Quit work today/ me first now...

Well, I finally did it! I've been aggravated for months at work, mostly because we are being worked "to death", long shifts, late hours, oncall, weekends, holidays. The entire summer was slammin' busy, and we had a hiring freeze, for heaven's sake! So, I along with 3 other people did what we had to do, but it was miserable. At one point I even filed a formal protest about the dangerous work load (I'm a nurse). Nothing got fixed. Now we have a new "director" who is being a total jerk about the schedule. Things that were approved a year ago for me are now no longer OK, and just this week as I'm easing back to a regular schedule since being out on FMLA, I went in at my scheduled time TWICE and was told that my schedule had been changed for that day! So, I quit. Then, I marched down to the HR office, filled out a transfer form, and just got a call from the director of the "new" unit. Looks like I might not even miss a beat. I think I may go in on Monday as a new orientee in the new unit..... WHEN YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF FIRST, EVERYTHING ELSE WILL FALL INTO PLACE. This is a new concept for me, but I'm determined to make it work. Anybody else done drastic things since surgery??? Could use some moral support... Cyndi 285/220/140

I havent done anything drastic (yet, anyway), but I wanted to congratulate you on doing something for YOU! That's my biggest fear when I finish nursing school- there aren't enough nurses and the ones that are working are very overworked!!! I've pretty much decided I"m NOT working in a hospital on the floor, I'm going to do surgery, and if that's too bad there are plenty of offices that need nurses! My sister was an Trauma/Surg ICU nurse and some of the stories she told about having too many patients were unreal!! So good for you, and good luck with your new job!!! Rebecca 227/198/130

*HUGS* I'm glad you are taking care of YOU first. I work with a bunch of wonderful nurses and I've seen how over-worked you gals can be so you have my sympathy. When one door closes, another one opens and there are wonderful things out there waiting for you! Hugs, Vi

YOU DID PERFECTLY, MS CYNDI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU DON'T NEED THAT AMOUNT OF STRESS & CONSTANT DISAPPOINTMENT ... A REAL BUG-A-BOO OF MINE IS THE TOTAL LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE VERY PEOPLE WHO ARE CARRYING THE WORK LOAD! HOW DO YOU EXPECT ANYONE TO VALUE "YOU", IF YOU DON'T SHOW OTHERS THAT YOU VALUE YOURSELF? THAT'S JUST WHAT YOUR DID. YOU STOOD UP & SAID, "I HAVE VALUE ... VALUE & RESPECT ME OR I'LL GO WHERE SOMEONE WILL!" GOOD FOR YOU! I HAVE A 100 Y/O "AUNTIE" WHO GAVE ME THE BEST ADVICE ... "EAT THE 1st HAMBERGER, SWEETIE", SHE SAID ... "THAT WAY YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF &&&&& OTHERS." PICK YOURSELF UP, BRUSH YOURSELF OFF & GO INTO ORIENTATION WITH YOUR SHOULDERS BACK & A SMILE ON YOUR FACE. GOD BLESS YOU & YOUR NEW POSITION DAWN & NICK

Cyndi - my hats is off to you. You need to stand up for yourself and practice safely. I am a nurse also and we worked too darn hard for that license to loose it because of poor policy from the administration. I have multiple sclerosis and am unable to work in the areas that I would like to, but I left the hospital 15 years ago for similar reasons. YOU GO GIRL Ann