So basically I am a Nurse at my community Hospital and we have cases we used to be on outbreak but now its under control and stuff.
Patients, random people I meet at the grocery store they complain to me as they don't have jobs anymore telling me I am "lucky" to have a job. But how is it my fault that I am not unemployed? This one lady at Wal-Mart was like "my day care is closed due to Covid 19 but the Government is giving Hospitals money but not my daycare". Then I met a mutual friend who is a janitor at a mall saying that he is unemployed and struggling to pay bills but healthcare workers are lucky to pay their bills.
Then its like essential employees like grocery store workers, meat plants, and gas station workers saying why healthcare workers get pandemic pay and they don't. Always telling us how lucky we are, and I am like I am dealing directly with Covid patients what can I do? I Never asked the Government for more money.
I have been living in Canada since I was 4 years old in 2001 I am 22, moved from the Philippines but basically grew up here felt like I was born here, since 2013 I was working and not one day in this country since then have I ever been unemployed or caused a burden on the Government by taking their employment insurance program. So whats with the hate against Nurses/Healthcare workers? Are they just mad that they have no jobs?
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
Trying to figure out how this comes up between two perfect strangers. I have never once in my life had someone see me in scrubs and start talking to me about their woes in this way.
Yes. If they want to be employed they should find a job that is essential. I took up Nursing, and one of the reasons was job security, and I know not one day in this country till I retire will I ever be unemployed.
I wouldn’t be too quick to believe that if I were you...unless Canada has some law that strictly forbids firing or laying off nurses.?
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
2 hours ago, DribbleKing97 said:
I know not one day in this country till I retire will I ever be unemployed.
That's not necessarily true. In my facility, nurses are being low-censused. With no elective surgery patients being admitted and people avoiding the ER in fear of coming in contact with coronavirus, we have entire units closed down. Granted, we are gradually preparing to bring back elective surgeries next month, but we aren't there yet. Without elective surgeries, my facility will be taking about a $125 MILLION hit to revenue. What happens when revenue decreases? Labor gets cut. All open positions are frozen- we will not be hiring. Merit raises have been cancelled for at least this year, possibly next as well (we haven't had a cost of living increase in over a decade). They are hoping not to end up permanently laying people off with these measures, but there are no guarantees. The other local facilities are doing the same, so if we go to layoffs, there won't be anywhere local to look.
Several hospitals have been forced to close because they couldn't survive the financial hit. There's another hospital a few counties away that will close and layoff all staff if they can't find a buyer. There are no guarantees in life.
Yes. If they want to be employed they should find a job that is essential. I took up Nursing, and one of the reasons was job security, and I know not one day in this country till I retire will I ever be unemployed.
Because everyone has the financial, time, and intellectual goods to further or add to their education? Because nobody has any business seeking a career in theatre or cosmetology or professional sports? Because we all knew that an economy-crippling pandemic would happen, and that restaurants and salons would soon be closed for months at a time?
Of course not... that idea is incredibly bizarre. Not to mention judgmental. (And we all know that being judgmental, unable to see the world through perspectives other than yours...... is NOT a good look for a nurse.)
Denying that we ARE fortunate enough to be working is simply not true. We are.... and you could very well be facing furlough, just like so many nurses are.
No pandemic pay where I’m at here in the US and we have plenty of nurses being furloughed. The hospital tried to employ as many as they could, but all those in surgery areas and outpatient areas got hours had to either be relocated for the time being or furloughed.
I feel like your outlook on this is a bit skewed. It is hard and stressful to be out of work right now and not know how you are going to feed your family while waiting on that unemployment check to come in.
You should consider yourself lucky that you don’t have to worry about food and shelter right now. I know I do.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
On 5/10/2020 at 8:54 PM, DribbleKing97 said:
That is good. People around me just seem to think I am "lucky" to have a job. It's not my fault they are unemployed.
You ARE lucky to have a job during this time. They aren't wrong. There are many amazing experiences nurses out there right now how have had their hours cut or been furloughed because of everything going on, so yes you are lucky.
These people are saying it out of their own anxiety. I would shut it down immediately, though, saying something along the lines of " consider nursing profession for yourself".
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
34 minutes ago, RN-to- BSN said:
These people are saying it out of their own anxiety. I would shut it down immediately, though, saying something along the lines of " consider nursing profession for yourself".
My response is "Yes I am truly blessed. I hope things get better soon and that you are back to work. Stay well!"
You are right! I think maybe I should mind my own business and all. But it does bother me. I have been a Nurse for almost a year but been in school with it since 2016, so that's 4 years of Nursing, and while it may seem little to them, being a Nurse and helping others has been my life's work, so that's probably why it bothers me. I hold the name "Registered Nurse" and everything inexorably tide to it very seriously.
Sounds like you're in the honeymoon phase of being a nurse. You are indeed a lucky soul to feel nursing is your life's work ie passion, especially during your hardest first year of nursing. I would hold onto that passion. In that sense you are blessed, especially when you consider so many nurses, newbies and experienced are suffering with stress, burnout and even crying before or after work! While I took pride in my job as a new nurse I've only rarely had glimpses of joy, rather it's been very stressful. So if you find joy, count yourself among the lucky few who find jobs they love! Focus on that!
As to why random strangers approach you, are you wearing your scrubs and name badge when at the store? If so, just change into regular clothes and ditch the ID badge and the problem will be solved.
You are taking other people's comments too seriously. They are reacting out of their own fear and anguish as they worry how they will keep a roof over their head. That is totally understandable.
While we are fortunate to have a job, we have our own different struggles to bear, especially those on the front line of the pandemic.
I think you should consider the labor that went in to every “non-essential” item you have in your life that you enjoy today and imagine what you would do instead if everyone did “essential” work only. An enjoyable, fulfilling life requires the labor and efforts of many people who are now struggling.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 5/10/2020 at 6:54 PM, DribbleKing97 said:
That is good. People around me just seem to think I am "lucky" to have a job. It's not my fault they are unemployed.
Compared to some people who are in a financial bind, you are lucky. I really don't see what's so hateful about that.
They might not know your whole story any more than you know theirs. They're only seeing that you're making a paycheque and they aren't. People with money problems tend to obsess about money. Practice gratitude and let it go.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 5/11/2020 at 5:49 AM, DribbleKing97 said:
Yes. If they want to be employed they should find a job that is essential. I took up Nursing, and one of the reasons was job security, and I know not one day in this country till I retire will I ever be unemployed.
Nurse SMS, MSN, RN
6,843 Posts
Trying to figure out how this comes up between two perfect strangers. I have never once in my life had someone see me in scrubs and start talking to me about their woes in this way.