I'm sick of taking care of people who don't care

[FireStarterRN]

I'm really feeling burnt out on taking care of people who are self destructive and have no interest in doing anything to make their lives and health better. I'm sick of a system that is like a big, enabling wet nurse to people who are going to go right back out and continue with all the bad habits again, only be back in the hospital to suck on more of the healthcare titty that puts them back together again so they can go out and continue to screw up their health some more. I'm sick of the total lack of responsibility I see every day I work.

I was talking to my stepbrother who is a chiropractor. His clients are a different group. They are interested in health maintenance and are motivated to improve their health through their own efforts. He's really doing something for people. I'm not. Sure, I have a good bedside manner and manage to connect with my patients and gain their trust. But basically I hate the American healthcare system totally and completely. At this point I'm a nurse only for the money.

[MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN]

While I agree I find it frustrating to have Sicklers in crisis because they are dehydrated for the 100th time, CHF patients munching on McDonald's frenchfries and huge cups of coke, and Diabetics in DKA I also have to say anyone with any type of issue is faced with more than just their illnesses, they are faced in some cases with a life time of habits!

Smoking and drinking usually start later in life, making them easier to quit with their addictive behaviors than the behavior of overeating. Food is part of our lives from the time we are born, someone controls the food. It is used as a reward and a punishment. Given and taken. I was blessed with a very slim mother who ate everything without repercussions! There was always junk everywhere, unlimited soda, and whatever else. Mom cooked great and a big appetite was expected due to my dad's German heritage (?). It was a house where everyone got their own steak, potato and vegetable for dinner every night! It was also a house where everything my mother said was right, you swallowed you opinions and many time that included swallowing your feelings along with food.

In situations like this many people don't even realize they are eating. To this day I still do it, and I hate it when I realize it. There are many reasons people over indulge, many do it knowingly....many do not. Can you even imagine where a behavior is so ingrained it's like breathing? I have to portion food because I know that a bag of anything-chips or vegetables will be eaten to the point of illness if I do not. Many times without the realization I am doing it.

Do I get tired of seeing the same faces, you bet! Do I think some of these patients are ashamed and their shame exacerbates their problems, I know they are. I know I am when I catch myself. For you who have no personal understanding thank God for you. For those who do, you know what I mean.

M

[Lorie P.]

we need a negative thank you button too for judgemental posts like this.

i totally do no agree that if one is burned out they should find a new job, sometimes we as nurses just need to have a temper-tamtrum and pity-party to release the stress that is building up before it gets the the point of making one sick!

thank you, nurse hobbit. thank you, thank you, thank you! not all of us can be ms. perfect nurse all the time. being human kind of gets in the way sometimes . . . .. . .

at least i know i feel much better and human after throwing my pity-party/tempet-tantrum! once it is out of my system i can go back to being (almost) humble, compassionate, pleasent .

[Lorie P.]

just checked his/her other posts.....hasnt even started cna course yet.........and has only been here five days!

i noticed that too, a big old reality check will come soon!

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

i'm really feeling burnt out on taking care of people who are self destructive and have no interest in doing anything to make their lives and health better. i'm sick of a system that is like a big, enabling wet nurse to people who are going to go right back out and continue with all the bad habits again, only be back in the hospital to suck on more of the healthcare titty that puts them back together again so they can go out and continue to screw up their health some more. i'm sick of the total lack of responsibility i see every day i work.

i was talking to my stepbrother who is a chiropractor. his clients are a different group. they are interested in health maintenance and are motivated to improve their health through their own efforts. he's really doing something for people. i'm not. sure, i have a good bedside manner and manage to connect with my patients and gain their trust. but basically i hate the american healthcare system totally and completely. at this point i'm a nurse only for the money.

chill already !

[Lorie P.]

maybe you should have really searched yourself before entering into an occupation where you need to be humble, and have tolerance and compassion for others.

i am positive that most of the professionals that come to this site did do their research and are humble, tolerant and compassionate for the pts we take care of. one must also remember nurses are human and are allowed to have bad days,feelings, emotions that comes from being a compassionate, humbled, tolerant person.

this iste is where we as nurses have a place to vent, *****, praise, yell or scream or what ever else we need to , where others understand what we do/deal with on a daily bases.

if every nurse or other medical professional really and truly "searched ourself" then there would be no one to care for others.

so please try and remember this is our place to unwind and not have to explain ourselves over and over again.

thanks

[leslie :-D]

chill already !

huh???

leslie

[Lorie P.]

huh???

leslie

leslie,

i think she was meaning for firestarter to chill after her original post if i understand it.

lorie

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

leslie,

i think she was meaning for firestarter to chill after her original post if i understand it.

lorie

correct-a-mundo!

[lpnflorida, LPN]

Firestarter, I reread one of your posts the one in which you compare your brother the chiropractor's practice against the patients you come up against. It is rather like trying to compare apples to oranges in some respects.

So when do you get to take a vacation to rejuvenate yourself. That is usually how I deal with the need to help myself when I feel down on nursing as a career. When I am getting run down either due to working conditions or worries at home. It colors everything I see and think. I am not proud of myself when I allow me to get like that. I am looking forward to a well deserved respite the end a May. It can not come quick enough. My batteries need recharging. Maybe yours do also.

You are all the good things others have posted about you.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Not sure what saying "Chill already" does to contribute to the conversation here...

Eventually I want to look into getting into a more holistic type of job, but those are more available in large metropolitan areas. I'm not going to pretend that I'm anything other than a medical mercenary in a system that violates my own personal beliefs and philosophy regarding health maintenance. I do the best I can within a system that I disagree with on many levels.

[leslie :-D]

You are all the good things others have posted about you.

that was a great post, lpn.

and yes!

firestarter is all those good things, and more.

i suspect that if she didn't invest so much of herself w/her pts, she wouldn't be getting burnt out.

i just don't understand snarky replies.

no need for them, whatsoever.

leslie

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

that was a great post, lpn.

and yes!

firestarter is all those good things, and more.

i suspect that if she didn't invest so much of herself w/her pts, she wouldn't be getting burnt out.

i just don't understand snarky replies.

no need for them, whatsoever.

leslie

Snarky responses seem to come with the territory...