VENT... beware- not a happy post

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in ICU.

:cry: I feel like I've had enough. I'm done trying to pretend that I "don't mind" the unbelievable stress I feel every day from being an RN. I work in ICU and although I can truly say I am interested and challenged at work daily, I can't handle the level of stress I'm going through.

First of all, IT'S TOO MUCH. Period. It is unbelievable to me how people can last 20+ years in this profession. At any given moment, there are tons of things you either need to do now, soon, or you're already behind on. Honestly, if I ever lose my 'cheat sheet' at work, I would be lost...

I can't take the demanding families. I can't take how they plop down on the recliner chair (some of them RECLINED) in the way of your pump that you're titrating pressors for their family member and act ANNOYED when you ask them to move... nicely.. for the 10th time. We are supposed to be promoting family interaction but yet we have to work AROUND them??? It seems the more you give, the more they TAKE!

And what the hell is with some of these doctors? They walk in and stand there, in the middle of the unit, and say, "I'm looking for bed 5's chart." With this empty stare on their face. And my stomach turns when other 'older' nurses JUMP UP and go searching for that chart like they're in some treasure hunt with a $1,000 prize! This sickens me!

How about when I'm using a computer, trying to get my 0700 assessment in (at 1400) ... there are 2 other computers AVAILABLE right next to the one I'm using----- I look up to see my pt with her feet over the siderails ... for the 100th time... I get up to make sure she doesn't kill herself and PLOP.... there goes that darn doctor, and there he goes CLOSING out my unsaved assessment like he is teaching me a lesson. Makes me want to either scream or go cry my eyes out.

And what happened to the word PLEASE? Like the intensivist who all day walks over to you and says "YOU NEED to do x, y, z..." It starts to get old.

I was transferring my 400 lb pt for the SECOND time into a bariatric bed (the first one was the wrong one I guess... thats my luck).... and we were trying to pull him over and the intensivist walks in. I go "Oh Dr. So and So, good you're just in time to help us pull" and she looks at me and LAUGHS in my face and proceeds to stand there and WATCH us all break our backs. Starts to get to you.

I honestly can't take the whole "shift change attack" or guilt trip, or judgment time or whatever you want to call it. I try MY HARDEST at work and may I say, I am pretty darn good at my job. I consistenly get more work done than other people would with my same assignments because I truly feel I am very efficient. That is why when people come in and NITPICK about stupid S**T I didn't do... or things I didn't do to their 'standards,' It GETS OLD and I'm starting to not be able to handle it anymore. These RNs just dont care. They want patients handed to them on a silver platter, I guess. The whole "nursing is a 24 hour job" is nice to talk about on allnurses.com and in conversation, but when it comes down to it, there are some nurses who act like, "HOW DARE YOU" if you didn't get something done, REGARDLESS of how combative your pt was in their horrible DTs and how you were chasing their blood pressure ALL DAY LONG without food or water for yourself. I TRY to 'not let it bother me' but I CANT! IT HURTS MY FEELINGS. I dont know what to do anymore. I'm sick of feeling like crying when I give report to some people because they feel they can do that to me. I have tried to tell them to stop, I've tried redirecting it but it doesn't work.

On top of this, I'm overwhelmed with the constant phone calls, the constant NOISE, the constant need to urinate, eat or drink and being unable to...

People coughing in my face... pts who suddenly think we should do everything for them just because they're in the hospital (the ones who really CAN do things for themself),

Not having enough PCTs even though the hospital can give out stupid gifts that no one can even use.... PUT SOME OF THAT MONEY TO A COUPLE EXTRA PCTs for gosh sakes! UGH!

Oh!! And I'm starting to freak out that I'm throwing PVCs all day long! Anxiety anyone?!?!!?

**SIGH**

Ok... honestly in a wierd way, I feel better. I know that my post is all over the place. It simply reflects my state of mind right now. I hope someone can understand. :bluecry1:

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Sue - sorry you are having such a rotten time. Sometimes its not fair that the nurse is asked to do everything for everybody! That said, you seem very organized and intelligent. You may not be able to get everything done. I'm sorry that you are so frustrated.

