I read Allnurses every day, rarely do I post. Over the past year or so I've been reading more and more about how hard "that first year of nursing" is and how many new nurses just can't handle it and are looking to get out. I understand.
As an old, seasoned nurse, now retired I have watched nursing get harder and harder, working with sicker and sicker patients with less resources. How long can this continue? I've read lately about nurses who need antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds just to be able to come to work each day. And we all nod and say that's just how nursing is now. I read about nurses who cry and dread each day that they have to come to work, working in fear of making a mistake. The horror, a human being might make a mistake. And then I read other nurses who say, "we should never make mistakes, we should triple/quadruple check everything we do because the poor patient should not be harmed in any way, ever." What utopia do they live in? And yet we have to drop everything that we are triple checking to run and get a family member an extra pillow or a soft drink or risk being reprimanded.
What other career puts such a burden on it's members? I can't think of any that routinely have members dreading to come to work and needing medications to get through a shift, maybe airtraffic controllers, or combat soldiers. I don't know.
And then we tell ourselves that we should be happy that we're lucky to have a job. Really? What is so lucky about this?
I started nursing 40 years ago on a busy labor and delivery unit. I was afraid at times. But there was a support system from the top down. Director of nursing, nursing supervisors, head nurses (they weren't called managers back then) and the shift charge nurse, everyone pulled together. I miss that. I left hospital bedside nursing 10 years ago because of the lack of support and teamwork, and the increasing focus on the patient "experience" versus a positive outcome of disease or injury.
I don't have an answer, well I do but for some reason, nurses I have known don't want to talk about solving problems for their profession. We're great at solving everyone else's problems but not our own. How long can this continue? I feel sorry for new nurses and for my older colleagues as well.
Yet again, your 5 weeks of orientation do not allow you to remotely comprehend what this thread is about. Surely the consistency of the posters here (who have many, many years of wide-ranging experience) speaks volumes about the current state of nursing in the US. If you cannot hear what they are saying and continue to consider them as weak or somehow unable to "stand" the current conditions, then it is you who will eventually be one of the most disillusioned.
As it stands, you are coming across as condescending and somewhat delusional.
This post was not to come across as condescending. THis thread is fearing about nursing and new grads. I posted my experience to date. I am not a troll as was stated in another post, or a bully, nor was I paid to post. Of course everyone will have times when they need to cry, but reading the posts where people hate or dread going into work, or wish they were in a car accident instead of working...maybe a career change is needed. I think life is too short to do something you no longer love. That was my point, not to be rude, condescending or to be told I am delusional troll.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
This post was not to come across as condescending. THis thread is fearing about nursing and new grads.
Actually, this thread presents the reality of nursing for many. It's not a scare tactic but a reality check.
I posted my experience to date. I am not a troll as was stated in another post, or a bully, nor was I paid to post.
The plural of anecdote is not data. Your experience is your experience and doesn't necessarily translate to the experience of every new grad.
Of course everyone will have times when they need to cry, but reading the posts where people hate or dread going into work, or wish they were in a car accident instead of working...maybe a career change is needed. I think life is too short to do something you no longer love. That was my point, not to be rude, condescending or to be told I am delusional troll.
A career change is not something to be taken lightly. It means going back to school, possibly taking a financial hit, taking on additional student loan debt. If all nurses who had experienced any bit of loss of love of the job left, there wouldn't be any nurses left.
Have been a Nurse since 1998. Was in the Nursing Program getting ready to graduate, was in a bad care wreck. Had a lot of recovery time. Started back over and retook all the same pre-requisites, Nursing Classes and finally graduated. I love Nursing but am becoming disheartened to see we are being replaced with Medical Assistance Personnel. Also my Associate Degree is no longer worth the paper it is printed on, but being able to do long term care. ADN's can no longer find jobs due to everyone wanting a BSN degree. I was already in my late 30's when I graduated and needed to get to work to support my son so going to school further was not an option. Now turning 60 no longer desire to start school again. I have a lot of experience in Emergency Nursing, College Health Nursing but find I will be unable to find a job due to not having the BSN. I wish all new Graduates the Best once they graduate. Would advise all of them to get a BSN degree or you will be out of work since that degree is no longer being honored.
