Entitled Generation

bethin · Feb 7, 2008

Personally, I don't feel entitled to anything. I work weekend option so obviously I won't be telling you that I won't work weekends. I actually am on a list of aides who want weekend option nights. I have done WEO (weekend option) for 4 years on days and I'm sick of giving baths and not having time to visit with pts. I feel like I help out the nurses more on nights.

We have our fair share of aides who refuse to work nights, evenings, and weekends. And they're new hires. When I was hired we were required to work every other weekend if we did 8 hr shifts and every third if we worked 12 hours. It makes me mad because then weekends we are extremely short (think 1 aide for 24 pts on days) because the new ones "don't do weekends".

One day hell froze over and a weekday only aide came in to help on a weekend. She just couldn't believe that we each had 10 pts. I rudely told her that it's considered a good day when I'm only responsible for 10 pts. Then when I work days (yeah, I work 2 extra shifts during the week) I'm flabbergasted that they complain that they have FOUR pt's. Four. :omy: I'd be bored if I only had 4 baths to give.

:oornt:

Healthcare is 24/7. If you don't like go work in an office.

AuntieNursey · Feb 7, 2008

[Valerie Salva;2614551]If a facility has good working conditions, pays well, treats me with respect, provides the resources needed to do a good job, has mgmt that rewards good employees and gets rid of problem employees, and does not expect me to attend meetings during the day when I've worked all noc, I'll work all nocs/holidays/weekends

Let me know if you find such a place. I've worked 3rds for the better part of 30 years and have actually been written up for not attending staff meetings at 2 or 3 in the afternoon after working the night before and due back at 10pm. But don't get me started on the 3rd shift issues...how we don't do anything, sleep (I wish!), don't have alot of patient care (yeah, right) and how useless it is to try and explain to the day/evening staff that the sweet old people they deal with during the day are not the same screaming, fearful people we deal with at 2am. And administrations that have never worked a 3rd shift and (god forbid) actually shown up to see what we do and what goes on over night. And statistically, most of our residents die on the overnight shift. Don't get me wrong, I love nights, I have time for my residents, most of the tiem and I enjoy the fact that most of the big ra-ra's are home in bed, but you wnato to compalin about the shift, come in and see, you don't even have to work the whole shift, just observe. I can guarentee it will be an eye opener. Thanks for reading :redpinkhe

AuntieNursey · Feb 7, 2008

I think its unreasonale to expect nurses, or any medical staff really or any human for that matter, to work rotating schedules. There have been many studies that reinforce how physically disruptive it is to switch from days to evenings to nights. A note to administrators/H.R.; Pick a shift and allow your staff to keep a steady schedule, rotate holidays, senority is all well and good for pay, but everyone would like at least one holiday a year with their family. You worked christmas last year? You work thanksgiving this year and get christmas off. The flip side of the entitled generation is "old school" nurses (and I have worked with a few) who know it all, don't need your help/advice/suggustions and do everything the way they always have and that's the way its going to be. Period. And becasue thet are long time employees, administration doesn't want to hear about it, even when it comes to standard precautions. Cut you off before you can finish a sentance. Very hard to deal with, you do your job as best you can but I feel like I spend a fair amount of tiem comforting residents who feel a little shell shocked after receiving care from these ki9nds of nurses - don't ask the resident ?'s, do care with minimal conversation and basically treat them like a side of beef. probably time to move on a I get no response or get blown off, when i mention these issues. Kinda sad:o

nurseinlimbo · Feb 7, 2008

As a fairly new nurse, I have to say that while I know that I will have to do my share of evenings, nights and weekends, I don't see why I should have to do MORE than my share. If a job does not offer at least 1/3 day shift, where all the learning opportunities are, and more is happening, it is not going to appeal to the average young go-getter new nurse who is looking to learn, plus also wants to achieve a life balance. These younger grads all have lives away from work, some may have small children to raise and many have to work 2 jobs in order to get enough hours to make FT.

In the past 4 years, I worked majority weekends, nights and holidays, and didn't get a vacation until I broke my leg. The day shift does nothing but b#$%^ about what the night shift did, or didn't do, and how much easier it is because it is quiet, yet when you ask them to work a night in a pinch, they don't answer their phone. I recently left my night shift rotation, because a nurse more senior than me has been waiting 15 years to get off her nights. I'm sorry, but I am not willing to wait that long, what with the risks to my health and quality of life, plus lack of appreciation.

