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Reading the forum in the past few months, a common thread I have seen is the anger. It does not seem to matter what the discussion is about or the level of nurses discussing it,anger is a common denominator. All of us have random days of extremes,anger,disillusionment,panic,sadness,and a host of other feelings. But anger sticks out and the need to place this anger on others.We need to vent,but why is anger a constant?
In a recent thread, nurses discuss the dealings with combative pts with drug/etoh backrounds. So much fault placed on the pt. I am more then understanding of the difficulties in dealing with these people,but do ya think they do it on purpose?
When a professional nurse becomes so immersed in anger, it is time to change your specialty or take a break. We are not a perfect group by no means, but we get paid to deal with the best of the best and worst of the worst. It is not always easy,fun, or safe. We should not be abused or taken advantage of by our clients. We should be protected by our employers. We need to be proactive in getting our needs met and the needs of those in our care met.
When I see such young professionals so angry and disillusioned already, I have to wonder at the future of our profession.
It is not a profession one should enter to get rich, have great hours,vacations or benifits. It is one that is entered to care for others, teach and mentor. We have come such a long,long way in the past few decades, and we have far to go.
So, I guess my question to the population here, is how do we grow as a profession without all the constant anger towards each other, our clients and employers? Or can we?
I haven't noticed that nurses are angrier than other demographic groups. I've posted on other boards and they tend to vent on forums too. You should read religious debate boards!!!
There are some frustrations unique to nursing that get aired here as a way of seeking support and validation for the inherent frustrations of dealing with out of touch administrations and governing bodies, and the general public in it's uncensored glory.
There's a lot of frustration in our profession for many reasons, it's easy to get a feel for what that is by this bulletine board, but I disagree that there's "constant anger". I agree that if someone is constantly angry then it's time to find another job.
Most of us are trudging along, expressing our anger and frustrations here where it's safe to do so anonymously (and often more strongly than we would in real life), but are getting it off our chest, dealing, but not in constant anger. We can't sugar coat it, we need an outlet.
I agree, I notice it as well. I think sometimes nurses have long shifts, difficult pt's difficult dr's staff etc.. etc.. here they can speak more freely. I think listening to angry nurses and talking about their problems it like caring for pt's. Like pt's , I try to not be judgemental when it comes to nurses. I don't know what the nurses support systems are what kind of crappy place they work in or how many times a shift they are inadated with abusive, combative pt's , with no staff to help etc... etc...., so for all those angry nurses hang in there. If we don't have each other we have nothing.
Updated
Nov 05, 2007 at 08:40 AM by Angie O'Plasty, RN
Re: Why are nurses so angry?
Originally Posted by cmo421
It is not a profession one should enter to get rich, have great hours, vacations or benifits. It is one that is entered to care for others, teach and mentor.
Christine
This book explains it much better than I can, Christine.
Reading the forum in the past few months, a common thread I have seen is the anger. It does not seem to matter what the discussion is about or the level of nurses discussing it,anger is a common denominator. All of us have random days of extremes,anger,disillusionment,panic,sadness,and a host of other feelings. But anger sticks out and the need to place this anger on others.We need to vent,but why is anger a constant?
In a recent thread, nurses discuss the dealings with combative pts with drug/etoh backrounds. So much fault placed on the pt. I am more then understanding of the difficulties in dealing with these people,but do ya think they do it on purpose?
When a professional nurse becomes so immersed in anger, it is time to change your specialty or take a break. We are not a perfect group by no means, but we get paid to deal with the best of the best and worst of the worst. It is not always easy,fun, or safe. We should not be abused or taken advantage of by our clients. We should be protected by our employers. We need to be proactive in getting our needs met and the needs of those in our care met.
When I see such young professionals so angry and disillusioned already, I have to wonder at the future of our profession.
It is not a profession one should enter to get rich, have great hours,vacations or benifits. It is one that is entered to care for others, teach and mentor. We have come such a long,long way in the past few decades, and we have far to go.