I agree. I have never wanted to be a Nurse Manager. I have tried that one time since becoming a Nurse. I love talking with my patients. Taking care of them. Seeing to their needs and helping them to get better or holding their hand and crying with the family as they take their last breath. It is draining, Thankless be Management, it tears at your heart, but it is what a Nurse does each day. That is why as Nurses we need to support each other, help out when we can, show love to our co-workers since we one day will be depending on those people to take care of us should something happen. When I was in a car wreck while in Nursing School. My fellow classmates are the one who bathed me, assisted me to the bathroom and took care of my needs. So you never know. We are Nurses because we care. If you get into Nursing for money or anything else, you will be disappointed.
This post was not to come across as condescending. THins thread is fearing about nursing and new grads. I posted my experience to date. I am not a troll as was stated in another post, or a bully, nor was I paid to post. Of course everyone will have times when they need to cry, but reading the posts where people hate or dread going into work, or wish they were in a car accident instead of working...maybe a career change is needed. I think life is too short to do something you no longer love. That was my point, not to be rude, condescending or to be told I am delusional troll.
Ahhhh, no. This thread is most definitely not about new grads, except as an initial commentary on how difficult they are finding their first year. This thread was written from the perspective of one who has experienced the evolution of nursing over the years and the deterioration of working conditions and increasing expectations in most facilities. Of course new grads are welcome to chime in, but they can't expect to speak to this evolution with any authority as it is outside their level of (in)experience.
A new grad with 5 weeks of orientation advising experienced nurses to change careers because of their difficulties in the workplace is surely lacking in comprehension. Not to mention globalizing that her personal golden working experience is the norm rather than the exception.
As someone that is starting the LPN program in January, and had planned to progress further into nursing -I find this post fearful and sad my career path is looking pretty hazy right now =/
This post was not to come across as condescending. THis thread is fearing about nursing and new grads. I posted my experience to date. I am not a troll as was stated in another post, or a bully, nor was I paid to post. Of course everyone will have times when they need to cry, but reading the posts where people hate or dread going into work, or wish they were in a car accident instead of working...maybe a career change is needed. I think life is too short to do something you no longer love. That was my point, not to be rude, condescending or to be told I am delusional troll.
Hey, I was the nurse who wrote about stress and crying in my car. Let me share with YOU, the nurse of 5 weeks and still on orientation...I haven't changed careers because life happens and I have mouths to feed, college tuition to pay for my kid and bills to pay all the while keeping a roof over our heads. I am beyond stressed, but the reality is that I need to keep working; I don't have a Mommy and Daddy footing my bills. I hope this gives you some perspective. When I started my nursing career TWENTY TWO years ago it was wonderful. What it has evolved into is a soul crushing daily grind. You have made a very careless and off handed comment without even knowing what you are talking about. It came off to me as: "You suck as a nurse. What is wrong with you that you can't just shut up and suck it up. Obviously you are not good enough to do the job of an RN." I don't feel like a newbie nurse still on orientation should even be commenting on this thread. No disrespect, but you have no idea what this thread is about. And BTW, I am a great nurse and I care about my patients, as bad and as horrible as things are my focus is on my patients and I do a kick a** job FOR MY PATIENTS. I am the nurse you would want....rant over.
Specializes in Pediatric Oncology, Pediatric Neurology.
I am a new grad myself. Started in the ICU new graduate program at my local hospital. I am 5 weeks in and must say, I love it and the support I am receiving from my department and preceptors. Is it hard work? Yes, but I love going there and learning and improving my skills. I am blessed to be in this department and to work within the ICU. Yes, there are stand off'ish nurses, but the doctors have been great and very patient with all of us new grads.
Listen, no place is going to be perfect. You have to decide what works for you. Complaining only sets up negativity, if you don't like nursing or your department, find s different department or maybe a different career. Good luck to all of you new nurses out there. Stay strong and keep going. Brush off the rude comments or bitter nurses and just do you:).
I've been a nurse for a year now but, like Valnave have worked in other areas of healthcare for 9 years prior. Nurses are not the only profession inside healthcare that get crapped on, let me assure you of that so I feel I've earned the right to an opinion here.
