Tired of toileting, docs, and pt dependency

roxannekkb · Apr 27, 2004

I have been nursing for 7 months now (age 33, second career). Today I absolutely HATED my job. I hate the way docs talk to & perceive nurses, being chronically understaffed on our floor, constantly ambulating pts to the bedside commodes or cleaning up their feces/urine in bed, dealing with needy families/pts & unnecessary dependency, all of the phone calls, having to discharge a pt without the correct MD orders written or without social work having been consulted (MDs are clueless about what pt's need arranged for discharged, or how pts are even going to follow-up with care without the right insurance), having missing drugs in pyxis, and all of the rush rush rush.
I was inspired in nursing school, but now absolutely hate the reality of this job. I've learned a lot & feel competent, but I'm beginning to not care so much about the pts. They are really annoying much of the time!
Big question -- are other areas of nursing REALLY that much different than med-surg? Can I really choose another area where there are fewer of the aforementioned problems & greater job satisfaction? Please don't tell me to change fields -- I can't afford to right now, and I also don't want to see all of those years of preparation wasted for nothing.
Need advice!

There are many areas of nursing, so don't feel that you are stuck on a med/surg floor. I never worked med/surg, despite the urging of my instructors that you "have to" when you start out in order to learn the skills. Nonsense. I went straight to the NICU. Never worked med/surg.

Everyone has offered great suggestions. ER, OR, recovery room. NICU is good because the patients are tiny. You do need to deal with families, but some of the other problems you describe aren't applicable. There's also working in a doctor's office--patients in and out quick, no bedside commodes! There's clinics, there's telephone triage. You can do home health--the list goes on and on.

SchoolNurseLisa · Apr 27, 2004

I am with you, I HATE med-surg and Tele, but so far I have really enjoyed all the other fields of nursing, ER, OR, SNF, CC, LTC, and even now, school Nurse. When I worked med-surg and telm, I never had a good day. everyday was a life draining moment. There is so much out their, look around and try something that looks interesting.

I have been nursing for 7 months now (age 33, second career). Today I absolutely HATED my job. I hate the way docs talk to & perceive nurses, being chronically understaffed on our floor, constantly ambulating pts to the bedside commodes or cleaning up their feces/urine in bed, dealing with needy families/pts & unnecessary dependency, all of the phone calls, having to discharge a pt without the correct MD orders written or without social work having been consulted (MDs are clueless about what pt's need arranged for discharged, or how pts are even going to follow-up with care without the right insurance), having missing drugs in pyxis, and all of the rush rush rush.
I was inspired in nursing school, but now absolutely hate the reality of this job. I've learned a lot & feel competent, but I'm beginning to not care so much about the pts. They are really annoying much of the time!
Big question -- are other areas of nursing REALLY that much different than med-surg? Can I really choose another area where there are fewer of the aforementioned problems & greater job satisfaction? Please don't tell me to change fields -- I can't afford to right now, and I also don't want to see all of those years of preparation wasted for nothing.
Need advice!

allnurses Guide · Apr 27, 2004

I agree with Roxanne here . . .you don't need a year of med-surg to do other nursing. Start looking around, see if you can shadow a nurse in another department. There is no reason to stick around for another few months so you can have a year under your belt. You may have to stay another few months to find another area you are interested in. But with that goal in mind, it might just help.

I have a friend who went from nursing school with NICU in mind, did a few months in post-partum waiting for a spot to open to train in the general nursery as required and a place came open in NICU, she took it, they trained her and she has been there ever since. Bypassed the general nursery altogether.

Look into OB, ER, OR . . .. think about what aspects of nursing you do like.

Consider working part-time too. I find myself alot less stressed now that I'm part-time.

You have lots of options. That is what is great about nursing.

Good luck.

steph

redwinggirlie · Apr 27, 2004

I'd say work nights as then you don't have the traffic. But then, you still have the patient care issues you loathe, which, sorry to say, are a part of nursing. It's great not to have all the traffic working nights though. Something to consider. Great time to care for your people.

kyti · Apr 27, 2004

I agree with everyone else. Don't give up I hate med/surg for the same reasons as you, but I love nursing! :balloons: OR, ER , OB , ICU and PACU are all great areas to try. :) :balloons:

Critical care rn · Apr 27, 2004

You sound very frustrated. This is something we all go through. No matter how great your job is ( any field), we all have horrible days. The questions I ask: how does your floor work? Is is a real team effort? Together the work gets done quicker, and more efficiently. ALso, have you brought your staffing concerns to your administration They will want specifics on how low staffing affects pt care, and length of stay. Do you really need to wait for a soc serv consult? In this day of trying to get pts out sooner, and insurance regulations, this should be automatic to have a discharge planner on every patient.

If you continue to feel this way, you could look elsewhere to work. Just don't give up. We need caring nurses, don't let it get you down!

