Goodbye, fellow nurses

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Aug 31, 2014

As some wise person said, being a good nurse isn't always the same as being a good employee. That's the part I personally stunk at. I was a good nurse, and in many ways I was a REALLY good nurse. But I could never get on board with the "GO TEAM!" mentality when management wasn't part of the team doing the work. I also wasn't good about getting up in the middle of my 'night' to attend mandatory meetings at 1400. I wasn't good at working sick (either physically or mentally) and saw no reason to inflict my miseries on my patients. I got tired of "taking one for the team" when I was the only nurse on the floor who had to take three admits within the same 8-hour shift.

But I was a good nurse. I advocated for my patients and spent as much 1:1 time with them as I dared. I loved going that extra mile for them, and I even loved butting heads with their physicians when they weren't getting what I felt they needed. I received positive feedback from patients and families, and yet.....for this I was called "too slow" and accused of being a poor team player. Again with the whole "team" concept, which sounds good until you actually find yourself sacrificing quality time with the patients in your care in order to polish your image as someone who plays well with others.

I don't know what the answer to this dilemma is. I just know that I didn't have enough time in a day to be both an effective nurse for my patients and a team player, and I wish nursing had a little more tolerance for those of us who prioritize substance over style.

PublicHealthNurse1 · Aug 31, 2014

A family member of mine has worked at a federal hospital for over a decade as an ADN.

Wonimal · Aug 31, 2014

goodluck with whatever path you decide to take in your life

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2014

I kinda wonder if Flo was everything people hold her up to be, or if someone today would pick apart her posts if she were here now, and declare her unworthy of the title, LOL!

Not every nurse aspires to be Florence Nightingale.

My somewhat off-subject comment might split some hairs, but here it is anyway. Although the nursing pathway surely wouldn't exist as a profession today without the remarkable contributions and astounding foundation cultivated by Florence Nightingale, I do not place her on a pedestal or anything of that nature.

She was imperfect, just like every person who has ever existed. She was surely a product of the closed society where she came of age. Moreover, she was classist and bigoted (look up Mary Seacole), just like many historical icons from that particular period in time. She had her personal demons, just like many figures throughout history.

Florence Nightingale was arguably the most significant person in nursing history. However, I suspect she's rolling in her grave with annoyance at the melting pot that characterizes modern nursing in the 21st century.

WittySarcasm, BSN · Aug 31, 2014

I know the struggles of ADN and getting into the hospital. After almost 5 years I finally made it to the hospital, though I've only managed to get rehabs units to look at me, and that is including the year and half that no one would hire me because I was a new grad. It can be vicious world out there and extremely frustrating.

seanynjboy, BSN · Aug 31, 2014

I am going to be that person that says I think you are crazy. I am only drawing this conclusion by what you have posted. So if you have only worked in nursing homes then you have a one-sided view about nursing. (Trust me, the corporate world is not that great either). It is NOT true that hospitals do not hire ADNs. It is true that some choose not to, but not all. I graduated from nursing school in 2013 with my ADN and got a job on a med-surg-tele unit within 2 months. If you do not want to spend the extra money (which cancels it out if you were to stay in nursing an extra year rather than take a pay cut). I am getting my BSN online and it is only costing me $11,000. I am getting it done in less than a year (same for you most likely since you already have a bachelors degree.) It's online, it's flexible. I am going to Grand Canyon University for my BSN and if I wanted to I can double up on some classes and be done in 35 weeks (9 months).

I did not have the same instructors that you did. My instructors told us that we were going to have a hard time finding jobs in the beginning, that we were probably going to have to take crappy positions to get our feet wet. All of them also encouraged us to get our BSN to open up a lot more options.

I have since left working in the hospital because I moved back to NJ from AZ. (Also have worked in Home-health and IT with my ADN in AZ). I found a job as a supervisor in a family health center, which is what I ultimately want to do, administration. One of the reasons that I got hired was that they saw that I was already enrolled in a BSN program. Just the fact of being enrolled does help.

You do what you have to do to be happy, but I would not judge the field of nursing by just working in nursing homes. Like someone in another post said. I would keep your license active and maybe do some PRN work just to keep your head in the game. Who knows. Maybe the corporate world + PRN nursing is the way to go.

I do sincerely apologize if you find this reply crude or anything. Just wanted to give you some perspective.

I truly hope you find something that makes you happy. Being happy at work is very important. Maybe you just need a change of scenery for a while.

cherrybee · Sep 5, 2014

Proud of you! :)

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2014

I would rather work at 7-11 than work in LTC, I simply could not do it.

No judgement here.

Good luck MCBG!

Enjoy your new career, Maggie

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Sep 5, 2014

Joining in to wish Bon Voyage & best wishes to OP.

I have always thought that we (nurses) need to do a better job of making sure that 'civilians' actually understand the nature and demands of our jobs.... if that was the case, every industry would be heavily recruiting nurses to fill all sorts of jobs. Because, let's face it... if you are a nurse, you can do just about anything!!!

ceccia · Sep 5, 2014

While I find it an odd first post, I also think the OP is SPOT ON when it comes to getting out of a profession she doesn't like, if she can. She said what she didn't like, why she was leaving, which is perfectly reasonable and understandable.
What I DON'T get is all those posts from people saying how she shouldn't be so negative, that nursing is FABULOUS, that people like her shouldn't have been a nurse in the first place....man, talk about rude and judgmental! Because nursing is the end-all-be-all for YOU, she's somehow got something wrong with her?
People here haven't met the OP, don't know her in the slightest, but are picking apart her choice to leave nursing for something else. Can't say she'd miss that kind of colleague, for sure.
Why not just say "good luck" and leave it at that? Why color a "good luck" with unpleasant remarks? Instead, why not ask if she had any advice for those who are just starting out (as many here are) and not scoff at her decision?

THANK YOU! i was especially taken aback at the comment of "well at least you're leaving instead of taking your anger out on your patients"...what what WHAT?! totally out of line, rude and uncalled for! contrary to what some might think, it IS possible to do your job competently and professionally even if you hate it.

Best of luck OP! i'm excited for you, and proud of you /impressed with your courage to take a risk and do something new, and i hope everything turns out wonderfully for you. :)

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Sep 5, 2014

I can hear the sigh of relief from here.

Enjoy your new endeavors.

P.S. ( you can get a desk job with your experience).

Guest505077 · Sep 6, 2014

I hear ya sister! I'm done being a nurse..looking for something completely new..best of luck to you!:)