I HATE bedside nursing

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Ok maybe I just don't care for it too much, but I feel like Im suffocating. I have been in this position for about 10 months now and I cant wait to hit the year mark so I can get out! I feel I might not be cut out for it in the long term because there is just way too much dramatization on insignificant things that add stress to my life which is unnecessary. One nursing attendant reported me to the manager over a trivial issue which had already been solved. I have never been reported to any manager like that ever before in my career. Perhaps she hates me but having to sit in his office and go over matters that have been settled regarding cleaning a patient is beyond me. Especially when the patient was cleaned and the matter was settled. I did not make a med error, none of my patients died, and no one fell. Why I had to remain in his office for nearly 30 minutes after working 12hour night shift is just silly to me. I guess it's the protocol but Im sick of it. I hope I am not over exaggerating but I am feeling more and more like bedside is not for me but I dont want to quit before my year is up. I want to have a solid year so I can move on to do other things that require that much experience. I am so tired and frankly I'm getting bored and unmotivated. How do I rectify this?! Please help. Thanks

Specializes in Education, Skills & Simulation, Med/Surg, Pharm.

I hated my first nursing job. I left after 15 months. I still work at the bedside and it's the best that bedside nursing can be but I still hate it. I primarily work as clinical faculty and I love it. I found my passion. I'm halfway through my master's in nursing education and I couldn't be happier. You'll too find your passion. Hang in there!

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It sounds like you have conveniently adapted the healthcare administrator mentality. We have plenty of this at my workplace. And this is exactly why RNs are getting burned out so quickly and dislike bedside nursing so much. RNs have the job with all the responsibilities, zero authority and non-existent respect. They are expected to do everybody's job all the time , CNAs job included. Then, and only then, RN would remotely qualify as good team member. I am experiencing and witnessing similar situations every day at my workplace when the RNs have to ask CNAs (extra nicely and politely) to perform their job responsibilities. Forget it, if this is done at the end of the day - CNAs are charting and not taking patient calls anymore - they want to go home on time. Meanwhile, RNs are doing their job, while leaving two hours after their shift is over...Hey, there should be a reason all those CNAs called Nurse Assistants. Certainly, RNs will be happy help CNAs with their patient care tasks if they have time to do so. Usually this is not the case with an impossible workload RNs have nowadays.

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I don't understand why the CNA felt she had to report you. Were you unwilling to participate in assisting the clean up of the pt? The most action happens at the bedside, I find it is where I can make the most difference. It is true there is the most controversy at the bedside, but working as a team does make a difference. It sounds like your "team" is more into competition than working together. Try to see why the CNA felt she had to report you. Bedside is not as terrible as you may think!!!

It sounds like you have conveniently adapted the healthcare administrator mentality. We have plenty of this at my workplace. And this is exactly why RNs are getting burned out so quickly and dislike bedside nursing so much. RNs have the job with all the responsibilities, zero authority and non-existent respect. They are expected to do everybody's job all the time , CNAs job included. Then, and only then, RN would remotely qualify as good team member. I am experiencing and witnessing similar situations every day at my workplace when the RNs have to ask CNAs (extra nicely and politely) to perform their job responsibilities. Forget it, if this is done at the end of the day - CNAs are charting and not taking patient calls anymore - they want to go home on time. Meanwhile, RNs are doing their job, while leaving two hours after their shift is over...Hey, there should be a reason all those CNAs called Nurse Assistants. Certainly, RNs will be happy help CNAs with their patient care tasks if they have time to do so. Usually this is not the case with an impossible workload RNs have nowadays.

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Specializes in Post Acute, Home, Inpatient, Hospice/Pall Care.

Hi,

I've been an RN 3 years and I am just about to START M/S nursing. I find 'bedside' an odd term as I have been mostly in home hospice and palliative care and I am most definitely at their bed side! I worked in a sub-acute and lasted 5 months, not because of the work, because of the absolute toxic environment and even more toxic nurses. I jumped ship and never looked back. I went into homecare and spent most of my short nursing career there. Its kind of ironic that I started in home care because you take care of very ill patients, give acute care, do pretty much everything yourself-blood draws, IV's, dressing, PICC/CL care, trach, vent, etc. but you are all alone!

If you can stick it out the two months go for it, but start looking now, it can take a while to get hired at a new job. Reason for leaving "eager to advance my nursing skills in ____ environment". That is what I was told managers like to hear ;)

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Thank you!!!!!!

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Try managed care or HMO companies, it's still nursing but I find it less stressful. I do provider dispute and I like it! Basically just me and my computer reviewing medical records..approve or deny the claim. No need to service anyone else.

Stay calm, stay humble and carry on...✌️

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Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..
It sounds like you have conveniently adapted the healthcare administrator mentality. We have plenty of this at my workplace. And this is exactly why RNs are getting burned out so quickly and dislike bedside nursing so much. RNs have the job with all the responsibilities, zero authority and non-existent respect. They are expected to do everybody's job all the time , CNAs job included. Then, and only then, RN would remotely qualify as good team member. I am experiencing and witnessing similar situations every day at my workplace when the RNs have to ask CNAs (extra nicely and politely) to perform their job responsibilities. Forget it, if this is done at the end of the day - CNAs are charting and not taking patient calls anymore - they want to go home on time. Meanwhile, RNs are doing their job, while leaving two hours after their shift is over...Hey, there should be a reason all those CNAs called Nurse Assistants. Certainly, RNs will be happy help CNAs with their patient care tasks if they have time to do so. Usually this is not the case with an impossible workload RNs have nowadays.

Agree.

Administration that is willfully detached and frankly......too often......out of their league....has lead to a very 'the Indians run the camp' phenomenon on many units. I have seen too often where ancillary staff expect to be accommodated at every turn. If they don't receive the accommodations they fell they are entitled too.....usually blatant non compliance follows.......with a heavy dose of "I can find another job that pays this much in a day. So fire me if you don't like it."

And there in lies the problem. Their assertion that they can do just as well elsewhere is true. No reason for them to concern themselves with whether you or the boss likes their attitude or not.

Healthcare is profit driven. Its too costly to fire every CNA with attitude and replace them. Much more profitable to give low wages, let them linger long after they become problematic and pretend to be unaware. Truth is, their Co workers suffer not the admin so.......

Then the problem becomes ours.

Many won't like this but my humble time at the bedside has taught me one thing: There is only one way to deal with this. That is to go above and beyond as a leader and motivate these individuals. We must exude charm, confidence, charisma and sense of purpose.

I understand we shouldn't be asked to do so much and its administrations job. But, if you wait for them to deal with it.......well, expect to be burned out very quickly.

I find nurses facing this problem often know all this but don't feel up to the task, so they avoid doing what is needed of them and.......the problem beats them.

I will end with this: Everyone knows that nurse that even the lazy/unhappy CNAs are willing to help.

Become that nurse.

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I feel ya. I'm 2 years in and am liking bed-side nursing less and less. Yeah I learn a lot, but it's so demanding and emotionally draining. Like today I got beat the crap up by a dementia patient and her care giver insisted we need to do more for her (like try to stand her up even though she could barely sit up, and we told her it's unsafe) and threaten us with her position of some journalism chief editor. I get pulled in all directions. eat lunch in 10 minutes (a couple of times I had to completely skip). but other than bed-side nursing and home health care (which i don't feel comfortable doing yet), nobody else is hiring...

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What did you end up doing? Seems like your post was some time ago. I love bedside nursing myself. It is the drama and the power struggles which are often started by the assistants that I abhor.

In general, they often feel like they are disrespected and that the RNs don't appreciate them. They had made hell for me in the beginning, long ago. I learned to foster their self esteem and to go out of my way to thank them for every little thing, especially in front of others. It seems ridiculous to have to compliment endlessly for things which are simply in their job description. After all, us RNs don't get all that thanks and respect most of the time. But it seems to work pretty well most of the time. And of course, I have often ended up doing most of the assistants' work because it is just easier than making them accountable. This issue is timeless and never changes; don't know why!!! Management always seems to be 'on the side ' of the assistants. Doesn't matter if your job is something they certainly CAN NOT do....they always seem to think they know the RNs job better than the RN. Its a weird psychological game.....and yes.....this is the part of the bedside I HATE.

Of course cleaning a pt. is important! But ultimately it IS THE ASSISTANTS JOB to do this. The RNs who take it on themselves are the ones who end up getting along well with the assistants and in time; the assistants come to realize they can respect the RN as long as she is willing to get poop on her hands, so to speak.

Hope you ended up finding a better fit for you....or finding something within the bedside realm which gives you enough satisfaction that you are able to successfully maneuver this endless conflict.......and it really is endless.....ugh.

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I hated medsurg nursing too!! Have you ever thought of transferring to the ER? I worked on the floor for almost a year and then transferred to the ER. I have now been an ER nurse for 8 years and I love it! It is def not for everyone but I would give it a shot!

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