[PiPhi2004]

Ok, I know that on my unit many of us newbies are getting mad about the work conditions, the pay, and the zero respect. I know ZERO new nurses that plan on staying in an RN position for more than 5 years. We all plan on going on for NP, CRNA, education, something!!! I work on a fairly GOOD unit too. I mean I cant complain about other nurses, management is great, and we are known to be one of the best units to float to. However, I cant make ends meet! I REFUSE to work extra shifts and not have a life. It seems the only option is to get a higher degree to make any 'real' money. I am worried about our generation of nurses. Who's going to be the RN if were all burnt out and refusing crappy pay for so much responsibility? Our hospital tried to form a union a few years ago and the idea was completely shot down by higher ups. I think something needs to happen nationally for real change to be done. I mean I am a PROFESSIONAL and I think I deserve to be treated like one, even at 22 years of age! Therefore my only option (as many of my peers) is to go on to grad degrees. Anyone else feeling this way after really seeing what nursing is all about? Anyone know of anything going on to really make change to this problem?

[MeghanRN]

I am, and always will be, an RN.

Now, whether or not I get my Masters, which, I plan on starting in the fall, (fingers crossed that I get in!!) I will always be, an RN.

I think that most nurses want to further educate themselves, but time and money plays a huge role in not being able to achieve that.

You, and I, both started young. I was an RN at 22, and it appears you are as well. Thats also a huge difference then those RN's who became a nurse when they are older, and already have a family established. It can be impossible for them to further their education. Life can lead us in different directions and take us away from those goals.

Some of the best staff nurses I knew were there for 20+ years. Their knowledge and experience was, and still is, invaluable.

There is nothing wrong with just staying a staff nurse. In fact, I plan on getting my masters in nursing education and then continuing on as a staff nurse for years afterwards. I dont want to be away from floor nursing yet. I'm to young for an office job, or to want an 8-5 M-F job. However, my hospital gives a great opportunity for me to go back to school free of charge, for a 2 year commitment after I graduate. I am jumping on this as fast as I can.

If you find that your hospital is not treating you as a professional, then you need to find a new place of employment. My hospital treats me as a professional - sure, they do stupid **** and make me mad, but most places do. Its the political and monetary issues that I stay away from, and I do just fine.

What are the issues/work conditions that you are having at your hospital? Is your pay comparable to other hospitals in your area?

I had a thought for you on one of your comments you posted.
When you say you refuse to work extra shifts and not have a life, did you ever think that working those extra shifts will allow you to have a life?
Assuming you work 3 12's a week, trust me, one extra shift a week will not kill you, + the OT and extra cash looks great in your paycheck and allows you to live the life you want to live. I do hope you didnt go into nursing for the great paycheck, especially as a new grad. You wont find it. You need to gain the experience before you can gain the cash.
Furthering your education will allow you to do that, but in the meantime, if you can do those extra shifts its a great idea.
In fact, I've got an extra shift i picked up tomorrow. That extra cash will go toward the landscaper that is coming to do my front yard. (yay!) My husband and I dont live extravagantly on our paychecks, but we live well enough to be able to do what we want.

Thats just my 2 cents that I wanted to add.

I do commend you for wanting to further your education and I do hope you get the opportunity to do so. But if not, just remember that there is nothing wrong with being a staff RN for your career.

[PiPhi2004]

ok, that was completely pointless, i asked if anyone had any GOOD comments about the problem, i wasnt asking for advice on whether or not to work OT or anything like that, if you want to comment on another thread of mine, then do it. It's not just me, and from the sounds of things on this board, its more often than not happening in hospitals, not just here. Improper orientations, bad pay, insane patient loads, all are leading to regular RNs leaving, young and old. And all this 'forever RN' crap, seriously, give me a break. I know you'll always be an RN and you completely knew what I meant, you just wanted to make a snide remark. Now, anyone have anything feel this way or do you see RN as a 'stepping stone' to NP or something else. If you do or dont, why or why not? I worry about being a patient when I am 70 and having nothing but newbies because conditions are too harsh for anyone but the new grads and others have went on to bigger and better things.

[MeghanRN]

Completely pointless? you must not have realized that nothing about my remark was meant to be snide, or mean, I was trying to be honest. I do apologize if you felt that way from reading my post.

I was trying to give you an educated statement, and to the point. I was trying to give you an idea as to why some people put up with what they do b/c its not always feasible to go on.

You made it seem as if their is something wrong with being just an RN, to which I wanted to respond to.

