After working as an RN at a hospital for a month, I came to a realization that providing quality healthcare to patients is a total BS in this kind of setting.. When we as nurses, always in that rush mode.. We're being on charting, passing meds.. We have 5+ patients to chart on.. And dealing with unexpected disruption all day long.. Guess what.. This is money driven industry.. What I was taught in nursing school cannot be applied in real situations.. Is there anyway to cut on the charting and make more time available to actually be more attentive to patients? Am I wrong? Do you guys agree with me? Wouldn't it be a lot better to work with fewer patients and not feel overwhelmed that you want to leave on time.. I am really considering working in different setting. However. I will not be learning as much.. But I will be providing focused care.. I won't spend my day charting.. It's a shame.. Your input is welcomed..

Everyone who works at bedside agrees with you. Those in the office do not. So what should you do? Go to the office.

Dude.. you are preaching to the choir. Welcome to corporate health care.

Everyone who works at bedside agrees with you. Those in the office do not. So what should you do? Go to the office.

Hehehehehe.

Some of that charting is required by insurance too.

Cutting corners on the charting....know which boxes they are auditing that week and do those. Next week, when the auditing is looking at different checkboxes, do those. I'm not kidding.

That is the main reason I left the hospital, so I understand exactly what you're feeling.

I work in home health now where I do get to spend time with my patients, (which I really like) however the charting is still ridiculous! I usually end up spending 1-2 hours on charting after I get home in the evenings.

I'm considering another change...just don't know to what. Hopefully I can find something that's at least a little satisfying & doesn't bleed over into off time

Five patients is a dream to some people. As a new grad in acute care, I started with eight and also had to cover and LPN with eight.

...but even with five patients, corners have to be cut. If you do everything you're "required" to do, you won't accomplish much. Learn what matters and what administration wants you to think matters. Then disregard the "fake important" things. Trust me, no one will notice!!

Yes you're right. That's why I left the hospital except I had 7-9 and a few of those I had to do total care on because we didn't have enough aides. If I'd only had 3-4 total ever I'd probably never have left as I really enjoyed the work and it broke my heart to not physically be able to give good patient care to the extent I would've liked. I made them pay me overtime to finish my charting because I just didn't have time to always get it done during my shift. I kept lots of notes and lists to keep me organized until I could chart and so I'd know who asked for pain med first, etc. It's not about good care, it's about how much money they can bring in without killing patients in the process.

Thanks to all of you for the replies.. I'm just very chocked. I've done homecare.. It wasnt bad depending on the case of course. What I really liked is school nursing.. You don't chart at all.. You sit there and students come to u. Not overwhelming.. However the downside to not working in a hospital is that you do not keep up with skills.. But again I think about it.. That I worked so hard for my license.. And I have paranoia about losing it.. But in homecare or school settings.. U almost can never lose your license.. In the hospital you're prone to mistakes.. Lots of interruptions.. I agree with all of you.. I guess. Eventually it's about finding that perfect balanced position.. Maybe lab cath, or ER, or specialty unit.. But working on the floor is not easy.. Ugh. Also sometimes dealing with rude co-workers..

Dude.. you are preaching to the choir. Welcome to corporate health care.

Still very sad. Corporate Healthcare. Dirty words.

Welcome to the world of nursing.

I came to a realization that providing quality healthcare to patients is a total BS in this kind of setting.

Once I came to that realization, I became fine with putting 70 percent to 80 percent of my efforts into providing the care.

I know the aforementioned statement may have sounded terrible to some readers, but hear me out. 70 percent is still passing. 80 percent is still passing. In addition, when I didn't put my all into the job, it led to self-preservation since I didn't burn out or take the negative aspects of the job home with me.

Some would say, "I don't want a nurse caring for me or my family who gives less than 100 percent!" However, that outlook is unrealistic because no stranger in healthcare cares about you or your loved ones as much as you.