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by tonyluvnelly

Updated May 09, 2007 at 10:58 AM by tonyluvnelly

I wanted to start this thread because I'm new to the nursing realm and I am on my way to becoming an RN and then later a CRNA. I've read stories about nurses and their wonderful experiences when receiving "thanks you" from patients.

I would like to know what you worst nursing experience is. Its good to see two sides of the Nursing world. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, i'm just want to see the cons of the Nursing world too. Thank you.

Tony

P.S. You experience could be with Management, Patients, Hours, Anything! I want to know the CONS too.

[skittlebear]

Re: Worst Nursing Experience--What's Yours?

I've only been an LPN a little over a year and a half but a lot of bad experiences I've encoutered with the two jobs I've had are low staffing. We may have a full staff for about 3 months, then bam...we've lost about 3 nurses or more. So, short-staffing is definitely a negative experience here. I've experienced working short quite a bit, and I've come in on several off days. I guess the positive is a lot of overtime on our paychecks. Management is great at my job so far.

[RNperdiem]

Re: Worst Nursing Experience--What's Yours?

While this is not one experience, the cons of my med-surg job was that even if I came in early, left late and skipped lunch, I was so busy that so many times I didn't give the patients the level of care I wanted them to have.
These were mostly elderly patients from nursing homes. Medicine could do little to improve their lives. The quality of life they had came from the nursing care. I did an adequate job in assessments, giving (lots) of meds, but I would feel ashamed if a family member would visit and find their loved ones slumped down in bed and still waiting for me to come.
I get to give that kind of care in ICU now, so my morale is better now.

[clee1]

Re: Worst Nursing Experience--What's Yours?

Oh yeah..... The worst has to be short-staffing and the high workload it creates; especially r/t the quality of care given to pts.

Forget the "Nurses eat their young" (hogwash; besides, I'd give 'em terminal indigestion) and unit politics, "catty" behavior and the like. The very worst of nursing IMHO is directly r/t short-staffing.

[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

Re: Worst Nursing Experience--What's Yours?

I agree. On one 12-hour day shift on a med-surg, I took care of -- assessed, admitted, transferred and discharged -- a total of 21 patients. Normal staffing was 7:1.

My resignation was on the desk the next day.

[tonyluvnelly]

Re: Worst Nursing Experience--What's Yours?

Is the turn around rate bad in nursing? Are RN's treated badly? or is it the workload that can become heavy? just curious.

tony

P.S. Thank you for all your replies!

Originally Posted by Angie O'Plasty, RN

I agree. On one 12-hour day shift on a med-surg, I took care of -- assessed, admitted, transferred and discharged -- a total of 21 patients. Normal staffing was 7:1.

My resignation was on the desk the next day.

[clee1]

Re: Worst Nursing Experience--What's Yours?

Originally Posted by tonyluvnelly

Is the turn around rate bad in nursing? Are RN's treated badly? or is it the workload that can become heavy? just curious.

tony

P.S. Thank you for all your replies!

The turnover rate can be high.... I guess it depends on the particular environment one is in.

However, being as objective about it as I can, I don't think anyone ever intends to treat their nursing staff badly. It just works out that way sometimes.

I consider it a vicious circle: the stockholders of health care corporations expect (rightfully so) a decent return on their investment, so they lean on the corporate board to keep up profitability. The board in turn leans on the facility chief to keep costs down, and s/he in turn leans on the department managers to do likewise.

So.... consider the average income/expense per pt per day. The biggest expense any business has is staffing. So, in order to meet profit goals, that is the quickest and, in the short run, easiest place to save some $$$$. The squeeze is on from all levels! And, none of them is intensionally being "mean" or wanting to shortchange pts, but all are trying to protect their own jobs.... and it is a little tough to see the hardships of your staff when you are stuck in financial meetings, JAHCO compliance audits, and department expense spreadsheets!

What happens then? Hiring slows down (it is cheaper to pay 2 employees overtime than it is to hire/train a new staff member), workload increases, overtime hours per week rise per employee - leading to burn out, job dissatisfaction, and rapid turnover. Add to the mix that more people are leaving bedside nursing than schools can possibly turn out to replace them.... you see what I'm getting at.

[tonyluvnelly]

Re: Worst Nursing Experience--What's Yours?

Hence the so called "shortage." Gotcha

Originally Posted by clee1

The turnover rate can be high.... I guess it depends on the particular environment one is in.

However, being as objective about it as I can, I don't think anyone ever intends to treat their nursing staff badly. It just works out that way sometimes.

I consider it a vicious circle: the stockholders of health care corporations expect (rightfully so) a decent return on their investment, so they lean on the corporate board to keep up profitability. The board in turn leans on the facility chief to keep costs down, and s/he in turn leans on the department managers to do likewise.

So.... consider the average income/expense per pt per day. The biggest expense any business has is staffing. So, in order to meet profit goals, that is the quickest and, in the short run, easiest place to save some $$$$. The squeeze is on from all levels! And, none of them is intensionally being "mean" or wanting to shortchange pts, but all are trying to protect their own jobs.... and it is a little tough to see the hardships of your staff when you are stuck in financial meetings, JAHCO compliance audits, and department expense spreadsheets!

What happens then? Hiring slows down (it is cheaper to pay 2 employees overtime than it is to hire/train a new staff member), workload increases, overtime hours per week rise per employee - leading to burn out, job dissatisfaction, and rapid turnover. Add to the mix that more people are leaving bedside nursing than schools can possibly turn out to replace them.... you see what I'm getting at.

[chuck1234]

Re: Worst Nursing Experience--What's Yours?

Seventeen patients on a Med-Surg Unit, and I was in charge. The other nurse had 18 patients. Only 2 of us..... Now, you know the rest of the story!

[OneSweetNurse]

Re: Worst Nursing Experience--What's Yours?

Hi
Looking for worst experiences ...
Well mine was not with the patients it was with the management the patients were great I just remember they are out of their environment and they are sick
So tell me how do I look at the management?? I worked at a LTC behavioral facility through the county
Long story short the management DON and ADON were just a BEHAVIORAL as the residents in fact they were worse.
I had to seek counseling to get over the whole deal (yes it was that bad)
and I was told "when in that situation always look at management/administration as one of your patients.
Well Now I am finally able to look for a job after thinking hard about leaving the profession had to stop school also but am returning
So I am taking this advice with me JUST LOOK AT ADMIN/MANAG. AS ONE OF YOUR PATIENS/RESIDENTS, AND DONT REACT TO THEIR ACTIONS.

Good luck in the future and keep smiling I find it helps