Is nursing REALLY worth it?

William_SRNA · Aug 19, 2005

While I think the day you had today was hard I believe to often this is the norm now. Most people do not really believe in hard work anymore and its a shame. I didn't realize how hard nurses worked until I actually became one and then if it doesn't get done it always seems to come back on the nurse. Luckily bedside nursing was just a stepping stone to better careers in nursing for me. You might look into APN if you are frustrated with nursing.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Aug 19, 2005

While I think the day you had today was hard I believe to often this is the norm now. Most people do not really believe in hard work anymore and its a shame. I didn't realize how hard nurses worked until I actually became one and then if it doesn't get done it always seems to come back on the nurse. Luckily bedside nursing was just a stepping stone to better careers in nursing for me. You might look into APN if you are frustrated with nursing.

What is an APN?

William_SRNA · Aug 19, 2005

What is an APN?

Advanced Practice Nurse

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Aug 19, 2005

Oh thank you for your quick reply. I'm not a nurse yet so am somewhat uninformed. I googled the advanced practice nurse.

To lisa: didn't mean to ignore you or hijack the thread so I'd thought I'd post a little something to you too. Don't give up because you worked too hard to become a nurse. Things will be different from day to day and if after a time you find that you are not feeling the love of the job you can always try a different department and start again fresh. Now that you are a nurse you can take it anywhere.

brightest blessings

FW

bellarosa · Aug 20, 2005

Speaking as someone who started her first nursing job a whole 10 days before you I can tell you this: Time Management is a big part of nursing. I used to run around all day like a chicken w/ no head. My preceptor explained that as I go along I will find better ways to manage my time- such as think of 3 things to do when you go in to a patient's room, not just one. Also, if the patient has 7am meds and 8am meds, give them all at 7:30 if they are compatible. Don't go in to just turn the patient- check their back side out, listen to breath sounds, do some skin care, and throw in some oral care. I have found that this has helped me a little. I still get a very fast lunch while the older nurses are able to take a lot longer, but I can see improvement.

Keep trying. You WILL get better. Also, I consider this first job an internship/school that I just happen to be getting paid for. This helps me keep my cool and look at it as a learning experience that will not last forever. Compared to nursing school, this school allows me more free time and comes w/monetary compensation.

Town & Country · Aug 20, 2005

Should I be letting the CNAs know everytime I do this!!?? Of course not!! I do everything when I have time, but I had a lot of paperwork, meds, etc today and couldn't help the CNAs as much as I would like.

I had a lot of paperwork, meds, etc today and couldn't help the CNAs as much as I would like.

One of the major problems in nursing today, IMHO.......... :rolleyes:

Cute_CNA, CNA · Aug 20, 2005

Hmm. I thought the CNAs were supposed to be assisting YOU?

Have you ever taken them aside and said that their role is important to the running of the unit? If they're not helping you, then what are they doing?

mitralvalve · Aug 20, 2005

I've just begun my first nursing job the first of July. The floor mgr states I'm set to go on my own, without a preceptor since I'm doing well. Things have been good until today. I really try to not bother my preceptor, but for some reason today stunk!! Even the CNAs were nasty. I really need the CNAs to help me as I'm so new, but I can almost read their minds...they act like I do nothing!! I had no breaks or lunch today I was so busy. I asked for two sets of vitals to be taken and within a half hour they were done, but my preceptor came over and said something about it. I'm sure it was because the CNA complained to her about me which really frustrates me. I have to say I treat everyone with kindness. I thank the CNAs for all their help. I do my best to keep a great attitude and to this point I have not been a jerk to anyone. Like I said, I'm new and it's too easy to be a jerk to others. I don't want to live like that. I can't tell you how many urinals I emptied today. Should I be letting the CNAs know everytime I do this!!?? Of course not!! I do everything when I have time, but I had a lot of paperwork, meds, etc today and couldn't help the CNAs as much as I would like. Once I feel more at ease, I have no problem helping to change an Attends or whatever is needed. Right now, I'm just struggling to keep my head above water. How do you handle the nasty CNAs/nurses? I'm not expecting life to be perfect, but like I said, I've been great to everyone, and don't expect others to be jerks to me. If I have too many days like today, I won't be staying.

The "NA" part of CNA is NURSING ASSISTANT!! They are there to assist you. Some are very good, and some like to bully the nurses with their nasty attitudes and excuses for not doing their jobs.

