I need to ask other nurses if they are as dissatisfied with nursing or is it just not for me? I've been a nurse for 2 years and I hate it. (I am going back to school for something else, I will not be a nurse that hates her job and does it for anyother 20 years.) I am an RN and have worked in the hospital (tele & med/surg) and LTC. While there are differences, it seems that they all have the same issues that upset me.
#1 I feel abused from every angle. I feel like a servant to my pts, family can be so demanding and rude, some doctors can be more condisending that family (but even one it too much, a Ph.D. doesn't give anyone the right to belittle others.) Management is, well management. Short staffing the floor and aloof to issues. It seems these issues (which I've seen on many boards, are "just a part of nursing". There's always that nasty doc no one likes talking to, or that crazy family member that makes our day nearly imposible. Is it over sensitive of me to not want to deal with this anymore?
#2 I feel like the general public is moving towards a "anti-healthcare" attitude. People sue for everything. It seems that people don't feel we are entitled to break (as we've discussed in another post), I've seen first hand many times that the public wouldn't care if you were 9 months pregnant, they expect you to lift mom single-handedly out of the chair and into bed, and NOW! because they "don't want to wait" for you to get help. The nurse doesn't even need to be pregnant, she could be 110lbs and "mom" could be 400lbs and her 25 family members (8 of which are young strapping men) will demand you get mom up to the commode NOW!, and all 25 will stand there and watch and god forbid the guy across the hall is coding!!! Even another human being dieing is not important enough for you to derail from getting their 400lb mom another package of gramcrackers..and so an and so on. And all the while they think the nurse is LAZY!!! I hear this very often. (This actually happened to me at a diner) the couple behind me and my husband were having a bash fest on how lazy and stupid nurses are. They never considered that maybe a nurse was in earshot! My husband lit into them, and they apologized but said that the nurses at a local hospital "killed" their grandpa. I asked about grandpa who was 89 y/o had a "failing heart and kidneys" but "was doing well untiL he went into the hospital". I want to DUMP MY SOUP ON THEIR HEADS!! This seems to me to be very common that people blame nurses(or docs) for inevidable deaths.
#3 Short staffing that's only getting shorter...need I say more.
#4 Missing time with family. I will admit I knew about this before I got into nursing so I can't complain. But since I've had my son, I no longer want to miss holidays. I'm sorry, but my pts are not worth the times I will miss with my family on holidays. I want to be home christmas mornings with my son and 10 year from now I won't remember the pts I had on xmas but I will remember that I missed his first xmas (or second or what ever).
#5 Liability. I knew this too, so I can't complain, but people make mistakes Cashiers ring you up for the wrong amount, cooks make and waitress serve the wrong food, I'm sure plumber or contruction workers have been called it to fix something but after wards it still leeks or whatever and they have to be called back to do it again. I'm not saying that nurses are the only profession that our mistakes can be very dangerous, I'm saying that even the smallest mistakes, one that would never hurt anyone, gets everyone up in arms about it. And pts and there family expect nothing short of God caring for them or their family. A nurse on the floor I used to work on went to take a blood sugar on the wrong pt. The family was there, it never even got done. They stopped her, but the pt was confused and wouldn't have been able to tell the nurse she was a BGM. The family had a melt down and reported her and she got in a lot of trouble! Its not like she was about to give morpine to this lady. I know a mistake is a mistake, but there's no forgiveness in nursing, not matter how tiny the mistake. We can not make mistakes, as per the general public. Well, I'm careful, but I'm not perfect.
Sorry to sound so negitive. Am I just looking at this all wrong? Does anyone else feel this way, but it doesn't bother them?
I just wanted to say 'thanks for your advice and positive attitude towards nursing!' I am a student and I was starting to get really bummed reading all these negative thoughts about nursing as a career. I'm 39 yrs. old and I'm just getting started with my education. I've always wanted to be a nurse, but money, circumstance, etc. always got in the way. I'm finally on track and I appreciate your positive influence. I'm very realistic about nursing, as my mother-in-law is an LPN and I'm familiar with the 'lows'. I'm just saying its nice to hear you speak about things positively!
I was just reading some of the posts in this thread again and I wanted to expand on something. First of all I'm hoping that I don't come across as hating nursing with some of my negative posts. I just hate how far too many nurses are miss treated out there.
