I have been a med surg nurse for 20 plus years. I worked at the same hospital for 20 of those years. I was terminated because I simply cannot keep up any longer. I have accepted and learned CPOE. med scanning,computerized charting, etc. BUT...I cannot go completely "paperless" and always chart in "real time" . ( just to mention two out of many gripes).
The last year of my employment at this facility that I loved and grew up with, changed administration when 2 new hospitals opened in the area. During that time most of us "older" nurses (highest paid) either mysteriously left or retired early after years of employment, all being replaced by new grads. No offense to new grads, you are very much needed and have been trained in the new ways.
I feel like an old dog being kicked to the curb. I am a good, caring nurse. Spent "too much time with my patients". Forgot twice to document if smoking cessation education was given and no flu and pneumonia vaccine status documented. That won't happen again!
So what if I was trying to keep my patient from coding trying to get a transfer to ICU all by myself while all the docs and charge nurses and supervisors were at their morning meetings and not responding to pages "in a timely manner" sooooo... I didn't chart or give all my meds in that "timely manner" many times and have been doing the same since I was a new nurse. That is fact and I'm sure many of you will agree you've had to do the same.
I guess I just don't know how to be a nurse any longer. Can anyone relate to this?
I don't know what to do. I can't retire (lost most of it in the '90's) and had to live off the rest when I lost my job. Its a dog-eat-dog world out there and new nurses are in demand. I am 53 years old and never thought the career of my dreams would end up this way.
I do start a new job in a LTC facility next week. Maybe this will work out. I'm too old and poor to go back to school now.
My greatest advice to all you new nurses is, hang in there and take good care of me when I need you, and start putting in a lot for your retirement right from the start. I truly have been traumatized to the point I feel incompetent and I know that is not the case.(PTSD)
Ltc is the pits at times, 35 plus of all shapes and sizes and their well meaning families swinging from your butt. Didn't you read the OP? suck it up buttercup. nice. congrats on your efforts to evolve, Einstein.
Ltc is the pits at times, 35 plus of all shapes and sizes and their well meaning families swinging from your butt. Didn't you read the OP? suck it up buttercup. nice. congrats on your efforts to evolve, Einstein.
Hitting the quote button helps the rest of us know who you're responding to.
I know how you feel after 20yrs of nursing myself I have decided to leave the hospital a currently am at. Younger nurses don't respect older nurses. They act like they know everything. We have had such a mass exodus of experienced nurses it is scary. The politics are ridiculous. I became a nurse to help people and pass on important information of how they can take of themselves. I am not afraid to talk about the hard stuff, but it sure does get quite at the nurses station. I have also learned over the yrs management really does not care about the work environment or work load. My old manager would make statements that she did not want to hear about how nurses felt, just do your job. Most people they hire now know nothing of team work. It's I will get to it when I am ready but the nurse is responsible if it doesn't get done. I am back in school and hope to teach nursing and teach students respect, team work, caring, compassion way. Having friends at work is fine, but being professional and what is in the best interest of patient care should supersid whether you like the people you work with not. I also feel undervalued but I know I am a very good nurse. So hang in there it will get better.
Sadly, I agree on most of your post. How about those cliques and back stabbing in some places? It's rampant!
I feel your sadness. I have been a nurse for 27 years, but have worked 26 years with my present employer. I have kept up with the technology and changes that my employer has made over the years. I have the "required BSN credential" for practice in my state. I say "required" because getting employment without it would be challenging. However, as a 52 year old, nurse I feel challenged to prove my skills daily. My younger coworkers seem to question me about things, and I'm often explaining my actions. Recently, I find myself spending more time with the computer and documentation than with patients. I observed one of the younger nurses who was scheduled to perform a 4 hour dialysis training spend 1 hour with the patient and the rest tinkering with the computer charting system. I didn't realize there were so many fields a nurse could complete in our EMR. Even so, I suspect, in time I will be replaced. Perhaps, I spoke up too many times. Sometimes it's not about the EMR, it about society's view of the older worker.
I'm 52 and have not spent my money foolishly, but nursing did not pay well in 1988. No unions, no pensions to protect nurses in my state back then or now. So what can a nurse do if one has devoted a lifetime to one employer? Not much, Loyalty does not pay. A nurse has more opportunities for employment if they worked shorter periods in various areas. Changing specialties in nursing is now something that has to be planned at the start of a career. There is the additional requirement for credentials and the ladders that designate a nurse as 1, 2 or three. The employment ads specify they want a nurse 1 or 2. I'm not blaming the new grads who need employment also. But, it seems, that every community college in my state has a nursing program. Then there's the mandatory on line BSN program, and few prospects for employment. So this is New Age Nursing ...