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Specializes in ICU.
Sue - sorry you are having such a rotten time. Sometimes its not fair that the nurse is asked to do everything for everybody! That said, you seem very organized and intelligent. You may not be able to get everything done. I'm sorry that you are so frustrated.

Thank you so much for the compliment. It really helps. :cry:

It was nice meeting you at NTI, by the way. :)

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Oh thank you and likewise...whew there were so many people there!

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Sue....I am so sorry you feel that way....I think you would feel a little better once you get an advanced degree...... Have you thought about working somewhere else or different specialty area?

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Sue - sorry you are having such a rotten time. Sometimes its not fair that the nurse is asked to do everything for everybody! That said, you seem very organized and intelligent. You may not be able to get everything done. I'm sorry that you are so frustrated.

Hang in there! We have all felt or do feel this way right now. It is sad to say but this is the clinical setting. Venting does help you mentally to get it off your chest.:D

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Specializes in LTC, med-surg, critial care.

After today I totally could have written that OP. I was losing my mind this afternoon and all I get is "This order was written two hours ago and you didn't get it done?" Um...no, I was trying to keep the other guy from hurting himself, then he went to CT and just got back. So no, the vamp isn't up and the drip isn't hung.

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Specializes in ICU.
Sue....I am so sorry you feel that way....I think you would feel a little better once you get an advanced degree...... Have you thought about working somewhere else or different specialty area?

I really, REALLY want to go back to school. I just can't decide what I should do. My problem is that TOO much interests me. I want to be a CRNA but dont know how I could go to school full time and still pay my mortgage. I'd like to be an acute care NP but the school is a far drive from me and I already am far from work as it is. Plus, I have to take the GRE for either one and I'm deathly afraid of the math part, because I have forgotten 90% of it. So I just don't know what to do... :(

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Im so sorry. I know what that feels like. You just need to start speaking up about things. Like when a doctor takes over your computer etc you just have to speak up and say "why did you close my applications when there are two computers available". Unfortunately, so many people lack common sense and its ok to remind them in a sarcastic/humorous way. Also, don't make yourself a martyr. Use the restroom when you need to. Patients' family being unreasonable, voice your concerns to them like they are slooooww about why you need them to move instead of being nice and shy.Explain your actions so they feel like an ass if they dont abide. We all have bad days but if you really feel the need to transfer to a different department than do it now and dont look back because I had a friend waste two whole years in a department where she ran around doing other people's work, she had to see a therapist because she thought it was her fault that she was depressed and stressed, (nurses ganged up on her and would talk about her in their native language in front of her and sit at the nurses station all day making her do everything), she finally transferred just to the night shift where everyone informed her that the day shift nurses have chased out all the new people by making them do their work etc. management eventually got involved and scared those girls into working again. hope your situation improves! just take a deep breath and think long and hard about it:redpinkhe

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

If you'll take a cyber-hug, I'm sending one your way.

I'm so sorry. You sound like a nurse I would love to work with. You have compassion and empathy and smarts and feelings, and I know sometimes it feels like no one gives a darn.

This might be a good time for a beer.

Here's that hug... :icon_hug:

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Specializes in ICU.
If you'll take a cyber-hug, I'm sending one your way.

I'm so sorry. You sound like a nurse I would love to work with. You have compassion and empathy and smarts and feelings, and I know sometimes it feels like no one gives a darn.

This might be a good time for a beer.

Here's that hug... :icon_hug:

*Aaahhhh* Thank you! That hug was awesome. :heartbeat Thank you for the kind comments! Man, it really is nice to get some positivity... and it makes me feel good that you can get an idea of who I really am even through my 'crabby post.'

:sniff:

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It's the ones who care, who are smart, and do a good job who get burned out like this. I hear you, loud and clear!

I moved from the ER to poison center, and am waaaaaaaaay happier. Still all the ICU/ER-type clinical information, but no direct patient/family contact. :D

Now that I'm not fried to a crisp mentally, physically, and emotionally, I'm looking at going back to school (NP.)

Can you take some vacation time soon to think about things? Then you can implement your plan of attack to get the heck outta there if needed!

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