If you work on a unit, floor, hall, or facility and there is a consistent amount of turnover between 25% to 85% of the direct care staff, ask yourself why are you continuing to work at the facility in a 1.0 or .9 FTE position?
http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=14155122
http://roa.sagepub.com/content/28/4/454.abstract
http://www.longwoods.com/content/19594
If you are working on a unit, floor, hall, or facility and this is your 3rd nursing manager in 14 months, what does this say to you about the work environment?
We all need money and everyone who is reading this blog is probably working full-time plus however working hard and working smart are two different premises.
http://can.affiniscape.com/associations/9102/files/NTW2008July.pdf
Is there a perfect work environment? Yes, but not when are you working for someone else. I learned this early in my nursing career and then again early in my legal career.
However as professional nurses its not about finding the perfect work environment because in the highly regulated and fast changing healthcare environment, nothing is perfect. Professional nurses MUST have a written career plan.
Is your current employment with Hospital A, Nursing Home B, or Home Health Agency C your career plan or a step or level in your career plan?
If you are a nurse strictly and primarily for the paycheck then it may show in your interactions with staff, patients, and families. There is nothing wrong with nursing just for a check but there is nothing right about it either. However the same can be said for any profession, occupation, or trade.
Are you Nurse Paycheck?
Did you transition into nursing just because the potential for high earnings when compared to the length of education (one to two years)?
If so, don't go in a patient's room and say I am _____, your nurse for 3-11. Be honest and say,
Hi, I am Nurse Paycheck and I will be working with you, hopefully for as little as possible and just enough to meet the basic standards of care. I am here today, just for the check.
IMO a Professional Nurse can become a Nurse Paycheck from burn out, despair, lateral violence, or just being "beat down" from working with a particular nurse manager, on a particular floor, unit, department, specialty, or specific patient population too long.
I never wanted to be a Nurse Paycheck and I certainly won't be Lawyer Paycheck.
IMO its about finding an environment where you feel valued as an employee, you are able to practice nursing safely, and you are fairly compensated. Having a "plan" for your nursing also helps; don't just show up to work, punch in, and work year after year. What is your plan for your nursing career?
Have you found your Nursing Nirvana? I am still working on mine over here.
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