OK, maybe I've been reading the wrong Threads....

[Fgr8Out]

I had no preconceived notion of WHAT Nursing was when I went back to school at age 30. Twelve years later, this is what I've learned about Nursing:

Nursing is NOT a Fairy Tale...there very often is no "happily ever after." Yes, there are many times of great joy and accomplishment... but you're never given a guarantee.

Nursing is HARD... as Nurses we face countless situations and crises each and everyday. Many of these have no solutions, no happy endings, no logical explainations. We deal with people who are not at their finest hour; they're scared, angry, confused, disillusioned and looking for something/someone to lash out at for their misery.

Nursing requires FLEXIBILITY... we have to think fast, act even faster, be all things to all people all at the same time, react to changes in patient status quickly and expected to make the right decision.

Nursing demands that we think OUTSIDE the box...that means looking at our Profession as more than just assisting a delivering mother, suctioning a trach patient, titrating a drip in ICU, to include educating family/friends/physicians/each other. To expect that the "typical" patient very likely will become "Atypical"... and at the worst possible time... and to accept that this happens, because it is entirely out of our control.

Nursing is not about CONTROL...see above. You can't MAKE the COPD or PVD patient stop smoking, you can't MAKE the diabetic adhere to their diet, you can't MAKE the at risk mother-to-be follow doctors orders that can help ensure a safe, successful delivery, you can't MAKE the substance abuser abstain and you can't MAKE a new nurse not do all those things that new nurses do that make us all roll our eyes.

Nursing is NOT 9-5, Monday thru Friday, Holidays Off...it is on occasion not spending your days safely cloistered in your specialty "niche"... because sometimes...even though you don't know everything about other areas of Nursing... you CAN provide a certain amount of care... care that would otherwise be unavailable at possibly a crucial moment on that Unit you've been asked to go to.

Nursing requires COMPASSION; for our patient's (compliant or not), physicians, New Grads, families, ancillary personel, administrators, TPTB AND each other.

Nursing requires TEAMWORK...even when you don't want to be a part of the team.

Nursing is FRUSTRATING...and the best any of us can do sometimes, is to simply remember why we're where we are... and know in our hearts that today we did the best we could do for THAT particular day...and do this even when we don't feel like it, even when we sense something is unfair.

Nursing offers OPPORTUNITIES... to make change in a patient's status, to comfort a grieving family, to realize changes in policy/protocol/procedures because we believe in what we do and we know that our actions can lead to an improvement in our Profession. Nursing offers countless opportunities for ourselves....

Nursing is REWARDING... when miracles do occur...we're here to witness them in all their Glory.

Nursing requires an Open Mind and an Open Heart...

We need to support one another...regardless of what circumstances or situations brought us into the Profession called Nursing. We all come to this place with our own gifts and talents...and we need to ENCOURAGE each other so those gifts and talents may shine. We need to ACT in a Professional manner in dress and in conduct so that others around us will know and SEE the Professionals that we are.

I'm not suggesting ANYONE just lie down and take what they're handed at work without question... We need to promote what needs promoting and work hard to rid our workplace of what needs to be removed. But there are those times in our Profession, as in Life, when we need to say "OK... today isn't the day to challenge this or that...today is a day to be the best Nurse I can be and face the other challenges at a more appropriate time."

Choose your battles...time and place. Make those times of battle count and don't make EVERYDAY a battle. No one wants to work with someone like that. If you're argumentative on a regular basis, you're wearing out your co-workers... and your goal, however admirable and just, won't be heard.

I appreciate and respect the opportunity this site provides for everyone to voice their opinon... TO VENT THEIR FRUSTRATIONS and to share their joys and victories... their fears and sorrows. I hope those of you who read this post will respect and appreciate my taking this opportunity to share my own views, and to read between the lines of my message. And if I've ever offended anyone on this site, my apologies... sometimes I feel the need to vent too.

I love nursing... I admire and respect Nurses... and each and everyone of us deserves more recognition than any of us will ever get.

Be kind....

Peace:)

[mattsmom81]

Originally posted by Fgr8Out

If you're a slave... that's not my problem... Thankfully I'm not some codependet/passive aggressive sort who sloughs along playing martyr, while making work for my coworkers a living hell with my b****ing.

I suspect many nurses DO feel like they are treated like slaves in many of today's facilities. We get conned into working extra not because we're 'martyrs', but to help each other out. And many of us feel like we're being manipulated, because we are constantly overstretched and unappreciated; and in many cases hospitals rely on the above tactics to do their daily staffing. It is WRONG, IMO. The reason behind the shortage is because more and more nurses are refusing to work under such conditions.

