I am writing this totally heart broken and at my wits end.
I started my career as a nurse receiving compliments on what a good job I did. I felt that I was one of those people that had to do my job well and couldn't settle for any less. I had to chart well and provide the care that patients and families were more than satisfied with. They had to know they could count on me and that I was going to be there for them.
After 15 years and multiple hospital settings I have come to realize that it doesn't matter. Over the years, I have witnessed that many of hte units are run by managers and assistant managers that couldn't handle floor nursing and yet their demands on their employees are unrealistic. The people that they choose to be in charge and manage the floor are picked based on friendship and loyalty rather than hard work.
I have worked side by side with techs who run the unit and force nurses to do their work while they find time to sit on the internet or phone and then get out on time while we are stuck over finishing our work. I have walked into many patients rooms to pass pills only to find they had no water, haven't been turned or need urine emptied from urinals or pans that are overflowing. I can't tell you how many pans I have see stained with urine or feces because they don't get rinsed. How often patients are tied up in lines and cords.
I find myself picking up the slack and doing all of the jobs that countless others do not. Why can't people untangle lines? Why aren't pans rinsed from urine or feces? Why won't the techs do tech jobs and make sure people have water or that other needs are met?
In the end, what you get is punished. Punished because you couldn't get your work done. Punished because you couldn't meet everyone's needs and a patient or family felt you took too long to get to them and there was nothing you could say or do to make it right when you knew in your heart that it wasn't your fault. Instead, the blame is on the fact that there is too much for you to do or there is a major imbalance of productivity amongst workers.
The reason for the nursing shortage? Overworked and not appreciated and abused. You can't stick up for yourself, you can't tell them why you couldn't get things done - you can't say nothing. 15 years and nothing to show for it. I have tried nearly every hospital around and I find the negative complainers and the staff that knows how to socialize are the people that are respected and appreciated. It's not about the people that are out there busting their tails. Everyone knows there is a shortage and why but no one does anything and the biggest culprits are the administrators of the hospitals. The majority of those couldn't handle floor nursing or hardly ever experienced it at all.
I leave behind a lot of families and patients that thought I was a great nurse. But when you can't please one in a hundred or more you are a bad nurse. People don't understand the level of demands on a nurse. It is a downright abusive field with little to no appreciation surrounded by many people who are disappointed with their jobs and their choice in the career.
My final blow: After 3 years of sweating to please my last employer and taking the abuse of never hearing anything good - only bad. I went back to agency and went back to a hospital that I worked at 3 years ago. I knew that this hospital had a bad reputation for poor bedside care. Half the staff of any unit could easily be float and agency. The regular staff on the floor was made up of mostly young girls in tight spandex and inviting clothes working on socializing with doctors and hanging out at the desk all day long. Call lights were on non-stop but these girls would not answer them. The techs were busting their tails here. The agency nurses were working but the in house floats were sitting and socializing too. I ended up with a patient with a very bad attitude that was a complainer and law-suit happy. She was furious that for 4 days not one person followed through with obtaining her records from another hospital. It fell on me. I also had a patient admitted with respiratory distress which she shared a room with and could see I was busy. With her personality, she was angry at the moaning of the elderly lady who couldn't breath and was determined to get me to stop and cater to her to get on those records. When I got my respiratory patient stablized, I did just that. Turns out that the other hospital never received any fax requesting the information. This lady hated every person she had contact with at that hospital and wanted to call an agency to get them shut down. I'm sure you know the type by now. So....guess what. I was told today that I was not welcome back because of her complaint. I would literally pull a chair up and sit next to this lady and let her vent. I gave her my heart and I got booted. The nurse that she had the next day was a guy that sat around socializing and didn't care one bit about her. He was regular staff and he was NOT going to go out of his way. They all get to keep their jobs but the nurse that took the time out to take care of her is out the door.
I need a job or I wouldn't take the abuse. But, I know for a fact that this hospital is never going to get it. They were like that 3 years ago and now they have more floats and more agency staffing them. This is a big and reputable hospital.
The hospital I worked at for 3 years was dumping more and more tasks on the nurses and they were all unhappy and complaining. We lost good hard working techs and they were replaced with people who didn't want to work or nursing students who were tired when they came to work and were kicking their feet up taking it easy. Management loved those people.
I suffer from spinal degeneration and pain and I never get to sit down. My job is harder because they are not pulling their weight.
There is nothing left. I still owe for my loan and I am scared to death to take another nursing job. I know it is not going to be any different. I hurt. I lost my insurance and after all that I worked for I have nothing to show for it but bills and a destroyed ego and heart. I feel as though I am the misfit. I am the one who isn't right. I am wrong. I can't even bring myself to waste time on another application since I don't want anything to do with this career any more. I am going to lose my home, my vehicle and everything else.
