job loss because her unit was being closed. She had worked there for 30+ years. With her permission, here are her thoughts at this time. Now that all of my friends know what I will miss about the job I loved, here is what I WON'T miss... 1. I won't miss getting up at 0400...oh I'll be awake, (my husband isn't retired yet) but I won't have to get up, get dressed, get ready. 2. I won't miss planning holidays and family events and dinners and...(read more)

Goodbye to Hospital Nursing

2013-01-31T11:56:00Z

The day finally arrived! This past December 31 st , I retired from hospital nursing after 44 long years. Friends and co-workers threw a wonderful going away party for me, with great food, funny jokes and yes, alcohol was involved. It was a day to remember. SO... what now? I will continue my cruise nursing job as long as I can, but while fun and interesting, even that is beginning to lose its thrill. I always swore I would stop nursing when it stopped being fun, and that's the main reason I left the...(read more)

Douglas Kennedy Counter Sues Nurses

2013-01-14T13:34:00Z

I hate being mad at a Kennedy. I'm from the generation that got caught up in the whole "Camelot" illusion of our young President and his family. We were, and still are, fascinated by every aspect of the name, and those who bore it. We worshipped the "Greatest Generation" of them, and watched as their kids were born and grew up...but as we later realized, it was all an illusion. Apparently though, the recent arrogant behavior of Mr. Douglas Kennedy, son of the late Robert, shows that he actually is...(read more)

Flu Vaccine Incident Making Me Angry -- Even in Retirement!

2013-01-09T13:12:00Z

I knew I would always care about nursing, but I really didn’t think that I would get as riled up about stuff now that I’m retired. Oh, did I mention that? Finally, after 44 long years working in hospitals, I retired December 31 st , 2012. And I turned 62 yesterday. Hello Social Security and AARP, goodbye The Joint Commission and satisfaction scores. I was all ready to sit back and say, sorry, not my problem, UNTIL I read this story from ABC news about a nurse getting fired for refusing the flu vaccine...(read more)

Rotten Past Few Days - Nurses Can Lead the Way Out

2012-12-19T13:45:00Z

Rotten last few days, huh? That horrible event in Connecticut really knocked the wind out of everyone's Holiday Spirit, that's for sure. I have nothing to add to all that has been said or left unsaid...God. The horror. I dealt with my own trauma as well. Not that I would dare compare the events, but I had to put a beloved pet to sleep. That can really knock you down too. Not to mention those poor terrified souls who believe the world is ending in a few days, and the ones who fear the U.S. is about...(read more)

My Christmas List

2012-11-29T12:15:00Z

Dear Santa, Since the baby Jesus didn't let me win the $550 million Powerball lottery, I'm going to have to rely on you again to take care of my holiday dreams and wishes. Here's what I really want for Christmas this year; Doctors who actually have respect for the nursing staff. Bosses who don't tell lies about how everything will be so much better with the latest vogue staffing model. We have brains. We can see through it. Enough supplies and functioning equipment to do what's required. More time...(read more)

Unintended Consequences: Be Careful What You Say

2012-11-01T20:36:00Z

Cultural sensitivity training in hospitals has been around for a few years now. Several people thought it was a waste of time, citing basic manners as the only requirement for getting along. It was just another bunch of customer service babble that we were required to sit through. Being blatantly honest, I admit I occasionally had the same thought... until recently. As the world watched this Frankenstorm Sandy rip across the Caribbean toward our Eastern Seaboard this week, I heard some unbelievably...(read more)

Be A Patriot: VOTE!

2012-10-16T21:32:00Z

Every election is important to true patriots, and this one coming up is no exception. I admit my primary interest is in each candidate's approach to healthcare. I don't want to argue politics here, or talk about who has the best plan for heathcare. Each accuses the other of plans that will bring us to Armageddon. My poor brain wonders how it could possibly get any worse. Just in my small world of friends and acquaintances, healthcare is already in the toilet. I have a friend with a suffering symptomatic...(read more)

Who's to Blame in Waiting Room Death? Could it Be the System?

2012-09-25T21:17:00Z

It's every ER's worst nightmare; a patient dies in the waiting room, and isn't discovered until hours later. It doesn't happen often, but it DOES happen. Why? The most recent case that I became aware of occurred nearby in Delaware. I live close enough to this hospital that I am hearing gossip about this event. Some people are blaming the fact that he was uninsured and turned away. Some are saying that he received substandard care because he was not Caucasian. The family says the patient had a positive...(read more)