The point that I wanted to expand on is that yes Nursing has so many other opportunities than just working in the traditional Hospital, Nursing Home and Doctor's office. Back in 2003 I took a series of courses to get my full certificate in Forensic Studies. Nursing was defintely a stepping stone for those courses. Even though I still work in Long Term Care I've used my training in Forensic Studies to write courses of my own as well as volunteer for victim services and to expand other opportunities.
Yet it's important to mention that I would never had gone the route of Forensic Studies if it weren't for one particular Director of Nursing. She was the true definition of a Coach and a Cheerleader and encouraged me to take other courses. I remember with one set of courses that I had tried to sign up for. She looked at me with a smile on her face, gestured to the wall with her arms and stated, "My Prodigy on the wall" (then we both laughed). The series of courses I had originally wanted to take (that I had mentioned to her) weren't available, so not to disappoint her, I shifted gears into Forensic Studies.
The unfortunate reality is that I've never met another nurse manager like her since she retired. The ones that have followed have been the equivalant of dictators and terrorists, who can destroy the entire culture of the workplace. Our overtime costs have sored into orbit because staff don't want to work in an environment of terror, abuse and complete disrespect.
However, I will end this on a possitive note. To that Director of Nursing who encouraged and cheered me on. To the one who helped re-shape my current path in life as a Forensic Nurse, with the so many opportunties that will be opening up, Thank You Gloria.:redbeathe
We were just talking about this today at work. Most of us love our jobs BUT we can't deal with ultra needy patients and out of control families anymore. If we could cancel visiting hours we would have great shifts!:chuckle
Patients are being kept in Active Treatment beds because there are no sub-acute or LTC beds for them. Or the family has decided that 98yo full code, demented granny is too much to handle and refuse to take her home after her appi or choli and so the hospital is stuck with her. They don't "see" the dementia and behaviours until it comes time for them to step up to the plate and care for her for maybe 3 weeks.
I'm tired of hearing that the icewater isn't cold enough. No we won't comb your Mum's hair, she can do it herself, we encourage people to participate in their recovery.
No nine of you at the bedside is not acceptable. Uhm, we've given five of your sisters as much info over the phone as we can, get one spokesperson to call the unit, and no, we don't know the family politics and we don't want to.
The bedside is my workplace, we don't go to your office or place of employment and stand and watch you like a hawk. Leave us in peace during the "quiet" hours so we can get the work done. That's why they have "quiet" hours.
You are not a cynic at all, you are simply realistic....in the profession of nursing, you see the worst in people.
It helps to remember that the problems belong to the people that have them, not to you. There are many people in this world who are simply self-centered idiots. There is little you can do about it, so why take it on, or take it personally?
The worst thing is when managements expect you to kiss their butts. This helps neither them, nor you, nor anyone. Corporations and business people do not now have, never had have, nor ever will have any business running hospitals and that is about 90% of the problem, right there.
But remember...being a licensed nurse, there are more settings than just the hospital, so good luck in finding the one that suits you best.
You are not a cynic at all, you are simply realistic....in the profession of nursing, you see the worst in people.
The worst thing is when managements expect you to kiss their butts. This helps neither them, nor you, nor anyone. Corporations and business people do not now have, never had have, nor ever will have any business running hospitals and that is about 90% of the problem, right there.
But remember...being a licensed nurse, there are more settings than just the hospital, so good luck in finding the one that suits you best.
No, it happens in the publicly funded Canadian system too. The taxpayer is picking up the tab for these "patients".
The best paid/benefitted/pensioned jobs here are on the hospital floor. Clinic and day surgery settings are highly sought after but very hard to get. Working in the private sector is more often than not as well paid.
You have to take it personally when you have had the insults hurled at you and been slapped by someone who you were trying to assist (I'm talking about functioning adults who hold jobs and live in the real world, not demented seniors).
I don't think you are a cynic. And I do believe that you are not in the right career for you and you are right in pursuing something else.
I believe nursing is life itself. You see humanity at its rawest form. You see the very worst and the very best of people. The healthcare system, lets face it, has many flaws. People come in stressed, management is stressed, Doctors are stressed and often the nurses take the brunt of all that stress and turmoil. Nursing is not for the faint hearted. You have to be able to dismiss the things that you have no power to change. You have to be both thick skinned and compassionate. It is tough to do.
