I'm quitting nursing

Nurses General Nursing

Published

After losing my chosen job in Plastics because my ward got shut down and trying other surgical posts I got a relevation of sorts last night.

I was emptying a bedpan at the time and the thought struck me that why the hell do I need a degree to deal with ****?.

I have had enough of this poorly-paid dirty job. I'm fed up with rude and nasty patients and I cannot stand whining relatives. I'm fed up with sub-standard nursing care because of cost restrictions.

I'm basically disenchanted with nursing. I want out.

Hi I completely understand where you are coming from. I currently work in a level 2 ER and I am really getting sick of being treated like a slave/maid/waitress. Some people are so freakin stupid!! Here I am in one of our cardiac monitored rooms (for people who are worse off, not just belly pain, vag bleed, kidney stone, etc but stuff like Resp distress, Chest pain , OD etc.) I have this patient who is...actually by the time I left we still did not know what was wrong with her, but anyway she is completely just agitated/restless, babbling nonsense, trying to pull out her IV, trying to get out of bed, I am the only nurse in the room, trying to undress her, hook her to the monitor, put in an IV, assessment, charting, doctors are coming in writing orders, have to put restraints on her, she nees a cather for a urine sample, blah blah, and she keeps flailing around in bed, trying to get out, just very bizarre behavior, I step out of the room to get something and this patients relative is walking down the hall, she comes up to me just as i am stepping out of the room and says "she has to go to the bathroom" referring to the patient and is pointing down the hall........WHAT THE ****????????? CANT YOU SEE THAT I AM JUST SLIGHTLY (sacrasm) BUSY!??? and I dont know who you are talking about and I am not her nurse! (although we all help each other but still.......) people are just morons! I also hate it when I get a new patient and as soon as I step into the room to assess them they blurt out (before I even say hello or maybe just after) "can I get an blanket, pillow, and some ice water, and can you ajust the head of my bed," DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THE FREAKIN RAMADA?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO I HAVE SERVANT IMPRINTED ON MY FOREHEAD!!!!!!! WOULD YOU LIKE A SPONGEBATH AND A MASSAGE TOO!!!!!! Or how about the guy (not that old 50's, perfectly capable) who comes to the ER for a clogged Ear and a freakin splinter who craps his pants while sitting in the bed dt his chronic "bowel disease where i cant control it" who is not only not wearing a sensible adult diaper but not even underwear, just shorts (yes in winter) with a freakin towel stuffed in! and he not only expects me to clean him up (disgusting poop that is liquidy and looks like poopy vomit) but asks me if I will wash his poopy shorts out in the sink by hand for him!!!!!!! WHAT THE ****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have other stories believe me.....welcome to the ER it is not like on TV for me. I however still have faith in nursing and there are lots of great things about it and about the ER I could go on and on. DONT GIVE UP. This is why there is a shortage. I also do NOT think we are paid enough for what we do and expose ourselves and potentially our loved ones to. I could go on and on. I also think that we as NURSES need to be ALOT kinder and less critical of each other. I ABOSUTELY HATE the whole nurses eating their young attitude and the horizontal aggression that extists in nursing. I know we can change things IF WE STAND UP AND DEMAND IT.

MUCH LOVE AND PEACE

I completely relate to your post, Adriadawn! I also work in the ER and the behavior of some patients and families is unbelievable at times. I don't believe that we get paid nearly enough for the work that we do.

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I'm close to joining the original poster. I'm fed up of answering call bells to be told get me ice, fix my pillow, pull up my blanket. These are ambulatory patients.....

