Who Advocates for Nurses?

When you walk into work do you look forward to being there, knowing you have enough experienced staff to handle whatever situations occur? Does all of the equipment function regularly? Do you feel valued by those who direct and or manage your situations?

SO much of every day is about the people you work with, but nurses deserve to have someone watching out for their needs on a daily basis. Who does that? Is there nursing advocacy, a dedicated representative who helps fix issues in the workplace?

I enjoy where I work, more because of the great people and so many times that makes it okay. However, many days, times are tough, for staffing and the standards in care.
If we matter, changes should be part of the process. Nurse-to-patient ratios should be part of the policy related to patient acuity. This can guarantee not only the best way to provide the best care for our patients but also to protect nurses and maintain their ability to provide focused and able care without the stress added by insufficient staffing, poor equipment or other poor work situations.

Standards should be in place when the nurses have all of the patients that they can safely handle. It is unsafe practice not to. When bad days out number the good, who fights for you?

I know many managers claim to do so, but it is a very fine tight wire they walk. So far, I have seen few who can manage to keep the BUDGET and the ever-changing goals and rules intact. In addition, they seem to find it very difficult to make nursing satisfaction an equal ideal. And my most favorite response to nursing dissatisfaction is LEAVE if YOU do NOT Like it...You are Replaceable..
Can they guarantee your replacement has your experience and education? NOT in so many cases, that that attitude is not only ridiculous but shows you really seldom matter.

How may times have you had all the overtime and more that you can handle, for long periods of time? Only to be later told (after you've become very comfortable with that income), that there will be no more OT, and that can often go on for a very long time, where they are even bringing in less experienced nurses so they do not have to pay overtime. (Perhaps another topic for another day)

Has anyone ever had a true nurse advocate?