Are all nurses overworked and underpaid?

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2014

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "assignments that are impossible to do by the book?" I think I understand, but want to make sure.

How new are you? My experience is I've gotten more efficient w/ charting with practice. Sometimes I'll chart at the bedside. That way I am with the pt. Also it makes it easier if I would otherwise need to remember what to chart--multiple trauma pt's with many wounds/surgical sites to assess, neuro pt whose exam fluctuates.

I DON'T do 16 hour shifts. I would find it very difficult to stay clear, and the research supports that. 12 hours is my max, although I chose 8's for my current job. If it's a busy shift I'll sometimes stay over for 1/2 hour to finish my charting. But I will not do 16 hour shifts (unless it's an emergency...I did do one once in a blizzard and the oncoming shift truly could not get in. Those who tried got stuck.) I once did an 11p-11a--stayed over 4 hours when we were short on days--and I made a med error.

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2014

I think that only a woman would allow these working conditions to continue because we sacrifice ourselves for others.

As a woman, I fundamentally disagree with that idea. You're thinking of our great-grandmothers (the ones who weren't lobbying for women's rights), not this generation.

Try blaming the customer service model of care that's oh-so-popular right now in addition to management's blatant preference to ignore the research/common sense that says that lower ratios and reducing redundancies (like double-charting) make for a safer, happier hospital.

Dean7 · Mar 25, 2014

I think just read more about legal nursing issues to help keep you up to date. I am learning more about what my rights are and such. And although I need to myself practice this, don't be afraid to look around for better working conditions. Hospitals aren't that much different from running a walmart or whatever. Sometimes there can be such business-minded individuals trying to keep the budget that they don't care about patient safety or humane working conditions. Look at Walmart taking advantage of employees. Read up on nursing laws and lawsuits and read stuff on these forums about what people's staffing ratios are. Fish around for good ratios or move to a state where there a nurse staffing ratio laws.

I agree, 16 hours are not a good idea. Usually by the end of 12 hours you are tired, and you don't want to risk endangering yourself or others. You might get so tired that you stick yourself with a needle (and get hep c or whatever). You might make a med error. You might end up falling asleep driving home or getting into a car accident if you drive, or get run over in the crosswalk because a car didn't bother to mind your right of way. Protect yourself because nobody else will advocate for yourself.

Sometimes I wonder if nursing were more male-dominated profession if there would be fewer martyrs and staffing ratios and such might improve because perhaps men would be more likely to speak up to the injustice? Who knows. Not necessarily. I think women tend to be very patient and forgiving and maybe sometimes too docile for their own good.

j0yegan · Mar 25, 2014

Yes, we as nurses are overworked and underpaid.

stickit34 · Mar 25, 2014

Absolutely. But most people won't join together and raise their voices against these conditions for fear of losing their jobs. Hospitals nowadays are so customer-service focused that it would take almost the entire nursing staff to even make a change in one hospital. That or a major lawsuit against the hospitals for unhealthy work conditions and such, but even that is a long shot.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 25, 2014

From Bluebird 2010:

"I think that only a woman would allow these working conditions to continue because we sacrifice ourselves for others."

Excuse me? That's a misogynistic statement! I don't know where you've been, but my generation of women has been standing up for ourselves and other women since the 60s.

If you think you're overworked and underpaid, please don't blame my gender. Put the blame where it belongs . . . if you have a union, why aren't they negotiating a better contract? And if you don't have a union, why not?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 25, 2014

Sometimes I wonder if nursing were more male-dominated profession if there would be fewer martyrs and staffing ratios and such might improve because perhaps men would be more likely to speak up to the injustice? Who knows. Not necessarily. I think women tend to be very patient and forgiving and maybe sometimes too docile for their own good.

Again with the misogyny. Martyrs and docile? Come on folks. Don't blame the gender for things you don't like. Blame the hospital management, the union for not negotiating a better contract or the short sighted nurses who didn't agitate for a union.

msygrnbw · Mar 25, 2014

I think you might have your anger misdirecteda little. I don't think it has to do with the field being dominated by women, I think staffing ratios and whatnot are high because of a number of factors, including management, healthcare in this country, and having our care follow a more business centered model. I mean, look at physicians - I have heard from a few friends who work in EDs that they have a quota of a number of patients they should be seeing per hour. I just read a thread on the NP board here the other day that they were being pressured to see more patients than they felt like they could safely see. So it's not just our profession, but they are trying to stretch dollars further, and therefore care workers further.

I am still new, but I have quite a bit of experience in the hospital, and in the past worked in a pharmacy. The packaging issue, you just need to remember your medication rights and do your checks. If you always make sure you're reading the medication name and dosage on the label, I'm not sure why this would be that big of an issue. Working in the pharmacy in the past, we were always having changing manufacturers depending on the best deal our supply company got and all - you just double, triple check and scan to help with safety. As far as charting - I agree, there is a ton to chart, but I think it gets easier over time. Have you been at the place you're working at for long? With time you might become faster at it. And as far as 16 hour shifts: I choose to work 8's, because 12's really are not my thing. I would gladly stay over and grab a couple extra cups of coffee for an emergency to cover a shift (blizzard, natural disaster, coworker with a legit emergency), but I absolutely would not do it on a regular basis or a scheduled shift.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Mar 25, 2014

OP to answer: I don't work 16s, I work when I want to work, meaning, I know when to say NO enough to not work extra shifts unless I want to, medication packaging is designed for safety; nursing is a business how much you slice it-I have friends in other industries that feel overworked at times and don't have the flexible hours that nursing provides.

I have always felt empowered as a nurse-I know my rights, and have had the experience to be the change that I can seek, by helping shape polices at the jobs I held; never felt inclined NOT to speak up, either; my double X chromosome has NOTHING to do with it, either.

I rather you discuss what your issues you have with your workplace, how long you have been a nurse, and put the emotion to the side and seek assistance in honing your practice, even if that means saying NO, learning how to manage your time for the amount of time one chooses to work, and keeping up that critical thinking eye, since that is the real issue...it's about YOU, for now...

RNdynamic · Mar 26, 2014

Again with the misogyny. Martyrs and docile? Come on folks. Don't blame the gender for things you don't like. Blame the hospital management, the union for not negotiating a better contract or the short sighted nurses who didn't agitate for a union.

Women and men are fundamentally different. There has never been a strong workers rights movement for women in this country, in contrast to men. Women are less likely to strike, less likely to aggressively negotiate better wages, etc. The unions during the industrial revolution that arose in the USA were, historically, composed of men, even though women were also working in factories at the time.

Chisca, RN · Mar 27, 2014

I have always felt empowered as a nurse-I know my rights, and have had the experience to be the change that I can seek, by helping shape polices at the jobs I held; never felt inclined NOT to speak up, either; my double X chromosome has NOTHING to do with it, either.

You came out of nursing school this way? The OP clearly stated she was a new nurse so I understand exactly where she's at. The past 30 years have seen a dramatic escalation of things that separate the nurse from patient. Slash and burn of ancillary staff. Escalation of protocol over common sense. Profit as the measure of success rather than quality. My advice to bluebird is to find a mentor, someone you trust and respect, and ask their advice. If your workplace is toxic and you can't find the support you need find a job where you can.