Coming to Valnave's defense here- nowhere in his/her original post did they single out any individual on this thread nor did they personally attack anyone. They simply stated their experience and I felt the post was meant to bring some positivity into this thread which seems to be festering with negative comments and leading to an all out war between "newbies" vs "seasoned nurses" which I have to agree can be a huge turn off to the future generation of nurses reading. We need you guys! Please don't let this vent session deter you...
The general theme I've noticed among these comments has been nurses burning out due to the way they've been treated and disrespected- by patients, family members, management, docs & NP's, etc... What about how we are treating EACH OTHER?? Nurses eating their young- this is a PRIME example and I am disgusted that not only can it be done in person but also through the multiple step process of taking the time to quote, type and hit "Reply" viciously to another nurse who was simply trying to contribute to a thread about NURSING.
Let's get our panties out of their wads here and respect each other enough to know we are all encountering some of the SAME issues daily whether we have 5 weeks or 20 years of experience. Yes, nursing has obviously evolved over time but this thread changed directions two pages ago discussing current issues in which EVERY nurse currently holding a license has a right to comment on.
Valnave, thank you for sharing your experience so far. I truly hope your working environment continues to be positive. I hope you channel that positivity into the care you provide to future patients as well as mentoring upcoming nurses in the future so that one day we as nurses can nurture rather than devour our young.
Specializes in Oncology, Rehab, Public Health, Med Surg.
Coming to Valnave's defense here- nowhere in his/her original post did they single out any individual on this thread nor did they personally attack anyone. They simply stated their experience and I felt the post was meant to bring some positivity into this thread which seems to be festering with negative comments and leading to an all out war between "newbies" vs "seasoned nurses" which I have to agree can be a huge turn off to the future generation of nurses reading. We need you guys! Please don't let this .
Um .....no.
Stating his/her own experience---fine.
Judging another nurse---not fine at all
Stating ( judging) that if a nurse has to cry in her car , she needs a career change? Where do you see that bringing "some positivity into this thread"?
Specializes in Pediatric Oncology, Pediatric Neurology.
Um .....no.
Stating his/her own experience---fine.
Judging another nurse---not fine at all
Stating ( judging) that if a nurse has to cry in her car , she needs a career change? Where do you see that bringing "some positivity into this thread"?
There were many posts about nurses crying in their cars- please reread the thread. Myself included in that if you see my post on Page 1 and you don't see me getting my jimmies rustled over a very GENERAL comment. No "one" nurse was targeted. I am reading the post from a non-defensive point of view- they were simply stating that if nurses in general are so unhappy to the point of crying in their cars daily then consider a change to another floor, setting, or career if that's an option but they did not say to just change careers- they were simply stating options and several of them at that. If you want to pick apart and read into the comment more than it needs to be read into- that's on you. There are many other options for us as nurses that don't require a total career change. Go into home care, remote triage from home, run a wellness clinic through an agency- get off the floor in a hospital if that's what's making you miserable. The poster in a round about way was stating that life is too short to be so unhappy all of the time- and yeah- I think that is a pretty positive way to look at life, and I couldn't agree more with that statement. Before becoming a nurse, I was an accountant making three times more than I make as a nurse- but I hated it, changed paths and you don't see me complaining about never making the money I used to- I was unhappy, and changed my situation for the better.
And I also noticed that you had to put "(judging)" in parenthesis- this tells me this was YOUR take on the post and you know it was not the way it was intended to come across....again everyone is being very defensive and letting their emotions take over reading into the post.
As nurses we also need to be emotionally mature which is exactly what is lacking in this profession as evidenced by many of the defensive comments related to that ONE post on this thread. I really hope that is not what translates into your daily nursing care because patients and families will always have something directly rude to say that can certainly be taken more seriously than innocent comments such as the ones we are currently debating over.
Valnave
4 Posts
This post was not to come across as condescending. THis thread is fearing about nursing and new grads. I posted my experience to date. I am not a troll as was stated in another post, or a bully, nor was I paid to post. Of course everyone will have times when they need to cry, but reading the posts where people hate or dread going into work, or wish they were in a car accident instead of working...maybe a career change is needed. I think life is too short to do something you no longer love. That was my point, not to be rude, condescending or to be told I am delusional troll.