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[KalipsoRed]

I'm tired. I've now been a licensed nurse for one year and 4 months. I've been working in the medical field since 2004. None of it is what I thought caring for other people is suppose to be. I'm tired of having to spend more time charting and covering my a## than with my patients. In fact I don't do that, I spend most of my time with my patient and helping my tech, but my lack of through charting is staring to get me into a bit of trouble. I'm tired of getting griped at by management because I stay late to finish my job, I'm tired of having to stay late to finish my job. I'm tired of getting into trouble because I "spend to much time talking with my patinet" or because I'm "too nice". I'm tired of having so much stuff to do that I can't get it all done correctly or in the appropriate amount of time or that I'm overwhelmed enough that I miss stuff. I hate my nursing school instructors for telling us that we should not agree to take more patients than we can handle, like we would have the choice. I'm tired of having 5 really sick patients that could (and have) tried to crash on me all at once and be expected to keep up with what is going on with all of them.

The staff I work with are very good at team work, but I'm not so great a delegating nursing tasks and frankly there are just a number of RN tasks that I would rather do to my patient than let a fellow coworker do it. I'm tired of grouchy doctors that don't respond when I need their help. I'm tired of making a instution money while supplying rapid, half cocked care to patients and family. Can anyone truly think it is OK to only see your patient in 2-3 minute spouts 8 to 10 times in a shift? We are talking a max of 30 minutes of time during a shift! That is crazy! I'm tired of seeing doctors go in to patients rooms, lay their stethoscopes over their heart for 10 seconds and call it a check up, then leave after a 2 minute conversation. This is not care, this is herding cattle through the slaughterhouse.

Nursing...medicine is suppose to be about improving quality of life and comfort. Taking time to know your patient and understand their issues. The medical TEAM is suppose to work effeciently and effectively TOGETHER to provide holistic care WITHOUT sarificing their own sanity or health in the process. If nursing is what I do now, then it is not an honorable or even sane career choice. It is beyond stressful, and most of my stress never has to do with an actual patient emergency (because that is actually caring for a patient, which is what I signed up for). From what I see of 'real' nursing, I don't ever want to be taken care of by one and I'd rather die than end up in a hospital. I love my patients and I really love my job on the very far a few in betweeen days were I'm able to complete most of my work and look up everyones labs and background information and make sure that nothing has been missed. That is what an AVERAGE nursing day on the floor should be in my opinion. I can't continue going to work like this and I don't know what else to do.

[guest64485]

Nurse to patient ratios is a big issue across the nation, and it has real, documented effects on recovery time and even whether or not people live or die. Healthcare is broken in hospitals because the reality is far from the ideal. But what the answer is that will work monetarily, I don't know. The reality as it stands is not pretty.

Doctors are frustrated too at the number of patients they have and the short amount of time they have to care for them. The whole system is overwhelmed. Some try to push back and spend the time they feel is needed with the patient, and thus spend a large, large amount of time working. (So for those out there reading, don't get too upset when your doc is an hour late for your office appointment, they are doing their best to give good care) Others have resigned themselves to flying in and out of patients' rooms, so they have some semblance of a work-life balance.

One suggestion I have is to utilize your charge nurse as much as possible, and (I hate to say it because it is important, but) cutting down the time you talk to patients so you can ensure the basics you are doing are safe. If other nurses are asking you for help then ask them for help too. If you have a heavy team and you are worried about their safety because they are overwhelmed, be very vocal to your charge about your situation. Talk to your coworkers. Do they have any recommendations?

I'd suggest you think about changing jobs, possibly going into a specialty. Especially in med surg you are doing a little for a lot of patients. In specialties, you will do focused help, instead of scrambling to try to cover all bases like in med surg. Don't forget, there is life outside of the hospital too! You've got offices, school nursing, day surgery, and much more. Take a look at the specialty - nursing specialties tab for more ideas and good luck.

Also, think about supporting the CNA/NNOC! We need a unified voice for nurse support.