If You Can't Handle the Heat, Get Out of the Kitchen!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all,

I am a new grad-ish, I have been working the hospital for 6 months on a med floor. I am run ragged on a daily basis and hardly get my breaks. I know this is normal. If I get one break I consider that a success just as the other nurses do on my floor.

I got a written warning a couple months ago because of a documentation error, no patient harm. Just a bad day, so stressed I forgot to document.

I love caring for patients, hey I even had a couple cool moments with patients that made me think "Hey I have something to hold onto that makes this job worth while.'

But sometimes I feel my days are numbered at my job. At weak moments I desperately search and apply for non-hospital jobs looking for a way out. But when potential employers call, I don't respond...because by the time they do i have pepped talked myself back in staying at my job...."Just hold on for one more day..." Wilson Philips

Even though I keep my patients safe, I am just not going fast enough for management, I am expected to put up with poor staffing conditions, and abusive patients with a smile...welcome to nursing.

That's cool, I get it...the term "If you can handle the heat, get out of the kitchen!" slaps me in the face every time when I want to complain to myself about my job. Millions of nurses see the BS and they still do it. When I reflect upon my career path...lol...Scrubs some how deceptively guided me, foolish me.Too much day dreaming. Hospital nursing is like scrubs but with out the cool docs like Elliot or Turk. Just Dr.Cox with no charm and humor. Truth be told that is nursing, if you can't handle it you better get out because things are not going to change any time soon. Big fish eat little fish and keep it moving. Things move so fast, no one has time to mourn your untimely termination if it happens...on to the next one. The well of mercy in this world is desolate and barren.

I knew when i went into nursing it was not going to be easy...but I did not think it was going to be this hard and though squeezing a tear out of me is like squeezing blood out of a rock...I have a had moments on the floor in which the lump in my throat threatened to push the tears gates open. But with many deep breaths I have pulled my self together.

I want to be an ICU nurse, I know I am still very new to this game. I was elated when getting this job on the medical floor....my first step towards ICU then CRNA... I wanted to put in my years in med and serve my time but now I just want to get mine and ditch this place now that I have 6 months experience. I was willing to give them 1-2 years....but

The heat in the kitchen is hot and it is not my patients that concern me, it is management. I feel like I am a dime a dozen. If they fire me, there are a 1000 other willing applicants eager and ready to take my place. The world will un-remorsfully keep turning. Just another nurse who could not hack it. Sure they lose a little cash with the money they invested training me but they will be fine...but what about me? Start from the bottom again..?

I don't know if i will be fired but darn...I rather not wait to find out. A written warning...I have a feeling my supervisor has it out for me. She exaggerated everything in our meeting. That's fine, they got me. I take responsibility. But I don't think it needed to goto this extent. I am over medical. Documentation trumps patient care any day.

Sorry for the ramble but I need some answers...should i just start applying for ICU jobs and try and get out ASAP or try and tough it out some more and gamble not to be fired. Jumping to another medical job would be like starting at the bottom. I am okay at medical but i think with the right training I would be great in ICU. Many new grads do residency in ICU and succeed...Can't I as well with my med experience with a good icu training program?

I figure let me use this job as my leaping ground to get to ICU fast. I am not normally this cold. But I don't see why I should give my best years and energy to a place where the rewards are so few. They don't care if they suck me dry...."just work faster...harder...but go home on low census so we don't have to pay you' It does not seem like a good deal. This job is sucking me dry with no mercy. I might as well get what I can and get out with no remorse.

It is a doggy dog world in the hospital I work in.

Your thoughts....

I have decided to stay, suck it up, bust my orifice....get what I want and then move on once I get it.

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And when you have what you want, realize that problems might change, but they don't go away.

There are no paying jobs that come without some sort of trade-off, even at the high levels.

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What-evs GT,

It is what it is. I am going to ride this train until I get what I want. I did not spend 4 years of my life and thousands of dollars on nursing school to let my life end here. I am going to climb my way to the top. I invested in myself and I aim to get what I want.

I know my words threaten the convictions that many nurses have about nursing being so great. I know it has struck a cord with you... I can read the not-so-thinly veiled annoyance...what-ever, that is your prob.

I speak nothing but the truth about what is going on in nursing. I know the truth is a bitter pill to swallow.

My issue of nursing is not the work...we can handle the work...it is dealing l with poor management and vertical/horizontal violence on a daily basis. GT you just don't get it. But i really don't care if you get it. Moving on to brighter bulbs.

