Am I fighting a losing battle? Should I quit?

I'm about ready to kiss nursing goodbye for good. No one today seems to appreciate a strong assertive nurse like myself. I won't be a wimpy nurse! I won't take crap! I refuse to be abused and walked on! I won't stop fighting for my rights as a human being at work! I am NOT a robot! I am flesh and blood! I bleed and hurt and cry and misunderstand and get angry and upset just like every other human being. Perfect I am NOT!!! Never have been...never will be!

Should I quit nursing and go work for Wal-Marts? Perhaps I can get a job at Barnes and Nobles. I love being surrounded by books and the smell of books, so maybe I should do that?

HELP!!! I'm tired of crying on my days off about the ill-treatment I undergo on my job. They don't want a good nurse. What they want is a warm body who is "task and servant oriented" who doesn't talk or speak for herself/himself. They want a person without a bladder, without a need to deficate while on duty, without a need for nourishment while on duty. They want doormats and handmaidens. Nurses are not needed anymore in today's realm of nursing from what I see as a nurse now.

Five patients.......one me...........they all want NOW....I can only attend to one at a time.....it takes time to care for one patient.......perhaps longer than the other family members or patients want to wait for.......why not give us nurses a room with five beds in it where we can treat all five within sight of the others and their loved ones so they can see what goes on in nursing. They can't see through walls that Mr. so and so needs this or that, or that I am trying to save a life, or that I'm feeding the old man who can't use either of his hands because the PCTs are overworked and there's no one else to feed him, and........

There's not enough room to voice the drama we live with in nursing today, yet we get written up, gossiped about, talked down to like toddlers or like dogs who've just peed the new carpet.

I need a drink! Anyone got one?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

You need a vacation, and a long one, but don't give up on nursing.

I think though you need to seriously give an honest look at whether you can remain at this particular job. Sounds awful.

((((cheerfuldoer)))))

[Brownms46]

Cheerful, this position is what you should leave, not nursing!

Start looking around for something better, or for something that allows you to do the nursing you feel comfortable in doing. Maybe private duty where you can give quality care. I'm thinking of going this route myself, as I have tired of the "how fast can I move syndrome".

[USA987, MSN, RN, NP]

((((((cheerfuldoer))))))))

Your voice is heard loud and clear here!!! As a newer nurse you have truly impacted my way of thinking. Thank you for sharing your wisdom....

Sending a drink your way........

Hugs to you!

[live4today, RN]

Tweety, I use to love nursing. I still love being a nurse. I love caring for my patients. Sure, there are patients who wouldn't know a good nurse for all the money in the world, but then there are those patients that have made me feel like I'm walking on air they've been so kind, sweet, and much appreciative of the care they receive. I've received hugs from patients and family members. For nine months now I've had positive repoire with my patients, and today I hear of ONE...one mind you...from the nurse manager who didn't care for my style of nursing. Well, why is that we never get commended for the thousands of patients we care for that don't think we stink, yet one is unhappy and we get written up for disciplinary measures? I'll never understand that! Must be that old fashion rule of "stay good and you won't get yelled at?" Heck if I know. I love no matter what! I give of myself no matter what! I treat all my patients like VIPS, and work to help them return to their optimal state of health, and sometimes that means being assertive with them about getting out of bed, ambulating in the hallway, remaining compliant with their plan of care, etc. Nursing is a dirty job, and it is one that will often get mud thrown in our faces, but somebodies got to do it, and I know that I know that I know that I am a great nurse!

What say you?

[live4today, RN]

USA987...thanks! :kiss I needed that!

[live4today, RN]

Thanks Brownie. :kiss

Private duty does sound great to me since I'm never going to kiss anyone's butt as a nurse.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

cheerful, I work for a manager that knows I bust my butt. My manager knows that if I get a complaint it's an oddity. My manager is supportive and wouldn't dream of writing me up and disciplining me for one complaint out of the many many patients I care for.

Am I just lucky? Or can you find a job with a manager like that.

I'm so stubborn though, let me get written up just once and I'll quit. Especially if it's not justified.

[Brownms46]

Gurl join the non kissing butt club, cause I definitely have a lifetime membership! :chuckle. Cheerful take care of yourself, and don't let em get to you! Your manager is a dumb bunny, and doesn't deserve a great nurse like you! :kiss

[live4today, RN]

Tweety, the situation was not justified. First of all, I haven't even been to work to see the letter, not that it matters because I know that I gave that patient the best possible care. The patient benefited from my assertiveness those two days.....obviously if it gave "the patient" enough strength to write the letter I've yet to see.

[live4today, RN]

Brownie, if I do something to deserve a whippin'...then I'll be the first to toot my buns up for the whippin'. But when I don't deserve the abusiveness being dealt me.......that angers me greatly, and thus I cried all day. I'm starting to feel like I need to wear a camera to work.

[Chttynurs]

(((((Cheerfuldoer)))))

I hope you don't give up on nursing! I've always looked forward to reading your posts, I've always thought that through your posts you seemed like a very caring person in general, not just through your nursing practice. I'm with a couple of other people on the board here who say it may be time to leave that job. I hope everything works out for you, and remember, you said it all here......

"... but then there are those patients that have made me feel like I'm walking on air they've been so kind, sweet, and much appreciative of the care they receive."