I hate what's happening to nursing...

[nyteshade]

Eight years.

That is how long I’ve been in nursing. Just eight years. I haven’t been on AN in a while. I used to frequent the site a lot to vent with others, and help others with advice. Well, today is a ranting kind of day, so here it goes…

I hate what nursing is becoming. It is become overrun with elite folks who have forgotten what it’s like to just get through your shift. It’s being taken over by money hungry CEOs that are finding neat little ways to package “customer service” with healthcare. Our intelligence is being insulted here! What exactly do I mean by this? Well, what professional do you know gets “scripts” to regurgitate at patients? Why is it that we are not trusted to do our job or say the right thing?

I understand that healthcare is indeed a business. It has to be. If it weren’t, we’d all be working for free. I got that. I do my job. I put my all into my shift. I advocate for my patients. I’ve gone above and beyond…all without recognition.

But, I’m deeply saddened…Now I’m being told that isn’t good enough. All I see for the future of healthcare is walking into a patient’s room at the end of my shift saying, “My name is______, if you felt I gave excellent care call 888-tell-them, and rate me a 10.” Heaven forbid you score less than 10 three times…

Eight years ago, I felt so proud in my whites on graduation day. I felt professional, neat, knowledgeable, and respected. Now, I feel burned up, and abused. For now, I stay in nursing…patients still smile, and thank me at the end of my shift. They cannot detect how I feel under the surface.

But, I am seriously considering leaving healthcare altogether.

[ebear, BSN, RN]

I agree with every post. I've decided to throw in my "cap." It's just not worth the BS anymore.

[Fiona59]

I agree with every post. I've decided to throw in my "cap." It's just not worth the BS anymore.

I'm with you on this. I'm sitting here trying to decide if I should finish up this year and call it quits.

The aggression and verbal abuse permitted to continue by certain RNs on my unit is out of control. Management is afraid that the aggressor will go to her union while my union is wanting to nail her to the wall.

I just feel like handing in my tags and walking away. But then I let an aggressive, out of control shrew win.

[WindyhillBSN]

Tell me about it. Since I was fired from my last job, and was told "under ordinary circumstances we wouldn't let you go, but things are different now." I've been home, and have been surprised at how relaxed I've become. I have even went down to half of my medication! After all of this, I don't know if I can ever work in a hospital again.

[LucasRN]

I agree. Healthcare is quickly becoming all about the money. Patient care does not even rank in the top five!!

[JacknSweetpea]

A lot of older nurses I work with talk a lot about "how things used to be"....but what really sticks out in my mind is the times they've told me how nursing management would actually have their backs instead of being "the enemy". I don't know...the management I've been around seem to worry about making themselves and their endeavors look good, and woe betide anyone with the cajones to challenge them. I recently switched jobs, from working in a LTC, to doing home health, and it isn't any better. However, I'm glad to have more pay and a safer, saner workload.*wine

[NightNurseRN]

I feel exactly the same. Sometimes I feel like I am the only one complaining around here. I dont understand how most of the nurses I work with think that what is happening is ok. I am pregnant so I need maternity insurance but after I have this baby I will be quitting! Id rather pay for private insurance and cut back on household costs than continue to dread going to work and being treated like a waitress/slave.

[October97]

I've been a nurse for 10 years and I am at the point where just thinking about going to work makes me want to vomit. The only redeeming thing about my job is that I work with children and I love kids. Their parents however I could do without. We are required to do hourly rounds and recite some scripted dialog about what can I do for you, I have the time. HA!!! As if I have the time to even go into each room every hour. What a hoot!! I HATE being a nurse more and more with every shift because of all the administrative BS that interferes with our job. Leave me alone and let me provide the best possible care I can for my pts and I will do a great job. Get in my face and attempt to make me do customer service scripts and I am going to forget something really important, like to check your IV or your pain med, but hey, who cares about pain meds, let me get you a coke and an extra blanket. Hope I'm not offending anyone, but I think a lot of you feel my pain.

[stressgal, RN]

And here I thought I was the only one who had a rough week, lol. Our facility, including critical care has open visitation, anyone and everyone can visit at anytime. We had been told by management that we would "always be backed" if we needed to ask visitors to step out for patient care. That only works until a visitor doesn't want to leave. All demands from "customers" seem to always be granted. Let's face it, people are less respectful and more agressive. Seriously thinking of a career change too.

[OCNRN63, RN]

It was so much different 25 years ago.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Yup, nursing sucks, no doubt about it!

People must learn that being generally happy in life is so much more important than making oodles of money that you need to use to pay for depression medication because you are so miserable!

I took a 7 dollar per hour pay cut to go back to EMS full time, but let me tell you it was well worth it! I actually make more money doing what I love since I can work OT and Not be in the least bit misserable doing it!

Bottom line unhappy nurses... Do not be afraid to get out! You CAN survive on less pay, you may have to adjust your life style, but it is an easy trade off! It is truly wonderful to go to work and not feel like you are at work!

Happy

[susanthomas1954]

38 years I've been in nursing. I don't know how to do anything else. I cannot flip burgers. I want my name badge to say RN until I die (probably at work, btw). I actually work in a job where my clinical skills are used to assess what re-imbursement levels are appropriate, but when I touch a patient, when I smile at a patient, and when, heaven forbid I am actually able to care for a patient, I know I did the right thing for me. Old nurses are my favorite patients.

I will never learn to flip burgers. I will die at work.

ST

[time4meRN]

Ditto: Well said. I am glad to retire in 10 years. I care for my pt's even after 31 years. But it's getting too difficult. You said it well, beat up sick of it. I applied for a critical care position, there was a 25 question test during the app process, i expected critical care question, you know , could i recognize an mi, critical thinking etc..... Nope , all cous service. And those caned phrases, omg, i don't like them when i go to a store . I would much rather a waitress say something from the heart. When they say canned phrases it makes me think , do the owners think the public is stupid, they really don't mean it they just have to say it. I think ceo's are confusing hospitals with mcdonalds. We are supposed to say, " i'm ______, i will take very good care or you. In reality, i will not take very good care of them i will take excellent care of them. It seems i'm telling the pt , i'm not going to do the best i can i am only going to take some what good care of you.