Those that are wise will follow my suit, get the hell out of nursing, or understand the BS accept it and swallow it and continue their lives.

Thanks...but i don't need LUCK to get where i am going. I just need hard work and dedication.

Since the other posters are nurses, I don't see why they "don't get it" There's nothing wrong with wanting something else, but you seem like you think you're the only one who understands the "truth" about nursing, and all those who are happy in bedside care are weak fools. Which isn't the case and it's pretty arrogant for you to assume that you know more than all the experienced nurses on this forum. It could just be that they're less sensitive and able to better deal with the challenges, and able to focus on the good. Or maybe they just don't want to be CRNAs and like what they're doing now better. Or maybe being a CRNA just wasn't in the cards for them despite their best efforts and abilities...Or maybe you're right and everyone except you is an unwise fool martyring themselves for no reason.

You do need luck, sometimes hardwork and dedication still come up short.

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You are very much correct. i realize that CRNA still has it's short comings...I will still have to work for someone else....There is the possibility of working as an independent contractor...But as a CRNA the money I make will used to invest in my own private business...but that is far down the line.

Then there is NP. Which is appealing...because if I do become an NP...I will not work for anyone but my self...I will build my own client base or join a private medical group and have myself insured up the ying yang. It will take time...But one never gets rich working for someone else. Nope.

I have no intention of working for someone for the rest of my life. The thought is terrifying. I even have my own personal projects i am working on now. But I have always been one to pack a parachute in everything I do. I always have plan A, B,C and even D. But i usually never have to resort to plan B.

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You sound like you should have gone into finance, not nursing.

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I have no intention of leaving my future up to luck. No man is an island and I understand that to get somewhere I need help. Everyone does. That is why I respect my elders and their valuable input. I give thanks to those who have helped me along the way and I pay it forward by helping those who I can.

This world is all about connections...For me to make it is a combination of connections, talent, and hard work. I will use my connections, make connections, use my talent and give credit where it is due.

But I have no intention of leaving my fate in the hands of luck. I don't believe in it. If you want something you need to work for it and play the game wisely.

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Truly 'No knowledge is a waste.'

I used to be a former law student...it was fun but I could not see myself there in the long run....so after 3 years I left and started from square one. I wanted something in which I could feel good about what I do and get paid. Working in health care seemed like a great fit...plus there is always grad school and research to fall back on.

But honestly I have 90 years to walk this path in life. I am a nurse right now and i will give my everything while i am in it. No slacking.

But I always look at things in terms of investment...What am I am i getting out of the deal? If the deal is unfairly balanced, not in my favor, then I walk. You win no points in life being the nice guy. Nice guys finish last. The ones who are winners are the ones who take what they want.

You can't just be a nurse...give everything...and expect one day someone will notice and dully reward you for all your hard work.

And don't get me started on ageism...which is seemingly inevitable. Doctors are readily rewarded for their many years of experience...but a nurse...the second the hospital has to pay you more money because of your valuable many years of experience they don't want to hire you. So older nurses have to stay in a job they may not want to because they have to fear not being able to find a job because they are "over qualified"

I have so many nurses in my family. Having them has been valuable. My mom, aunts, cousins, etc. The older one's main regret was that they did not go to grad school when they were younger. My mother fought me tooth and nail not to go. I have no regrets...I am just going to play it smart, learn from them, and get what I want.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

And don't get me started on ageism...which is seemingly inevitable.

Yeah, that seems to be true. I agree with you there. Each wave of new people in the profession think they know more from Day 1 than the experienced folks.

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I thank you all. I have now seen a different perspective on this situation. I still think it is BS that write up. You are right to say that it is in my hands. I will be proactive and ask for feed back. I will work even harder. I have worked too hard to leave my fate in their hands. I am going to get my wings.

Thank you.

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Specializes in I/DD.

Even as an NP you still work for the health care system, which in its own rite is seriously flawed.

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You are correct on that point. The health care system is so flawed. My plan B: Nurse Practitioner: Psych vs FNP, or BOTH...to give me more flexibility. As a psych NP I would just run my own private practice in my own office. Get my doctorate or PHD. I do love research...but I need to find out more about the whether it would financially be worth while. If I am going to invest another 4-5 years of my life and thousands more dollars, my earning potential must be adequate.

I would want to deal with persons who can still function in society but need a little help, eg anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, etc. Plus being a freelance writer for health magazine seems a fun leisure.

I would not work in the hospital setting EVER as a NP.