I have been nursing for 7 months now (age 33, second career). Today I absolutely HATED my job. I hate the way docs talk to & perceive nurses, being chronically understaffed on our floor, constantly ambulating pts to the bedside commodes or cleaning up their feces/urine in bed, dealing with needy families/pts & unnecessary dependency, all of the phone calls, having to discharge a pt without the correct MD orders written or without social work having been consulted (MDs are clueless about what pt's need arranged for discharged, or how pts are even going to follow-up with care without the right insurance), having missing drugs in pyxis, and all of the rush rush rush.
I was inspired in nursing school, but now absolutely hate the reality of this job. I've learned a lot & feel competent, but I'm beginning to not care so much about the pts. They are really annoying much of the time!
Big question -- are other areas of nursing REALLY that much different than med-surg? Can I really choose another area where there are fewer of the aforementioned problems & greater job satisfaction? Please don't tell me to change fields -- I can't afford to right now, and I also don't want to see all of those years of preparation wasted for nothing.
Need advice!

Dixiecup · Apr 27, 2004

Try correctional nursing. I have a feeling you'll love it!

I have been nursing for 7 months now (age 33, second career). Today I absolutely HATED my job. I hate the way docs talk to & perceive nurses, being chronically understaffed on our floor, constantly ambulating pts to the bedside commodes or cleaning up their feces/urine in bed, dealing with needy families/pts & unnecessary dependency, all of the phone calls, having to discharge a pt without the correct MD orders written or without social work having been consulted (MDs are clueless about what pt's need arranged for discharged, or how pts are even going to follow-up with care without the right insurance), having missing drugs in pyxis, and all of the rush rush rush.
I was inspired in nursing school, but now absolutely hate the reality of this job. I've learned a lot & feel competent, but I'm beginning to not care so much about the pts. They are really annoying much of the time!
Big question -- are other areas of nursing REALLY that much different than med-surg? Can I really choose another area where there are fewer of the aforementioned problems & greater job satisfaction? Please don't tell me to change fields -- I can't afford to right now, and I also don't want to see all of those years of preparation wasted for nothing.
Need advice!

MelissaRN · Apr 27, 2004

I realize that bed pans and bed baths are all a part of nursing. Working nights you don't have to do alot of bed baths unless of course someone throws up or _hits all over the place.

I don't mind bed pans, but I do when I'm in the middle of putting in an IV or hanging blood and I get paged to do bed pan duty because the tech is too busy because he spends all his time stalling so that he only has to do as little as possible!! The other night I was right in the middle of putting in an IV when this tech came in and announced to me that he had one of my patients on the bed pan "just to let me know". Like I'm going to do anything about it when I'm in the middle of putting in an IV and have an admission from the ER coming up any minute! :angryfire

NursesRmofun, ASN, RN · Apr 27, 2004

I have been nursing for 7 months now (age 33, second career). Today I absolutely HATED my job. I hate the way docs talk to & perceive nurses, being chronically understaffed on our floor, constantly ambulating pts to the bedside commodes or cleaning up their feces/urine in bed, dealing with needy families/pts & unnecessary dependency, all of the phone calls, having to discharge a pt without the correct MD orders written or without social work having been consulted (MDs are clueless about what pt's need arranged for discharged, or how pts are even going to follow-up with care without the right insurance), having missing drugs in pyxis, and all of the rush rush rush.
I was inspired in nursing school, but now absolutely hate the reality of this job. I've learned a lot & feel competent, but I'm beginning to not care so much about the pts. They are really annoying much of the time!
Big question -- are other areas of nursing REALLY that much different than med-surg? Can I really choose another area where there are fewer of the aforementioned problems & greater job satisfaction? Please don't tell me to change fields -- I can't afford to right now, and I also don't want to see all of those years of preparation wasted for nothing.
Need advice!

Sorry you are so unhappy...but a lot of what you describe is the nature of nursing today. The first year is always a tough one....learning the job. It is not a "glory job," by any stretch. It's a tough job, as you've found out. What is your nurse to patient ratio? Any CNAs or Techs helping? You might be happier in another area of nursing. Perhaps you can apply inside your hospital to another area with more self-sufficient patients. If that isn't possible, perhaps another hospital might accept your application into a different area. Good luck.

RN_Amy, RN · Apr 28, 2004

Please clarify what you mean by "theatre." Thanks.

By theatre I mean scrubbing and scouting ie. working along side a surgeon during an operation....

I personally prefer anaesthetics and recovery (i.e. Post Anaesthetic Care UNit or PACU) because it is more patient focussed.... and I find the whole concept of anaesthesia fascinating!

I finished my degree in 2002 and completed a structured graduate year last year with involved 6 months in medical (ick) and then 6 months in anaesthetics and recovery.... and I found out yesterday I have secured a new job in paediatric recovery... and I am so excited!

From my limited experience in recovery, I work the odd casual shift in emergency as well... which I also really enjoy... in small doses.... .... Social issues and I don't mix!

I have very much decided I am not a med/surg nurse..... and I don't think you should make yourself unhappy just for the sake of "getting experience".

Good luck with what you decide to do.... and keep yourself happy.... :)

Amy

Stitchie · Apr 28, 2004

A teaching hospital + ICU or ER...best case scenario. Much more of a team environment with the doctors & nurses...in addition to what has been said above.

Renee, ITA. I felt the same the same way as the original poster on my first job -- a GMF w/vents. I was miserable and left after 61/2 months for the ED at another hospital.

The stress is different, but you're so much more in control of the situation. I don't think it's perfect; there's a lot about the institution I would change if it were up to me, (but it isn't!) so I just do my 2 10 hour PM shifts and go home happy.