Ok, so I'm at my new orientation to work in a new hospital. The HR woman was up there giving out info on their corporate vision, etc. She goes on about how they admit ANYONE regardless of race, creed, sex. orientation, national origin or their ABILITY TO PAY.

It's a not for profit hospital (with loads of illegals in the ER every day and all over the hospital), and they say they are in good financial condition. But HOW LONG can they go on treating people who cannot pay their bills? She touted this as if it was something to be PROUD of. I wanted to shout out, well, exactly WHO is paying for their care???

Taxpayers, of course. But we don't talk about that. I wanted to scream and run out of the room!!

I don't get how healthcare workers in general can be putting up with this crisis day after day. We are beaten over the head with having to provide "culturally competent" care, and also have to learn how to work language phone lines and cater to their every need. It's a freaking BABEL as far as getting info through to all these different ethnic groups.

Why can't we just all speak ONE language?? I can't even imagine this area in a national disaster.

I, for one, would be in favor of starting up a group of healthcare workers against providing care to illegal aliens someday. It's wrong. Billions being spent on healthcare for citizens of other countries . ..are we just supposed to take care of the world here?? I'm all for them coming from other countries if they have needs that can't be met in their countries, provided of course, they are paying for their care. But we can't be the FREEBIE to everyone. It's got to stop. And it's one more pressure on a nursing force that is already stretched to the brink.

Whew. Thanks -- now I can at least face it another day.