Does nursing satisfy your needs?

[pedicurn]

Some of them are satisfied:

- Acceptable salary

- Fairly stable employment

- Doing good stuff (not useless, pointless work)

However the rest off me is not satisfied. I'm bored (over-worked at the same time), under-utilised and stuck. Have not felt like a professional for a long time.

Anyone else feel like this?

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

The only way to get a measurable answer is to identify each poster's needs. Mine are listed below.

1. I NEED to feel like I am making a difference. I feel that I do, even if it is a small difference; helping a co-worker on a busy day, describing the climate of the OR to a scared patient in order to allay their fears, giving a compliment to a surgeon for doing a great job in giving clear direction during a chaotic time during a procedure, or helping the overwhelmed housekeeping staff by pitching in to clean the room.

2. I NEED to feel that my opinions and ideas are taken seriously by administration. They don't have to agree with my ideas and opinions, but I would like for them to CONSIDER my ideas and give me feedback. I like to brainstorm with a team, and this collaboration is satisfying to me.

3. I NEED to feel that I am providing a positive impact on others around me. Giving directions to a lost visitor, showing a med student how to properly gown and glove themselves, or giving a very hungry resident a surprise sandwich after a 10 hour surgery is satisfying to me.

Nursing is a difficult and oftentimes a thankless profession. I choose to focus on the little things that I do daily to improve not only my outlook, but also the mindset of others around me.

Some days this is very hard to do. Most of the time it is not. I just need to re-focus and re-center when I find myself walking down the path of negativity.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

The only way to get a measurable answer is to identify each poster's needs.

Well, presumably we're doing a quick self assessment before posting, which is more of a qualitative analysis than a quantitative one since line items of satisfaction wouldn't all carry the same weight.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

The only reason I have or have ever had a job is for the money/health care bennifits. Nursing lets me live a pretty good lifestyle.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Well, presumably we're doing a quick self assessment before posting, which is more of a qualitative analysis than a quantitative one since line items of satisfaction wouldn't all carry the same weight.

Of course. My comment was more of an introduction to my listed needs.