Anybody really love your job?

sunnydaysss · Oct 13, 2010

I am very very unhappy and in my opinion it all has to do with management. I love my patients, certain fellow nurses, and I actually don't mind the documentation but between dealing with bedboard and the ancillary staff, I can't take it anymore.

When I come in for my shift at 8 p.m., bedboard is already calling the floor and asking the charge nurse to switch beds around in order to accommodate certain patients who are waiting in the ER. It's not just once in a while, but this happens EVERY night. The other night we switched 3 patients out in order to make room for a "VIP" direct admit and later we found out that the patient wouldn't be arriving until 10 in the morning. This compromises patient care because #1 I'm too busy transferring patients and not taking care of my other patients and #2 I waste a lot of time trying to gather information on a patient I barely know so that I can give proper report to the nurse who will be getting the patient on another floor. This is risky in my opinion because I feel like the more passing on we have to do, the more chance there is of information getting lost in the process.

We've complained to management several times but they will not put their foot down and say that this is unacceptable. You're supposed to be able to rely on the ADN but she will be the one to come to the floor and insist that we need to move the patients. Sometimes we are moving beds at 2 in the morning. I tell my patients that they have the right to refuse but certain patients agree to do it because they are offered free tv and phone by bedboard.

I'm curious if this happens in other places as well.

In terms of the ancillary staff, they are unionized while the nurses are not so this creates a lot of tension. A nurse can be fired for anything whenever management feels like it but the ancillary staff can get away with e.very.thing. We had a staff member who fudged vital signs but the union somehow got her to keep her job. If an RN had done this, he/she would've been gone the next day. Another staff member cursed at a patient, and threatened the nurse who wrote her up for cursing at the pt. The pt wrote a letter to administration stating that she was scared for her life. This staff member is still working with us today. This past Sunday night I asked a staff member to place a Texas catheter on the pt and her response was "I do not do Texas catheters, I have never done it, and I never will". When I told my manager about it, her response was "Next time call the nurse educator and have her come up to teach her how to do it". How is this supposed to solve the problem???

As you can guess, turnover rate is high on this floor because the nurses cant take it anymore. Our director was just replaced because she was highly incompetent, didn't care about her nurses, and only cared about the "budget". If you're asking why I'm still at this job, I really don't know the answer myself. I'm hoping that this new director will turn things around but I'm worried that I'm probably being too optimistic. I am trying to leave but competition is pretty high in my area. In the end, I am just sad because patient care really suffers on my unit and I don't believe that this should happen ANYWHERE. The lack of professionalism I see is appalling. In the end I always try to do my best and my goal is to leave in the morning satisfied knowing that I did everything I could.

On another note, I am glad to see that there are nurses out there who are actually happy and it gives me hope. For new grads out there, PLEASE do your research and do not take the first offer that comes to you. I know it is hard in this economy but I regret my decision everyday.

Up2nogood RN, RN · Oct 13, 2010

I love my job (most of the time) and my nursing union.

sugarcoated · Oct 13, 2010

Those of you who are new grads should be thankful you have a hospital job. Hospitals in NY, especially, are not willing to train new grads so if you are able to find a hospital job as a new RN you should be grateful and count your blessings.

Argo · Oct 13, 2010

Love my job. Hate administration. I'm a manager That actually works though. I can do anything I assign my staff to do an they all know it. Me an my staff have been great together, we are like family. However, I am fed up enough with upper admin that I'm quiting an moving on. They can stab each other in the back and lie amongst themselves. They Can also run the department however they want now..

Wish I could be a fly on the wall when I go. I will however keep in touch with all the people I'm leaving. I will miss them.

Argo · Oct 13, 2010

Also, I do think most management is way way out of touch with staff an should be required to work in the department the run....

LilRedRN1973 · Oct 13, 2010

"As I briefly ventured into a review with my wife of a number of projects I've been working on, the too many committees I attend, and the numerous day to day challenges of clients unhappy about something, schedules changing, hiring nurses before the deadline, reports due, appraisals overdue, etc. etc. I became aware that the only reason I can run around like the proverbial chicken is because of every one of you I work with. You take care of the minute to minute and day to day stuff that would easily wear me out quickly. Thank you for all the great work you do, which allows us to consistently move towards improving the service we provide, even in these challenging times. Consider this my electronic collective group hug."

The post above is an email sent to all of us "lowly" staff from our wonderful supervisor. It's one of the many reasons why I love, love, love my job! I believe management has a lot to do with whether nurses will be happy or unhappy with where they are at. **** rolls downhill and if the management allows things to go on that are unhealthy and unproductive, then it will not be a very satisfactory place to work. That is my experience with the few places I've been employed. I have worked in a very large trauma ICU, a much smaller ICU, a dialysis center, and finally my current place of work, which is an outpatient psychiatric clinic. I enjoyed the large ICU a lot but there was a lot of egos, gossiping, and bravado running around and management didn't know what was going on half the time. In the smaller ICU, the management WAS the problem....! Encouraged a lot of the gossiping and even took part in it half the time. The dialysis center was brand new and had a fledgling supervisor....it was his first time ever being in charge like that. He had no control over the nasty nurse I worked alongside and she bossed him and treated him like crap. Policies and procedures were always changing and nobody knew what the other one was doing. Sure, I would be making $10 MORE an hour than I am now, but I would be horribly miserable and hating every minute I was at work.

