Absolutely Fried

[StillSearchingRN]

Warning, this is a vent: I am just feeling totally fried in nursing, like I've hit a brick wall and-aside from the drop in income to be honest-I don't care if I ever work in nursing again. Unfortunately, I'm 96% done with my BSN at this point, so I'm pretty committed to finishing that so that I at least have a Bachelor's in something.

Don't get me wrong, I care about others, but I'm sorry: I don't care enough to risk my mental/physical health or that of my loved ones. I'm not a martyr. I'm tired of the mind games from administration and the verbal/physical abuse I've put up with from patients and their families.

I am a hard worker, but when I get sick (like in the ER-before-shift sick and concussion-from-car-accident-coming-to-work "sick") I want to be able to call out without getting the third degree or being threatened that I will be fired/rack up occurrences toward being fired.

Speaking of policies, I don't think it's unreasonable to want to work for a place where they are followed by everyone vs the managers' "pets" being given a free pass.

I want to feel ethically/morally/legally comfortable in my job, not being encouraged to cut corners "because that's what everyone does" or for cost-cutting or time-saving measures.

I want a schedule that 1. won't kill me, and 2. will allow me to actually be off on my time off, not getting called to pick up hours/have some little nit-picky thing brought up that I didn't do/chart/pass along in report that I did but someone interpreted wrong or didn't read my notes or didn't write down when I was giving report. I don't mind working off-shifts (though I'm learning that they're starting to make me physically ill whenever I try these days) or weekends or holidays...to a point...but the sacrifice is starting to get old when there is minimal-to-no extra compensation or even simple appreciation.

I don't want to feel like I always have to look over my shoulder/watch my back with my coworkers because they're all looking to find someone else to throw under the bus so that scrutiny/back-biting/cliquey-sorority BS doesn't land on them.

I feel like I don't know which way is up anymore, where I want to go in my nursing career from here. I'm currently out of work due to Covid-related health issues that my formed job raked me over the coals for rather than giving me just the two more days I needed before I could return. I've checked out telecommute jobs and jobs in other specialties. I just can't get enthused enough to "sell" myself in cover letters or interviews. I just keep feeling like it will be more of the same: incompetent managers, abuse, martyr-like sacrifice expectations, no life outside of work, etc. I'm afraid that I don't have what it takes anymore.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

((( HUG ))))

Venting is good, especially when feeling fried. Consider dropping in on this support group-- weekly mtg on Thursday 8PM EST.

[Emergent, RN]

I'm glad I'm close to retirement.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

If you are asked to work extra shifts just say "no". No mention of you are sorry you can't or sorry you have an appointment or sorry for needing a day off. Just "no". Let your voice mail or phone screen your calls and do NOT regurn the calls unless you want to work extra.

Tape your report and keep the tapes.

How did they rake you over the coals re: COVID?

Call off if you are ill and do NOT give any explanation. Legally I believe you needn't give a reason other than that you are ill. Your boss does NOT have a right to know your business.

Explore other work settings for Nursing and/or explore other lines of work.

Best wishes.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

If they question you when you call in say "that is private, I'm not discussing this, I'm informing you I won't be in." Offer to get a doctors note if necessary (but check your policies, you may not have to even if they ask for one.) Offer to discuss it with the manager in the future, but don't offer up private information, just "I am unable to come to work."

I suggest you email your manager to tell them you won't be discussing your healthcare with coworkers any more, especially when you have to call in sick, just to forwarn her that there may be conflicts. Then s/he can discuss with you any concerns they have with your decision. My manager asked me to talk to employee health once in the past ten years, and there was never another word said.

[StillSearchingRN]

3 hours ago, canoehead said:

If they question you when you call in say "that is private, I'm not discussing this, I'm informing you I won't be in." Offer to get a doctors note if necessary (but check your policies, you may not have to even if they ask for one.) Offer to discuss it with the manager in the future, but don't offer up private information, just "I am unable to come to work."

I suggest you email your manager to tell them you won't be discussing your healthcare with coworkers any more, especially when you have to call in sick, just to forwarn her that there may be conflicts. Then s/he can discuss with you any concerns they have with your decision. My manager asked me to talk to employee health once in the past ten years, and there was never another word said.

I tried that. I had Employee Health and my PCP involved and it was actually my manager who gave me a hard time and ended up firing me due to mental health reasons, stating "we all go through stressful times and you just have to deal with it", turning down my request for ADA accommodation and getting rid of me less than a month before FMLA would have protected my job. It's part of what I state about my dislike of the maltreatment we, as nurses, go through: we're expected to bend over backwards for patient care but no one cares about the caregivers.