I'm quitting nursing

[MVH119]

After losing my chosen job in Plastics because my ward got shut down and trying other surgical posts I got a relevation of sorts last night.

I was emptying a bedpan at the time and the thought struck me that why the hell do I need a degree to deal with ****?.

I have had enough of this poorly-paid dirty job. I'm fed up with rude and nasty patients and I cannot stand whining relatives. I'm fed up with sub-standard nursing care because of cost restrictions.

I'm basically disenchanted with nursing. I want out.

[simplminz]

If I felt as though I could afford to quit nursing I would in a minute, not because of patients,but because of nursing and administration itself. It is time to take a good hard look at why nurses are leaving and make it attractive to be a nurse...some things will be very difficult to change, some things will take a very long time to change, and some things may never change. I for one am tired of being accountable for every discipline, including physicians and nurses taking on the weight of the world. When something has to be done Nursing takes it on. JCAHO piles on more and more mandatory requirements, some which in theory, are good, but where are the nurses and the hours to do all of these things?

I don't feel that I am underpaid. I do not feel that a higher wage is a long term solution to this problem or the nursing shortage or to make nurses who are unhappy for other reasons, happy. I think mandatory overtime, 12 hour shifts and overtime in general all lead to unhappiness and burnout and poor patient care as well.

I'm envious of nurses who love their job and wonder how nurses who work on busy med/surg units and critical care areas cope with their day and leave still saying they love their jobs. I don't work in this type of area and in the busiest of times I leave feeling as though I have been unfulfilled, behind, and given substandard care.

Good luck to all of you leaving nursing and enjoy your new careers.

[DDRN4me]

The OP has obviously spent a lot of time and money obtaining her masters degree. I understand that being overworked and underpaid when you have worked so hard is extremely frustrating!! Have you gone to any job fairs recently? what about a career counselind workshop or class? I do have to say that there are sooo many different ways to use your education and training. You do not have to teach nursing itself, what about one of the sciences in a nursing program,? If you are not a teacher, and are detail oriented, what about a UR position? Ihave many friends in UR who "liked nursing but hated people"! Best of luck in whatever you do. Mary

[lcozar]

I have heard a lot of complaints about nursing. and it is something all over the world. A lot of nurses given up this field and I do not blame them. there is a lack of respect for us, anywhere you go you will be the last to be trusted. Moreover medical doctors, cheif, patients treat you like a pig. it does not matter what effort you ,put but if you are a nurse think about a second field, just to have something for backup when you give up.

I nursed for more than 20 years, and there is no change at all. I encouraged my daughter to do medicine instead. Nursing as a field has to change 100 percent, otherwise will vanish it.

[lorster]

I don't feel that I am underpaid. I do not feel that a higher wage is a long term solution to this problem or the nursing shortage or to make nurses who are unhappy for other reasons, happy. QUOTE]

Simpleminz. All the money in the world will not make it better if you simply hate nursing. But.....I do feel we are very underpaid. Look at other professions out there. Pharmacists make 85,000 a year, Physical Therapists make more than we do. Plumbers make way more than we do. Flaggers on highway construction make over 20 an hour. The list goes on and on. For the responsibility we are given, we make squat. If this were a male dominated profession, you can bet your sweet biffy we would be in the 6 figure range. But...we have no balls, no solidarity. That is the bottom line. We simply are not loud enough or just too tired to care after an exhaustive 12 hour shift.