What did you think Nursing was About?

Nurses General Nursing

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Ok I have been on and off her for a couple of years, and I have read the vents from the New nurses. So my question is "What did you think Nursing was about? And what have you learned since then?

Maybe this will help some of the Nursing Students out there or the ones that are thinking about going into nursing.

I remember that I thought I was going to be able to take care of all of my patients needs and make them feel better. We were pretty sheltered in nursing school only having one patient at a time.

Then once I got on the floor. REALITY CHECK. Had so many patients I didn't know if I was coming or going. Some days going home feeling I hadn't accomplished anything, but some days going home feeling like I had made a difference.

So tell us what is your story.

I've been a nurse for 2 years, and I would say before becoming a nurse I lived in a world where I thought if I tried hard enough I could be next to perfect! I though if I worked hard enough, I'd be able to please my pts and their family....:icon_roll

The hardest thing for me to swallow has been that the public has no clue what nursing as actually like and even if I work my butt off, their will always be pts and family that think I do nothing. I'm not looking for a thank you, but simply refraining from complaining about a profession they can't even begin to understand, that would do just fine!!

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

I am only speaking for myself and my experiences. I say this because I know that others have had very different experiences (thank goodness) and I am not trying to argue that. I am only posting MY personal experience, so please, no counter-arguments because your Hospital does work as a easy-going and efficient team. I'm sure it does and I am not doubting that some Hospitals do run smoothly, but that was not MY experience.

On that note, I mistakenly believed that Nursing was about being a "cohesive" Profession. Meaning, not only did I believe that Nurses worked together as a team and would always be there for one another and support each other through anything, but I also thought that all members of the Health Care Team worked as one. I really thought that everyone involved with a patient's care would be working together in a positive way....you know, like one big happy family.

Boy did I have a HUGE shock when I started working in the Hospital!

Everyone seemed to be out for themselves. All I ever heard was 'CYA' (cover your orifice) because when the doo hits the fan, you will need to defend yourself.

Anyway, I saw MDs getting upset with other MDs, Lab techs PO'd with the Nurses, X-ray arguing with the CNAs, Dietary arguing with those in the kitchen, etc....but, worst of all, Nurses against Nurses.

I guess I never realized how competitive many Nurses can be with one another. I never thought of Nursing as a competitive Profession. Nobody was honest with me in School about that side of the Nursing profession.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

I honestly thought my job would be to follow the doctors' orders, and that they would all be kind and caring and really concerned with all aspects of their patients' well-being. I have no excuse, as I was almost 40 when I graduated and had been an NA. I was so surprised when I got chewed out several times as a new nurse because I didn't know that I was responsible for EVERYTHING that happened to my patient, including deciding if the doctor needed to have his or her attention drawn to the patient and what the patient needed. Thought they would just do that on their own.

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After reading through the posts, I just wanted to mention one thing. I saw several comments about "uncaring nurses" and it struck me that I haven't seen any uncaring nurses, just overworked and jaded ones after having spent so many years battling beaurocracy, hipocracy, management, administration, policies (that seem to have little to do with practice).

I do see lots of nurses who seem to be 'uncaring' at first look, or first listen, but if you spent more time in the trenches would know that they REALLY DO care, but they are so very tired of battling uphill. Tired of trying to do a good job for their patients, but having NO time to do so because of unreasonable ratios or inappropriate assignments. Wanting to do something so weird as TALK to the patients, get to know them, but only having time to throw some meds at them, make sure they're breathing, and run to the next patient.

We do care. But I'm sure that to many students who are watching and listening, they see only the griping and assume it's just that we don't want to do our jobs. Reality Check time: we DO want to do our jobs, but the jobs we went to SCHOOL for! We want to do GOOD jobs, not the crappy stuff thrown at us because there aren't enough staff to cover the loads.

Just something to consider, when you feel that there's so much non-caring in nursing.

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I thought I would be a nurse.

I found out that I am a documentation technician who maybe gets to do a little nursing every now and then as long as it doesn't get in the way of the paperwork.

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When I went to school I had already worked in health care as a LTC PCA. I thought that going into nursing would be challenging and rewarding, but for totally different reasons. I thought I would be using my skills every day, like IV's, assessments, and dealing with the other disciplines and doctors. I thought that my assessments would factor into diagnosis and treatment, but rather find that I am mostly just required to carry out orders. I work in LTC and rural hospital so don't see the acuity levels of ER or med/surg or ICU, maybe that would be more up my alley, but I am not an adrenalin junky either, and I think I would get flustered, especially if I had a doc or senior nurse yelling at me.

