I hate my job!

[RNlooking4freedom]

I am really getting fed up with direct patient care. I am currently working in an ER that has a fast track and an OBS unit at a Level I and I can say I am sick of most of my patients who revisit the ER like its an activity instead of a dire need to be there and most of my co-workers who are so much younger than myself and feel the need to "be bigger badder strong" that me! If i take a school nursing job I will be taking a 30,000 dollar cut in pay! Is it worth it to be happy and broke or suffer and have a better paycheck? I feel so confused right now! HELP I wish I loved what I do but honesty I have never been so excited to be a nurse. This profession is just getting worse if you ask me. I have been a nurse for 16 years and I feel so disgusted with the entire aspect of being a glorified waitress. I am so tired of picking up the slack for lazy PCTs, or EMTs that I am stuck working with that have no work ethic. I do my job and there job all day while poor management allows this to take place day after day!!! Does anyone have some advise for me?

[NurseCard, ADN]

I would normally say, go for the better job with the better hours

and less stress... but 30,000 is a LOT of money. Still, if there

is any way possible to live with the pay cut... I'm for less money

but less stress any day of the week. I realize some people HAVE,

repeat, HAVE to have that extra money. But for those that can

live without it.... I guess that's what you have to determine.

[vanilla bean]

Hope your user name isn't your real name. You know, what with all the coworker, patient, and management bashing and all. Best wishes in your quest.

[Sour Lemon]

Does anyone have some advise for me?

A whole bottle of wine and a Xanax?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

My advice is ... put on your big girl panties and find another position. You have 16 years of experience, use it to find something better.

We are anonymous on AN.. for a reason, change your user name STAT.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I took a slight pay cut to accept a work-from-home position at an insurance company. Although I am earning $10,000 less yearly, the boost in my quality of life has made this career move very much worthwhile.

Life is good when you no longer deal with childish coworkers, noncompliant patients, verbally abusive families, and brusque physicians.

[Wandrlust]

This is exactly why I'm switching specialties! I love the mother/baby specialty but, I'm so sick of the over the top demands from the whiney mothers who I have to bend over backwards pleasing while I may have a critical patient I should be attending to, all to avoid a negative press ganey because they may have to wait for a an extra cup of water for their husband who can't walk down the hall and get it himself, or heaven forbid he brings his own food. This is not nursing. It's customer service. I get that it's a business, but it is not safe sometimes because I have to do hourly rounding or I'll get fired. Sometimes I have patients who I should spend way more time with, but nope I have to hourly round on piddly stuff to get a great press ganey. So over it. They can keep their traveler nurses and I'll leave. Then i'll watch your scores tank due to travelers who don't care about customer service and only about actual nursing, the way it should be!

[lemonstolemonade]

Maybe look for another position besides that one school job you mentioned. A lot of the things you mentioned are really frustrating and not likely to change.

[ponymom]

Have you approached the lazy PCTs and EMTs and asked them why they are so lazy? Have you asked management why they allow such laziness?

[nursel56]

If I were you, my only concern would be what sort of financial impact the pay cut would have on you and your family.

When people post that they hate their job, and they're in their first year, we would probably advise giving it more time. The term burnout has become sort of a cliché, but that is probably a result of people using it to describe less severe and less persistent feelings of misery.

And you're right, systemic changes in healthcare overall is a net negative for experienced nurses. So if you decide to make the change, don't guilt trip yourself! All the best to you.

[danielle2000, MSN, RN]

The saving grace in this profession is the dynamics. I truly feel your frustration I too had been where you are. For me, it was dealing with bureaucracy of acute care facilities with their unrealistic expectations and lack of good incentives. More customer service less nursing. Some of these tactics with customer services impedes care in my honest opinion. Not to mention the weak management team and their lack of leadership qualities. I went back to school and became a FNP. Now, I am not suggesting everyone run out and go back to school but, it was definitely an option for me and I took it. Before you give up on nursing sit down and reflect to find out what do you really like to do. Many tell me I will feel the burn of my paycheck being decreased but nah!!! One, I do not live above my means and I am not a greedy nurse. I enjoy not having to work weekends holidays and dealing with petty antics on the floor from miserable crotchety nurses, lol!!!! In as the demand for advanced practice grows so will our rates. Most of all my peace of mind has been restored 10 fold because I really feel I am making an impact. I am being respected because of my knowledge and learning to collaborate with experts too. Just get a meditative moment and find your niche. When you do go get it and never look back. :-)

[DeeAngel]

Consider using your degree to segue into something related, perhaps programming computers for health care records. Something, anything, there are alternatives out there you just need to do some serious research. Nursing in the last 5 years has became unbearable and I left the profession voluntarily and forever. I miss being a nurse in many ways but I will never work as one again, it simply is not worth it for what is demanded of you.