Your posts suggest quite a high and mighty opinion ... or maybe I'm reading wrong......but I can't see how one can make a connection between nurses who vent on Allnurses and the:

'Codependent/passive aggressives who slough along playing martyrs, while making coworkers' lives a living h*ll with b*tching.'

Ya know, I haven't encountered but a few of these in 25 years...just a lot of good old nurses who are plumb worn out.

Just a suggestion...if one feels burdened by working with people of the above judgmental and uncomplimentary description, one should address them directly about the problem.

If this was directed towards ME, then you have crossed a line on this BB, IMO. Nobody here has insulted you.

To quote another poster, you are entitled to your opinions, and I do hope you have the same respect for others' opinions.

[Dr. Kate, BSN, RN]

There always have been and there always will be nurses who let the powers that be walk all over them and sya thanks for the experience, and people who refuse to buy into letting the hospital treat them poorly.

I've been at this for more than 25 years and I learned very early on that once is a favor, twice is a habit. I observed it and learned. My mamma didn't raise a fool. She graduated from nursing school in 1941 and let me tell you no one walked all over her or treated her badly because she didn't allow it. Maybe I learned it at my mother's knee, not a bad place to learn.

[thisnurse]

the last thing i like to do at work is clean the crap from somebody's butt. but i pretend it doesnt bother me...for my pts sake.

i dont really want to switch with you next week but you switched with me when i asked so i pretend it doesnt bother me

i really dont want to waste my time answering the same questions this family keeps asking me over and over. i understand they are under stress so i pretend it doesnt bother me.

im tired of putting you on the bedpan every hour. you are a large woman and its hard to move you around. i know you have a bladder infection and its not your fault so i pretend it doesnt bother me.

and at the end of the day when i come home i come here....one of the few places in this world where i dont have to pretend anymore because my family here understands.

[stressedlpn]

I love getting on my pc everynight and reading everything that is being said. I learn so much from everyone. I will admit also that hearing all the "venting" makes me feel as if maybe I am not the only one with these fears, gripes and concerns. I look at these boards as one of the best learning tools that I have at my disposal. Someone posted earlier that you hoped that we new nurses would learn from the older ones, well we do or at least I do. This board gives me hope when I dont have any left when I feel the ol' burn out creeping in on me I know I am not alone, when I need encouragment you guys are here for me. I feel a certain kinship with all of you, because we are all nurses, we are family. I just wanted to thank all of you.

[live4today, RN]

this is for everyone: ((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))) :kiss :kiss :)

[SmilingBluEyes]

Back at ya Renee!

[Fgr8Out]

Originally posted by mattsmom81

Originally posted by Fgr8Out

Uhhhh....

I've never accused anyone of whining... but again, people will personalize what they will.

Uhhh. just looking at your siggy..."No whining" with a shaking finger......

(Originally posted by Fgr8Out:

"My "tag" is a phrase I use at work... not necessarily for anyone but myself, as a reminder to keep focused on the business at hand. It is in no way intended to say anything else. ")

Peace:)

[live4today, RN]

Nighty night all and sweet dreams of nurses dancing in your heads. :kiss Until we meet again. :zzzzz :zzzzz :zzzzz

[Fgr8Out]

Nite nite Renee**** thank you for all that you do and bring to this site.

Peace:)

[mattsmom81]

Renee, sweetie, you are such a HOOT! :)

Will you be my adopted big sis? Pretty please?:roll

[mattsmom81]

Originally posted by Dr. Kate

There always have been and there always will be nurses who let the powers that be walk all over them and sya thanks for the experience, and people who refuse to buy into letting the hospital treat them poorly.

I've been at this for more than 25 years and I learned very early on that once is a favor, twice is a habit. I observed it and learned. My mamma didn't raise a fool. She graduated from nursing school in 1941 and let me tell you no one walked all over her or treated her badly because she didn't allow it. Maybe I learned it at my mother's knee, not a bad place to learn.

But what do we do when the supe says two nurses have called in and there's nobody to call in, no agency available, no staff that can be pulled? And we've gotta ICU full of unstable patients....

I couldn't sleep nights if I said "I refuse to be used" and walk out on my crying coworkers who will be left dangerously short staffed if I go...

I don't do this for the facility but for my coworkers...and they will reciprocate some night when I'm in similar straits.

We just do the best we can to support one another...I can't punish my sisters and brothers because administration has planned poorly. I realize this may be counterproductive, as the hospital comes to rely on this tactic to staff....but what do we do??

What have ya'll done in this situation? Am I wrong to stay over??

[SmilingBluEyes]

I don't think so, mattsmom. I think that makes you an awesome and caring coworker. I admire you your caring attitude and team player thinking, myself!