I think what has dissappointed me most, is that while I thought I would be treated like a professional with important skills and knowledge, I feel more like a warm body to fill a shift and hand out the pills. I don't feel respected by my peers, management or those who I supervise most of the time. I am tired of having my shift changed at the last minute, OT every week, and being expected to give up all of my family time and quality of life for work. Its a job, it's not my life.

I am working on my degree, hoping to get into a more interesting and rewarding area, maybe home care, or public health, or diabetes educator. Something where I am not expected to give up my days off, beg for vacation and play the martyr. If I can't find something I like, I think I will eventually work per diem very PT and get a job doing something else that I like.

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

Before nursing school...I thought my job would be to follow dr's orders as they were all knowing and well educated.

During school...I thought I would ALWAYS take time to do all the "little things"

I love nursing...but I quickly found out things are different. My first week off orientation I had a dr ask me "what do you suggest" ? I thought what?! How do I respond to that? I don't know...but didn't want to make a poor first impression. After a split second I used my critical thinking I was trained in...gave an appropirate response..and got the order.

As far as the little things...I try...but many times have to remind myself of this as I start thinking..."the pt should stop worrying about *** when they can hardly breath!"...deep breath...and take the extra time if I can.

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.

Like some of the others, I thought a nurse's main job was to pass meds and follow orders. I didn't really understand what all this "critical thinking" talk was about until probably my second semester of nursing school.

As school went on, I soon realized that nurses have to know just about as much as doctors (of course they know a lot more in-depth patho and procedures we don't do); I was actually very surprised to find out how much nurses actually need to learn to do their jobs competently. Maybe that's why many nursing students get so stressed, they don't realize what they're getting into!

Now that I'm a new grad, I know I have a long way to go. I've still got my rose-colored glasses on, in a way, because I'm still in my honeymoon phase with my job. Well, I actually hope I feel this way forever!!

I guess before I became a nurse, I didn't give nurses as much credit as I should have for all the knowledge and skills they need to possess. I wish there was something more we could do to show the general public what our jobs are really like, so maybe more people will have respect for our brains instead of our butt-wiping abilities...

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I think that the biggest thing that I hate about bedside nursing is that we dont have defined roles. You can just about blame the nurse for ANYTHING that doesnt go right. Lab didnt come and draw that CBC although I did put in the order=MY Fault/My problem. Dietary didnt send an ADA tray when I know I put the order in correctly=My Fault/My problem. Dr.X didnt tell momma that she was getting a new permacath and the family doesnt want her to go or sign for consent=My Fault/My problem. CNA didnt tell me about pts BP @9pm was 86/50 and now its 11p and they are going downhill=My Fault/My problem. Room didnt get mopped this morning=My fault/My problem. Im so flippin sick of having to take responsibility for what every other EMPLOYEE didnt do. I have enough problems just medicating, hanging IVs, giving blood products and doing dressing changes for seven pts. Not to mention the loads of paperwork and fighting off admissions when you are already understaffed. I give myself 3 more years at best then I'm either out of bedside or out of nursing period. Sorry to sound so negative......but this is a reality for me on a daily.

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what did I think nursing was about? I thought it was about making a difference in somebodies life, and I still believe that. True Im not working yet, Im waiting to take my boards. But I still believe nurses make a difference. And I can't think of something Im more proud to say when somebody asks what I do and I respond "Im a nurse". I did not choose this career for the money or job stability - its what I love doing. I decided not to become an RN because I don't want that responsibility on me, I don't want the paper work, and I don't want to be in charge. I choose to be a LPN, I enjoy bedside nursing, I also enjoy fast pace and stressful situations. Thats why I accepted a job 48 miles away from me at the Cleveland Clinic on what I was told the busiest floor in the hospital with 41 rooms. I thrive on it. I just hope I NEVER hate being a nurse- Im proud Im a nurse, I'll be even more proud once I pass the boards;)

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.
i think that the biggest thing that i hate about bedside nursing is that we dont have defined roles. you can just about blame the nurse for anything that doesnt go right. lab didnt come and draw that cbc although i did put in the order=my fault/my problem. actually it is your problem, you may have put the order in but it is your responsiblility to make sure it was done and know the results. dietary didnt send an ada tray when i know i put the order in correctly=my fault/my problem. dr.x didnt tell momma that she was getting a new permacath and the family doesnt want her to go or sign for consent=my fault/my problem. cna didnt tell me about pts bp @9pm was 86/50 and now its 11p and they are going downhill=my fault/my problem. this is another one that is your responsibility to look at the vitals or directly ask the cna what the vitals were.room didnt get mopped this morning=my fault/my problem. im so flippin sick of having to take responsibility for what every other employee didnt do. this is the kind of petty thing that patients and family complain about all the time, one of the reasons i don't do bedside any more.i have enough problems just medicating, hanging ivs, giving blood products and doing dressing changes for seven pts. not to mention the loads of paperwork and fighting off admissions when you are already understaffed. i give myself 3 more years at best then i'm either out of bedside or out of nursing period. sorry to sound so negative......but this is a reality for me on a daily.

