Letter to the Legislative Editor:

In response to the Legislative Column, "What Makes Something A Nursing Activity or Task", listen to this. I work on a Women’s & Children’s Unit. I have recently been informed that we will need to take on ‘minor’ medical/surgical patients and care for them when we have vacant beds. Our staff consists of RNs who have worked obstetrics for many, many years. They have taken in stride (after much protest and education) caring for gynecology patients and for patients having plastic surgery. They have also adjusted to constantly changing roles and taken on the responsibility of drawing their own labs and doing EKGs. Now these nurses are threatening to walk if they have to take on medical/surgical patients, including male patients. Could someone tell me what rights we have without losing our jobs. HELP! Are we going to be asked to do home health follow-up next, or maybe even minor surgery?

RN from Florida

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Reply by author Greer Glazer

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