I am now working majority 12 hr days, pick up nights when they are offered and like my job. The people who work the nights do so because that is what they prefer, and everyone is happy.

nurseinlimbo · Feb 7, 2008

In reading the rest of the thread, this is such a good example of what is wrong with nursing. Nurses play the "paying dues" card and the "I work with an injury card" and the " I missed all MY Christmas'" card, to death, but when it comes down to it, the older generation just expects the younger generation to make it easier for them. Everyone is entitled to good health, a life and family time. Someone said the Martyr role only benefits management, and Oh how true it is!

graysonret · Feb 7, 2008

So we have the "entitled generation" coming into nursing with all sorts of ideas for better work places and better patient care... Gee, now I wonder where I heard that before? Hmm. Same question my mother (RN) said to me. Many of them think we "older nurses" came in without kids, mortgages, bills too. They are the first generation to have these things. Well, welcome to the real world, and not the one you think exists based on tv shows. Change what you can, but don't be surprised if you meet resistance. We did, and so did our parents who were in nursing. I've worked lots of nights, weekends, holidays, and some pretty long shifts (32hr was the longest). Nursing isn't about me...it's about my patients. If you come into nursing looking to make lots of money on a 9-5 M-F job, you're in the wrong career. Sickness and injury don't take holidays...neither can I. Years ago, I was told..."take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth". I listened and learned. There are some fantastic new nurses coming in that I've seen. But, some...come in with 2 ideas..."I'm entitled" and "It's not my fault".Everyone starts at the bottom and earns their way up.

nurseinlimbo · Feb 7, 2008

Someone else said that when the boomers have left, the gen xers and "entitled" will make the changes that have been necessary in nursing. The older generation complains just as much about the problems, with infighting and backstabbing and undermining of management, but no one is willing to take a stand and DO anything. The only way to make a difference is by 'voting with your feet', it works in business, and it would work in healthcare, if only everyone could unite. As long as the Old vs. Young arguement exists, problems in nursing will exist.

ernurse4ill · Feb 7, 2008

I think every generation feels some sort of "entitlement" no matter the claim that they don't.
I'm a nurse in her 40's and I love that the younger generation is speaking up for what they want and not settling for any less. It's a different world in nursing than it was 20 years ago.
The shortage has brought opportunities to new grads that us older nurses would have never been given. Am I going to be ****** or hold that against them...NO! I say go for what you want and be prepared to work, whatever job you take.
With great opportunity comes great responsibilty. So if you are getting something that us older nurses could have only dreamed about 20 years ago, then the heat is on and you are going to be put under a microscope more.
Think of it this way...nursing as a profession has come a long way in a short amount of time. We have much further to go. The fact that the median age nurses is still age 43-47 should make us really ponder what the heck is going to happen in 20 years if we can't retain the younger generation.
The shortage has created a monster. One that has all hospitals and care facilities scrambling to come up with new and creative ideas to hire and retain nurses. This in itself is disasterous in the long term.
I've witnessed hospitals offering huge bonus cash to new grads to join the unit...a red flag in the eyes of more experienced nurses. Huge bonus = understaffed unit, desperate = more hours, more patient load = more frustration.
The argument can be made that it's not educators promising the moon to these new nurses (sure in the 1st semeser they are trying to "pump you up" and get you excited about your career choice), it's the hiring bodies. The hospitals that make everything look so great until you start there and realize the people that hired you haven't a clue about what is really going on.
I actually thought about quitting nursing after 14 years for the first time this year. Starbucks sometimes looks more appealing. Then I sat down and really thought about what it was that made me want to be a nurse.
I remembered...it was when I was a little girl and my grandmother was living with us and dying of ovarian cancer. I was 6 and she would let me put all sorts of lotions, powder and concoctions all over her back and rub her back. As a 6 year old I was constantly wanting to do whatever I could for her. She wrote me a letter before she died and asked my mom to give it to me when I turned 18.
She did and it's a letter that touched me more then anything. She told me how much I touched her life and made the time she had left better then any doctor could. She told me I had a gift and not to waste it.
So I didn't and I will continue to be a nurse thinking of my grandmother in every patient that is someones grandmother, mother or daughter.
That's what it's all about...the love for your fellow human beings and the need to see them not suffer. If we could all just channel the love for our patients back to each other as fellow medical professionals...then we would have it made.
Don't knock the younger generation....they could be taking care of us "oldies" some day.

Wow, NurseRatched..... What a blessing that letter from your grandmother is...to you and now to those of us that read your post. Thank you so much for sharing this. I sat here picturing you, as a little girl showing your grandmother so much love. I have tears literally streaming down my face.

I hope that most of us go into nursing for those same reasons. But sadly, there are many who are looking for a quick buck. They usually weed out though.

I am in your age group and have been nursing for 20 years. I worked for 15 of those years "paying my dues". Working 12 hour nights in the ER. Doing my share of weekends and holidays. That is just how is was and what I knew I had to do. I couldn't expect to start out on days and have it all. I made a change in my career when I was "kept" on night shift because I was "experienced" and did not need "extra help and watching". I watched as 2 nurses were hired in with no experience to straight day shift even though I had made it clear that I wanted off nights. I was a 15 year veteran to the nights and growing weary, became diabetic, etc. so it was obviously affecting my health. As a result, they lost their seasoned night nurse completely because I made a career change to Occ Med. I now work M-F, day shift with no weekends or holidays. I work PRN in the ER when I want and choose to now because ER is my passion. Sadly, facilities are losing good nurses because they are not treated fairly after years of dedication. Did I blame the new nurses? HECK NO! They were lucky and took what was offered to them. I would have done the same thing. I blamed the administration for allowing this kind of unfair practice. Funny thing is, right after I left, the staffing became much better for the night shift because the seasoned nurse who did it all those years was gone and the other nurses refused to work without extra help.

