I hate nursing..

Nurses New Nurse

Published

I graduated in December, and have been working on an inpatient oncology unit since. I DREAD going to work each week. The days I do have off, I'm too tired to enjoy. I'm not overwhelmed or any of the typical things you'd assume. I just don't like it!

Is this normal for new nurses? Does it pass? Were most of you in love with nursing from the get-go? Maybe I need a new are of nursing?

I just don't know what to do, I'm already pondering starting up a new degree program.

just curious, since this message, what did you do? how did you handle things? did youchange employers? thanks! i'm in the same positionm and hearing about other's experiences helps

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Specializes in babysitting.

it's probably not going to get better. you might look into a different aspect of nursing like ER nursing or surgical nursing might be better. or go back to school for Forensic science.

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it's obvious that you aren't cut out for bedside nursing. we're all happy that you're in a private office with a happy stomach, smiley bladder, no dirty work and less patient contact. really, that's where you should be. if you're unable to see the rewards of bedside nursing for the pitfalls, you shouldn't be a bedside nurse. as for respect -- i get plenty of respect from those i work with. perhaps you didn't get any as a bedside nurse because you hadn't earned it yet.

this post really bothers me and strikes me as unkind and coming from an "eating your young" mentality. not to mention macho. i am in orientation still, it's been very difficult for a 1001 reasons, i am discovering that in spite of it all, i like a lot about nursing. what is emerging is that the greatest difficulty for me is not running my a** off for 12 hours, not poo, pee, vomit, not patients who call me a lot for help, not the smells, not feeling unsure of how to do things. the worst part of nursing is encountering "seasoned" nurses who are mean, unfriendly, and who almost seem to enjoy watching me flounder. it is the worst aspect for me of being a new nurse. thank god, not all seasoned nurses do this but far too many do.

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I agree with Eyeball. Ruby Vees post is just plain nasty. If the things she has posted here are truely how she feels I suspect the respect she believes she is getting from new nurses is just plain fear. Many people like to instill fear in others they see as weaker to make them feel superior.

So the only way one can be "better" in nursing is if they give up the rest of their life and health to it. And for what? I like to help people but, I do not need complements from strangers to feel good about myself.

All this extreme self sacrifice hits me as incredibly unnecessary and in fact detrimental. Healthy happy people who do not put their backs in jeopardy make better employees AND much better role models for patients trying to take care of their own health. We tell patients to control stress take care of themselves, we need to do the same. Just watch how much money this country would save on health care if we all did that.

Nurses could be great role models but, many are too busy being martyrs. This is not healthy for nurse or patient. It is called CODEPENDENT. Don't kid yourself, CODEPENDENT is NOT HEALTHY for ANYONE. Even though codependence seems to be encouraged in nursing school. Don't fool yourself, CODEPENDENCE is NOT HEALTHY for ANYONE.

Herein lies the MAIN problem in nursing. CODEPENDENCE is ENCOURAGED beginning in nursing school. Then it is reinforced by the terrible working conditions one will get "used to" similar to the way that people get used to abuse. "Put others first" "do not be concerned with yourself", taken in the right context these are christian values but they are also values that are encouraged by abusive people and corporations to get you to WORK HARDER FOR THEM WITHOUT CONCERN for YOUR LIFE OR FAMILY.

And really, how dare anyone question WHY I do a particular job? Its my life and none of your business. To my knowledge nursing is the ONLY job where this is an issue and it is beyond ridiculous. Nursing schools need to start hiring people that are not nurses to teach a course "how to be a professional." Number one on the list is get your nose out of other people's business and focus on your own performance.

Really it is sickening to have spent alll the time getting a degree in something with this kind of attitude from the other "professionals" in your field. I have decided I will never ever work in a hospital setting unless things are much different then they are now. Soon we will find that Nursing Jobs are done more and more by mostly unlicensed people anyway, I would bet the farm on it.

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Specializes in Tele, Cardiac Post Op, ER.

To quote Ocean's Twelve... " Every problem is an opportunity in disguise."

Trying to put a good spin on this thread!

Happy Holidays everyone! :D

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I mostly just hate other nurses. Some of the most bitter and disgusting people I have ever met in my life. Such a shame.

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Specializes in ICU, MS, Radiology, Long term care.

Kudos to you bree* for being honest, I hope.

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Yes, I'm being completely honest. Other nasty nurses make this field pretty pathetic.

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I am not happy with nursing but my experience is/ has been/ different than Bree's. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've worked with some really wonderful nurses that I respect a great deal. Actually.. that's partly why I went to nursing school- I like many of the nurses I meet. So intuitively I thought.. I'd llike nursing. There are some aspects of it I don't mind but for the most part (at least my own limited experience) I find it not very engaging intellectually and brutally hard, long hours on your feet, and not at all supportive of the health of the nurses themselves. First do no harm? - doesn't seem to apply to nurses, does it.. I find it incomprehensible that the medical profession thinks it is possible to work 12 hours/ day caring for others with no personal health consequence. Okay, lol...this IS why I hate nursing. Soul sucking and health consequences...but I still like other nurses. Not all of em of course- I have met some catty types but those exist everywhere.

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I think I got the idea of the backbreaking work while I was in clinicals :-). How could one not? I've heard the expression "nurses eat their young" of course but in my own personal experience, the mature nurses have been the greatest mentors...encouraging and sane.

Some of the very young nursing grads on the other hand..lol..can be a bit full of themselves. I put it down to being excited about simply being a nurse and finishing school, and just.. being very young and not mature- but they don't seem to get that ... simply graduating and having a license does not make one expert on any level.

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I've been a nurse little over 4 years in a ICU. I had the worst 25yr old patient today and I started hating Nursing because of that. I want to change my profession.. this ain't a profession...

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I am not happy with nursing but my experience is/ has been/ different than Bree's. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've worked with some really wonderful nurses that I respect a great deal. Actually.. that's partly why I went to nursing school- I like many of the nurses I meet. So intuitively I thought.. I'd llike nursing. There are some aspects of it I don't mind but for the most part (at least my own limited experience) I find it not very engaging intellectually and brutally hard, long hours on your feet, and not at all supportive of the health of the nurses themselves. First do no harm? - doesn't seem to apply to nurses, does it.. I find it incomprehensible that the medical profession thinks it is possible to work 12 hours/ day caring for others with no personal health consequence. Okay, lol...this IS why I hate nursing. Soul sucking and health consequences...but I still like other nurses. Not all of em of course- I have met some catty types but those exist everywhere.

I agree. I work with some very nice/supportive coworkers. They are not the problem. The long hours, lack of proper staffing, being pulled in 8 directions at once, and the stress of possibly screwing up is wearing on me.

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