I have noticed that the field is being taken over by young graduates who are more worried about looking sexy and socializing than working. Patient satisfaction has gone down the tubes and the senior skilled nurses are getting nowhere in this field. There is nothing anyone can do. We all know it is happening but we can't do anything about it.
The union at my hospital is so deep in the hospital's pocket it can't see!!! The union members and hospital managers play golf together, go to Hawaion "union" business together. Our union is just for show, it's all politics and money and power. I tried to get the nurses at my hospital to hire a lawyer and negotiate our own contract but most just didn't want to bother. They had too much else to do and wanted someone else to do all the work.
Yep. My experience exactly. Union reps work for the hospital too. They are endorsed by hospital administration because they don't rock the boat. They can only address what is not too controversial and political and hitting them in their pockets with safe staffing is a no-no.
Yep. My experience exactly. Union reps work for the hospital too. They are endorsed by hospital administration because they don't rock the boat. They can only address what is not too controversial and political and hitting them in their pockets with safe staffing is a no-no.
There are good strong unions out there, not many, but at least one I know has done a lot for California nurses is the CNA, they got the state mandated nurse/pt. ratios.The CNA is now unionizing in many states, I think its worth giving them a chance.
I understand some nurses distaste for unions, but I think we should not throw out the baby with the bath water. Also HR is NOT your friend they DO work for the facility and will throw you to the curb as fast as your head can spin, dont be fooled into thinking they will side with you when push comes to shove.
Well, I have read all of the responses, and all I wonder is...........cant we just start small Try to uplift our peers, our units, our little piece of the equation? How many of us take a report and think " What was she doing that she couldn't do this or that?" And do we just think these thoughts, or do we keep thinking them and speak them to our other coworker?
Why don't we just think the best of our coworkers. Maybe she is having a bad day........really was busy...........or.......heres a thought!!!!!!!!!Just come out and say to her face "What made you unable to finish this or that? Dont accuse her, just ASK. Her surprise might enlighten you, or surprise you, or may be she will confess........."Hey, I was very slow today and I should have done this or that, Ill do better."
How many of us are tattlers, that take everything to the office? Its like we are children. In my opinion, even if management never changes, one could easily put up with their bullsheet, if our peers are there to encourage us, and keep us on our toes, and make coming to work bearable.
Well, I have read all of the responses, and all I wonder is...........cant we just start small Try to uplift our peers, our units, our little piece of the equation? How many of us take a report and think " What was she doing that she couldn't do this or that?" And do we just think these thoughts, or do we keep thinking them and speak them to our other coworker?
Why don't we just think the best of our coworkers. Maybe she is having a bad day........really was busy...........or.......heres a thought!!!!!!!!!Just come out and say to her face "What made you unable to finish this or that? Dont accuse her, just ASK. Her surprise might enlighten you, or surprise you, or may be she will confess........."Hey, I was very slow today and I should have done this or that, Ill do better."
How many of us are tattlers, that take everything to the office? Its like we are children. In my opinion, even if management never changes, one could easily put up with their bullsheet, if our peers are there to encourage us, and keep us on our toes, and make coming to work bearable.
I'm not sure what you are actually replying to. But I know I do this all the time. It works for the people that need it but there are other personalities that this will never work on. Anyone else - any input?
The way I see it, the problem is that those who know what's really going on are--or feel--powerless, and those with power have no idea. I have an idea--what if every licensed nurse in the country received a letter asking them to explain in a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or the chair of the appropriate Congressional committee, or some other person deemed appropriate, WHY there is a nursing shortage in this country, or WHY they have a current license but DON'T work at the bedside any longer? If we could get five percent of licensed nurses to respond, that's something like 110,000 letters, with each telling a nurse's personal story. Personally, I would volunteer to send a letter to every RN in the state of Michigan. Is this a good idea, or no? Anybody?
The way I see it, the problem is that those who know what's really going on are--or feel--powerless, and those with power have no idea. I have an idea--what if every licensed nurse in the country received a letter asking them to explain in a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or the chair of the appropriate Congressional committee, or some other person deemed appropriate, WHY there is a nursing shortage in this country, or WHY they have a current license but DON'T work at the bedside any longer? If we could get five percent of licensed nurses to respond, that's something like 110,000 letters, with each telling a nurse's personal story. Personally, I would volunteer to send a letter to every RN in the state of Michigan. Is this a good idea, or no? Anybody?
Forty years ago I thought the same way you do; I was very outspoken, stood up for my self and ALWAYS faced nursing problems head on and worked hard for change. WELL, after 40 years of butting my head :banghead:against this unchangeable institution of nursing, I have given up. I was on the front lines for 40 years, working & talking& and counselling other nurses to stand up for themselves, confronting doctors/managers/CEOs. The only change I ever saw was in me: I got more worn, more stressed, older, and more discouraged.