You also need to remember that these boards are here for venting. You will find most nurses love being a nurse but there is crap that happens, and thats why we have this board, to vent.

I think you may want to look into another hospital. I make great pay for where I work, had a great orientation to my unit, like the people I work for and yes, I do like my manger and my director. My patient load is 3. Yes, some days I want to scream and quit, but who doesn't. And yes, I get respect from many doctors and colleagues. *gasp*

You posted, I responded.. I dont appreciate the attack back however..


But, I digress..

[nightmare]

This is obviously an emotive subject with differing points of view.Please try and keep it civil and not insult each other.

[CrunchRN]

It is a real problem I agree. They need to pay a good salary and staff for reasonable patient loads or quality will/does suffer and the hospitals will spend a lot of money recruiting nurses that leave in a few years.

[MeghanRN]

And just to add..

I think it has to do alot with the area you are in, and the hospitals you are at.

Some hospitals are great, others arent. Some provide great orientation/pay/benefits/etc, others do not. Some have great staff, others, again, do not..


Perhaps a universal system would work better, but that will never happen

[yellow finch]

My first nursing job was so miserable that after 6 months I applied to graduate school. If what I was experiencing was my future then I wanted nothing to do with it! I ran as fast and far away from an RN future simply to survive mentally.

Three positions later I find myself very happy with my job and all that changed was who I worked for and with. My new manager is awesome. My coworkers (on the whole) are awesome and friendly. The pay has increased substantially since I started. The health system I work for isn't the best, the benefits aren't great, and I can't see myself working for them after graduation. However, I'm not as eager to leave my life as an RN now as I was 3+ years ago.

To comment on another poster's comment that older nurses and those with families not being able to go onto graduate school has the wrong perception. Anybody can go to school if they want to. Financial aid is out there and if your passion is to become a NP, CNS, educator, etc... then you can find a way to do it. You just have to become creative with time management and personal responsibilities.

I don't see any way to really make a change in our career happiness aside from becoming politically active so that legislators work for us. Earning respect from others may or may not come with time. For some, seeing our level of professionalism and abilities is enough. For others, nothing will ever change their mind and always act like the jerks they are. I see both types every day at work.


Best of luck to you, OP. Have you decided on your next move? What are you planning to study in grad school?

[bettybinder]

I agree with u Meghan that it depends on the area u are. I am planning to start nursing skool in the fall. Although i use to work in the hospital as a cna and i loved it and yes it can be hard sometimes. there have been times when the nurses have 7 or 8 patients and it makes it hard for the nurses to care for all their patients. I have also noticed while workin there that nowadays people become nurses for the money not the heart to care for someone else. I have actually heard a nurse make that comment before. This nurse ended up quitting becos she was a nurse for the wrong reason. Yes it was really challenging working there, becos cnas have 17patients max to one person . But overall i did not leave becos of the stress but becos i wanted to go to skool full time and get all my prereqs done on time. I love to be a nurse one day becos caring 4 someone else only tells them that they are not alone. There is always the good and then the bad day, and days u just want to walk out the door, but one thing i always tell myself is that nothing good comes easy. Goodluck to all the present, past and almost nurses on this website. God bless

[SoundofMusic]

I agree that an RN, especially one who has taken the time and money and effort to get the BSN, much be treated like a professional. You ARE a professional -- and not just anyone can get into nursng school, pass it, pass the NCLEX, and pass through an orientation phase.

Here I go on my "it was better in the corporate world" soapbox -- but one of the first things my manager did in my very first job out of college was to give us business cards w/ the company logo on it as a gift. It was to show us that THEY though we were professionals and they wanted us to think of ourselves that way. Nurses don't get an office, a computer, even an email account half the time - and business cards?? Forget it!

What you GET is a list of demands that takes a SuperHuman to achieve and warnings out the wazoo if you don't comply. You get good pay and benefits, but other than that, the perks have to be intangible for now -- a pt's smile, a thanks, tears, what have you -- but it's NEVER from the "boss." He/She's too busy rounding making sure you checked the boxes, marked the boards, and gave good "customer service."

As a nurse, I do receive rewards, but as far as management goes, I feel like the horse pulling their cart and sorry, I don't want to and CAN'T possible do that for more than a few years tops. I will combine my former career somehow with this one and move on.

And the part about those with families not being able to further their careers -- it's not entirely true. Many of us with spouses as breadwinners can take the time off to get the graduate degree w/ little financial repercussions. As soon as I get the youngest out college, I'm going back for my own masters, Lord willing.