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2005

I have to agree with cute CNA...have you talked to them about the problem. They are there to help you. I think if you talk to them individually or as a group and tell them that you are really doing the best you can, but are having a hard time and you could really use their help. Let them know how important their job is and how much you depend on them to do your job well. Let them know they can be your eyes and ears and alert you if something is not right. You can not be everywhere at once, and while your time management skills will improve, you will never be able to do it all and do it by yourself. That is why we have team members and shifts.

I think the honest approach is always the best. Just make sure you always treat your co workers with respect and dignity regardless of their particular job title. You sound like you are trying, but you just need your team on your side. Just be honest about how much you need them, without "pleading".

Good luck, nursing is hard work. I just got home from a 12 hour night shift and my body is aching....thank God for Advil and hot tub baths.

ORSmurf · Aug 20, 2005

I have to agree with the previous posts about speaking individually to the CNA's you work with. Have you done that? Did it help?

There are so many areas in nursing - don't give up completely! You work SO hard to become a nurse, try another area until you find the place that feels like home to you.

Christine, RN

I've just begun my first nursing job the first of July. The floor mgr states I'm set to go on my own, without a preceptor since I'm doing well. Things have been good until today. I really try to not bother my preceptor, but for some reason today stunk!! Even the CNAs were nasty. I really need the CNAs to help me as I'm so new, but I can almost read their minds...they act like I do nothing!! I had no breaks or lunch today I was so busy. I asked for two sets of vitals to be taken and within a half hour they were done, but my preceptor came over and said something about it. I'm sure it was because the CNA complained to her about me which really frustrates me. I have to say I treat everyone with kindness. I thank the CNAs for all their help. I do my best to keep a great attitude and to this point I have not been a jerk to anyone. Like I said, I'm new and it's too easy to be a jerk to others. I don't want to live like that. I can't tell you how many urinals I emptied today. Should I be letting the CNAs know everytime I do this!!?? Of course not!! I do everything when I have time, but I had a lot of paperwork, meds, etc today and couldn't help the CNAs as much as I would like. Once I feel more at ease, I have no problem helping to change an Attends or whatever is needed. Right now, I'm just struggling to keep my head above water. How do you handle the nasty CNAs/nurses? I'm not expecting life to be perfect, but like I said, I've been great to everyone, and don't expect others to be jerks to me. If I have too many days like today, I won't be staying.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2005

Even the CNAs were nasty. I really need the CNAs to help me as I'm so new, but I can almost read their minds...they act like I do nothing!!. . .I can't tell you how many urinals I emptied today. Should I be letting the CNAs know everytime I do this!!?? Of course not!!. . .How do you handle the nasty CNAs/nurses?

Hi, Lisa! Yes, you should be letting the CNAs know when you empty a urinal. It's the only way they have of knowing you are helping them. If they can't see you doing it, most of them will think you didn't do anything to help them. So, play their game. Although I often did some of the aide work I never missed an opportunity to make sure the aides saw me doing it. Same thing with answering lights. Every once in awhile I'd say, I'll get that one when the gang was watching. Don't get the wrong impression that otherwise I never did any patient care. What I am saying is to make the best of every opportunity to let the aides seeing you help them. But, don't feel obligated to let them get the impression that you're doing it all. If they continue to be so nasty, I wouldn't do that much to help them unless a patient needed me. Don't continue to feed the dog that bites your hand (the converse to Don't bite the hand that feeds you).

Believe it or not, some aides actually feel that a nurse who does a lot of their work is an intruder. Some do not understand that you are trying to help them. They believe that you are doing their work because they didn't get to it fast enough or you don't like the way they do it--and they start to resent you. Then, the nastiness and slow shuffling of the feet start. This is bizarre thinking, to be sure, but don't discount this as a possible reason for their attitude. These are not people who have the same degree of education, and some of them come from odd backgrounds where what we would consider to be a helpful gesture is seen as an insult. Do not expect them to talk about it with you either. It would be like pulling teeth. In their bizarreness they fear being labeled as a troublemaker. It stems from their position of powerlessness and correcting something like that takes a great deal of effort and time which at this particular moment you do not have.

Handling nasty people is a learned skill although I will not dispute that some people seem to have a real knack for it. Did you have to take a class like Communication 101 during your college career? If you did and you still have the textbook from that class I think you will find part of the answer to your question in it.

[Addendum: Perhaps bizarre was not a good descriptive term to use. I was trying to get to the idea that some people's thinking does not follow what I would think of as the norm. They tend to take a negative viewpoint of a situation first rather than see the positive advantages. I don't think it would be unusual of me to assume that there is some paranoia connected with their thinking process either.]