Why should I relate to you all the troubles I'm going through with jobs?

[icymist]

I just quit my employment of 14 years. I keep a professional license as a NAC... Nurse Aide Certified. This type of job might not be a big thing to you, (not glamorous enough), but it's a big thing to me. It wasn't easy quiting this job. I felt I had to after the for-profit-corporation decided to drastically increase my patient load to increase profits. One day, I found myself with thirty patients to care for on the night shift. Of these thirty were eight medicare and about half of them alert. There was no way one aide could keep up with this kind of patient load. I quit.

I'm asking you people, here on the DU Lounge, are we going to allow corporations to ruin our heathcare system? Or is it already ruined?

[lizziegrace]

1. It must have been an agonizing decision

It's obvious you care about your patients. Personally, I think it's already ruined. But that shouldn't stop us from trying to make a difference. The patients are the real losers.

:hug:

[Redstone]

2. You should relate you troubles to us because we might

help you feel better about them.

I specifically cannot, but I'll bet there are others here who can.

Redstone

(PS: My vote is that it's already ruined.)

[Lars39]

3. Good grief!

That's waaay too many! I remember when 8-10 would have been considered a full load.
My mom used to be a nurse's aide. She wound up training quite a few RN's and LPN's. :)

[icymist]

4. Thank you all for responding.

I don't even know if I can do another job in nursing again. Ten years ago, the place I just quit was a very classy place. Share holders and profit minders were what destroyed it! I'm afraid that the next place I find for employment might eventually do the same.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. Have you ever considered becoming a grassroots lobbyist?

I'll bet there are groups that would love to have someone with your expertise helping to reform healthcare.

:hug: Hang in there. Every end is a beginning.

[icymist]

9. Yes, I've been thinking of something like this.

Other than writing a book about these experiences (I've saved all my notes since 1996) I wouldn't know where else to start. Right now, I'm hustling around getting references together and trying to find a union job.

[NMMNG]

5. I feel for you

And don't give me that rap about the job not being glamorous enough. I've worked human services for the past 18 years so I know the deal. While some may not consider it glamorous I know darn well it is every bit as worthy as the higher-paid, higher-ranked, glitzier jobs. Somehow, though, directly caring for people in need just gets relegated to a low status, even though so many would be lost without it.

I don't blame you for quitting. Being held responsible for 30 patients is outrageous, and I'd dare any of the bean-counters to step into your shoes and do it themselves. More and more I am getting outraged at the shenannigans administrative officials are pulling in the name of making or saving pennies, while staff get overworked and patients get underserved. Then when the lawsuits start flying they'll just shut the place down and the patients will lose again.

I don't know if our healthcare system can be salvaged, or if the corporations have ruined it for good. I do know that I'm not likely to stay in human services long enough to feel the results.

[RevCheesehead]

6. You are one of my heroes.

Due to my mom's declining health, she has had to have daily nursing care (which she, thankfully, could receive in her apartment). Our family is eternally grateful for people like you, who work so hard to help care for people like my mom.

Have you considered working for hospice? Since they're focused on quality of life issues, perhaps the work load would be considerably lighter. The hospice nurses who come daily are amazing people, and so very caring.

My very best to you, and I hope that something good presents itself.
:hug:

[NuttyFluffers]

8. it's already ruined

my dear long time friend and i were grooming ourselves to become doctors, ever grade school. we got so far as to get to college and start work on pre-med program for BS to then get into med school. after both of us were in college and saw how the med ed system worked in college, and took a good hard look at the for-profit system after graduation (and the direction it was going), and listened to a lot of the inner gossip in the industry (we both had several family members work in, in several capacities), we both gave up on that goal.

trying to learn medicine in this country is, for all intensive purposes, pointless. it's ran by bean counters and shareholders. it's bloated, overpriced, and isn't designed to heal people, but merely prolong their suffering to milk them of money. a few HMOs were trying preventative medicine, but mostly to keep their bottom line down -- so they can raise premiums through the roof and cut back professional health to skeleton crew numbers.

so, if you'd like the opinion of 2 prospected next-generation health professionals who quit because we see no future, then well, yes, the system is ruined. there's nothing left except to enjoy the sights as we watch all that we've worked real hard for crumble before our eyes. ... unless, we completely overhaul our politics, our laws, our markets, and our methodology, i see no hope. wanna pina colada? my friend and i are off to be artists and enjoy the next few years of hedonism and escapism by the beach as we watch this sad shell of a nation collapse under its heavy delusions. isn't it tempting? .... ;)

[icymist]

10. A pina colada sounds pretty good right now.

I come from a 'medical' family myself as an uncle is a doctor, another uncle is a biologist, and my sister holds a masters in nursing and administration. (My sister is a work-a-holic!) Besides pofit makers, I also think that nursing is run by those embracing S&M values.
Cheers! B-)