Personally, I have no issues with what you have said about nursing, because certainly that is your reality. I keep doing the job because of those interactions and connections that DO make a difference. I live for those times. Nursing, like life, is what you make of it. So for those of you who are discouraged by this thread, be informed, for there is truth here, but it does not have to be YOUR truth. It is your choice.:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat
I don't think crappy jobs are exclusive to nursing. Ever work retail or restaurant? Talk about demanding customers...
It really comes down to every individual's career wants. I want a career with maximum flexibility for career paths, maximum job opportunities (there certainly are a TON in my locale) and a decent living so I can support my family. I want a career where I can use my BRAIN and get out of the desk chair and get moving. And maybe I'll actually make some people's lives better along the way...
Hey, if there's crap to deal with, fine (show me a job that doesn't have its problems and I'll show you a fantasy) but in nursing I'm also getting everything I want, too!
I might be a just a student/nurse wanna be and that means I don't know what I'm talking about according to some, but I know what I want and I'm going for it.
I don't think you are a cynic. And I do believe that you are not in the right career for you and you are right in pursuing something else.
I believe nursing is life itself. You see humanity at its rawest form. You see the very worst and the very best of people. The healthcare system, lets face it, has many flaws. People come in stressed, management is stressed, Doctors are stressed and often the nurses take the brunt of all that stress and turmoil. Nursing is not for the faint hearted. You have to be able to dismiss the things that you have no power to change. You have to be both thick skinned and compassionate. It is tough to do.
Personally, I have no issues with what you have said about nursing, because certainly that is your reality. I keep doing the job because of those interactions and connections that DO make a difference. I live for those times. Nursing, like life, is what you make of it. So for those of you who are discouraged by this thread, be informed, for there is truth here, but it does not have to be YOUR truth. It is your choice.:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat
Unfortunately there are far too many nurses who litteraly don't have a choice about their working conditions. Especially those who work in smaller communities and who don't have the option to simply apply at the facility on the other side of town.
The cover story article of the November 1995 issue of the American Journal of Nursing is one of the best reality related articles about nursing that I've ever read titled: "Burnout, why do we blame the nurse?"
I highly recommend this article if it's still available. It's quite the eye opener.
Unfortunately there are far too many nurses who litteraly don't have a choice about their working conditions. Especially those who work in smaller communities and who don't have the option to simply apply at the facility on the other side of town.
The cover story article of the November 1995 issue of the American Journal of Nursing is one of the best reality related articles about nursing that I've ever read titled: "Burnout, why do we blame the nurse?"
I highly recommend this article if it's still available. It's quite the eye opener.
Yes, I agree with you, I am fortunate to live in a part of the country where there are strong nursing unions and the staffing ratios, salaries as well as other issues have been fought over for years. The ultimate choice however lies in our reaction to our surroundings. It took many years of childhood abuse to realize where my power lie, not in the circumstances, but in my own thoughts, reactions and feelings about those circumstances.
I certainly have no intention of belittling anyone's experience. I am just sharing my own coping mechanisms with dealing with those omnipresent stressors in nursing. I have to always remind myself to dwell on the positive.
Nursing can be quite challenging. Explore independent options such as consulting or being creative in ways that you utilize your nursing knowledge. Push the envelope. I agree with a different post: Try a different facility or floor. Change sometimes help. I have been frustrated too, but I chose to explore and I sought change when necessary. Utilize your experience in an area that makes you happy. Search, and don't stop until you find what makes you happy.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
Yes, the above post is true about working in a small community with not a lot of options for nurses.....I love my job and working with my pts. but I hate the politics of the hospital and the disrespect with which we are treated....I do not focus on that...I focus on work, pts. and that is it.....if I were to analyze all the goings on from Administration and others, I wouldn't be able to do my job...We are understaffed because of management afraid to spend more money to hire us help. That is a fact I have learned to deal with and it is not going to change....I enjoy my pts. and could not imagine doing any other work....I have stayed with it 22 yrs and will until I can no longer keep up....
Tina1968
25 Posts
I just wanted to say 'thanks for your advice and positive attitude towards nursing!' I am a student and I was starting to get really bummed reading all these negative thoughts about nursing as a career. I'm 39 yrs. old and I'm just getting started with my education. I've always wanted to be a nurse, but money, circumstance, etc. always got in the way. I'm finally on track and I appreciate your positive influence. I'm very realistic about nursing, as my mother-in-law is an LPN and I'm familiar with the 'lows'. I'm just saying its nice to hear you speak about things positively!