I, too, am glad I noticed this post...
I think the problem is very complex, much more than just "nurses eat their
young", etc.
I believe that we don't have enough nursing programs to educate new RNs, for
example, our local community college has a long waiting list, students must
first complete all their pre-reqs, and then apply to the RN program. This makes
a basic 2 year program into a 4 year program. And yet, their is ALWAYS students
trying to make the cut. They leave the program board ready and are eager to
begin their careers.
THEN they come on board.... Nursing is really, really tough! I don't think
they are prepared to work that hard. They really have NO IDEA exactly what hard
physical, mental, and emotional labor nursing is. These new grads are working
night shift or evening shift to start, (like all of us did way back in the old
days), they have 5-8 patient's on a med-surg floor and that's on a good night...
I don't need to preach about the worsening acuity and the increased paperwork
and the fact that there are not many experianced nurses on the off shifts for
them to turn to for help. There are less and less CNA's, PCA's whatever the
current term (most of them get pulled to "sit" with high risk fall patients in
our hospital), thus none on the floor to help give care. The sheer overwhelming
basic care needs are beyond an experianced nurse's ability to finish in 8 hours,
let alone a new grad. So, they leave nursing. They find something else, they
go back to school, whatever it
takes to get out of the hellhole they feel they are in.
The other problem is that many bright and caring high school students choose
not to go into medicine at all. They are put off by a litiginous society, more
exciting, money making, glamorous careers than doctoring and nursing. These
students choose to bypass medicine simply because they can make more money with
less hassle in other careers.
I know that we are beset with many other problems, but these are what I see.
By the way, I work in a small (300 bed) community hospital and the nursing
staff is unionized. Our pay and benes are decent, and we do have a voice...
But, we still don't have enough staff!
Don't know how to solve the problem.....




Debra <spiritualblue77@...> wrote:
I am so glad I stopped and opened this posting.I am "STILL" at the
bedside,refuse to move into any management position,have only stepped
into a team leading posistion for brief periods...I would much rather
teach and foster growth in both the patient/family population and in
the newer nurses that are coming into the "greatest" of healing
professions.The value of a nurse can not ever be a dollar value,nor can
it be the nurses educational background as much as it is our sense of
caring,compassion,and love for what a nurse is actually doing.Patient
advocacy is our primary goal in a battle with all the adverse
factors,MNGMNT<CEO<ADMIN<MD~S<INSURANCE COMP<PHARM COMP..ect ect
ect.Any seasoned nurse that chews on the growing nurse has self worth
issues..forgive them,they are struggling at their own challenges
too.Yes it`s sad to see that,yet do not allow that to stop you from
being a nurse.The lust for power,money,and notariety exists in many
various career professions,not just nursing.Nurses are vital,and people
will not ever understand the entire gammet of what any nurse does in
any enviroment,yet remember your value is to implement,teach and
foster..spiritual..emotional..and physical well being.






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