Just need to vent to those who understand!

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in LTC, Family Practice, Meg/Surg.

Okay so today was one of those days where I really contemplate being a nurse anymore...I'm sick of so many things about it! I'm beginning to think there are more disadvantages than there are advantages. Let's start with the advantages: Good pay, and that rewarding feeling you get ONCE in a while....Now disadvantages: the staffing (always short-staffed and unsafe), lazy nursing assistants that don't do their job, and aren't held accountable for anything they do, because you're the RN, and are ultimately responsible for everyone on the planet it seems, co-workers can be the biggest bit*hes...and most of all---->the patient's treat you like absolute DIRT after you are nothing but nice to them, and trying to care for them and help them. I understand it is difficult and frustrating to be in the hospital, but they don't have to take it out on you! I ALSO understand that it's our job to be therapeutic, listen to them, apologize for the bad food, apologize for the MD's terrible bed side manner and not explaining anything to them, so you have to, apologizing for all the noise from the IV pumps, the bed alarms, and call bells, and noisy roommate, apologize for taking longer than FIVE MINUTES to answer their light when you have five other patients to take care of, apologize for taking longer than FIVE MINUTES to get their pain medicine (because you have to go in the pyxis, find another nurse to witness, or wait for the other nurse to get her meds out first, draw up the med and so on (I think they think we carry morphine IV push in our back pocket) and I am just SICK AND TIRED of apologizing, getting verbally abused and feeling unappreciative all the time!!!! I mean I still get the sweet ones that thank you for caring for them, and appreciate everything, but it's those ones that treat you like crap, that make you want to drop what you're doing, tell them off, and stop caring for them! It really makes you want to change your mind about being a nurse....it's just not worth it some days. They say you should do what you love doing, well....I don't love my job by ANY means! I go home miserable all the time, and take it out on my fiance and he doesn't understand....no one can unless you're a nurse :crying2:

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:hug: I'm still a new grad and I'm not looking forward to any of this. But I hope your situation gets better!

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Specializes in LTC, Family Practice, Meg/Surg.

Thank you very much, and some days are not so bad...never great....but not as bad. And I hope you have better luck! Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

Hold on to the co-workers and patients that make your work pleasant. I got "fired" by a patient last week (still haven't quite figured out why...), and last night, I had a patient tell me I was his favorite nurse. I have one co-worker who tries to catch me not knowing something in report. All the time! (She has this look of dissatisfaction when I do know and a look of satisfaction when I don't know. There's something definitely wrong with her.) Almost all my other co-workers treat me as a professional, just like they are, with all my flaws as I'm still in learning mode.

The ones who are pleased with my nursing care and my being their co-worker are taking up much more space in my mind and heart than the ones who aren't. Hang there. :redpinkhe

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Specializes in LTC, Family Practice, Meg/Surg.

Thanks for sharing. I have one particular co-worker that's like that too! She literally checks everyone's stuff before you give her report to make sure EVERYTHING was done, I mean everything! Like, if it's not one thing, it's the other. It's not even big stuff, like forgetting a med or anything, it's little stuff. For instance, if my patient has an extra cup or two on his bedside table, she's in there cleaning it up, and scolding me for it. Or, if I didn't do a care plan on my patient! Do one yourself if you have the time! My boss doesn't seem to have a problem with me, and thinks I do a great job, so what is her deal?? She does this to everyone too, not just me. So, it does make me feel better, but still gets me irritated. It's like, back off woman! And you are totally right about some patients just being out of their mind and upset about the care you're giving them, because that same day, you can have someone tell you you're the best nurse they've ever had....and I do try to hold on to those moments. :heartbeat

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Specializes in Neurosciences, cardiac, critical care.
Thanks for sharing. I have one particular co-worker that's like that too! She literally checks everyone's stuff before you give her report to make sure EVERYTHING was done, I mean everything! Like, if it's not one thing, it's the other. It's not even big stuff, like forgetting a med or anything, it's little stuff. For instance, if my patient has an extra cup or two on his bedside table, she's in there cleaning it up, and scolding me for it. Or, if I didn't do a care plan on my patient! Do one yourself if you have the time! My boss doesn't seem to have a problem with me, and thinks I do a great job, so what is her deal?? She does this to everyone too, not just me. So, it does make me feel better, but still gets me irritated. It's like, back off woman! And you are totally right about some patients just being out of their mind and upset about the care you're giving them, because that same day, you can have someone tell you you're the best nurse they've ever had....and I do try to hold on to those moments. :heartbeat

Those are the best moments!! Try not to worry about your co-worker, unless she has a valid point that you could learn from. I've been surprised at a couple of people that I work with who've taken issue with me, and one of them I haven't ever taken pts from/given pts to, very rarely interact with during a shift, and gives me such attitude. As long as YOU know you're doing what's right by your patient and your conscience, screw anyone else who tries to put other stipulations on you. On the other hand, I try to get AS MUCH done as possible before night shift comes on- label tubing, chart checks, core measures documentation, care plans, start new IV if old one >3 days old (we don't hafta change til 4 days), pain meds ordered/renewed if needed, new bags of fluid ready to go, pre-op checklists done for procedures next AM. If you're that kind of person, people wil figure it out sooner or later and will respect you. :D

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I definately understand your frustruation N1colina:hug:, I was in a similar predicament the other night. :banghead:

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I totally feel your pain! Pts just don't get it! Last night I came on shift to a pt returning from dialysis and he didn't want to wait for me to check his blood sugar before he ate his dinner (which was already 3 hours late at this point). SO I did his normal HS blood sugar and it came back critical high, did a stat blood draw and it came back 518. Now this guy is screaming at me because we are sticking at 11 PM and saying that if you would have given me my insulin on time we wouldn't be doing this now.....I'm sorry, i'm not the one who HAD to have my dinner before checking my sugar. And the whole time it's 518 and we are trying to get it down, he's complaining about not getting his night time snack. Clearly we can see where his priorities are. Needless to say, he came to the hospital because he is noncompliant with his DM. While this is going on, I have another pt faking seizures to try and get ativan .......what is wrong with these people!!!! Luckily my co-workers are amazing. Too bad some of yours aren't being as supportive :-(

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