So, I guess my question to the population here, is how do we grow as a profession without all the constant anger towards each other, our clients and employers? Or can we?
Christine
You stated a very valid reason why there are a lot of angry nurses. You said we should be protected by our employers. Right there is the basic root of the anger. We are NOT protected by our employers. Most of the time, they will hang you out to dry if there is a problem, perceived or real. It's all about the money for the employers. They don't care about their staff, they can all be replaced with the latest batch of new nurses. It's not the new nurses fault, they come into this with the notion of making a difference and really loving what they do. The disillusionment comes later when they realize that they are cannon fodder and can be replaced with the next batch of newbies. Perhaps if employers took a good, long hard look at what nurses deal with on a daily basis, maybe they would change their position and truly protect their employees. You've been a nurse for a long time, like me. We've seen the changes that have occurred and not for the better. How we can make changes is unknown to me. Unless every single nurse in the entire country stood up at one time and said enough is enough, nothing will change.
All of us have random days of extremes,anger,disillusionment,panic,sadness,and a host of other feelings. But anger sticks out and the need to place this anger on others.We need to vent,but why is anger a constant?
In a recent thread, nurses discuss the dealings with combative pts with drug/etoh backrounds. So much fault placed on the pt. I am more then understanding of the difficulties in dealing with these people,but do ya think they do it on purpose?
Maybe it depends on your unit and how often you deal w/such issues? I duuno. I do know that some, in fact, DO behave that way on purpose. Will actually tell you after a long night getting slapped, kicked and then finally zonked out and to sleep, cleaned and freshened up for the day w/ a sandwich and juice on the way out--they'll say "see ya tonight." And they will! Lather, rinse, repeat.
When a professional nurse becomes so immersed in anger, it is time to change your specialty or take a break.
Only would agree if it is actually anger you are sensing. I don't see it that way. Depressing, frustrating, etc. sometimes, sure.I'm not angry.
We are not a perfect group by no means, but we get paid to deal with the best of the best and worst of the worst. It is not always easy,fun, or safe.
I don't know where you are but honestly, it is RARELY fun, easy or safe. And of those three, SAFE shoul dalways be in place.
We should not be abused or taken advantage of by our clients. We should be protected by our employers. We need to be proactive in getting our needs met and the needs of those in our care met.
You're right! Good goals all. But if we are being abused and taken advantage of and we are not protected by our employers and all proactive steps taken to advocate change for the better of us and our patients falls on deaf ears? Can I be angry? I think you could say yes. But it's still not to that point. I'm just disappointed and saddened that this is all it is.
When I see such young professionals so angry and disillusioned already, I have to wonder at the future of our profession.
That is the most important point you make. We all should be worried. The strong among us don't stay--the strong leave the playground because they know they're worth more--they are, their health, their sanity. Who's gonna end up left? The "caring, angel of mercy" types. I admire that dedication but it's possible to give to others in a myriad ways and in other professions engendering actual respect without clocking in on a floor.
It's not that I'm not capable of succeeding in such a complex job called "nurse"(tech, social worker, supplier, transporter, lab, housekeeping,)I just don't think I wanna. Doesn't make me angry--makes me kinda smart!
Every time someone asks anything about why so many nurses are this or that, I ask if that person believes people in other professions don't share the same frustration. Do you really think that they are discontented retail workers, restaurant workers, accountants, teachers, butchers, bakers and candlestick makers out there? I'm sure there are. It just so happens that this is a nursing forum, so we don't hear from those other people here.
Originally Posted by cmo421 It is not a profession one should enter to get rich, have great hours, vacations or benifits. It is one that is entered to care for others, teach and mentor. Christine
And iIve ALWAYS wondered at what point in history did we decide that in OUR profession--these two ideas are mutually exclusive? Doctors seek both. Public employees seek both. Accountants seek both. Why have we accepted that in order to do all the good things we nurses can do we then must give up rights to good money, better hours vacations!!or especially benefits! I know I deserve them. What makes us so unique?
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Why are nurses so angry?
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