Is working in a hospital really so awful?

Ahhphoey · Jul 21, 2008

It all depends where you work. I've worked in four different hospitals and I love the hospital environment. I have also worked in long-term care before and also loved that at that time. Hospital work is usually very fast paced and with high patient turnover so you are constantly seeing new faces and diagnoses. Personally, I think it is a great learning environment, but can be very stressful as well. A lot is expected of you by many different people sometimes and it can be hard to stay caught up stometimes. No, it isn't the only place for an RN to work, but it isn't a horrible place to work either. Give it a try and see for yourself...you may just love it, too.

ilstu99 · Jul 21, 2008

It's such a personal issue. You are really the only one who knows how much pressure or pace you can take.

Me? It takes a lot to get me to a "crying in public" kind of emotional state. I mean....a LOT. I think the last time I cried in public was when my grandmother passed, and my grandfather was kneeling at her hospital bed....telling her how he loved her.

So that's just not really my thing. I relieve stress by doing a lot of exercise, even if it's running stairs on my lunch hour. I like the fast pace, and the pressure and the problem solving. I work at my best when other people are frantic. I understand that someday I might get tired of it, and then I'll seek a different kind of environment. Right now, I think some of the more relaxed environments would bore me to tears.

On the other hand, one of my good friends cries about every dang day at work. She's easily stressed, very emotional, and I often think that she should probably be working in a less stressful environment. Although, I'm not sure there's an environment that exists that's quiet enough for her. Oh. And she just found out she's pregnant. Yippee.

At any rate - I love my job. My unit is not for everyone. The awesome thing about nursing is that there IS something for everyone. :nuke:

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 21, 2008

Well, I don't much care for blanket statements, but for the most part it IS very trying to work in the hospital environment. Depends who you talk to, in what department, and what shift (and depending on how the staffing was that day...)!

I can honestly say, that while I am glad I'm a nurse, I wouldn't mind working somewhere OTHER than the hospital at this point. Two years of the hospital's understaffing, over-burdening the nurses, constant increases in paperwork requirements seem to all add up to a reason why nurses leave the bedside in droves.

You shouldn't let the threads on this board poison your outlook as a newbie (are you a student? Graduate?); you may have an entirely different experience!

nurseshepherd · Jul 21, 2008

Some are much better than others and a lot depends on the management of the hospital and whether or not they truly value their nurses and have patient safety as a top priority. I have worked at 4 hospitals and seen the good ones (limited nurse:patient ratio with plenty of patient care assistance) as well as the ones with horrible working conditions where patient safety was not a priority (new nurse was told she would have over 14 patients on a med/surg setting and only 1 tech was available for the entire unit) much less patient satisfaction with their hospital stay. The great thing about being a nurse is you can pick and choose where you want to work.

Jarnaes · Jul 21, 2008

Most of those kind of jobs (insurance, case management etc etc) require a strong clinical background to enable you to make sound judgements and decisions. This is why a brand new nurse belongs at the bedside.

dekatn · Jul 21, 2008

I have worked in several different areas of nursing, right now I currently work in a small rural hospital 7p to 7a, 3 on and 3 off. I love it. Since we are so small the pt. load isn't totally unreasonable and the teamwork we all share is awesome.

MassED, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2008

I addressed this question in the middle of a poll thread about how much people cry at work, but didn't get much of an answer. I feel like if I put it in this forum more people will be able to answer, and also benefit...
Are RN hospitals jobs the ones that make people cry the most? I keep reading in various thread that RNs leave hospitals to find some other nursing position, and are always "so grateful" they found this new job.
More than one nurse has told me, almost as a precaution to a pre-nursing student, "Remember, hospitals are not the only place nurses work."
And yet I know most RNs need to work at least a year in a hospital setting before they can move on to a new kind of RN job. I feel like I am going to have to brace myself for one year of torture before the light at the end of the tunnel!
Is it true? Say it ain't so!
Also, what are these mysterious RN jobs people leave hospitals for, where they are so much happier and grateful?
Thank you!:redpinkhe

I love hospital nursing (in the ER) - hated the floor. I find my work invigorating. Though it is challenging, it is mentally, intellectually, and spiritually (sometimes) satisfying. I get irritated, tired, and want to cry, but what we do is vital and so many are appreciative of our efforts. That's what keeps me going. I do not work full-time (like I did 1 short year ago) because working in an environment that is constantly needy can get to be exhausting. I work every other weekend and do not accrue child care costs - so the money I earn is actually more! I pick up extra time when I feel the urge, which sometimes is nice to get out of the house a bit more (if it's rainy and not a beach day!). Maybe one day this speciality will bore me, but I really don't see that for some time. I don't know what else out there will really get my creative juices flowing than working in the ER. I like to do what I do without someone standing right over me, breathing down my neck. Autonomy is a big deal to me. Perhaps flight nursing in my future (at some point, when my kids are older)- that is something that would be an admiral job to move into....

Don't let too many uck stories stick to you - take them with a grain of salt. The grass is always greener on the other side... every unit has their problems, but look deep down and find what really excites you (cardiac, OB, Oncology, ER, OR...) and go for it. I KNEW I wanted to work in an ER when I was very young - my mom would come home with blood on her pants and shoes (this was a while ago....!!) and I felt like I was left out of the action!!! It was a calling for me... the thrill.

mpccrn, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2008

i've only worked critical care. i couldn't dream of doing anything else. yes it's stressful, yes it's hectic, yes every dept. wants a piece of you and yes, being the nurse you can be all and do all (well, most of the time) but everyday is a new beginning, everyday is a new start, everyday is different and that keeps the mind and spirit renewed. things can change from minute to minute. if the crew you work with is a good one, even the horrible days are more fun. i've been doing this for 30 years.....wouldn't change it, couldn't imagine it any different. it's all in the attitude. management has allot to do with it. my manager is great! she shows her respect for you and her gratitude on the days she knows are horrid. that says allot about her. i wouldn't work for anyone else. she brings the best out in you, she expects the best for the patients in your care. SHE makes it all worth it, despite the pitfalls the hospital setting inherently holds.

cherubhipster · Jul 21, 2008

You shouldn't let the threads on this board poison your outlook as a newbie (are you a student? Graduate?); you may have an entirely different experience!

I am about to be a student come August. Thanks!

ArwenEvenstar · Jul 21, 2008

I initially handled hospital nursing okay. But a lot of things changed (for the worse) over the years. After about 14 yrs of hospital nursing I was completely burned out. Think "textbook case" of burnout! I ran from the bedside screaming! :no:

I've been gone from the hospital over 3 yrs now. And when I think back to it, I start to get stressed out all over again! I now do "private duty nursing". I took about a 40% pay cut, but it was worth it. Less pay for less stress!

Some might say that private duty is not challenging and that you lose skills, and there is SOME truth to that. But not completely!! For instance, I have gained a number of new skills especially in regards to respiratory care. I do procedures in the home that hospital RN's were not even permitted to do. It is also a great feeling to know that my patient is getting proper care because I actually have the time to give them the care they deserve. Unlike the hospital where I never had the proper time to give any patient the care they deserved, despite the fact that I ran my butt off and often skipped breaks! I am totally content with private duty.

oramar · Jul 21, 2008

Well the short answer is "YES". But there are some good bedside jobs out there but more bad than good.