Yes, we can make a change but this would mean that EVERY nurse would have to stand up as one and say NO to understaffing, poor pay, no retirement, etc. and that, my dear newbie, is just not going to happen in my life time or yours. I feel you are in for a rude awakening as to the real nursing world and I only hope you are going in with your eyes wide open and with realistic expectations. I fully KNOW what BrokeRN is talking about and I empathize with her and every nurse in her shoes. Only nurses who truly care feel this way; there are lots of nurses out there who have no problem with nursing because they don't care about nursing. Sad that only those of us who care experience burn out and leave.
My advice to you: listen to what others have to say about their experiences without judging. Sometimes all we need is an ear, not advice.:redbeathe:redpinkhe
I agree with the above 100000000%.
Especially the part about how only nurses who care about nursing and giving good care get burned out.
"Yes, we can make a change but this would mean that EVERY nurse would have to stand up as one and say NO to understaffing, poor pay, no retirement, etc. and that, my dear newbie, is just not going to happen in my life time or yours."
I think understaffing will get corrected. And I think every nurse should stand up even if it is only by signing a petition or some other act. It is our duty to address it. We all know it is a problem, it has affected many of us and still is affecting many. As nurses we should address it. Convincing people not to bother because it is not going to happen is a guarantee that it won't. Probably a common feeling for those who left the field. I'm thinking of leaving but still want to stand up and say something.
"I think understaffing will get corrected. And I think every nurse should stand up even if it is only by signing a petition or some other act. It is our duty to address it. We all know it is a problem, it has affected many of us and still is affecting many. As nurses we should address it. Convincing people not to bother because it is not going to happen is a guarantee that it won't. Probably a common feeling for those who left the field. I'm thinking of leaving but still want to stand up and say something."
Actually, even tho I have quit, I am still very outspoken about nursing conditions and still counsel some of the nurses at my old hospital. I see myself as being realistic and clear about what would have to happen to get change in nursing and I just don't see it happening any time soon. Nurses, for the most part, are the primary earners of their families and feel they can't threaten their jobs by being outspoken. Some even see their jobs as a "calling" and will do anything for the good of humanity. Some just don't want to be bothered and have their own private problems to deal with away from nursing. If we ever have a nurses' revolt, believe me, I will be standing at the front of the line carrying my sign. :yeahthat::sasq:
"I think understaffing will get corrected. And I think every nurse should stand up even if it is only by signing a petition or some other act. It is our duty to address it. We all know it is a problem, it has affected many of us and still is affecting many. As nurses we should address it. Convincing people not to bother because it is not going to happen is a guarantee that it won't. Probably a common feeling for those who left the field. I'm thinking of leaving but still want to stand up and say something."
Actually, even tho I have quit, I am still very outspoken about nursing conditions and still counsel some of the nurses at my old hospital. I see myself as being realistic and clear about what would have to happen to get change in nursing and I just don't see it happening any time soon. Nurses, for the most part, are the primary earners of their families and feel they can't threaten their jobs by being outspoken. Some even see their jobs as a "calling" and will do anything for the good of humanity. Some just don't want to be bothered and have their own private problems to deal with away from nursing. If we ever have a nurses' revolt, believe me, I will be standing at the front of the line carrying my sign. :yeahthat::sasq:
Even though you are right, it's not right.
As long as that is the case, the staffing will remain unsafe, the stress high and a critical error could really mess with one's "calling."
Not to mention the chronic exposure to unhappy campers when you didn't get something done.
Oh well, some of us can try, some of us can get the he** out and add to the shortage and some of us can do nothing at all. I'll try and hopefully get OUT. I don't see me doing this at age 50 or 60. As a matter of fact, I see it causing too much damage to make it there. I'm tired of beating myself up physically and emotionally more often than not. I tried to convince myself to be thankful I had a job but that just isn't enough. I will start a day out convincing myself it will be a better day and before lunch I'm heading to frustration. I see people around me come in negative and frustrated. They refuse to act and speak up, sign a petition or anything else but they don't see how negative and miserable they are on the outside. They can actually start up a negative atmosphere.
I think we are going to see more people who are not nurses speak up for this. It seems as though people with experiences with hospitals feel very strong about it.
All I know is I can't put my chin to my chest any more. I tried and it doesn't work for me.
BrokenRNheart
367 Posts
Yep. My experience exactly. Union reps work for the hospital too. They are endorsed by hospital administration because they don't rock the boat. They can only address what is not too controversial and political and hitting them in their pockets with safe staffing is a no-no.