Do You Hate Being A Nurse?

Published

Hello everyone, i'm a nursing student finishing next semester but i currently work as a clerk on L&D. I would like to work on this unit when i graduate but I sometimes get discouraged because i hear alot of the nurses complaining about thier job. I thought it might be just a bad day but its many nurses and all the time. I feel kinda of scared going into this career although im really passionate about it.

I also would like some advise on how to handle the transition from student to RN. It's getting closer and closer to graduation and every day i get more and more nervous and freaked out by it.

I love being a nurse and Amen to The Commuter. That says it all for me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I think most people love being a nurse, but just hate the fact that due to high patient loads and paperwork/customer service demands, they are not able to give the level of care they want. That can be unbearably frustrating and downright dangerous at times.

:yeahthat:

I love being a nurse- but I hate the way we are treated, overworked, and disrespected. I would love to be able to give my best care at all times. Due to the obstacles put in our way by mgmt, however, many nurses are not able to give the kind of care they want to.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Although I like many aspects of being a nurse, here is a list of things that I hate...

1. The lack of respect from doctors, patients, family members, coworkers, managers, and society

2. The increase in accountability for patient outcomes, without the corresponding increase in salary

3. The fact that new nurses are churned out into the workforce every 6 months, further saturating the job market for nursing

4. The general consensus that nurses are warm bodies who simply fill shifts

5. The low workplace morale that can often be observed at many healthcare facilities

6. The low self-esteems and passive aggression of some nurses

7. The increase in lateral workplace harassment

8. The public's very outdated perception of the nursing profession

9. The fact that there is a myriad of different ways to become a nurse (LPN, ADN, BSN, MSN, Ph.d)

10. The female domination of the nursing profession

11. The desire for hospital administrators to maximize profit margins, without regard to nursing staff or patient safety

12. The practice of recruiting new nurses, rather than the retention of highly experienced nurses

13. The expectation that nurses can "do it all" while working understaffed, and lacking supplies

14. The expectation that the nurse is also the customer service rep, bellhop, concierge, waitress, clerk, messenger, courier, pillow fluffer, and receptionist

You nailed it, Sister!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Copy that Commuter, although I would place #11 closer to the top.:banghead:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB/Perinatal, Nursing Education,.

Hi, first off people complain about everything. It is normal to be really scared during life transitions like finishing school. Your first nursing job after graduation is the real education. Remember you will have a preceptor to show you the ropes AND extra education for any thing you need like telemetry, fetal monitoring, etc. I used to have a book for new nurses. I think it was called "surviving the first year of nursing" or "your first year as a nurse." I made the decision to be an RN when I was 18. There have been times when the fit wasn't right (cardiac) and opportunities that were life highlights (working in Central America). As a nurse if you don't like an area you get to change and each experience makes you stronger. Some nurses start in a specialty and never leave others are restless and have worked several places. Nursing has so many exciting options! Take a big breath, relax, pass your tests. Interview in several places to see what is out there before you make a decision to stay where you are. I have never regretted being a nurse. The nurses I work with don't either...even the cranky ones. Keep going the profession needs you!

Blessings and nursing hugs !

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

There are days where I can honestly say I hate being a nurse for the same reasons TheCommuter has described. Then I have other days like today where everyone, doctors and nurses all got along so well that it's enjoyable to be there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I love being a nurse - do I hate my profession - no - do I dislike some aspects? Absolutely. Everyone has a right to voice their dissatisfaction at some point - but others take it to a whole new level and you have to learn to decide for yourself how you feel about nursing. No matter what profession a person chooses, it's all about PERSONAL choice and what you make of your situation. If you don't like a particular setting - change - but don't hate the ones that love where they are and don't stay there making everyone else miserable. If a person truly hates nursing - they shouldn't be there - it's not good for them, their co-workers and MOST importantly - the patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