I think there is a lot of potential for NP if they work for themselves and not for others. People/patients are catching on to the value of NPs. I have had quite a few people tell me they prefer NP to doctors because they are more thorough and can actually communicate with the patients and help them meet their needs better.

With NP there is a lot of potential.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I have been in this business since I was 19: as a CNA for 5, LPN for 7, RN for 1.

I have been in ER, Tele, Stepdown, Rehab (SCI TBI, Trauma), LTC, Home Health; Agency, AND Independent Contractor. My goal is to become a NP and a educator; I want to give back to this profession because I enjoy IT. :yes:

I have no plans to leave the bedside right now; most of my jobs have been "back breaking" (as you describe nursing in earlier posts) and I still have my knees, back, and hips intact...love having my teammate in the trenches and having body mechanics down to a science...and a little yoga along the way to ensure a dose of alignment and WOOSAH. ;)

One of the things that has made me enjoy nursing (yes, it can be enjoyable) is my attitude and how I advocate; I advocate no less for my patients that I do for myself; even my co workers. My approach to making "waves" and changes has worked due to the approach that I was taught in nursing school...always back to the nursing process.

I realize that I am in control of my destination and my career; and my goals; but that doesn't change my attitude about this business...I treat this business with the respect that I have for it...by keeping my expectations reality based; I can put my A game on for each shift I worked; I know where I stand at allll times; and ANYTHING can and will happen. Knowing REALITY has kept me sane and happy in this profession. This profession is filled with the same people that are at our bedside, so personalities will be personalities, and what we do IS tough, and not for the faint if heart, and it's never personal-even if we deal with the personal-it's always business. ;)

As a LPN, I have created policies and programs to help my facility run smoother, side by side with administration; I helped create mock emergencies, preceptorship programs for new LPN and RNs, and make sure nursing care was more solid; I have also been on the other side of this particular administration as well, and took it in stride. I was written up at least 5 times; 4 being evidence of verbal warnings; 1 write up had 3 "offenses" which were more of the administrator taking things personally; and our board of directors were not as "nurse friendly" and it was a small facility; staff was probably he size of a medium size unit; but the dynamics worked when we were on the same page.

I have been a new nurse in ICU... my "not being a good fit" was due to the fact I needed a transition; and they were upfront about not having the best new grad program either; this was NOT the job I wanted to take because I wanted to get my feet wet somewhere else, just like you did; I am not a quitter-but knew I needed more...My hackles took over the potential that they did see in me, but as an advocate, I kept going, so I went off into the fire; I am a Supervisor in LTC, and I ENJOY IT. The aspects of my job and he skill care I give and the leadership aspects I am learning can transition back into the critical care (when I go back there; because I will) and into my future goals. I am aware of the nuances of what I needed to be successful; it IS stressful, but so is life and interacting with HUMANITY in general.

If you have goals to go far in this business, that's fine; sounds like you are "in" it to win it..however, if you are going to stay in this business, you have to approach it a different way as "just a nurse"...and if you are approaching it away from his attitude, and you respect the "nursing elders" as you say, then understand what the nursing "elders" are explaining to you-you MAY get to whatever destination, but it may be in 15 years...that may be the reality; so, how are you going to approach that in the NOW???

I encourage you to not have those hard knock lessons that you learned dominate who you are; if you enjoy your job, continue to do so. Treat management for the respect of the position, but understand hat management is a title; they are still people too...human. If you want out of the position, get out; it's not quitting, it's giving you another experience that will assist you in your journey. Narrow down and really decide what you want; I gave up on plans B-Z a lonnnngggg time ago in this profession...I'm in it to win it with my short term and long term goals, or not-I've kept it short and sweet; again, sanity is my priority.

I've had enough set backs and wild rides, that not having my important or too many priorities in place gives me a big headache and too much data...either I want something and that's my priority, or I don't want it bad enough, and if it happens so be it, the framework was in place for things to happen...not everything in life is controllable either. If that was the case, when the place I loved to work at stopped hiring LPNs when I was a new grad, I don't think I would have had such rich experiences...it has made me marketable because of my flexibility; even if potential employers wait for those magical "two years"; or when this surplus of nursing occurred, I could've stayed in my comfort zone and not had my experiences to get my "hackles" away and got me back on my "A" game.

Hammer down your goals; offer yourself opportunities to learn and grow; then put your plan for this business into action. :) You have a lot of flexibility and opportunity NOW, to get to where you decide to be; you have the power to learn how to use it NOW, so when you reach your goals, you will be an expert in it. ;)

Sending positive vibes.......

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