Are Canadian Nurses happier?

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2013

This study is a little old, but it's the best thing you'll probably find. You can get a lot of anecdotal stories here, but that is far from indicative of what you'll experience in nursing yourself.

For instance, I'm an American nurse. I like my job, despite the difficulties. And make no mistake--no job is without problems.

Nurses' Reports On Hospital Care In Five Countries

Robar, LPN · Jun 14, 2013

Thank you! That was incredibly helpful! I know that no job is "perfect" but I also don't want to walk into a career where I'm practically guaranteed to be miserable either. So if 32% of Canadian nurses are dissatisfied with their jobs that means that almost 70% are satisfied. That is far from perfect but it's much better than the bleak picture the forums were painting for me :)

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2013

You're welcome!

Keep in mind that when you go to interview for a job, like EVERY job, you are also interviewing/observing your future workplace/manager/coworkers. Ask good questions, keep an astute eye, and that will help you decrease the likelihood of ending up in a place you don't like.

Also consider that people who post and actually speak up about their experiences, especially in a forum like this, will probably fall on one end of the spectrum or the other.

Most people won't come home and post about their really mediocre day, even if it was good. Negative experiences stick with people, so you're more likely to read about them.

loriangel14, RN · Jun 15, 2013

I know you can't really judge by what you say on here and you can't paint everyone with the same brush. I don't know if Canadian nurses are happier but I can say as a Canadian nurse I don't relate to the ones that complain of vicious coworkers and no breaks.We also don't have much of a "the customer is always right " mentality. But maybe that's just me.

Day in the life? Every day is different and it depends on the setting of that particular nurse.

I will tell you about today.Got report,took vitals while introducing myself and writing on the white board.Passed 0900 meds including chasing down something that hadn't been sent by pharmacy and calling the MD to get a dose clarified. Dealt with patients questions regarding discharge.Talked with PT,OT, pharmacy and discharge planning about my patients during their rounds.Had coffee break. Washed and changed an incontinent patient and changed the bed.Gave PRN pain meds before transferring a patient to x-ray.Called a family with an update.Answered multiple bells. Gave emotional support to a family that are making the decision to put mom in nursing home.Spent time with my patient that is on a 72 hour hold for psychiatric issues. Did some charting.Called another hospital with a report about one of my patients that was being transfered there.Received report about the patient they were sending us.Helped an aid shower and dress one of my patients. Packed up my patient that was leaving and did the required paperwork.Called her family.Set up lunch trays. Did noon meds.Went for my lunch.Came back and took vitals on my new patient that had just arrived. Gave 1400 hour meds.Answered more bells.Consulted with another hospital regarding the transfer of my psych patient.Did more charting.Gave report.

Fiona59 · Jun 15, 2013

You live in Alberta, right?

I've only worked in one facility where I had truly nasty coworkers but that was the culture of that unit. The manager knew about it but chose not to deal with it.

I find that if I enjoy the people I work with life is good. There are always people you aren't going to mesh with. On my current unit, there are two that everyone knows about (and I mean across the hospital). You develop ways to deal with them. I chose not to be available when they are working (luckily we are on different lines).

Everytime there is an AHS issue our patients bring it up. We bear the brunt of their dissatisfaction with the parking rates, lack of parking, the doctors being behind, having to share a room (in my hospital to get a private you have to be infectious or dying), they don't like the food, the Board should have been fired/kept on. I just smile and ask them to write to the Premier.

It takes extremely short staffing not to get your breaks. I can honestly only remember four shifts in over a decade where it was too busy to get to lunch. And on one of those days, my Manager didn't get one either, so she took me out for a drink afterwards.

Our patients are a mixed bag. Some have huge senses of entitlement, others are grateful for anything they get. They are human.

Robar, LPN · Jun 15, 2013

Thank you! More great replies! I'm feeling much better with my decision :) I'm looking forward to having every day be different!! I get pretty bored when I'm not being challenged. I worked as an accounting clerk for years & I swear the routine of it just about killed me! I want a career that will make me think and where I will always be learning :)