Nursing Law & Order

State Nurses Association

Do you belong to your state nurses association? I am a member of the Ohio Nurses Association (ONA). I also belong to ANA and a district nurses association, the Southwestern Ohio Nurses Association (SONA). The ONA Convention is October 7th-9th in Perrysburg, Ohio. I received correspondence from ONA today indicating my poster abstract  Procedural Due Process for Nurses was accepted for presentation. I am looking forward to attending the ONA Convention and ran for one of 30+ seats as a SONA delegate at the ONA Convention. I am also running for ONA elected offices, Nominating Committee and as an Unspecified ANA Delegate.

Are you active in your state nurses association? I pay my dues for ANA, ONA, and SONA membership monthly, I believe its $34.00. I spend more than $34.00 a month on coffee (I am an avid White Castle coffee drinker) and therefore I have no problem spending $34.00 a month to support my chosen profession. I also belong to a number of legal professional associations and needless to say, I spend over $1,000.00 a year on professional association dues. Are you supporting your chosen profession?

Disciplined by Employer

Nine nurses in the Beckley, West Virginia, and Hazard, Kentucky, hospitals of Appalachian Regional Healthcare were suspended for one day without pay for alerting prospective patients and the community to dangerously low levels of nurse staffing at both facilities. The United American Nurses (UAN) and Kentucky Nurses Association (ANA) held a press conference on August 12, 2005 questioning the discipline of the nurses. To see the press release at http://www.nursingworld.org/uan/newsreleases_0811.htm. To read an article in the Lexington Herald see http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/12374016.htm.

What do you think?

Professional Boundaries

I am sure you have read the newspaper articles or heard the news reports related to Jennifer Hyatte, L.P.N. She is a Tennessee L.P.N. who helped her husband George Hyatte, a prisoner, escape from jail. He was serving a 35 year sentence for aggravated assault and aggravated robbery. A correctional officer was killed and allegedly shot by Mrs. Hyatte during the prison escape.

Mrs. Hyatte was terminated from her nursing position in the prison because of her relationship with the inmate. What happened here? ALL nurses, regardless of practice setting must recognize there are boundaries and limits in the professional nurse-client relationship. The nurse-client relationship is not a friendship; it is a professional relationship based on utilization of the nursing process. For additional information on professional boundaries see the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website at http://www.ncsbn.org.

What do you think?

Documentation

I am a home care nurse. I like home care nursing because of the flexibility offered and the patient contact. Granted, I am per diem and pick and choose the visits I want to do, but nevertheless, I am a home care nurse. I am in the process of completing documentation for visits performed over the weekend and its a headache. I am trying to make a consistent effort to take notes and document while in the home and then complete the remainder of my documentation in my truck. Yes, I drive a truck.

How are you documenting the patient care provided? Any war stories you want to share?

Career Development

I am reading Wildy Sophisticated: A Bold New Attitude for Career Success by Nicole Williams. On page 101 she states "[y]our career development is an investment and investment requires sacrifice." Have you developed goals for your nursing career? Are you investing in your career development and personal enrichment as a nurse? Are you managing your nursing career or allowing your career to be managed?

Why Nursing?

Why did you become nurse? I never dreamed of being a nurse like some. When I graduated from high school, I wanted to be a lawyer or an astronomer. My grandmother suggested nursing school because she worked in a hospital for a number of years and admired nurses. I decided just like that to go to nursing school. IGoing to nursing school was one of the best decisions I have made. I like the flexibility which nursing provides as I am able to practice law and practice nursing. Why did you decide to become a nurse? Are you happy with nursing?