Demeaning, thankless job?

[NurseToBeLMC]

I'm working as a CNA/Student Nurse Tech right now on a skilled floor, just finishing my first year of nursing school (will be done with my LPN in July).

My back is killing me from all the lifting, I love working with the patients... but some of the other staff are just not friendly and I've seen some questionable behavior from the other aides.. like doing all the accuchecks without gloves or handwashing. Plus I really got upset last week when I was working due to a patients family member coming unglued and screaming at me. This patient won't eat on his own so the nurse actually got him set up dangling in bed with the tray in front, and I went in after I was done cleaning up another patient and fed him a few bites before he adamantley told me he didn't want any, and that was enough and he was getting agitated so I didn't push it and left him with his tray for a few minutes so I could go feed a different patient who also needed help. He ended up laying back down in the bed, when the wife and daughter came in. I get paged to go back into the room by the nurse and the wife ended up screaming at me that I don't ASK him if he wants to eat, I just feed him and to put him in the chair right away etc. etc. just ordering me around and swearing and it was just upsetting.

I hate feeling like a maid/waitress. I have a BA in Psychology and this is sort of a career change for me and I am wondering today wth I am signing up for, a demeaning job with unhappy coworkers? That day I ended up sobbing in the bathroom over my lunch hour just from frustration of everything being overwhelming that day. I am wondering if I'm just not on the right floor. My clinicals at the other hospital in town are a dream. I realize I need to have a thicker skin but it's still hard. Anyone else have similar thoughts/experiences?

[corbinRN]

Hi! The only advice I can give you is this:

If the family was cursing at you, you could simply say, "I am sorry, but I would like to help you the best I can, but I will not be talked to in this manner. I came in earlier to feed Mr. X and at the time he said that he was not hungry, so I was going to come back in a few minutes to try again."

You are a human being and no respected human should be talked to that way. But maintain professionalism and represent the facility in the best way you can, while stating your point.

I'm sorry I can't help you more...

Daniel

[nursingforever35]

It is very difficult when you work in an environment like this. I am a nurse. I have always made a point of trying to help the CNA's I work with. Let me assure you it makes a difference. I am sorry you went through this. The nurse really did not back you as she should have.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

Hi, BA in Soc and former hospital tech here! What you have described is tough.. I know because I have been there and I have done that...! As a Nurse Extern I can safely say that nursing is a whole lot different and better then being a tech. Although the job of nursing is still thankless, at least it has the perk of being paid well to use your brain!!! In additon, though patients will still yell and scream at you, nurses have more control over his/her environment then techs. I do not know if you worked in the psych field before heading off to nursing school, if so I suggest that you draw back on your old experiences for guidance.

For instance, as a social worker I did not allow patients/clients to run over me. If I really wanted to get a patient or family member off of my back, I stuck to STRICK policies since I knew that they would back me up even if the docs did not! If my co-workers were a problem, I handled them immediately through confronting either them or the rumor (backstabbing and backbiting goes on in every field of work). Thus, as a RN I will not be any different.

As a tech with limited control, I changed my shift to work with nurses and other techs who backed me up. For me that meant going to night shift. Do not get me wrong, there are jerks on nights too but the atmosphere is a bit different. For example, there was less family interaction because family members tend to try and catch up on sleep at that time. As for my co-workers, most of the techs I worked with at nights were students like me so they were not bitter or jealous of techs with ambition. However, if something arose, I addressed it immediately to ease the tension. GL.

[NoviceRN10]

If you aren't happy in your current position I would try a different unit or facility. I don't think your job responisibilities will change much after you get your LPN. Or will they?

[prmenrs, RN]

The others have some great advice. I have some suggestions, also. If I'm suggesting stuff you already know, my apologies.

-shoes. Get good supportive shoes and insoles to cushion and support your arches. Look in the 'nursing gear' forums for ideas. This will help your back as well. It may be worth a trip to a podiatrist to make sure you don't have any issues to deal w/. Plantar fasciitis. Ouch.

-back. Learn some good body mechanic techniques, and work on your abdominal muscles to provide support for your back. Do a pelvic tuck as you move a pt, use a wide stance and bend @ the knees.

-communication. You're seeing psychology in action! Isn't it exciting?? Use everything you know about interpersonal communication (or take a course), and keep learning!

Make it a challenge to be happy @ work. Nothing makes me happier than to make someone else @ work laugh. Corny jokes (check out Readers Digest) are ok, but situational humor works great. Snickering w/someone else about something funny a pt said (obviously, not where said pt can hear you), collective comments about some of the silly stuff we have to do b/o of JACHO, HIPAA, or some "suit's" brilliant idea.

If you already have a college education, use the good vocabulary you have as a result. If other's have potty mouths, find creative ways to say the same thing some other way.

Put a smile on your face, makes 'em wonder what you're up to. Best wishes!

[hezheather]

Hi. Wow reading your email hit really close to home for me. I too have a BA in Psych and nursing is a second career for me. I worked for a year as a Nurse Tech at the hospital that I have my clinicals in. And it was a nightmare. Exactly as you described. Every single shift was worse than the day before.

Three months ago I switched to the Other hospital in my city. And the difference is amazing! Even in the most aweful or chaotic of circumstances people are curtious to one other and work together as a team. I now actually enjoy going to work. When I work as a nurse tech at this hospital I feel like a nurse in training not a Maid/Waitress/Slave/Bed Pan Queen :)

The nurses greet me when I arrive and thank me when I leave, they do not yell or berate me as they did at the other hospital.

You mentioned that you enjoy your clinical hospital. Why dont you switch jobs? I am so happy I made the change!

H