Is there anything at all about nursing that you don't like?

Published

being a nurse yourself, can you name anything at all about your nursing job, duties, pay, hours or anything you don't like about nursing? the question was asked b4 on this forum by someone of would u go into nursing again if you knew then what u know now. many ppl answered the question with yes or no but they were not specific. so i was wondering what it is about nursing that you don't care for.

Specializes in Med-Surg; Telemetry; School Nurse pk-8.

When your P.I.T.A. patient (for whom every test thus far has been negative) monopolizes your time complaining, yelling, demanding, stating pain 20+/10, causing you to get a STAT EKGs, etc (which you have to do, because hey, maybe THIS time they aren't faking) causes a black-hole for your time, and all along they were drug-seeking. Meanwhile, your sweet patient in the next room with CA mets, who is probably really uncomfortable yet says "Oh Honey, I don't want to bother you" gets a disproportionate amount of your time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hmm where to start. . . the main thing I hate is he constant stress/pressure. I hate having too much expected from one person when there is no humanly way to do it. I hate running around like a chicken with my head cut off and being expected to do 6 things at once (and do them well!). I hate being in a patient's room doing a dressing change and having 3 calls come in, what to do? If I answer I am not giving my patient the care they require and am risking infection. If I don't answer i could be a call to a MD I have placed, or transport trying to get in touch with me telling me they are taking my patient to a test. Or in a room assessing a patient and have the secretary call me with two other patient's requesting pain medication. I hate mean snarly doctors, and lazy techs who hide down by the elevators. . .

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, wound/ostomy.

I am with posters mamamerlee and nlhnurse1982. While I do understand customer service and satisfaction, I think it has gone too far. Healthcare went down hill the day I was told to call my patients customers, and not patients. I think not - they are patients!!. Now I know that we treat patients like they are on an assembly line, what with fast surgeries and even faster discharges; but this is rediculous. Nevermind that we saved your life, you just remember that you got fresh icewater every shift. (do you drink ice water at home all day?) Don't get me wrong, I do want to make my patients happy and comfortable, but I think that administration has gone to the extreme.

I have always said that I will be done with nursing the day that I am told to put mints on my patient's pillow. Feel that that day is not far behind.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg-Geriatrics.

Infighting between shifts,all the Big I's and little you's..were all here for a common purpose..the patient,and all these conflicts distract/detract from that!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.
Hmm where to start. . . the main thing I hate is he constant stress/pressure. I hate having too much expected from one person when there is no humanly way to do it. I hate running around like a chicken with my head cut off and being expected to do 6 things at once (and do them well!). I hate being in a patient's room doing a dressing change and having 3 calls come in, what to do? If I answer I am not giving my patient the care they require and am risking infection. If I don't answer i could be a call to a MD I have placed, or transport trying to get in touch with me telling me they are taking my patient to a test. Or in a room assessing a patient and have the secretary call me with two other patient's requesting pain medication. I hate mean snarly doctors, and lazy techs who hide down by the elevators. . .

I feel just like this every evening I am working. 4 out of 5 of my patients last night all needed something at once. All of the IV's start beeping. It is the impossible multitasking and it is not possible to do it all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.
When your P.I.T.A. patient (for whom every test thus far has been negative) monopolizes your time complaining, yelling, demanding, stating pain 20+/10, causing you to get a STAT EKGs, etc (which you have to do, because hey, maybe THIS time they aren't faking) causes a black-hole for your time, and all along they were drug-seeking. Meanwhile, your sweet patient in the next room with CA mets, who is probably really uncomfortable yet says "Oh Honey, I don't want to bother you" gets a disproportionate amount of your time.

This is my least favorite thing about nursing. I had a patient just like this last night. Drove me crazy. This behavior usually goes along with our ETOHers. I don't think anyone should have to do more than one shift in a row with one of these people. It is so infuriating because the other patients who are really sick are the ones who get the least of your time. Then they start getting belligerent when you try to set limits with them. I agree 1000 percent.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't like having to rely on prejudice individuals who don't believe in my potential.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I dislike the sharks that gossip and slander coworkers behind their backs. The abuse of the healthcare system (No, pizza burns and cold symptoms do not require an ambulance ride. Just because you're not footing the bill doesn't mean services are free. A safety net was not designed to be a hammock). Lastly...Press Ganey!

Ahhhh... I feel better now :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in babysitting.
I dislike the sharks that gossip and slander coworkers behind their backs. The abuse of the healthcare system (No, pizza burns and cold symptoms do not require an ambulance ride. Just because you're not footing the bill doesn't mean services are free. A safety net was not designed to be a hammock). Lastly...Press Ganey!

Ahhhh... I feel better now :)

yes, i know what you mean.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion