Working in Hospitals

jkaee · Jul 6, 2004

I actually enjoy my hospital job.......as hard as the work can be, and as scary as staffing is at times, I'd rather do this for the rest of my career than go back to long-term care, where chronic understaffing is the rule and nurses earn even less money and respect. Yes, I have many days when work feels more like an endurance contest or an episode of Survivor than a job, but I also find my rewards in some of the darndest places, and I try to avoid negative people and situations. It's all a matter of perspective, I guess.

That's true, Marla, that it's all about perspective, and I guess where you work. I have done hospital work, and to me, the understaffing I dealt with there was way worse than any I've had to deal with working LTC/sub-acute. I remember working 12 hr nights and having at least 12 acutely ill pts on med-surg, no phlebotomists, no IV team, no back up whatsoever. The money I make working LTC is comparable, and we are all respected by the doctors. Sure, I could make more money working a weekend program at a hospital, but it's not worth it to me. Where I am now, I get my breaks, I get compensated and respected by both staff and management. Sure, not every night is action packed and "exciting", but I am one of those nurses that does the best job she can and then goes home and doesn't worry about it. That's the way I like it and need it to be.

And, this is just from my experience, the nurses I worked with in the hospital were more nasty and vindictive, I guess because they always worked short and were more stressed, which I can understand (and was why I left). I've rarely seen that kind of attitude in LTC, and never have seen it where I work now.

veteranRN · Jul 6, 2004

"At least we're not shoveling $#@% in a barn"!!!!! Not in a barn but in a hospital. Some days I think I have more BM on me than the patient does!!!

lee1 · Jul 6, 2004

I agree with RNMaven.
The producers of the PBS program Fronline asked the same questions you're asking.
Here is a link to what nurses told them "in their own words."
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/hmo/nurses/ownwords.html

That was written in 1996. I wonder what the responses would be like now and what they would do about it????? Maybe more public exposes????

Hospitals have become the ENRONS now and many non profits are being looked at but still I think there is a fear that you don't want to scare the publice about the reality of LOS and poor staffing.

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2004

I have never met anyone who didn't have some complaints about his/her job, but nursing in the hospital does have unique situations. The biggest challenge for me is "customer service" when the "customer" is mean, vulgar, selfish and sometimes even violent. It is hard to be nice to them, even to tolerate them. But my co-workers make it all worthwhile. Nurses are intelligent and appreciate a good laugh. They make great friends.

MichaelSSSS · Jul 6, 2004

Thanks for all of the input guys - I can see why some people are concerned. I'm sure once I'm in that situation I'll understand better.

I was coming to the question from the angle that providing people with life-giving care must be far-more rewarding than flipping burgers or digging ditches regardless of the downside. I figure, I can take a beating at work while helping people live better lives, or I take take a beating loading trucks for a living and not really doing anything of any real consequence. In every working situation I've been in (that's quite a few at many different levels) it's always been the same thing: bickering, in-fighting, politics; backstabbing; poor working conditions; not enough pay; not enough benefits; hating the boss; hating some co-workers; hating customers; hating the hours; being disrespected; working long hours; not enough days off; etc. etc. etc. No matter where you go it's all the same. Now, I understand there are areas of nursing that are better than others, but it seems to me that a bad day of working as a nurse, is better than a good day of working in a host of other professions. Those who have a lot of work experiance can atest to this fact.

But, having said that, don't think for a moment that I 'm pretending to know what you hospital nurses are going through. I'll just have to find out for myself. But, you've all given me a lot to think about - thanks.

To those who are working in a hospital and hate it, I hope you find a better situation for yourself. Life's too short to go through it miserable.

All the best

MichaelSSSS · Jul 6, 2004

Customer service is a tough thing in every profession. I can see how it would be even more dishearting when you're trying to help someone feel better and they are still a pill - as it were. At least we're on the other side of the old needle! Eh?

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 6, 2004

Customer service is a tough thing in every profession. I can see how it would be even more dishearting when you're trying to help someone feel better and they are still a pill - as it were. At least we're on the other side of the old needle! Eh?

Yes, but in most instances of "customer" service, when they become threatening and violent - you can have them thrown out on their a$$es. Not so much so with patients until they recover, esp. since the biggest a-holes are also the most likely to sue.

MichaelSSSS · Jul 6, 2004

Just read the frontline bit - very disturbing.

MichaelSSSS · Jul 6, 2004

So true. I guess I don't really think about about abusive clients. I have a mother-in-law that is that way - a real #itch from the moment she enters the hospital to the mintue she leaves. It must be very trying.

pgrsctrn2be · Jul 6, 2004

I just started working in a hospital after 10+ yrs in LTC and 3yrs in clinic and it is hands down much better for me to be in the hospital. When I first became an LPN I thought hospital nursing was not for me... wish I had gone a different route now!!!!

Clinic and LTC are great and someone has to do it but its not for me anymore.