My current job is a dream, for the most part. Sure, we are short staffed on occasion when someone calls in. But then the rest of us pull together and help cover that doctor's clients. Everyone acts fairly mature and we all have some level of self-awareness when it comes to our behavior. There's not much gossiping or maliciousness and everyone seems to treat others with respect. My boss is always going to bat for us and makes sure we have what we need here in the clinic. I love my hours and the fact I never have to work holidays, weekends, etc. The pay isn't great ($28/hour) but I also get bigger pay increases than what I would at a hospital each year and within about 5 years, I will be making about $75k/year without having to work my rear end off 13 hours a day and being abused by family members in addition to my employer (I don't miss any of that). Benefits are pretty great, too and I will have a pension when I retire. I do miss all the direct patient care of the ICU but it's a small trade off for getting to do all the patient teaching that I do. I love all the education and time I get to spend with my clients. I enjoy the schizophrenics and the even the frustrating "make me want to beat my head against the wall" borderline personality folks! I never would have set foot in psych without a major turn of events in my own life and I'm pretty damn grateful for that. Don't miss hospital nursing one bit, thank you very much!! So yep, there are some pretty great places to work in nursing and between my coworkers, my clients, and my management....mine rocks!!!

SE_BSN_RN, BSN · Oct 13, 2010

I don't hate my job, but I am getting very, VERY ticked off. Admin was told his job is on the line because of the repeated tags our facility gets from the state due to poor care, complaints, not enough staff, etc. So, he says if his job is on the line, so is every one of his nurse managers. WELL.......if you'd LISTEN to your floor staff and FIGURE OUT WHY we get repeat tags, problem would be solved. Hire more people instead of wanting more of that big bonus! I have worked as a nurse manager, I have seen things from both sides. But, come on, people, wake up!....oh, wait, you can't hire more people....there is no legal ratio of patients to caregivers....HMMMM..........how do you fix THAT? It sure is funny, but we can do it.....right?? :lol2:

dmoney2023 · Oct 13, 2010

I have been a nurse in an ICU for about six months now and I totally agree with you. It's funny though, because I am sure, because I have asked my coworkers, that they would say that they love their jobs.

But all day everyday all they do is complain about how crappy it is to be a nurse. Then I ask them why they don't get another job in an easier field of nursing and they say they love the ICU. But I know they don't. Everyone is always grumpy, and they hate coming to work. Nobody ever picks up extra shifts except the poor people (like me lol). So I think those that claim to love it may be just singing you a song.

walk6miles · Oct 13, 2010

Been a critical care RN for twenty two years; the last 2 years I have been especially happy. Sometimes I would pinch myself to be sure it was real.

sewingkelli · Oct 14, 2010

LOVE my job! ER Nurse for 3 years. Granted I have my days but I still love to go to work, only have ever called out of work twice in 3 years!

