Does Nursing in LTC make RNs bitter and mean??

[Ling07]

I'm seriously asking. I work at a Nursing Home and I'm noticing that the older RNs are mean and bitter. I was talking to one of the older RNs and she said she saw herself becoming mean through the years. She said the job can make you that way. Is it the stress? The 40+ years of experience RNs are mean and bitter. How can you be mean and bitter and take care of people?? Sometimes I want to shout QUIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[achot chavi]

perhaps something at that facility or the mixing of those specific nurses who had other things going on in their lives, caused the high percentage of bitterness and meanness.

Its their problem and illness, dont make it yours...

More importantly- how can you immunize yourself from it...

May I suggest:

continuing education,

making a conscious effort to find the sweet in your work and work place,

pampering and rewarding yourself periodically,

find time for your friends and hobbies (not to mention family!!)

EXCERSIZE,

DONT accept extra shifts if it is going to make you bitter etc.

Enjoying Life outside of the facility- remember we work in order to live, we dont live in order to work!!

Keep Smiling (even when you dont feel like it)

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

First of all, I hate the generalizations. Why would you believe that LTC makes RN's bitter and mean? It it the LTC or the RN's. Do CNA's, LPN's, etc not get bitter and mean. Really, just the RN's?? Maybe nothing made them bitter and mean, maybe they were just always that way!?

I am an RN in LTC and I don't consider myself to be bitter and mean at all. 95% of the staff would easily agree that I am not bitter and mean. BUT, there is that 5% that probably would label me as bitter and mean (and they try to sway the others to believing that as well). I love to teach the new "kids". I am patient and kind, generous with encouragement and contructive with critisim.

BUT, there are always going to be "those staff" that just don't give a damn. Well they try real hard to look busy, often whine they work just so hard, quick to critize every little mistake of the other guy makes, but take absolutely no responsibility for their own errors. I would bet that after educating them along for months, after awhile I become somewhat bitter and mean acting towards them.. at least until I can get thru all the disciplinary requirements to get them out the door.

Remember, there can be 2 sides to most situations.

[BoopetteRN]

I don't think that it has made me bitter, I do get angry with the younger nurses who won't answer a call light or take a resident to the bathroom. I always say I will do what ever it takes to get through the shift, I never ask the CNAs to do anything I wouldn't or couldn't do myself. There are days I wonder why some of our staff stay if they are so unhappy, but then a resident does something to remind them why they still do what they do.