Yes. I think the profession is pretty well flooded in most states and most areas, though not all. And the younger nurse is a totally different result than the nurse that graduated 20-30 years ago! If it is a positive, and I guess it is...they are trained to be more time efficient, I think....However, I disagree that staying in a place a long time could not have benefited some of us. I only wish I had stayed in my first job! I would be retiring soon!
Wow !! An old nurse at 53 what a sad statement. I shared my latest nursing story a few months ago about going back into Home Health Nursing at 72 after a 5 year break from nursing.
I am definitely a dinosaur however have learnt a lot since May as well as finding my pace among the young 50-60 year old fellow RN's. Its all about pace once you are in your older years however I work part time/contract and feel an equal part of the team. Honestly I was bored not having my nursing in practice and find myself appreciated for my experience. My 48 year old daughter is going back to school because she sees herself working far past the so called retirement age and wants to be doing something she loves, she is not a nurse so doesn't have the options I have found in my career.
Perhaps anyone working in one job for 20 years and having to leave would make anyone feel some of what you must feel however there are many different avenues in our chosen profession.
Its difficult changing jobs for many of us but please don't undervalue yourself. Don't settle for anything before you have taken a good look around to see where you can be a useful and rewarded member of the team.
This is the time to have a good sense of humor, don't give in the inevitable bouts of anxiety and look after yourself. If like me you are a Praying person.PRAY.
we do have to adapt sadly. One day people will realize the value of a nurse and the importance of the ability to use the brain for actual thinking as opposed to knowing which button to push or what screen to get to. Do the CEOs, in general , realize that the ones in charge of their reputation and prestige are the workers and nurses who diligently care for our patients while neglecting our own needs like using the restroom, and eating or taking a 5 min uninterrupted break? We aren't even allowed to hide away a drink anymore and have no time to get one. And our shifts are longer than anyone in administration. What would it hurt to keep that 5th nurse when staffing called for 4.5 nurses? Maybe we'd at least have time to stay hydrated. Yes the industry has changed and I know it has everywhere. Not just for us but throughout the ages. I only wish our world was governed by compassion and empathy, love for one another and the want to help each other, trust. But unfortunately money is, always has been, and always will be the ruler of all in this world. And just to note, I bet half the price of one CEO's house or car note for a month could easily pay for that ".5" extra nurse for a day. I think I went in the wrong field of healthcare. Yes they have an enormous responsibility but don't we all?
UPDATE: thanks to all your support I am on my 4th day on the job at LTC and I hope I am not speaking too soon but I think I may just be finding my niche. So far I LOVE IT. Don't get me wrong, still stressful and busy but in a different way. I really get the feeling I am appreciated there.
Who knows, maybe this will be the beginning of the new aged old school nurse era!
Hey, I didn't even GET my license until I was 54. And at the LTC facility where I work, there's a RN who's probably 70. But don't get the wrong idea about LTC, y'all - we work our butts off (well, most of us do...).
It sounds to me like you 'got in trouble' for what I consider to be trivial b.s., while you do a good job on what matters. All you need to do is perhaps get a little better at the computer & paperwork crap and you'll probably do fine.
Have you considered telephone triage or case managment? I made the transition to it after almost 20 years as an inpt nurse as well with med/surg, tele, and PACU experience under my belt. I am a bit younger than you but couldn't handle the stress mentally and physically to my body of increased acuities, with less staff and 12 hour shifts being the only option. I currently work for the internal medicine branch of a clinic, but this job can be done for insurance companies as well.
I've found that my previous experience has become invaluable in being able to mentally visualize a pt's symptoms and appropriately deciding if that pt needs to be in an ER or can schedule a routine appt with their physician.
I would suggest you look into utilization review or case management . That's what I do and I could use a nurse with your med surge background. It would take some training but You would be able to do it. Good luck .
cockadoodie
52 Posts
Ltc is the pits at times, 35 plus of all shapes and sizes and their well meaning families swinging from your butt. Didn't you read the OP? suck it up buttercup. nice. congrats on your efforts to evolve, Einstein.