Nurse with Disdain

Nurses Relations

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Hi. I've got to vent here, since I have no "friends" that are nurses, and I want the input of some perhaps unbiased individuals.

I'm a mid-30s male career changer. I left a career I had for a decade (not sure why actually) and got a second bachelor's to be a nurse. My previous employment involved traits remarkably different than those that the profession of nursing wants to embody involving command, pointed direction, and disregard for feelings of others. Sure, I've cranked out many reports, position papers, and documents pertaining to administration so the paperwork end of nursing isn't the issue. I'm ok with that.

I actually deleted three paragraphs stating specifically what don't like, but I decided to filter it for all of you as after reading it most of you would probably be up in arms against me.

Without revealing any other information about myself I am actually in a practitioner program to become a NP. I thought perhaps I might find fulfillment there since patient interaction is short and to the point, and the purpose is to provide treatment which I thought I was going to do when I went for that second degree in nursing. I still may like it. I'm halfway there at this point so I'm going to press forward, and I understand that many of you might object to this.

I need to find other work for now though. I am absolutely on the edge, dread going to work, and even more so I hate actually doing the work. The neediness of patients infuriates me. I can't go back to where I was, and I hate myself for thinking I could feign an interest in this field.

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to sign off now and probably delete the account if I can figure out how. I'd like to expound on some of my statements and answer some of your questions but....OpSec.[/quote']

I applaud your honesty and I thank you for sharing. You have opened my eyes to aspects of Nursing I honestly never gave much thought. I am completely changing the specialties I am interested in now.

You know the odd thing is that I'm actually personable. I'm just not patient. I can make patients fall out laughing and get them to talk about anything. I don't mind talking either, but when there's other stuff to do my lack of patience prevents it then I don't give them the time of day. The caveat here is when there are patients that become needy or repetitioius I start to feel angry. I value independence and when people can't be that, even by no fault of their own, I again lose my patience.

Military....can't talk about that area.

Urgent care....could probably do it. Never heard of such a place in real life though.

Nursing is about the patient, not the practitioner. People who are sick want a nurse who is competent and caring. Honestly, you don't sound as though you have the ability to be caring, so why bother with a profession where you take care of ill and vulnerable people and their families? Don't you expect to encounter patients who are needy or repetitious when they are ill? How can patients be independent when they are ill or infirm? And that makes you angry (!). It sounds as though your previous profession, which you stated disregarded peoples feelings, suited you far better than nursing.

Specializes in APRN, ACNP-BC, CNOR, RNFA.

If you don't mind working around inmates, I think you may be a good fit for a correctional NP. Those positions usually pay very well, and the inmates are transferred out if they're REALLY ill. Most of the time, they pretend something is wrong, because they want a trip to the hospital. Seriously, you should look into it, or maybe an occupational NP in a plant. Those pay even better, and all you do is push paperwork and do yearly physicals. See if you can get a clinical placement and try them both out. Good Luck to you.

i understand your complaints and that you're not feeling your current job. what about working in a PACU or OR? PACU patients are out of your area quickly (ideally) and OR patients are under anesthesia, so no complaining from them. or what about an ASC, working up to management? there are so many areas that you'll be able to use your knowledge and feed your soul. best of luck to you : )

Change your major to Healthcare Administration. No, and I mean NO! proximity to pts. and you get to make pie charts and line graphs all f'in day. Goals are set and you get to make rules up as you go along. You will stay clean and dry, keep lysol in your bottom drawer in case a c-differ walks by, though if you keep your office door closed you can avoid it all together. You can explain all these serious medical conditions to the foundation members who, if you spin it just right, can donate a new player piano for the lobby.

Seriously, I just had a shift from H E L L and the thought of a grown adult getting into a NP track and not knowing that their would be sick, needy people on road to his "goal" floors me. PAY YOUR DUES...............then go NP.

I promise to apologize for this post tomorrow, but the way I'm feeling right now it stands.

Exactly why did you become a nurse? I mean nurses are all about patient care. If you are not up to it, then maybe you should look for a position that has less patient interaction. That would mean admin work or even medical assistant.

Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

I think this dude has flown the coop. He sounds narcissistic and arrogant to me. Really, he can make patients laugh? He must be so charming and witty. If he's 30ish and turning sour on his second career already, then I concur with another poster who said he may never find his ideal, ultimate job, and a self-evaluation could be necessary before a third career is persued.

We all put up with aspects of any job that we do not care for. That's why we get paid. To quote Red from That 70's Show, "That's why it's called 'work'! Not 'Super Happy Fun Time'!"

Nursing is about the patient, not the practitioner. People who are sick want a nurse who is competent and caring. It sounds as though your previous profession, which you stated disregarded peoples feelings, suited you far better than nursing.

Which begs the question: why do patients who depend on the nurse to render care be so rude and ungrateful?

Also, he opted not to answer a question about the military and if he were in a war zone, that would require a complete disregard to the enemy; just part of the job. This suggests he was in the military.

As a pre-nursing student, the OP addresses many of my concerns. And I desperately need to hear these experiences and he did so in a professional manner in my opinion.

On the other hand, this seriously guarded and looking to delete account so quickly when most people here appear to be more sympathetic to his cause is a bit cause for concern.

The OP could be a chronic patient!

I left a career I had for a decade (not sure why actually) and got a second bachelor's to be a nurse.

The neediness of patients infuriates me. I can't go back to where I was, and I hate myself for thinking I could feign an interest in this field.

Were you aware from the start that you had to feign an interest for the field of nursing? I don't see any empathy for your patients in your posts and it makes me think that the profession is a bad match for you and that you are a bad match for the profession. Your patients will definitely sense your disdain for them. You say that you don't know why you left your former career, yet you can't go back to it?

I wonder why you chose this new profession. I don't expect you to reply to this but perhaps you need to reflect on whether nursing is a good fit for you. Unless you pursue a research career (as other posters have suggested) it's hard to avoid sick people in this job.

This isn't the friendliest post I've ever written, for that I apologize. I'm not showing much empathy. The reason is your statement that patients infuriate you and that you get angry when they don't stick to your "script". I appreciate the honesty but to me the statement is a red flag.

A final piece of (I admit, unsolicited) advice. If you're actually concerned with "operations security" don't bring it up :cautious: You've certainly managed to draw much more attention to yourself by repeatedly alluding to it.

You might prefer a procedural unit or an outpatient setting. Or the ER ... if you can handle the craziness.

Apparently not written by an ER nurse. ER nurses send most of the crazy, needy, drug-seeking, system-abusing, perpetually-unemployed-who-use-the-ER-as-a-PCP patients home! Thereby saving the floor nurses from them. ER is NOT, in any way shape or form, the place for decreased patient contact.

Specializes in L&D.

The neediness of patients INFURIATES you?! Whoa, buddy. That's a little wild.

You are definitely not in the right career, and I will not go on any further than that. You already know it.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
...or what about an ASC, working up to management? there are so many areas that you'll be able to use your knowledge and feed your soul. best of luck to you : )
Please, oh please, oh please, stay away from ASC's. So many patients, so little time to treat the patient, deal with the massive numbers of family members who attend the repair of a hangnail, all the while maintaining those "Excellent" scores on customer surveys. Even management jumps in to placate, soothe and flat-out bribe the folks who thought they checked into the Conrad Hilton for the day.
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