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Hi I completely understand where you are coming from. I currently work in a level 2 ER and I am really getting sick of being treated like a slave/maid/waitress. Some people are so freakin stupid!! Here I am in one of our cardiac monitored rooms (for people who are worse off, not just belly pain, vag bleed, kidney stone, etc but stuff like Resp distress, Chest pain , OD etc.) I have this patient who is...actually by the time I left we still did not know what was wrong with her, but anyway she is completely just agitated/restless, babbling nonsense, trying to pull out her IV, trying to get out of bed, I am the only nurse in the room, trying to undress her, hook her to the monitor, put in an IV, assessment, charting, doctors are coming in writing orders, have to put restraints on her, she nees a cather for a urine sample, blah blah, and she keeps flailing around in bed, trying to get out, just very bizarre behavior, I step out of the room to get something and this patients relative is walking down the hall, she comes up to me just as i am stepping out of the room and says "she has to go to the bathroom" referring to the patient and is pointing down the hall........WHAT THE ****????????? CANT YOU SEE THAT I AM JUST SLIGHTLY (sacrasm) BUSY!??? and I dont know who you are talking about and I am not her nurse! (although we all help each other but still.......) people are just morons! I also hate it when I get a new patient and as soon as I step into the room to assess them they blurt out (before I even say hello or maybe just after) "can I get an blanket, pillow, and some ice water, and can you ajust the head of my bed," DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THE FREAKIN RAMADA?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO I HAVE SERVANT IMPRINTED ON MY FOREHEAD!!!!!!! WOULD YOU LIKE A SPONGEBATH AND A MASSAGE TOO!!!!!! Or how about the guy (not that old 50's, perfectly capable) who comes to the ER for a clogged Ear and a freakin splinter who craps his pants while sitting in the bed dt his chronic "bowel disease where i cant control it" who is not only not wearing a sensible adult diaper but not even underwear, just shorts (yes in winter) with a freakin towel stuffed in! and he not only expects me to clean him up (disgusting poop that is liquidy and looks like poopy vomit) but asks me if I will wash his poopy shorts out in the sink by hand for him!!!!!!! WHAT THE ****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have other stories believe me.....welcome to the ER it is not like on TV for me. I however still have faith in nursing and there are lots of great things about it and about the ER I could go on and on. DONT GIVE UP. This is why there is a shortage. I also do NOT think we are paid enough for what we do and expose ourselves and potentially our loved ones to. I could go on and on. I also think that we as NURSES need to be ALOT kinder and less critical of each other. I ABOSUTELY HATE the whole nurses eating their young attitude and the horizontal aggression that extists in nursing. I know we can change things IF WE STAND UP AND DEMAND IT.

MUCH LOVE AND PEACE

You put a smile on my face tonight;) reason being is I work on a telemetry floor and most of what you said (especially the patient stories) were so funny because they are so freakin TRUE. We have ALL experienced :cheers: this stuff and my dream is to transfer to er, however, you have brought to lite, "the grass is not always greener" Thank you for making me laugh while speaking the truth. :bow: :beer: :yelclap: :selfbonk:

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i'm sorry to hear you hate nursing. i can understand your sentiments because i think many nurses feel used and abused and generally sick and tired of people at some stage in their career.

when i had my 'can't stand my horrible job' period i worked as a ward clerk for a few months just for a break to see where i wanted to my career path to head.

eventually i came back to nursing but in another specialty, paediatrics. when i got sick of that i changed to ed, which is where i am now. i have to say nursing at least gives you the opportunity to do different things.

i'm not going to suggest you do anything or give you any advice. a time of reflection in our lives can be cathartic.

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Good luck to you and I hope you find a position doing something you are able to enjoy. There are few things worse than doing a job you hate.

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I'm sorry you feel that way, but nursing is not for everyone. I have wanted to be a nurse since I was knee-high...I do not ever remember wanting anything else. I was a CNA while in nursing school, and I loved it. I have been an ER nurse for nearly 19 years, and I still love it. I burned out on the first ER I worked at, but I found a better one. If you truly do not enjoy what you are doing, then you need to get out of it, but please don't put down the profession or those of us who love it. I personally think that accounting is one of the most boring professions around, but I would never think of putting someone down who likes it.

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Specializes in geriatrics, adult, medsurg, postop.

I feel for you. I also think that this site is very beneficial to voice your feelings and get it out where it belongs, not inside where it will fester. I don't think it's inappropriate to talk about the negative side of nursing as well as the positive. Nursing is obviously not all warm fuzzies, so why pretend that it is?!!!

