So I'm a second degree student currently living in the Boston, MA area. I'm going to join in the new graduate chorus; "what nursing shortage?!?". I want to add to that, however. I'll cop to a few things before I get started...
First and foremost - I have NO experience in the field. I won't pretend to. I don't know everything. Hell, I don't really know anything aside from what they teach you within the scope of a 15 month accelerated program.
Here's my gripe: I would KILL (well, not kill - but definitely maim) for a job, any job as an RN. I had my epiphany. I was in the middle of giving a shower to a 400lb black schizophrenic woman who was having a conversation with at least three people (in her head) and me and it struck me... I LOVE THIS!!!! This is what I was meant to do. This is what I love to do. This is what I should have been doing all along. Why are so many nurses still working as RNs if they hate their jobs so much?!! It doesn't make any sense. I don't want any bull about "economic downturn" or any of the other buzzwords that mean crappy economy. If you don't love what you do, and what you do is nursing, you have no business doing it.
Think about the golden rule... would YOU want someone taking care of you that would just as soon spit on you as flush your IV line? Do you want to be in an extremely vulnerable position and relying on some grouchy douchebag to make sure you are not in pain, to keep the residents from killing you?
No, not all of the "old school" nurses are bad nurses. And not all of the "new school" nurses are good nurses. Everything is not black and white. It just seems that after years of patient care, getting crapped on by MDs, and whatever else... some of the love goes out of the job. And it's okay. But find something else to do with yourself, or at the very least... don't sacrifice patient care because you've fallen out of love with your profession.
Some of you may say - I don't get it. Hey, you're probably right. I've never worked as a nurse. I CAN'T GET A JOB! (yeah, I'm bitter too!) Others might say that it's the fault of the doctors, the other nurses on your floor, the patients, the system. But promise me something. Next time you start griping about your job and how much it sucks... just be reminded: there are a LOT of people that would kill to have the opportunity to do what you do, and the only person you can blame for your unhappiness is YOURSELF.
Oh, and one more thing... if you don't want your job anymore... can I have it?
Do you remember that saying? I think it goes like this, "everyone has bad days."
Trust me, four months in, and I'm already registered on allnurses.com (great place) asking for advice! You should read it.
Nurses complain a lot, mostly because were passionate people, which makes us passionate about good and very very bad things. And look at how many people love your passion. Nursing is full of ups and downs, a giant roller coaster if you will. In fact, your at a low, you can't get a job, and your complaining already. Keep up the passion, good or bad, we all love them, and we all love to help out. Plus learning out to cope with this coaster we're all on, is key to not becoming an old grumpy nurse.
That's really exciting! Thanks so much for the info. Pedi psych is something I really enjoyed during my mental health clinical. I had the opportunity to work on the CAU at Cambridge Hospital and the experience was incredible. Oh boy, oh boy - now I'm all amped up!
NeoPediRN
945 Posts
Biok8e, Franciscan Children's Hospital has two open RN positions for psych. Just an FYI.