5 replies to this topic

[NubianAdam]

Survey about the Nursing Profession

This survey is developed for the purposes of gathering data about negligence among nurses, cover ups among hospitals, job satisfaction, and recommendations to the nursing profession. This information will be compiled in a book that will address problems in the nursing profession. If you know of other people in the medical field that have concerns that they want to express, please feel free to share this survey with them. You can either e-mail ( rlirvin@yahoo.com ) the answers within the survey or submit the answers as a MS-Word attachment via e-mail ( rlirvin@yahoo.com )--DO NOT submit to the group. Please submit by 1/23/2006 Thanks in advance for your time.

Would you like to remain anonymous? If not please provide your first name only.
What state do you work in?
How long have you been in the medical field?
In what area of the medical field do you work?
Rank in order what is most important to you when it comes to job satisfaction.
Describe in detail a case or cases that has disturbed you the most that you witness in your profession.
What is your honest opinion about race relations within the area you work?
What advice would you give for someone considering a nursing career?
You have been selected to give a speech on Washington D.C. about concerns you have about the practice of nursing and patient safety. Congress guarantees that they will push whatever recommendations you make. What message of concern would you like to get over to Nurses, Physicians, Leaders in Healthcare, and Patients and their families?

[mattsmom]

Sorry, I don't think I want to participate in a book regarding 'negligence in nurses'. I see far more negligence among physicians...with nurses becoming system scapegoats and taking the blame for a bad doctor's decision, even to the point of losing their licenses. We have too much liability with too little authority in the big picture IMHO. Questioning or refusing a doctor's orders (or lack thereof ) can ruin nurses in many areas of the country...yet if we don't do so and a patient is harmed (or undertreated)the NURSE is responsible?? Somehow we have been given the role of policing the entire healthcare system. Doesn't make much sense. Our profession endows us with high and mighty ideals, then places us within a system that takes advantage of it, to our personal and professional detriment, IMHO.

My answer to this predicament is for nurses to join together, unionize and do a better job of supporting one another AND promoting our profession. The general public has no idea what we do and equates us with trustworthy servants. This must change before we can take our rightful place as a respected profession.

The gap between 'ivory tower' nursing schools and the true reality of nursing must be bridged in order to retain and attract nurses. Currently too many nurses leave the field in total frustration, unable to find any real support out there. Unfortunate to spend the grueling years in nurses' training only to find one is not up to it.

Somehow, we have gotten into a real conumdrum in this field...and we have failed to sufficiently control and effect our profession, thus everyone else tries to define it FOR us. We must take back control from education to practice and control our collective destinies. How??? that is the question...but I believe the answer again starts with ORGANIZING and working in groups for our collective betterment. then we can effect lawmaking as the great CNA is doing, for the safety of both ourselves and our patients.

Any other thoughts out there?

[NawlinsGirl]

I agree with Mattsmom , i was reading that post wondering ok what about the Drs negligence. I dont think I want to participate as well..

NAWLINSGIRL

[HeatherG]

I agree totally with the others and do not want to participate in something that I feel will undervalue the nursing profession. We are striving for excellence in nursing and trying our hardest to show the public the true value of nurses. I am proud of my profession.

[3boyzmom]

I have to agree with the others. There have been times when different ones of us have posted about such things, but it was for the purpose of discussion, not for a survey or book. Negligence is not the norm. I think that most nurses do the best they can on a daily basis. We get frustrated because we'd like to do better, but time and staffing constraints often make it impossible to do what we'd like to do. Our patients come first. No need to berate ourselves! Better to search for ways to improve the system in which we function. Nursing may not be perfect- but it's not easy either- you don't see just everyone doing it! The brave and the fearless keep on truckin' along day to day, doing their absolute best, often sacrificing their own health, family needs, etc., in the process.

[ladybugj]

well said mattsmom!!! i hope nubianadam uses that reply in his research findings!!