I almost quit nursing very recently. Med-surg has worn me down and used me up. I was resorting to xanax, counseling, and antidepressants just to get by. My poor husband, family, and friends had to listen to me cry and freak out every single day.

So I stepped away and took a job that was about ten bucks an hour less, at an animal hospital. I immediately felt happy again. I cannot tell you what a weight was lifted from my shoulders!

However, it won't pay the bills, so I've finally landed a job in the operating room that I've wanted for four years. I had to bother the o.r. manager for years to get this job, but I'm finally excited about nursing again..... I never, ever thought I would say that!

Point is, if you need to step away, do it. It was the best thing I ever could have done for myself and those I love. And for my patients. It doesn't mean you're a bad person... it also doesn't mean you don't have what it takes... you just need a break, whether it's for a while or for ever, from nursing.

I sincerely wish you all the best in life.

take care!

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Specializes in cardiac med-surg.

so there is nothing wonderful about helping pts understand their illness and help them onto better health and healing and become more independent OR

help them leave this world with comfort and dignity ?

oh well

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So, what's your point in coming here and being totally negative? Move on... Some of us like nursing and think our co-workers are special.

Maybe she just needed to vent GardenDove.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I am sorry to lose you. I wish you all the best in future endeavors beyond nursing.

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Hi I completely understand where you are coming from. I currently work in a level 2 ER and I am really getting sick of being treated like a slave/maid/waitress. Some people are so freakin stupid!! Here I am in one of our cardiac monitored rooms (for people who are worse off, not just belly pain, vag bleed, kidney stone, etc but stuff like Resp distress, Chest pain , OD etc.) I have this patient who is...actually by the time I left we still did not know what was wrong with her, but anyway she is completely just agitated/restless, babbling nonsense, trying to pull out her IV, trying to get out of bed, I am the only nurse in the room, trying to undress her, hook her to the monitor, put in an IV, assessment, charting, doctors are coming in writing orders, have to put restraints on her, she nees a cather for a urine sample, blah blah, and she keeps flailing around in bed, trying to get out, just very bizarre behavior, I step out of the room to get something and this patients relative is walking down the hall, she comes up to me just as i am stepping out of the room and says "she has to go to the bathroom" referring to the patient and is pointing down the hall........WHAT THE ****???????? CANT YOU SEE THAT I AM JUST SLIGHTLY (sacrasm) BUSY!??? and I dont know who you are talking about and I am not her nurse! (although we all help each other but still.......) people are just morons! I also hate it when I get a new patient and as soon as I step into the room to assess them they blurt out (before I even say hello or maybe just after) "can I get an blanket, pillow, and some ice water, and can you ajust the head of my bed," DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THE FREAKIN RAMADA?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO I HAVE SERVANT IMPRINTED ON MY FOREHEAD!!!!!!! WOULD YOU LIKE A SPONGEBATH AND A MASSAGE TOO!!!!!! Or how about the guy (not that old 50's, perfectly capable) who comes to the ER for a clogged Ear and a freakin splinter who craps his pants while sitting in the bed dt his chronic "bowel disease where i cant control it" who is not only not wearing a sensible adult diaper but not even underwear, just shorts (yes in winter) with a freakin towel stuffed in! and he not only expects me to clean him up (disgusting poop that is liquidy and looks like poopy vomit) but asks me if I will wash his poopy shorts out in the sink by hand for him!!!!!!! WHAT THE ****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have other stories believe me.....welcome to the ER it is not like on TV for me. I however still have faith in nursing and there are lots of great things about it and about the ER I could go on and on. DONT GIVE UP. This is why there is a shortage. I also do NOT think we are paid enough for what we do and expose ourselves and potentially our loved ones to. I could go on and on. I also think that we as NURSES need to be ALOT kinder and less critical of each other. I ABOSUTELY HATE the whole nurses eating their young attitude and the horizontal aggression that extists in nursing. I know we can change things IF WE STAND UP AND DEMAND IT.

MUCH LOVE AND PEACE

Enjoyed your post. You made me laugh and a put a smile on my face.

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i'm not going to suggest you do anything or give you any advice. a time of reflection in our lives can be cathartic.

my thoughts exactly.

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