sa48sh · Oct 14, 2010

I agree with those that have said hospital politics are inevitable. It's a fact!! HOWEVER!! It is also a fact that there are shady and dishonest people in this world, but that doesn't mean I have to subject myself to them. That said, hospitals are not the only place you will find this problem. It occurs in offices, and other facilities. It's a problem that I'm sure has been studied time and time again by ologists. It doesn't matter what statistics, or excuses or solutions for the behavior is uncovered by their studies, the solution for me has simply been to remove myself from the situation.
I know, too easy!! Or some would say, too hard! In the end, we subject ourselves to unreasonable behavior by the masses, and wonder why it continues to exist. If everyone would refuse to participate, something would have to change. I have worked in facilities where everyone helps everyone else, (sure there are always a FEW tense moments, or on a rare occasion, someone you'd just like to smack the stupid out of), has genuine respect for everyone else, encourages everyone else, covers your back if need be, and goes out of their way to make your 8 or 12 or 16 hours an inspiring, productive, rewarding experience. I have LOVED those jobs, wish I could go back, and still keep in touch with fellow co-workers, as we are scattered across the continent.
I have also worked in facilities, that for God only know what reason, everyone is out to KILL everyone else. (sure, there are a FEW touching moments when someone backs you up.... like once a year). I have spent time trying to figure out where the poison is coming from. I would go so far as to think, "hmm, if soandso left, this place wouldn't be so bad"...but it doesn't work out that way....the cast can change in a bad play, and the script is still there. Who knows if it is coming from poor administration, or lousy staff, it gets to be like the chicken and the egg question. It's infective, wherever it comes from and it permeates everything and everyone in the place. It's like all the actors periodically change positions, and you can't recognize which character they are playing. As for trying to get to the bottom of what is WRONG with the place, you may as well get a job shoveling manure at a racetrack. Now there are those who are reading this who may be saying "OH, You must be one of those who are going to complain instead being a resource for change"....to that I say... B.S....
It's the people living in la la land, or in denial that there is any problem in their place of work, that thwart the possibility of real change. I have run in to less resistance in a wind tunnel, than I have at trying to sort out, confront and remedy the issues I see as the reason why no one gets along and works together for the good of all and the staff turns over quicker than cars leaving the 10 min oil change bays. I have a vested interest in making my work place a place a joyful place. Those at the top may not have their finger on the pulse of the place. That may not be their fault as they have been oriented and educated to focus on "other" things, which they have been indoctrinated into believing is their primary function. "Administration Duties!!!" But, how do you account for the effectiveness of some administrations or supervisors to have a cohesive, cooperative, productive and happy staff, a well oiled machine that performs it's functions easily? Do you think they just "lucked out" and serendipitously had "just the right staff" dropped into their laps? Ultimately, those we call "bosses", the ones with all the letters after their RN, the ones who supposedly have more training in "people managing skills", are either gatherers of a great cast that they direct with great skill, or they flop on Broadway. Fortunately, if a play is a flop because of poor directing or a bad script, it takes a loss, closes and investors are out their investment. UNFORTUNATELY, a facility with poor staff and/or a poor director, can continue to operate by switching out the staff and director as many times as necessary, and often it is frequent. That board of directors is not going to allow it's investors to take a loss. Who cares if no one enjoys the show as word doesn't get out and ticket sales keep coming in.
If it APPEARS that most of the staff in your facility is unhappy, and unbeknownst to the "upper echilon" are griping and in the process, making others miserable, maybe you're NOT delusional. The way to weed out the people that won't join the disfunction is to get them to believe that it's just their imagination, that they are overly sensitive or misreading everyone else. If that doesn't work, get them to believe that THEY are the problem.
There are other places to work, where you won't encounter those kind of problems. I've worked at them. I wish i could have saved myself years of misery and just seen the writing on the wall when I found myself in a place that did not support my mental and physical well being and just moved on, but stubborn as I am, I've spent far too many years trying to save a dying patient ( change a disfunctional facility) when I should have been more concerned about saving myself....I'll give you the benefit of my 30+ years. If a place stinks...GET OUT!! Go somewhere you can be fulfilled, happy and relaxed..don't believe the curmongers who will tell you that dealing with constant stress from your coworkers and your work enviornment is expected and proves you have what it takes or that you should accept intolerable behavior because....well that's just the way it is.
If the people who are in a position to make the changes that are necessary won't ACCEPT the fact that there is a problem, How can anything be resloved. If YOU see this and they don't, then they have blinders on.
I read a fantastic interview with James Bagain, anesthesiologist, NASA astronaut and now director of the Veteran Administration's National Center for Patient Safety. Here's a guy who understands what it takes to look a problem in the eye and then formulate solutions.....realistic workable solutions. He has an intersting perspective on the healthcare profession. You should read his article.
The Wrong Stuff : Risky Business: James Bagianâ€"NASA astronaut turned patient safety expertâ€"on Being Wrong

RevolutioN2013 · Oct 14, 2010

Fantastic post and lots of food for thought. I have managed small (less than 10) staffs for a long time and have had the ability to hire and release as I chose. I do not micro-manage my people and my philosophy is that I will give the training and tools necessary to do the job but beyond that it's up to them to be motivated to make it happen. Beyond that point my role and the role of others in the office is to support each other to make sure the overall goals of the office are accomplished (non-nursing environment I'm speaking of). This formula has worked really well at times and it has also not worked well at all. In all cases it had to do with the people I had in place. Once I had someone who knew coming into her particular job that part of her duties were to re-stock the paper towels and toilet paper in the two public bathrooms and the one private bathroom. Two months in she is disgruntled and tells me that she feels demeaned by having to do this task. Her problem. She ended up leaving to take a different position. One time I had a lady who stirred up everything all the time by insisting that people were talking about her in negative ways. And of course she was always doing the same to them. I ended up laying her off due to a decrease in volume but the result was a much more peaceful office. The current staff I have support each other and if one comes to me and says "I need to leave early next week to do such and such, can I do that?" My answer is "See if you can get someone to cover you and then come let me know your plan, but on the face of it I see no reason why not." Anyway, I guess what I'm rambling all over the place about is that you can have a good system in which people are given every avenue for success and a supportive managerial environment and yet it's bad because you have problem people plugged in to the spots. OR you can have the best people who work well together struggling along in an organization that is not set up to encourage personal accountability, does not have good training and supportive managers and policies. There are many reasons why an organization can be dysfunctional and a crappy place to work. But regardless of the reasons why, it's never easy to change the dynamic IMO.