HATE my job!!!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Whew!! There, I said it! :D

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Specializes in ER.

elaborate. It'll help you to process things, feel a bit better, and formulate a plan for your next step!

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Oh gosh, where to start? Well, when I first decided to go into nursing, I was working in a highly technical field that required a great degree of skill with complex tasks. I wanted to apply that level of skill to doing something that would actually help people and contribute to my community in a positive way.

In nursing school, I excelled and was at the top of my class. Loved all the complex pathophysiology and pharmacology, particularly in relation to the cardiac conduction system.

Hit the floor in an acute care setting right out of school, loved connecting with patients and family members, loved the cerebral aspects of nursing care, despised the drudgery.

Had a change of scenery, in a new department, been there a couple of years now. Still love it when I can connect with patients, when they're eager for information and I feel like I'm really helping them, but absolutely hate the menial tasks.

It's gratifying when I get an IV into a tough stick, when I can put a Foley in a poor little old man with urinary retention and watch the relief wash over him, hold the hand of a frail little old lady who doesn't remember why she's there, educate the young uninsured guy about resources in the community where he can get health and dental care cheap or possibly free, provide primary care for immigrants who may or may not be legal, because they don't know where else to go, catch something and point it out to the doc, who then changes his plan of treatment because of information that came from me, etc.

I hate "I need another blanket/more ice chips/a sandwich/to go to the bathroom/more nausea medication/more pain medication" and "How long is this gonna take, I've been here for three hours and I'm leaving if I don't get X,Y,Z" (In reality, you've been here less than one hour, and I don't give a crap if you leave, cause you really don't need to be here anyway, but I'm going to smile and apologize for the wait, and offer you another damn warm blanket, because that's good customer service). I hate waiting on people hand and foot. I hate being treated like a servant. I hate doing repetitive tasks that a trained monkey can do. I hate when people care more about getting their crackers and juice right away than they care about getting their life saving medications. I don't want to do this for the rest of my life!

Does that help?

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I've been considering Home Health or Hospice, but I'm afraid to leave the ED. I'm afraid I'll miss the traumas and the critically ill, and the good feeling I get when I feel like I'm providing access to medical care to the underserved community (while I think that this is a misuse of the ED, it's a problem that's not going away any time soon, and I find that most of our uninsured population who uses the ED for primary care are actually really nice people who just don't have any resources. The jerks who make life miserable can be insured or uninsured; they're just jerks regardless of their circumstances or socioeconomic status).

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Specializes in ICU, Tele, and OR.
I've been considering Home Health or Hospice, but I'm afraid to leave the ED. I'm afraid I'll miss the traumas and the critically ill, and the good feeling I get when I feel like I'm providing access to medical care to the underserved community (while I think that this is a misuse of the ED, it's a problem that's not going away any time soon, and I find that most of our uninsured population who uses the ED for primary care are actually really nice people who just don't have any resources. The jerks who make life miserable can be insured or uninsured; they're just jerks).

I'm going to say that you should make the change before you get burnt out. Either change to HH or Hospice or choose to continue your education and go on to get your NP. I'm in NP school and I honestly understand why you feel the way you do. I felt the same way! I then decided it was time to make a change. As an NP, you still have the time to spend and educate your patients and you don't have to worry about the small stuff. You know what I mean? I pray you have peace with whatever direction you go in life. Nursing is such a fulfilling profession. Don't give up on us yet!:nurse:

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This is interesting, because a lot of what you listed as "likes" are things that could be associated with MDs, whereas your "dislikes" are definitely associated with nursing. Getting blankets, anti-nausea meds, pain pills prn, toileting, etc. are not the "BAD" parts of nursing, but rather some of the CORE elements that make nursing what it is. TO me, it would be like going work as a car salesman, and admitting that you really are interested in cars, but the whole sales thing doesn't interest you. Well... it's great that you like cars, but your job is sales, so you had better like selling cars quick or find another job. Which is not to say that I disagree on the fact that "customer service" in nursing has in some areas gotten abused by patients and facilities. Still, what you are essentially complaining about are essential aspects of nursing care. Always have been, and always will be.

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Thanks, anney1981. I am actually considering going back to school. I need to do an RN to BSN bridge before I can go for an FNP program, so it's a big commitment. I want to be sure this is what I want before I commit.

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Specializes in ICU, Tele, and OR.

You can actually do a AS to NP degree through my school, I believe. University of South Alabama.

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I don't mean to sound as if I am without empathy. I really do love my job when I feel like I'm somehow easing someone else's suffering, I just really hate the day to day drudgery. It's not that I think I'm above it or anything like that. It just feels so....mindless and soul sucking. I feel like such a horrible person for having these feelings.

I mean, I'm a nurse; I'm supposed to enjoy the pillow fluffing nurturey stuff, and I don't.

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Specializes in ER.
Oh gosh, where to start? Well, when I first decided to go into nursing, I was working in a highly technical field that required a great degree of skill with complex tasks. I wanted to apply that level of skill to doing something that would actually help people and contribute to my community in a positive way.

