Hate/Love Relationship with Nursing

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Specializes in Hospice, ALF, Prison.

I have come to realize that I have a Hate/Love relationship with nursing. Being a LPN is all about the 30/20 problem. You can't put 30 pounds of po*p in a 20 pound bucket. Nursing in school was all about patient care, in the field it is all about documentation, cya and staying off the radar. Nurse encouragement is a backhand slap across the face and a write up. Going to work is 8 hours of fear, intimidation and accusations. 10 hours of work in 8 hours is not a exception but an expectation. Punch out and finish your work, or get written up for casual overtime.

What happened to patient care? Professionalism, respect for the nurse, effective leadership, teamwork, pursuit of intellectual andskill improve, compassion for the patient. Why is picking up something off the floor has become a piece of earth to be fought over. Why not just pick it up.

So many nurses told me to forget nursing when I was a CNA. Now I know why. Being a CNA was great.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

You must be psychic because your exact words have been echoing in my ears since last week. I think that the quality of nursing care and support is decreasing at a fast rate.

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Specializes in Hospice, ALF, Prison.
You must be psychic because your exact words have been echoing in my ears since last week. I think that the quality of nursing care and support is decreasing at a fast rate.

Oh pagandeva2000, thank you so much for response, I feel like I got a hug when I really needed it. Someone understands. Much, much thanks.

Just gotta find the right fit.....

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Specializes in LTC.

You spoke nothing but pure truth ! I couldnt agree with you more on your theory there. There is such a huge difference between school and being out in the work world of nursing. I discovered that immediately when I started working as a real nurse. I was so discouraged, frustrated, overwhelmed and felt like I had just wasted 3 years of education for absolutely nothing. I was never under the kind of pressure that I am now when I was a CNA. I am bound for a few ulcers if they havent already started developing.

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Specializes in Hospice, ALF, Prison.

THANKS! I am so glad I am not the only one.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Many a day, I miss being a CNA and don't envy RNs who, in my opinion may have even more headaches than I. It is always about CYA, hide this, don't say that or you're in trouble, hoping the patient doesn't require something that you can't do because you either don't have support/resources or time.

Then, what is even more bothersome is that I often wonder what will happen to me or my loved ones if we needed hospitalization due to the circumstances that nurses and doctors have to work under.

There are inconsistent and stupid policies, policy and practice are far removed from each other, and many practices have been done wrong for YEARS because no one really knows or no smart person reviewed and revised them.

I may make more money and acquired more opportunites when I elevated from a tech to an LPN, but I also acquired more insomnia, stress and impatience towards people because I am tired of crap.

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Specializes in Hospice, ALF, Prison.

Two years ago, my instructor told me I was best suited for home health. Well I am finally going to follow her advice!

I hope it approaches the satisfaction I felt working for hospice within a LPN frame. My wife has installed a gps monitor on my truck that sets it on fire if I approach the parking lot of a nursing home!

I start in earnest tomorrow to seek that type of position, I hope I find it a fit for me.

You've really been great and I think I finally have my mojo back in order.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Two years ago, my instructor told me I was best suited for home health. Well I am finally going to follow her advice!

I hope it approaches the satisfaction I felt working for hospice within a LPN frame. My wife has installed a gps monitor on my truck that sets it on fire if I approach the parking lot of a nursing home!

I start in earnest tomorrow to seek that type of position, I hope I find it a fit for me.

You've really been great and I think I finally have my mojo back in order.

Thanks!

Are you currently working for a nursing home? I thought I remembered you worked for corrections. But, for sure, seeing the site set on fire can remind you of where not to go. I also think that home health can be nice. At least you have a bit more autonomy and can give the personalized care you were trained to do. Most other things in the rat race are bunches of paperwork and lies...

Go for what is best for you!

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Specializes in Hospice, ALF, Prison.

6 mos snf cna

6 mos hospice cna

6 mos alf

1.5 yr corrections

Corrections is great, but just passing 300 meds a shift got tedious, and painful on my feet.

Time for a change!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Hey, that is abundant...300 meds! I guess I would be running for the hills, also.

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After only one year in nursing as an LPN, I'm feeling everything that you're talking about! There's this gap between nursing school and the actual nursing world. I don't know if it's because the main emphasis in school is passing all of the exams, or if it's just the cold slap of reality that new grads face once we realize that there are 30 patients (I work at a SNF) to pass meds to! Thank you for voicing the cold, hard truth!

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Specializes in LTC, Urgent Care.
it's just the cold slap of reality that new grads face once we realize that there are 30 patients (I work at a SNF) to pass meds to! Thank you for voicing the cold, hard truth!

Ain't that the truth! I worked as a receptionist in the LTCF I became a nurse at. So I knew in the back of my mind that I'd be mostly pushing pills, but had managed to kid myself into thinking it would be more than that. The reality of actually passing 200-300 pills every night to 30 residents was disheartening. I know that I'll never go back to LTC, but I'm also getting restless at my current job, but that's not necessarily related to nursing itself - more office politics!

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