Hard Truth of Nursing

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi everyone,

After five years of nursing, continuing my education, and hoping for a better day than the last one, I decided to quit my nursing job. Nursing is very demanding, psychologically challenging & most of the time frustrating due to the lack of respect from other employees. Even with a BSN and supervisory positions I could not find any happiness in this field. The hard truth is, no matter where you work, the nursing position you fill, there will always be pressure from up top (management). I started as a floor nurse at a local hospital, putting in long hours, taking in experience, just like most graduates. After three years of work on a medical-surgical floor, I was already burnt out. High acuity, understaffing, long-hours, will make your life miserable. I decided to switch positions into a supervisory role. The hard truth about supervisory position is that you are a management (bit..h). Management controls everything, from keeping the floors understaffed, preventing from hiring enough people to have adequate staffing, as-well-as drilling me to deliver teachings left and right. I felt bad for my few co-workers that worked with me prior to my management position that now I drilled about some documentation that nobody even looks at. The hardest truth to take in is that some business, clueless, worthless education individuals set rules for hard working professionals like nurses and don't give a crap about them. An RN is an aide, nurse, occupational, speech, physical therapist, a medical advisor, housekeeper, electrician etc. I decided to leave once and for all and be unemployed. I shared this just to see what you guys think about the move, was it a mistake?

All jobs should allow time for a sabbatical...burnout in any field is a real thing. :drowning: And in nursing where people have to wear so many hats--and have some crazy day/night schedules--it seems all too inevitable. A sabbatical seems a good way to take a breath and reflect. Best of luck to you, Mr.BillRN. May you find your path wherever it is! :up:

Specializes in PCCN.
YOU still have options in order to succeed. I work for an insurance company, from home in my jammies... making 6 figures. Rethink your position.

Been there, done that.... How did you go about to get a position like that?

Really. I think I have better odds winning the lottery than getting a job like that, and I dont even play the lottery.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Really. I think I have better odds winning the lottery than getting a job like that, and I dont even play the lottery.
Just apply to various insurance companies...you never know if you'll be called to schedule an interview.

After 10 inglorious years of working the floor, I snagged a work-from-home position as an RN case manager for a major insurance company. Dreams do come true...

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
"The hardest truth to take in is that some business, clueless, worthless education individuals set rules for hard working professionals like nurses and don't give a crap about them."

Somewhat true. The bottom line is.. profit driven corporate america has taken over health care. YOU still have options in order to succeed.

Agreed...that's why I became a healthcare activist while still working at the bedside. Best decision I've ever made.

I also was an independent contractor for six years...I thoroughly enjoyed the autonomy of working when I wanted to work.

Although I work for an employer, my personality of autonomy has been accepted (I know it's rare. ;) )

Specializes in Registered Nurse.

I understand your choice. You must believe there is something else you can and will do.

I never went into nursing for respect. I went into nursing to help people and to earn my living. I have a love/hate relationship with nursing. The hate is some of what you wrote about....and I've been doing this almost half of my life!

Good luck!

Specializes in nurseline,med surg, PD.
Really. I think I have better odds winning the lottery than getting a job like that, and I dont even play the lottery.

Where I live the insurance companies are begging for nurses. Have you checked the career websites?

Specializes in GENERAL.
Glad to see a fellow nurse with so much integrity. Thank You for stating the facts as you see them and taking a position. The grass is not greener in some of the nursing supervisory positions. The MBA's and people who have not practiced nursing or the medical field for years are in control. They don't care about nurses and they can't possibly care about patients if they don't see the need for adequate nursing staffing, and choose to ignore safety for profit.

Yes Marisette, you are right. The shame of it is that in Florida I just read that 81% of the state's population earns $40,000 or less per year. This puts nurses in the top 19% of wage earners.

So what will happen? More nurses will be fed into the grinder by the second to fill the insatiable needs of the hospital corporations and those weasels within Nursing itself who see a new and never ending demographic of potential victims.

The system has always been set-up to promote disillusionment and, yes, "burnout." And this despite the endless and lame ice cream socials.

Specializes in ICU.
roser13 "Quality p.t. care?" That's only in the satisfaction surveys.Reality is that new graduates are more valuable to employers than a seasoned nurse because 1.) low base salary 2.) more educated (Looks better) (MAGNET status) 3.) easier to control (hrs, weekends, rotating shifts). The turn over rates are insane currently.

Here is my two cents and you can take it or leave it. First, you have a gross misunderstanding of what a hospital is and how it operates. You were very unhappy and quit. Mentally that may have been the right move, but now, you have no money coming in. That will also be stressful mentally when you can't pay the bills.

First and foremost, a hospital is a business. They must operate as such to keep their doors open and employ nurses. Every business has middle men. There is always a struggle between the higher ups in management to the lower level management to the actual workers. It's no different now than in 1950. I'm talking after federal labor laws went into place.

Just because a new grad is paid less, does not make them more valuable. It costs around $135k to just train a new grad. It takes over a year for a new grad to become an asset to a unit. Paying more money to a seasoned nurse is a smarter way to go to dozens of reasons. Hospitals know this.

The problem lies that this new generation does not stick around for the same job for a long period of time. Units are constantly scrambling and e perceived nurses feel they are treated awful due to understaffing. It's not always managements fault. Everybody wants to be an NP or CRNA because they want the big money to live large.

I would also suggest understanding what Magnet Status is. It's not what you think it is. I'm sorry you have had a bad experience, but don't blame it on nursing. That's not the issue.

Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

"The hardest truth to take in is that some business, clueless, worthless education individuals set rules for hard working professionals like nurses and don't give a crap about them."

The truth is, this isn't just in nursing. I think it's in almost every type of business & profession. It was true in my previous career.

Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.
Where I live the insurance companies are begging for nurses. Have you checked the career websites?

And where might that area (or at least some names of the businesses) be...surely not in Illinois aye :uhoh3:

I work in CA, which has mandatory staffing guidelines. My employer would try to get away with everything if they could but thanks to state regulations and my union, things have been pretty fair overall. Some of the stuff that comes down from Corporate is just ridiculous, though. I come home tired but I don't feel abused.

You sound like a hardworking conscientious nurse. Best of luck to you.

Here is my two cents and you can take it or leave it. First, you have a gross misunderstanding of what a hospital is and how it operates. You were very unhappy and quit. Mentally that may have been the right move, but now, you have no money coming in. That will also be stressful mentally when you can't pay the bills.

First and foremost, a hospital is a business. They must operate as such to keep their doors open and employ nurses. Every business has middle men. There is always a struggle between the higher ups in management to the lower level management to the actual workers. It's no different now than in 1950. I'm talking after federal labor laws went into place.

Just because a new grad is paid less, does not make them more valuable. It costs around $135k to just train a new grad. It takes over a year for a new grad to become an asset to a unit. Paying more money to a seasoned nurse is a smarter way to go to dozens of reasons. Hospitals know this.

The problem lies that this new generation does not stick around for the same job for a long period of time. Units are constantly scrambling and e perceived nurses feel they are treated awful due to understaffing. It's not always managements fault. Everybody wants to be an NP or CRNA because they want the big money to live large.

I would also suggest understanding what Magnet Status is. It's not what you think it is. I'm sorry you have had a bad experience, but don't blame it on nursing. That's not the issue.

With all respect NurseGirl525 you have read too much of the well written brochures and print outs. For two years that was part of my job, screening people if they are a good fit. New graduates have very good potential, have a BSN degree, cost less, and are more efficient in turn over due to need of experience (2years lock-in), certain schools train graduates at our facility and they are the preference for hire. For the medical-surgical unit there would be 3:1 ratio new/grad vs seasoned rn hire. Where ever you got your costs of training from they are way off. In one year your new grad costs you less than a seasoned nurse. One year of new grad salary full time is around 40-45 thousand training difference is 4 for seasoned, 8 for new rn, so we can add expense to those. As for magnet (ANCC recognition) status it is a paid program by the hospital itself aquiring it (waste of money) that has criteria for each hospital to meet, there must be a certain percentage of BSN prep nurses vs. ADN. in order for them to qualify, surveys for p.t, education, safety.

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