Sorry for the rant, but I agree with so much of what nurseratched said. Many of us love nursing, but can only get burned so much before drawing the line in the sand.

Thanks again Nurse for sharing that beautiful memory with us! :cry: :thankya:

eccentricRN · Feb 7, 2008

I'm a new nurse & granted I'm a little older than "20 something" I was hired for 3rd shift. I had a choice between NOCs & PMs, I would have preferred the later, but my hubby works PMs & I have a little school-aged boy @ home who I believe would like to see @ least one of his parents on a regular basis. I am not really a morning person so 3rd fits right now. Would I like to eventually have a different shift, possibly, do I think @ this point I'm entitled to a day shift? Certainly not, I know many nurse who worked long & hard to be where they are. If down the road the opportunity presents itself I'll contemplate it then.

I was told repeatedly by my insructors that although some might waltz into a day or specialty area it is not the norm, pay your dues & you'll reap the rewards. So that is what I'll do, so long as I get to do what I went to school for.

ZootRN · Feb 7, 2008

In reading the rest of the thread, this is such a good example of what is wrong with nursing. Nurses play the "paying dues" card and the "I work with an injury card" and the " I missed all MY Christmas'" card, to death, but when it comes down to it, the older generation just expects the younger generation to make it easier for them. Everyone is entitled to good health, a life and family time. Someone said the Martyr role only benefits management, and Oh how true it is!

When nursing shortage will become a nursing crisis, in other words, when "older" nurses will retire and suddenly there will be no one filling their spots because younger people don't feel privileged to work shifts and hours that is disruptive to their lives, than maybe something will change. Why older nurses not happy with it? They should benefit from changes like that too. Wouldn't they like to have $10 or $20 differential to work night of holiday or weekend? Why is this attitude - "I've done it for 30 years, with little kids and mortgage and husband who never worked, than you must do it too"?

I agree that is what's wrong with nursing. Instead of seeing the bigger picture - that in 21 century nobody is willing to sacrifice their life to their job, and employers should bend over backwards to keep people in the field, what do we see? Read the thread about nursing salaries. If we are in such big demand, how come we still paid in a range of $20s? I remember when computer specialists were in demand around Y2K. Their salaries jumped from mid 40s-50K to 6 figures just over a few years, people straight out of school were making 70-80K. How many nurses make that much on staff positions, without overtime?

In my opinion, nursing shortage is not that short yet :wink2:

nurserynurse55 · Feb 7, 2008

So I'll be 35 this year (guess that makes me a gen X'er) and looking down the barrel of my second career (1st career also as a care provider). Perhaps this is my generation talking, but we're speaking about a job here. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with someone taking the nursing job that works for them.

As far as entitlement is concerned, we're living in a world where paying one's dues is next to worthless (thank god nursing jobs can't be outsourced!). I'm not going to reap end-of-life rewards for ruining my body and foregoing a sane and balanced life. Work shouldn't and doesn't have to be #1 in order to do a damned competent job.

Look, we're all entitled to some work-life balance. And honestly, I'm not sure that this exists unless the life portion wins out most of the time.

No one has the right to say that an individual does not or would not make a good nurse simply because he/she doesn't want to work a particular shift. My god, it's ridiculous that this arguement is even being had when there is always someone suited to work these shifts. Employers need to offer better incentives before complaining about lack of "engagment" about the job. $1 differential? That's not an incentive; that's robbery. This is my life. Why nurse = martyr?

I say NO to preposterous working conditions because I'm not a droid. And until they can outsource me- I'm going to work on MY terms. You all should. Advocate not only for your patients but for yourselves. You shouldn't have to wait until you're in that nursing home bed to be taken care of.............

Yah! What she said! :up:

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Feb 8, 2008

I am shocked that nobody has mentioned patient safety in this discussion. As a soon-to-be new grad (who is 45 years old for what it's worth) I certainly would not want to work perm nights as a new grad nurse because I am not nearly arrogant enough to think that I will know it all when I graduate. At least initially I will be looking to work during a day shift so that I can continue my education/orientation during a shift where there is plenty of support available to me should I need it.

It's just a suggestion, and I am going to throw it out there at the risk of getting flamed, but why would a facility risk the chance of 'burning out' a new nurse as soon as they graduate by making them "pay their dues" just because other people had to? It doesn't make any sense to me. Nurses are overworked, so let's make sure that new grads stay in the profession so that the burden can be spread once the new nurse gets up to speed. I am not suggesting that we should 'hand hold' new nurses, and yes, I know it's a big world out there, but I have also worked alongside new nurses for long enough to see them burn out within 6 months of graduating and leave the profession. This doesn't solve anything, it just perpetuates the problem.

Let's nurture our new nurses so that hopefully they will enjoy long and fulfilling careers instead of becoming disillusioned and leaving before they have an opportunity to fully understand and appreciate what a wonderful profession nursing is.

OK, I will get off my soapbox now and wish you all a good night!