Do I hate being a nurse?Of course not. I love being a nurse. I love to take care of people and see how they recover from their illness. It's just the set up that makes things difficult.. I am a nurse in a medical-surgical ward with a maximum of 32 beds..On morning and afternoon shifts, there are three of us who work..At night, there are only two nurses..No matter how much I wanted to give the kind of care my patients deserve, I just couldn't do it because of our nurse-patient ratio..We don't practice primary nursing. Instead, we observe functional nursing so there is no total patient care.. But what can I do, this is my environment and I have to bear with it. All I can do is to give my very best in my work. How I wish I could work in a hospital wherein the ideal nurse-patient ratio is observed. I know being a nurse is a tough job. It's not all about carrying out the doctor's order but most importantly, it's all about being a patient advocate. It's really fulfilling to see and hear my patients thank me for the care that I have given them and that's what really matters!I will never regret that I chose this profession although a lot of people in my country look down on nurses and think that we are just maids..For me, nursing is the most noble profession!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I love, love, love being a nurse.

Sometimes I hate my job; but most of the time I love it, too. My coworkers are great. I don't mind the stress and cleaning up miles of poop when I do it with them and then can go out for breakfast or drinks later and laugh about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU & IV Therapy.

3. The fact that new nurses are churned out into the workforce every 6 months, further saturating the job market for nursing

This is not what I want to hear:no:....does this mean that once I am done with school, many experienced nurses are going to look down on me and resent me and other graduates because we are new and saturated the job market? Maybe I just dont understand clearly the meaning of this statement, if someone can explain. If there is such a shortage as everyone keeps saying and with the pending retirement of many nurses, how is that satuating the job market? Please, can someone help me understand this....:rolleyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma ICU, Surgical ICU, Medical ICU.
This is not what I want to hear:no:....does this mean that once I am done with school, many experienced nurses are going to look down on me and resent me and other graduates because we are new and saturated the job market? Maybe I just dont understand clearly the meaning of this statement, if someone can explain. If there is such a shortage as everyone keeps saying and with the pending retirement of many nurses, how is that satuating the job market? Please, can someone help me understand this....:rolleyes:

What people mean by this is that a lot of managers would rather kiss a new grad's a**, tell them a bunch of stuff they can't promise to get them in the door. Most new grads will put up with a lot more than an experienced nurse because, on many occasions, they dont know they are being abused. They aren't asking for raises or time off....yet. But once the new grad status is over they could care less about keeping you if there is another new grad around the corner. Most hospitals could care less about keeping their experienced nurses (which units can not function without). Also, if a nurse with experience is interviewing for a job, they can tell if it's a good deal or not, and most nurses with experience won't take bad conditions for the same pay a new grad would.

Most RNs wont resent you for being new, its the system they resent. Most won't even take it out on you, they want you to learn and be an effective member of the team. Just for example, I became a nurse as a new grad last year and I make the same amount going into nursing as some nurses with over 10 years exp make. That is rediculous! Many people resent management for this, as they should make at least another $10 on the hour more than me, IMHO. Their experience is so valuable and it got me through many tough days and nights in my unit.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU & IV Therapy.
What people mean by this is that a lot of managers would rather kiss a new grad's a**, tell them a bunch of stuff they can't promise to get them in the door. Most new grads will put up with a lot more than an experienced nurse because, on many occasions, they dont know they are being abused. They aren't asking for raises or time off....yet. But once the new grad status is over they could care less about keeping you if there is another new grad around the corner. Most hospitals could care less about keeping their experienced nurses (which units can not function without). Also, if a nurse with experience is interviewing for a job, they can tell if it's a good deal or not, and most nurses with experience won't take bad conditions for the same pay a new grad would.

Most RNs wont resent you for being new, its the system they resent. Most won't even take it out on you, they want you to learn and be an effective member of the team. Just for example, I became a nurse as a new grad last year and I make the same amount going into nursing as some nurses with over 10 years exp make. That is rediculous! Many people resent management for this, as they should make at least another $10 on the hour more than me, IMHO. Their experience is so valuable and it got me through many tough days and nights in my unit.

Thank you for the explanation :bow:!!!! I understand it better now! Thanks!:up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion