Main Problem In The Nursing Field?

reecie54 · Jun 26, 2006

Don't forget Nursing Retention/Recruitment! Why would anyone want to be a nurse after you read all of the obstacles listed above that we need to face on a daily basis. And, contrary to popular belief we (nurses) are not the problem, we are the solution. We stand on our soapboxes advocating to anyone who will listen for our patients as well as ourselves to create safer environments to work in and provide care. We are not "complaining or whining" because we are unhappy...we are working and educating the public, the recipients of our care, of the changes needed to provide better care.

If hospitals spent less money on "Customer Service Consultants" and just asked their nurses what is needed to provide better care, maybe we could move forward.

When I became a nurse, an instructor of mine said our greatest challenge would be educating the public as to what a nurse does...I thought she was silly. Then I became a nurse, and realized that no ones knows what a nurse does, except a few good doctors, a few good patients who appreciate us...and of course nurses!

BeccaRN1970 · Jun 26, 2006

One major problem: the perception, or lack of, by lay public as to what RNs do. Stereotypes of busty short skirted long haired bimbos, etc., still persist in the media. Physicians are glorified & nurses are hand maidens.
Thank goodness for ads such as those by Johnson and Johnson about professional nurses.

I agree with your first paragraph, but recently found out that the illustrious Johnson & Johnson heartily opposed nursing ratio legislation in CA!!! So much for being "pro-nursing"![EVIL][/EVIL] Sounds more like a crappy advertising ploy to me

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2006

One problem we have is the apathy of nursing staff towards continuing education. They attend only what is mandatory and then with their eyes open and ears shut. It is sad.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jun 26, 2006

One problem we have is the apathy of nursing staff towards continuing education. They attend only what is mandatory and then with their eyes open and ears shut. It is sad.

Disagreeing with the blanket statement, since it almost implies that some are either lazy or not motivated.

Perhaps, d/t personal issues, continuing their education is put on hold. Maybe they want to spend tie with their family, take a break before they'd pursue further education, or even that they really are happy with as far as they've gone.

steelcityrn, RN · Jun 26, 2006

top 3............Respect Support Solidarity

jollyjenny · Jun 26, 2006

WOW! I'm just finishing up my pre-requisites for nursing school, and reading this post scares me so much that I'm not sure I want to become a nurse anymore!!

I do agree that it could possibly help the nursing problem for a BSN to be the requirement of entry to earn more respect in the field. Just a few days ago, my mother-in-law said to me, "I heard that a nurse who has just graduated with an Associates Degree takes the same exam to become an RN as a graduate with a BSN. Why on Earth would you want your Bachelor's degree and go to school for a year longer if you are just as qualified as an ADN? And they both get paid the same..." Blah, Blah, Blah. Apparently many people have this misconception. My answer to her was that, if you have your BSN, there is more room for advancement, which is what I've read on this website many times. But in all honesty, it confuses me too, because if a person goes to school for that much longer to earn a higher degree, why do they get paid the same as an Associate Degree Nurse? I guess I can see why this would cause so many problems in the workplace.

I'm just not sure about nursing anymore if there are SOOOO many problems. :uhoh3:

blueyesue · Jun 27, 2006

WOW! I'm just finishing up my pre-requisites for nursing school, and reading this post scares me so much that I'm not sure I want to become a nurse anymore!!
I do agree that it could possibly help the nursing problem for a BSN to be the requirement of entry to earn more respect in the field. Just a few days ago, my mother-in-law said to me, "I heard that a nurse who has just graduated with an Associates Degree takes the same exam to become an RN as a graduate with a BSN. Why on Earth would you want your Bachelor's degree and go to school for a year longer if you are just as qualified as an ADN? And they both get paid the same..." Blah, Blah, Blah. Apparently many people have this misconception. My answer to her was that, if you have your BSN, there is more room for advancement, which is what I've read on this website many times. But in all honesty, it confuses me too, because if a person goes to school for that much longer to earn a higher degree, why do they get paid the same as an Associate Degree Nurse? I guess I can see why this would cause so many problems in the workplace.
I'm just not sure about nursing anymore if there are SOOOO many problems.

I would say that if you have a strong desire to go into nursing then I would stick with it. I sincerely hope you don't let these problems get in the way of your dreams. As you know, there are many problems in most careers, and you can be part of the solution.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jun 28, 2006

Disagreeing with the blanket statement, since it almost implies that some are either lazy or not motivated.
Perhaps, d/t personal issues, continuing their education is put on hold. Maybe they want to spend tie with their family, take a break before they'd pursue further education, or even that they really are happy with as far as they've gone.

I think purplemania was talking about competency and CEUs...

Megz101 · Sep 17, 2008

I am a student looking into a career as a nurse. I am writing a paper on my career choice. In my paper, I need to adress the causes of stress in nursing. If anyone could please help me, I would be most greatful. Thank you

- Megz

mama_d, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2008

1. Short term bottom line thinking, from both facility admin and insurance companies. I will never understand how it is that those higher ups fail to realize that dedicating time and money to proper patient eduction and compliance initiatives will save money in the long run by preventing repeat admits.

2. Overemphasis on patient satisfaction to the point that we are hindered in providing adequate care for our patients. Who cares if the patient condition warrants NPO status when that may impact our Press Ganey scores? I do not work customer service, I work in healing. The two sometimes don't meet, and the higher ups and patients need to learn to deal with that.

3. We, in the US at least, are more concerned in general with quantity of life vs. quality of life. Too many people IMO remain full codes when they should be DNR, and too many families ignore their loved one's wishes. A recent example at my facility was a woman in her 90's, multiple CVA's, dialysis, bilat AKA, bilat hand amputations, stage 4 that was 14cm x 17cm centered on her coccyx, tube feeds, a&o x0, blind and deaf, whose only verbalizations was to cry "take me home Jesus, I hurt, just take me home" over and over again. We were so thankful when she finally passed, she had been coming to us for years living in that state of pain and anguish but her kids wouldn't let her go. Especially since her living will stated that she didn't want artificial nutrition, dialysis, CPR, etc.

Megz101 · Sep 18, 2008

I need your help. I am a student wanting to become a nurse. I have to write a 5-7 page paper on issues in the nursing field. But the catch is that I have to have both sides of the issues - both pros and cons. I was going to write my paper on stress, but there are no good points to stress. And every other subject doesn't have both points of view. So please, I need your help. Thank you.

Megz101 · Nov 17, 2008

I am a student looking into becoming a nurse. I am a person that believes family is the most important thing in life. But I know that in the nursing field you work some strange hours. Now, I am asking if there is a nursing branch that you work solid hours and will have weekends and holidays off?