I don't understand this profession..

BamaBound2bRN · Sep 27, 2005

Frankly, I think there is a number of dominant codependents who go into nursing and prey upon passive codependents, who go into healthcare hoping to help people. Then there are non-codependents who scratch their heads trying to figure out what the heck is going on...

I think I need some Prozac.......... :rotfl:

BamaBound2bRN · Sep 27, 2005

I too believe the root of this evil work enviroment is related to stress.
Yes, but stress is relevant. After combat, nothing stresses me...............................................I thought, then came Chemistry

Mona Mona, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2005

Mona Mona,
Don't worry, as nursing is so flexible. There's all kinds of things you can do. I met a travel nurse in St. Thomas who works there in the winter, then spend the rest of the year in Alaska renting fishing camps. I'm even thinking about nursing infomatics, which requires getting an MS. Now, the world of geeks has its own problems, but there's a lot of solitude in the work. There's a bad side and good side to every job - we've been talking about the stress, a real down side. A positive up side is the profession's flexibility. But I understand why the thread is scaring you!
Diahni

:icon_hug:

Thank you!

Yes, that's what my mom has always said. She wanted me to get into the medical profession for a long time - she is an Occupational Therapist. She can't believe some of the stories I've told her I've read on here. I think our area is pretty nice, and lots of opportunities. I volunteered for 4 months, every Saturday, at a decent sized hospital, and made SURE to observe everything, and let the nurses know I was looking into nursing. They showed me good, and bad things, but never the horror stories I've seen here. Maybe it doesn't happen on Saturdays?? :rotfl:

Maybe, one day, when I've had a bad day, I'll kick myself for leaving office work. However, I hope I'll also have those good days when I'll help a patient, and it will all be worth it. :)

Good luck to you with the Nursing Informatics!

chadash · Sep 27, 2005

I think I need some Prozac.......... :rotfl:

ah yes! vitamin P.....should be instilled in water fountains thoughout LTC facilities~

Oh, by the way, dominant codependent is a code word for bully... :rolleyes:

Diahni · Sep 27, 2005

ah yes! vitamin P.....should be instilled in water fountains thoughout LTC facilities~
Oh, by the way, dominant codependent is a code word for bully...

Neurontin is better if you're hyper....

AMARTIN1 · Sep 27, 2005

I'd say 90% of the time we are o.k. But every once in a while we have a meltdown. I had a hissy fit myself just the other day. I was very unprofessional but it just came out of me due to overwhelming stress and poor staffing.
Later we all got over it and had a good laugh. Someone on the sides who didn't know me or us could come here and say the same thing you did.
I don't generalize the 10% of the times we're not at our best and judge my unit.
Good luck to you.

Very well put!! I've caught myself doing the same.

chadash · Sep 28, 2005

Neurontin is better if you're hyper....

specially if you have those pesky hemifacial spasms, so common in healthcare workers.... :rolleyes:

bethin · Sep 28, 2005

I'm a CNA on a med/surg floor and a pre-nursing student. I have actually had a change of major form in my hand ready to turn in to my advisor. I have been told to dig through trash cans because a nurse accidentally threw away a narcotic. When I said no, I didn't have time, I was told that I was there to serve her. When I asked if her hands were painted on she turned away from me. I dumped the trash but didn't find the med. Turned out it was in her pocket.

I have seen a nurse manager, nursing supervisor and a seasoned RN in the hall screaming and cussing at each other. And we should follow their command?? I think that's part of the problem. When the so called professionals can't keep it together how can anyone else?

Does everyone else have problems with backstabbing?? I feel so guilty when I hear someone say something nice to someone only to turn around and say something nasty when they walk out of the room. I hate office politics.

I have been a nurse for almost 8 years. During these years, I have worked in many different areas at two different hospitals. What I do not understand is the bitterness, bickering, and unprofessional behavior that happens on the floor.
I think this has always been a problem, but it seems to have become increasingly worse. Yesterday I witnessed a colleague rip apart another nurse, the director, and a nursing assistant. The other nurses on the floor then began to tear into the first nurse and it became a very tense working environment.
Nurses are in such great demand and I see why. Unless you have thick skin and can take being harassed by coworkers, you will leave the profession too.
Nurses not only eat their young, but also their old, strong, weak, and whoever else.
Yesterday, I was ashamed to call myself a nurse. I am a second career nurse and I have never witnessed behavior in coworkers in my life. The incident yesterday was just one example there have been many others of nurses bring each other down.
I needed to vent about this because it makes me sad. I have a niece and nephew that both were thinking about the nursing profession while in school. Thanks heavens that I was able to talk them out of it. They deserve more out of their career.

Diahni · Sep 28, 2005

bethin, if you don't like office politics, a friend who does per diem says it's the cure - everyone is glad to see you as most times you're doing someone's shift for them. and no unit meetings!

chadash - I'd say it's more like a full body spazz.

Diahni

chadash · Sep 28, 2005

bethin, if you don't like office politics, a friend who does per diem says it's the cure - everyone is glad to see you as most times you're doing someone's shift for them. and no unit meetings!
chadash - I'd say it's more like a full body spazz.
Diahni

I was picturing .... Chief Insp. Charles Dreyfus reacting to the hapless Insp. Jacques Clouseau....which produced a onesided facial tic of global proportions....I have been know to have this effect on some nurses....

FroggysMom · Sep 28, 2005

I'm a CNA on a med/surg floor and a pre-nursing student. I have actually had a change of major form in my hand ready to turn in to my advisor. I have been told to dig through trash cans because a nurse accidentally threw away a narcotic. When I said no, I didn't have time, I was told that I was there to serve her. When I asked if her hands were painted on she turned away from me. I dumped the trash but didn't find the med. Turned out it was in her pocket.
I have seen a nurse manager, nursing supervisor and a seasoned RN in the hall screaming and cussing at each other. And we should follow their command?? I think that's part of the problem. When the so called professionals can't keep it together how can anyone else?
Does everyone else have problems with backstabbing?? I feel so guilty when I hear someone say something nice to someone only to turn around and say something nasty when they walk out of the room. I hate office politics.

And for this we all need to get BSNs or better??????

NYCRN05 · Sep 28, 2005

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I too am a second career RN. I've been working an entire three months and feel like crying more than feeling happy when I leave work. I had more patients today than other nurses, many 20 years of experience. I don't mind working hard, but when it's time to leave, the leave. They don't bother to help me out. I ended up leaving 75 minutes late today!! That's the latest I've ever left. While staying late, I get the feeling others from the next shift have the attitude I dont know anything. They have no patience at all. I hate my job even though I feel I'm doing okay. I make some mistakes, but nothing earth-shattering, but I'm a perfectionist, so it always appears worse than it is in my mind. To make matters worse, I'm fed up and now I found out one of my patience has tested positive for TB and I have to be tested now. Reading your post makes me realize I'm not alone. By the way, I don't expect any job to be perfect, but this is crazy!!

Hi Lisa! I'm Lisa too! And I totally understand what you mean. I was a secretary and stay at home mom for many years before I decided to give my "Dream" of nursing a try. I've been on the job for two months now and there are times when I really wonder if I made the right decision to become a nurse. I'm feeling very confused right now and I don't want to give up (I hear that the feelings I'm experiencing are normal for a new grad.), but there are moments when I just want to run for the hills! I'm the type of person that want's everyone to like her and wants everyone to get along. But I'm slowly beginning to realize that that isn't going to happen. I've come to the point that I just want to do my job for my eight hour shift and go home. Once upon a time I wanted to make a difference in nursing...amazing what a couple of months can do to a person. Thanks for letting me vent :-)