In nursing school, I excelled and was at the top of my class. Loved all the complex pathophysiology and pharmacology, particularly in relation to the cardiac conduction system.

Hit the floor in an acute care setting right out of school, loved connecting with patients and family members, loved the cerebral aspects of nursing care, despised the drudgery.

Had a change of scenery, in a new department, been there a couple of years now. Still love it when I can connect with patients, when they're eager for information and I feel like I'm really helping them, but absolutely hate the menial tasks.

It's gratifying when I get an IV into a tough stick, when I can put a Foley in a poor little old man with urinary retention and watch the relief wash over him, hold the hand of a frail little old lady who doesn't remember why she's there, educate the young uninsured guy about resources in the community where he can get health and dental care cheap or possibly free, provide primary care for immigrants who may or may not be legal, because they don't know where else to go, catch something and point it out to the doc, who then changes his plan of treatment because of information that came from me, etc.

I hate "I need another blanket/more ice chips/a sandwich/to go to the bathroom/more nausea medication/more pain medication" and "How long is this gonna take, I've been here for three hours and I'm leaving if I don't get X,Y,Z" (In reality, you've been here less than one hour, and I don't give a crap if you leave, cause you really don't need to be here anyway, but I'm going to smile and apologize for the wait, and offer you another damn warm blanket, because that's good customer service). I hate waiting on people hand and foot. I hate being treated like a servant. I hate doing repetitive tasks that a trained monkey can do. I hate when people care more about getting their crackers and juice right away than they care about getting their life saving medications. I don't want to do this for the rest of my life!

Does that help?

you must work in an ER.... haa!!! oh I hear ya regarding the menial tasks that are not on the highest priority for us (ice chips, blanket, crackers, etc) when we have patients who need intervention for an MI (for instance).

That is my biggest pet peeve, seriously. The day shift has a person who walks around with a cart to deliver these things after asking the nurse. The night shift?? Not so much.

Of course, we want to make a patient comfortable... BUT - other than basic necessities (water, blanket, cracker if you're STARVING for having been in the ER for 10 hours) I will not make it my priority to give you xyz. Often times, I tell the patient, when I have time for that, but first I have medical priorities.

I get so bent out of shape for the same things you mention. BIG time.

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Specializes in ER.
I don't mean to sound as if I am without empathy. I really do love my job when I feel like I'm somehow easing someone else's suffering, I just really hate the day to day drudgery. It's not that I think I'm above it or anything like that. It just feels so....mindless and soul sucking. I feel like such a horrible person for having these feelings.

I mean, I'm a nurse; I'm supposed to enjoy the pillow fluffing nurturey stuff, and I don't.

If I can be so bold as to help you articulate your point, is that you are trying to say your job as a nurse is to use your "SKILL."

Those other things need to be done by another person while we are busy getting POUNDED by our jobs that require our skill. Usually a CNA is also too busy getting killed as well. I have worked in a few places that have patient care reps, or coordinators, or candy stripers to a degree. Someone who can roam and relieve those non essential requests that are NOT emergent but further deter us from our immediate tasks.

And hello, who created this image of "fluffing pillows" as basic nursing care? Yes, comfort, is key for a patient, but fluffing pillows is no more my desire for nursing and all that it encompasses than it is a car mechanics job to vacuum my interior when they're busy with my ENGINE.

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Still love it when I can connect with patients, when they're eager for information and I feel like I'm really helping them, but absolutely hate the menial tasks.

It's gratifying when I get an IV into a tough stick, when I can put a Foley in a poor little old man with urinary retention and watch the relief wash over him, hold the hand of a frail little old lady who doesn't remember why she's there, educate the young uninsured guy about resources in the community where he can get health and dental care cheap or possibly free, provide primary care for immigrants who may or may not be legal, because they don't know where else to go, catch something and point it out to the doc, who then changes his plan of treatment because of information that came from me, etc.

I gotta say, it kind of sounds like you actually LOVE your job, maybe even just a little bit. :)

You've included an entire paragraph describing the ways in which your job is rewarding--and all of the instances you describe seem to be pretty particular not just to nursing in general, but to your job specifically--in THAT ED in THAT community. The drudgery of nursing is, well, just what it is and what it always will be. If you are able to help a frail elder with their toileting and make them feel comfortable, safe, and dignified, then you are providing the same high level of excellent care that you are providing when you THINK you are using more skills. Managing pain, assisting with ADLs, these are always going to be fundamental to the care you provide, no matter what environment you're in. Sometimes people will treat you like a rag, and they won't appreciate what you do, and they will expect you to serve them or fix their TVs, and all that annoying stuff. It's unavoidable. Let it roll off you like water off a duck.

Someone mentioned being an NP, and this may be a good option for you. But they said something about not having to worry about the small stuff at that level--which, as an NP, I can say is totally not true. The best clinicians work with the whole picture--no you will not be toileting patients, bringing blankets, washing them up, etc on a regular basis--but you will do it sometimes. And that will help define you as an excellent nurse practitioner if that's the road you choose to take.

I wish you the best. You sound awesome.

:)

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