Some of you may recall that I had posted about my anxiety as a nursing student and as a new member of the OR team. Well I have been feeling much better thanks to everyone's support and help. One person in particular came forward and took time out to help me. I came to realize it could be more of a confidence and anxiety issue rather than anything else, which stemmed from a very early incidence with a nursing teacher.
Anyhow, I know for myself exactly how I feel about my job in OR nursing. I truely do love the job itself. There's so much to learn, and the surgeons can be difficult, and residents sometimes have so much attitude. Overall however, I enjoy the job, always learning something new, never bored, etc etc. I went into nursing because I wanted to help people. If I wanted more money I could have gone for something like accounting (which now I sometimes wonder why I didn't loll !!). But I truely wanted to make a difference. I realized soon after that direct patient care was not for me however, and soon decided that I wanted to be in the OR. I got through nursing school, hoping that after a year of experince in med/surg I'd be able to switch to the OR. Well I wasn't able to find a job after I graduated in med/surg in my area so I took a course in the OR and was working within six months of taking the course. It was a long hard road and I still have so many issues with going back to work (I've been off for a medical reason, will be back soon hopefully, like in a few weeks.).
What I have learned in the past 6 years since I started nursing school is this. The job itself is very rewarding, and there is a place for most people. For instance I wasn't into direct patient care and I wanted something challenging so I went into the OR. Its completely different from floor nursing. I still had the same issues popping up though, with preceptors and other coworkers, gossipping, giving me a really hard time. I almost quit, I dreamt up ways to get out of nursing all togethyer or get a desk job constantly. I was OBSESSED with getting out !! I have now taken a new look at it. What is really bothering me ? I would take a pay cut, I would continue to work in the OR, if only I WAS TREATED BETTER !!
What it boils down to is how am I being treated. I don't expect star treatment, but as a human being I would like to be treated with dignity and some sort of respect for completing nursing school and an OR course which in itself is such a challenge. If the working conditions were improved I would definately be happier in my job and perhaps even stick around for longer. At this point I am planning on getting my degree as soon as possible and still looking at options. I don't deserve to be treated like crap, nor do I want it. I want to be treated as the professional that I am. Just because I don't wear a business suit and work behind a desk doesn't mean I don't deserve respect. I spent many years in school and training. I think the nurses and nursing management need to be more supportive of their nurses.
What I'm proposing here is how can we do that ? Is there a field of nursing I can get into where I can help to improve the working condition of nurses ? So far I can only think of teaching. There need to be clear guidelines around harassment at work, against treating employees badly.
I look forward to hearing back from you all. I've been reading so many negative posts about nursing, I thought why not do something about it, because nursing is a helping profession, and a beautiful profession. If we can make nurses happier maybe there would be less shortage and less negativity among nurse coworkers.