we do get blamed for everything whether it is in our scope or not. families are out of control and expect some outrageous things.

but there are areas of nurses that you don't get blamed for what other do or dont do such as a room being cleaned.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I think that the biggest thing that I hate about bedside nursing is that we dont have defined roles. You can just about blame the nurse for ANYTHING that doesnt go right. Lab didnt come and draw that CBC although I did put in the order=MY Fault/My problem. Dietary didnt send an ADA tray when I know I put the order in correctly=My Fault/My problem. Dr.X didnt tell momma that she was getting a new permacath and the family doesnt want her to go or sign for consent=My Fault/My problem. CNA didnt tell me about pts BP @9pm was 86/50 and now its 11p and they are going downhill=My Fault/My problem. Room didnt get mopped this morning=My fault/My problem. Im so flippin sick of having to take responsibility for what every other EMPLOYEE didnt do. I have enough problems just medicating, hanging IVs, giving blood products and doing dressing changes for seven pts. Not to mention the loads of paperwork and fighting off admissions when you are already understaffed. I give myself 3 more years at best then I'm either out of bedside or out of nursing period. Sorry to sound so negative......but this is a reality for me on a daily.

what did I think nursing was about? I thought it was about making a difference in somebodies life, and I still believe that. True Im not working yet, Im waiting to take my boards. But I still believe nurses make a difference. And I can't think of something Im more proud to say when somebody asks what I do and I respond "Im a nurse". I did not choose this career for the money or job stability - its what I love doing. I decided not to become an RN because I don't want that responsibility on me, I don't want the paper work, and I don't want to be in charge. I choose to be a LPN, I enjoy bedside nursing, I also enjoy fast pace and stressful situations. Thats why I accepted a job 48 miles away from me at the Cleveland Clinic on what I was told the busiest floor in the hospital with 41 rooms. I thrive on it. I just hope I NEVER hate being a nurse- Im proud Im a nurse, I'll be even more proud once I pass the boards;)

Basically, I can understand your decision on not becoming an RN, because your reasons echo mine almost identically. Reading what RosalindRN posted is the main reason why I refuse to become one. I can certainly use the money an RN makes, but I feel that the demands placed on them are so unfair, unrealistic and insensitive. An RN is still a person with feelings that gets overwhelmed, stressed and hurt. I am stressed as well, as an LPN, but I am more responsible for myself and my own personal actions (those LPNs that work in long term care do have more issues to deal with because they are usually charge nurses). Unfortunately, as RosalindRN states, EVERYTHING becomes the dumping ground for them, and they have my true empathy. Why have these ancillary positions unless these people can also take responsibility of what they are supposed to do...what they got hired for??

What I did expect in nursing, from the prespective of an LPN was to collaborate with the RNs on my findings, work within my scope of practice, and that my scope of practice would be clearly defined. What I discovered is that many times, the RN has no time to 'babysit' us. I had to learn quickly what observations were emergent to tell her, what can wait. Sometimes, I have to be careful with this, though, because it can be a dump job (many times, because the RN is too stressed out with other things), and had to learn to say "Well, I can do so and so, but not this...that is not within my scope...sorry". Doctors do not like to be alerted of problems, because then, they have to deal with it.

I remember once, I had to give a patient whose b/p was 220/110 (it was charted that he is frequently non-adherent to medication regimen) Clonidine 0.1mg PO, STAT, and was told to repeat the blood pressure in 1 hour and inform the physician. Did that. Rechecked in one hour, as ordered, reading was 204/108. No symptoms. Reported it to the physician. I literally saw him bang his head on his desk (now, that WAS funny). He tells me to bring him the patient, I do so and leave. Doc calls me back in three minutes and says "Hey, his pressure is 170/90. It went down, you can send him home" and the patient tells me I didn't know what I was doing. Now, yes, this man is a physician...can't refute that. But, I have also been taking blood pressures for over 20 years as a CNA and now a nurse. I can hear. I KNOW what I heard. But, bottom line was the doctor didn't want to be bothered. Told the RN, she told me the patient is non-compliant, has been for years. Basically abandoned me with the issue. So, I went to the patient, told him that I know what I heard, but the doc has a higher license than me. I reviewed signs and symptoms of stroke, emphasized the importance of taking meds, made an appointment for him to return in two weeks as ordered by doc for blood pressure check and kept it moving. Sigh...:banghead:

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