Our sense of humor

One of the best ways of keeping our spirits up has been our sense of humor.

With the grotesque news that one of the hired guards exposed himself to a female union staffer, one striker suggested a new chant, "Tell the Goon--Not to Moon."

Apparently he was fired (after all there was photograghic evidence--yuck!)

Most of the strikers have gotten support from friends and family.  One of my friends sent this healthcare related joke by email to bolster my spirits (Thanks, Robert!!!):

Sister Mary, who worked for a home health agency, was out making her
rounds visiting homebound patients when she ran out of gas.

As luck would have it a gas station was just a block away. She walked to
the station to borrow a gas can and buy some gas. The attendant told her
the only gas can he owned had been loaned out but she could wait until
it was returned.

Since the nun was on the way to see a patient, she decided not to wait
and walked back to her car. She looked for something in her car that
she could fill with gas and spotted the bedpan she was taking to the
patient.

Always resourceful she carried the bedpan to the station, filled it with
gas, and carried the full bedpan back to her car.

As she was pouring the gas into her tank two men watched from across the
street. One of them turned to the other and said, "If it starts, I'm turning Catholic."

Hopefully, this will all end soon.  The recent increase in hosility from the guards is a reminder of the real fight--helping our patients with safe staffing.

One of the CNAs, on disability leave from before the strike, visited our unit after an appointment within the hospital.  He confirmed what we heard by cell phone.

Unlike normal evenings where CNAs get 14-18 patients, the scabs start evening shift with 7-9 patients.  If they can do that in a strike, why not every day.  Interestingly enough, they short staffed day shift with 2 less scabs then usual.  I guess some habits die hard!!!

If Jack Bailey or Dr Brotman had an elderly relative who needed an aide for assistance with eating and the restroom, would they want their relative to be the 18th patient?

My Mother has had cancer 3 times (and is thankfully cancer free)I would not want her to be someone's 18th patient.

C'mon CPMC, Just Say Yes to the Federal Mediator's Proposal.  Let's get back to the real work of caring for San Francisco.  We can't comeback till you give the word, it's just one word--"Yes".

-- Tom

Comments

[nurse inside]

I am working at cpmc as an rn - and I have worked at St Mary's where they also have lvns and cnas and rns working together as a team - that is why the workload is not as heavy as at cpmc...the newer grads these days are taught to delegate rather to participate in patient care as a primary caregiver so the load falls to the cnas which is not fair. I agree there should be a committee within the hospital to help alleviate dumping syndrome on our fellow workers. I think this is an issue that could have been resolved on the individual floors if enough people voiced their concerns(with support from the rns- not an easy one to get)I do not agree with the open ended strike that does not involve benefits but I am very,very proud of the solidarity of my coworkers. We have the best pcas in cpmc on my unit(the most professional I have ever worked with- anywhere) and they know who they are. The scab workers cannot hold a candle in their place. Work is harder now and we have keep telling these guys what to do instead of just knowing stuff will get done. I doubt if I can say "just say yes "to Jack Bailey because it is obvious he won't but GET BACK TO THE TABLE JACK!!!!!!My coworkers deserve this and cpmc deserves to once again provide the care it is known for. I have been nervous to post as I am not sure what management would do but they put a flyer out that said they follow the laws enforced by the National LAbor Relations Board - free from any form of intimidation. So I am trusting in this. Guys Hang IN There!!! There are nurses who care about what is going on outside. I sure hope this ends soon.

[emily stone]

i read with interest the note from the "nurse inside" and would like to thank her or him for the support. it is wonderful to hear from you! we cannot go inside and see for ourselves, what is going on, but i am sure it is as you say. how could it be anything else. i would also like to take this opportunity to thank the 4 nurses who took the time to go to city hall and tell the supervisors and the mayor what it was really like during the strike. i was not able to reach them after they talked and did not know their names, so was not able to thank them in person like i would have liked to. if by chance any or all of you read this blog. please come to the line and say hi. i just cant tell you how great it is to have your support. thank you thank you thank you...