If you had money to spend on your unit or staff---

2 I am a learning coach for an accelerated BSN program as well as being a full time nurse on a med/surg floor. I have a student with me at least 2 days a week for the entire shift for an entire year and I am her coach--literally doing all her clinical teaching

This does involve quite a bit of extra work and the university she attends does pay a cash amount to the learning coaches in compensation. Which our hospital does not allow us to accept.

We--the other 2 learning coaches on our floor and I --just learned last week that although our hospital does not allow us to accept the money, THEY are!!!

For the year , this would amount to about $10,000 cumulatively (and that's just our floor) I know that's pocket change for large hospitals but still--

okay I accept the money is not going to me or my fellow nurse coaches. But I want a say in where it goes. If nothing else, I'd like to choose a charity to send it to. I earned it. The hospital has done nothing to earn this money!

But mostly, I'd like to propose that the money be directed to our unit to be spent on patient care items/nurse education/--i don't know what else

If you had that type of money to be spent on your unit--education materials--breakroom--patient resources, what would you request?


Bring on the suggestions!!


Ideas so far--

Ipods- with relaxation meditations and diff genre music playlist for pts to "check out"
Individual DVD players-as above
(really-many older people don't have the above)

blanket warmer--no we don't have one
I wouldnt say your hospital has done nothing to earn it...They did after all train and orient you to the unit, built a relationship with the school, pay your full salary while spending time training another nurse etcI dont think its a bad idea to try to advocate for some of the funds to go to your unit (if even if its to get a nice couch for your break room or something, or get them to buy your unit lunch once a week/two for a year or something)But pretending like its all you and the hospital contributes nothing isnt very fair imo

I actually think it's quite a fair statement. I've been a nurse over 30 years ; their training was minimal to none. I've worked for them over 4 years--certainly long enough to have "repaid" their orientation time. I continue to take a full patient load so that patient workload isn't altered any meaning hospital doesn't have to make ant type of changes to accommodate this programThe hospital doesn't. Have any thing to do with this teaching my nurse manager strongly suggested it would be a good idea. And I agreed. No one contributes to the teaching training except-meNope it's a fair statement that the hospital really doesn't have anything to do with this otherThan than assigning a nurse to the program for the year Free lunch for a year is an interesting idea--yumAny other ideas?

This reminds me a bit of a book I just read,... about slavery. But I digress. I like the idea of $10,000 of education for your unit, or maybe the hospital pays the cost of the nurse coaches attending a nursing conference.

Oh, I like the idea of the conferences ! Off to research conferences in Hawaii now ... Or maybe some of the conferences they hold on cruise ships... You are a genius!

I was paid an extra $4.00 per hour years ago for this. I am shocked that your facility keeps the money, instead of letting you have it. There is a lot of extra work involved in teaching a student nurse clinical skills. I can't believe you are expected to do it without extra compensation.

I would buy our director a one way ticket to Siberia.

Quote from NanikRNOh, I like the idea of the conferences ! Off to research conferences in Hawaii now ... Or maybe some of the conferences they hold on cruise ships... You are a genius!

I definitely think this compensationneeds to benefit you in some way. I LOVE the idea of sending you to aconference. I wouldn't buy anything that will grow legs and walk awaylike DVD players, MP3 players, etc. I think you should also get$0.50/hr or $1.00/hr when you are coaching her. A lunch or two foryour unit is nice. Maybe they could pay for yourlicense/certification renewals.

Quote from xoemmylouoxI definitely think this compensationneeds to benefit you in some way. I LOVE the idea of sending you to aconference. I wouldn't buy anything that will grow legs and walk awaylike DVD players, MP3 players, etc. I think you should also get$0.50/hr or $1.00/hr when you are coaching her. A lunch or two foryour unit is nice. Maybe they could pay for yourlicense/certification renewals.

As sad as it is, my number one suggestion would be for basic, working supplies for the unit...2 or 3 working O2 sat monitors An extra dynamap or IV pump which can be swapped in when your current one inevitably breaks so staff doesn't have to just 'do without'. Assurance that other basic supplies such as christmas trees or portable O2 would always be available - that things won't be stocked so bare-bones, so that staff wouldn't have to waste time walking to other units to borrow these. And if you happen to have your equipment needs met already, how about putting it towards an extra 10 hours a week or so of an extra secretary or tech? I think these would have the most significant beneficial impact for your staff and patients. I'd much rather have a smoother day at work than a random 'treat' for example. Equipment and staffing have always been my top issues during my hospital shifts.

How about some stationery for you to write your refusal on the next time they expect you to do it?

Equipment that works. And a computer in every room(it is often hard to find one that works and then we have to push them room to room.) Staffing: clerk for every night, including weekends. Enough staff so that the resource/charge doesn't have to take a full patient load.