[burn out]

There are different kinds of stresses--there is good stress and bad stress- I don't necessarily see nursing as a bad stress. In fact after my 4 days off babysitting my 1 year old granddaughter I am more than ready for a little stress when I return to work..infact I go to work to get ways from some of the stress at home .

The other factors though ..exposure to infection, back injury from pulling on patients..I think is a bigger health issue than the stress.

[MsPiggy]

Yes, but more so when you have a toxic administration that's abusive and non supportive to staff, which seems to be the growing trend these days.

I am sad to say I wouldn't advise any young person to go into nursing for just that reason and many more. Don't want to be flamed over it, it's just my opinion. If I would have known how precious little time I would be given to do actual patient care and how much of a physical and emotional toll nursing would place on my body and soul I would have been a plumber, yea you still deal with crap but make a lot more $, get a decent retirement and aren't stressing over job stuff at the end of the day.
-Ms.P

[deehaverrn]

used to work out, until i wrecked my back and can't at present, so i know i'm deteriorating physically , but I'm not cleared medically to do so
NEVER smoked
also RARELY drink

I don't mean any offense, but if you've just started , i don't think you can say exactly. Are you Young? Because I know that when I was younger the physical stresses didn't seem so bad. Although it is really hard to go 12 or more hours without sitting down, eating or drinking anything, especially on a regular basis, even if you do have extra days off. Its not healthy to starve all day long. And those physical stresses that didn't really bother me for all those years (over 20) have damaged my back with so many degenerative changes from all that lifting its unbelievable. And my feet have not done well with all the standing and walking on the concrete services despite the good footwear. Who knows at this point what effect the stress has had on my other systems. I can tell you though, that the constant unremitting pain over the last year, has not been good for me physically at all, and that is a direct result of Nursing. I've gained weight, am completely depressed, and have lost a lot of muscle tone and strength. The human body is just not meant to be lifting 300 lbs around on a daily basis, even with the best body mechanics.
I do agree that it is important to keep yourself as healthy as you can--by diet, exercise, good habits.

[LadyNASDAQ]

I've been working full time hours for 28 yrs. I think that many don't care for the profession and work the least they can and that many are also afraid of the working conditions because they feel that they are going to get hurt on the job. I say this because the part timers I talk to truly are afraid of contracting an illness or just getting physically hurt on the job.

Recently a friend of mine walked into her patient's room and slipped on the floor because a dialysis machine was leaking water and she didn't notice it. The dialysis Nurse also was out of the room. This took place in the ICU. All I can say is she is off of workman's comp with 3 bulging discs and lots of pain. She went to part time because any more than that and she couldn't work at all.

[bunnybeaner]

EEP! You guys are scaring me! I just need to have faith as I go into my clinicals that conditions for nurses will consistently improve, because some of the experiences you seasoned nurses have had are just unfair. Maybe I should stop reading threads on this site...

[delta32]

I do believe nursing is unhealthy for mind, body, and soul. For the mind aspect I have difficulty forgetting watching people suffer, telling loved ones that they died. It makes me feel sad and depressed to know how things may end all the time. The saying Ignorence is bliss was right. I would rather not know what i know now. I think soul would fit here as well. From all the death around me I feel Dark all the time and I lash out quite abit. It work you would never know, I am kinda, cheerful, and friendly. When I am alone I am very bitter and Angry. I have lost any faith That i may have had left after my parents both passed before I was 10. I don't recall Happy events in the unit. it was nice if one made it out but never special. As for body, At the age of 25 I have had Laminectomy from disc issues from lifting, bending, etc. that have left me unable to work as a floor nurse at this time. My family is suffering from it because we don't have my income anymore. I have applied for a case managers postion that i truley want so that I may return to work again. The herniations in my back went down into the spinal column and affect the nerves in my Right leg. I fell alot and could not step off a curb with out falling due to no sensation in my foot, with no nerve impulses the foot really does not funtion to well. Its just like when your leg falls asleep and you try to walk on it but the burning pain and numbness doesn't leave.

Jamie

[ginger58]

[quote=studentnurseinmd;2030726]Well, contrary to most statements above, I do NOT think Nursing is the most unhealthy profession out there. I mean, I just graduated my RN program,
So, enough pessimism about our health!!! Join a gym or take a yoga class. Better yet, stop smoking!

Your rose colored glasses were given to you on graduation I bet!! Write back in about five years or when you've been at it for a few decades...as I'd really like to hear what you have to say.

[SmilingBluEyes]

It's been ok for me. BUt then I only work perdiem and have learned not to take my job home with me, to help keep me emotionally balanced. I agree also, bariatric patients are taking their toll----really tough to move and lift folks on this 5 foot 2 smallish frame. And help is not always so readily available, which is discouraging as well. We do our best however, to team up and help each other out. I still love being a nurse, however. Yes I do.

After 10 years, no regrets really.

But that is not to say, it's not been hard on me physicially and emotionally. Would I do it over again? Probably. But what I find most discouraging about nursing is, I seem to have less and less time to spend on patient care as I am spending much more time on paperwork, charting and other activities to please state and national agencies and the lawyers. THAT I find the most discouraging and perhaps, unhealthy of all.

[Kashia]

Very, but then the medical system is unhealthy.
In an ideal world hospitals would be wellness focused where health was considered to be more than the mere absence of symptoms and disease. Every aspect I see in hospitals is unhealthy
stress, food, air quality, toxic cleaning products used by housekeeping, the list could be long-and of course this promotes a lower consciousness regarding what "health" even means.
Nursing- for me - has been one of the most stressful experiences for me body mind and soul.Why I left med surg and turned to home care.

[JeannieT]

I have never been more tired than nursing school clinicals.
I then thought I would adjust but after being on the floor, every nurse I've worked with has told me, "there wasn't a day that went by, where I didn't think about quitting in my first year as a nurse on the floor."
I agree entirely !

I've had 25 years of experience doing other jobs and nothing holds a candle to nursing in the TOTAL EXHAUSTION department.

WE NEED A NATIONAL NURSES UNION !!!!