Since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to help people. I wanted to heal. Now 4 years out of nursing school, I HATE nursing with a passion. I am a med/surg nurse with a BSN.
Reasons I hate nurses (in no particular order)
1. Most days I feel like a pill-pusher. I don't feel like I make a difference.
2. Doctors feel they are perfect.
3. Patient satisfaction scores.
4. Patient sense of entitlement. (see #3)
5. Family at the bedside dictating what they want...like I am their personal servant. I have to comply (see #3).
6. Lack of appreciation mized with how much more work can they give us.
7. Nights, weekends, and holiday. I don't want to give everything I've got only to see no return in work satisfaction.
I don't want to be a case manager. I don't want home health nursing. I really want to be outside of the hospital. Quite honestly, I want to be away from people. I would be quite content to work on a computer and have email interactions. Preferably work from home. Any suggestions?
You can also work for a Clinical Research Organization or a pharmaceutical company as a Clinical Research Associate maintain your RN license, in many cases make much better money for less hours, possibly travel a bit, and not deal with patients at all.[/quote']
RN1023, I am so sorry you are going through this. I totally know where you are coming from. I've been a nurse for 8 years...all in the ER. Pt "entitlement" is very common place in the ER, as well as manipulation, lying, aggressiveness, complaining, etc. I had to quit last year for several months because I was so burnt out. I was disappointed in every aspect of nursing including in myself. I didn't think I would ever go back but after a few months I started to miss it...weird right? I always felt that I was suppose to be a nurse and that feeling gnawed at me while I was off. I quit in June and came back in February to the same department I had been at for my whole career.
There are so many things that caused my burnout but the big one was the exhaustion mixed with the realization that my expectations of nursing was totally off. I went into nursing with this picture that I could really help everyone I came in contact with. We all know how rare that actually is. When you realize that your picture of what your career should be isn't how it actually is, it's a bit of a disappointment (that's an understatement). Once I was able to let go my unrealistic expectations and go in with no expectations I started having better days.
Med-surg is probably one of the hardest places to be and I would never want to work there. But, without those nurses I would have no where to send my ER patients. You should see the panic in an ER nurse's face when they have to keep a med-surg pt and do admit orders. It's a complete mess as I'm sure you are well aware of. You have a skill set that other nurses do not have. The ER may stop the bleeding but you keep what ever was bleeding from rotting off. You are part of the team that gets the pt out the door and moving in the right direction.
I think that letting go of something you wanted for so long would be tragic. Maybe you aren't meant to be in Med-surg but patient care options are vast. Even though our truly good experiences are rare, they do still happen. Those moments are very important. We make the different in that one person's life and then they go on to spread the wealth to others.
Can you take a leave of absence? A vacation isn't long enough. You need to be able to get away without having to anticipate the day you have to go back to work. I really felt so much better after having several months off. Now I don't work as much, don't do any committee's, and really just go to work with no expectations of my patients or their families or the people I work with.
When things get horrible (mean patients, complaining, whatever) I remind myself that this person probably hasn't had anyone be nice to them, or show them any love, for a long time. And then I remind my self of the commandment to love thy neighbor (which means everyone). Of course, this is a fine line since we don't want to be taken advantage of either and love means many different things. Praying often also helps. I've found that following this advice makes a difference and I don't expend as much emotional energy stewing about how horrible the pt, family, or staff is treating me. I give it to God and move on.
And as for the politics and charting...this is what is ruining nursing the most. Unfortunately, it's because of money. I fear this will only get worse unless we voice our opinions louder.
Anyways, I hope that you find encouragement and the courage to change your circumstances if need be. But, don't do it hastily because you might regret it later. Informatics might be dreadfully boring and I'm sure it is full of politics. I'd do your research before making the switch. If you do make the switch, a lot of employers will hire within their departments for informatics so keep your sensors up, especially since EPIC seems to be in full swing. I know of a nurse who has done this in my department. Thankfully for her, it was temporary because she is not enjoying it even though she is doing a great job.
just curious- how do you get a job as rai/mds coordinator? Especially if all you have done is med/surg/tele/pt care? Go back to school to learn coding? any other prep? thanks
I worked in LTC and when there was a MDS coordinator job opening there were 12 applicants and I live in a very rural area. Many of these were from out of state and willing to relocate for the job.
I am currently in a facility for DD clients - there was a similar job come open and again, several highly qualified applicants and many from out of state.
Something to keep in mind if you are after a desk job ..... So are a lot of other nurses.
Just wanted to say I agree with the OP. I'm completely burned out and need to get away from the bedside. I'm sick of 12s and working weekends. And the short staffing is getting out of control. I'm also burned out dealing with entitled patients and families and being a punching-bag for everyone.
I actually want to get away from nursing altogether. I feel like it is a dead-end job (that may just be my perspective, but it seems like there is no upward mobility at all) I want to get away before it's too late.
Just wanted to say I agree with the OP. I'm completely burned out and need to get away from the bedside. I'm sick of 12s and working weekends. And the short staffing is getting out of control. I'm also burned out dealing with entitled patients and families and being a punching-bag for everyone.
I actually want to get away from nursing altogether. I feel like it is a dead-end job (that may just be my perspective, but it seems like there is no upward mobility at all) I want to get away before it's too late.
I too feel as though Nursing is a dead end job. Many people talk up the nursing profession, but I really feel like I ave no autonomy. My organization emphasizes that nurses get to make decisions, but I find that decisions are made for us. It's quite sad. I use to have excitement and enthusiam for the nursing profession, but now I have none. I want out.
Hi. Just wanted to add that the OP read my mind. However I'm choosing to stay positive. I work three days a week. Better than 5. I'd never do OT. I'm happy to have money. That's it.
Try ICU. I feel so blessed when I have 2 intubated pts with no visitors.
I'm sure every nurse has felt burnt out at some point in time but just remember why you chose this profession. Even though you feel your at your wits end remember you have made a positive difference in someone's life and probably don't realize it! Stay positive you can do this :)
My nursing philosophy is best summed up by a line from Kipling: "Trust me, today's Most Indispensables, ten thousand men can do your work or mine." I quit the nursing field for good this week. Too many abusive patients, too little rest, too much beating your head on the wall trying to make a difference. I am so happy to be out of it all. I feel like a war veteran just come home from the trenches. (Awesome! I managed to live through it!)
LocaW8ta
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