I am sooooooooo SICK AND TIRED of the CRAP being dealt with by us nurses! I am giving up nursing for good! Back to college for a new degree in a totally different career field where I can get the respect and appreciation for what I invest most of my time in these days.
I am TOTALLY disgusted with family members accusing me of doing wrong when I did NOT do anything wrong! I'm sick and tired of NOT getting any recognition for the GOOD things I do as a nurse!
I work three twelve hour shifts a week. In the process of working those 36 hours plus, I care for at least five to seven patients a shift (counting discharges and new admits before the shift is over). Mulitply those five (let's do the minimum here) times three days worked, and that's 15 patients a week...60 patients a month. Out of 60 patients, dealing with their family members complaints, the patients issues and sometimes complaints, the doctors and the other hospital staff involved with those 60 patients, a few strangers come along and make out like I'm the worse nurse they've ever laid eyes on. Do I get credit for the 57 plus patients who happened to like the care received by them from me? Oh noooooooo....just let ONE irate family member complain about something I did NOT do, or let a doctor complain they didn't get what they wanted when they wanted it, let me come into work and be the nurse blasted by unhappy family or patients for the care they've received all week (not from me by the way cause I've not been at work all week), and I'm NOT a nice nurse. Whatever!
I QUIT!!! Those people have walked on me for the last time! I am NOT their handmaiden. Heck, I'm not even respected as "the nurse", so why stay in nursing. Someone PLEEEEEEZZZZZ tell me WHY should I stay in this crappy disrespectful put the nurses down for everything that goes wrong field?
:kiss Now that is not they way to go. I feel your pain, but remember those people out there watch too much TV. Nursing is a wonderful profession. You probably need a vacation in the tropics. When you return it will look better. Those people need YOU. Nursing is NOT the same. Adm always is looking for the big dollars and we are just the means to get it. Adm dosen't refer to the people as patients they are CUSTOMERS, at least that is what we are told by the adm in my hospital. The public looks to us for comfort and caring and generally a shoulder to cry on and to use us as a sounding board. It gets harder all the time but believe me You will make a difference even if it is a small one. When one of your family members says thanks it will make it all better.
Thanks to all who shared their hearts with me, and offered support and encouraging words. :kiss
I've been awake for over an hour now, and have to get ready for work in about fifteen minutes. I got up and fell to my knees asking God to please take this burden from me because it is much too big for me to carry all by myself. I'm not afraid to admit I'm not perfect, and can't make everything work the way I want it to, or the way it should. I need all the support and encouragement I can get, and don't mind asking for it, so thanks sibs. :)
To the nursing students: Nursing is lots of things. You'll start out happy and filled with glee once you graduate and pass those boards. Then...reality sets in...the world of nursing becomes far more than you imagined it to be, YET......it has been a profession I chose because I had so much to give to others, and chose to help the sick. It's not a bad thing to have those "rose colored glasses" removed before you become a licensed nurse working in the career of your choosing. The TRUTH is suppose to set us all free, so don't shy away from the reality of your chosen career. Face it head on, look it square in the eye, and give it your best shot. For me.......my shots have reached their limit, and it's time for me to move on to something else before I forget completely the glorious moments I use to enjoy as a RN.
Good luck cheerfulholder.... I can see how much you deserve, it is such a shame that the field is losing such an admirable canidate. Be optimistic, life is filled with chances.
Remember when patients and the families respected nurses? Actually treated nurses civilly? Remember being part of a team? Remember when you worked at a hospital you were one of "theirs" and they took care of you? Remember when no one needed liability insurance and there were no threats against your license and well being? Remember when there was enough staff to deliver safe quality patient care and the job description was so well defined that you weren't flying by the seat of your pants? When going to work was fun because the staff and the patients were all in it together and we all pulled together? Remember when nurses were throughly and adequately trained. When there was no political correctness or politics and there was real leadership? Remember when the paperwork was minimal. Remember, remember.....................
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH !!!!!!STOP !!!
That is too cruel ! Yes," those WERE the days, my friend, we thought they's NEVER end...those were the days, oh YES, those were the days..."
Renee remembers, and so do I. With an aching heart. I feel your pain, Renee... ALL of our pain, for those of us who REMEMBER. Warmest hugs to you, my friend. ((( HUGS!)))
For what it's worth... I wonder how much of it is geographical? Not the admin/staffing BS, that's pretty much everywhere these days, due to BIG BUSINESS running the hospitals now, but as far as the families/visitors.... where I live here in the "south", ppl are still pretty kind and friendly, and for the most part continue to respect nurses and hold them in high esteem. From what I have observed so far, they are comfortable with the care we provide, and more than grateful. There's always one oddball somewhere, but it is the exception rather than the rule. We have noticed that "non-locals" are more high-strung, demanding, nervous, and watch your every move... more likely to be the "complainers". I may be wrong, but at least that's something I've noticed HERE. Maybe it's just in my own little area, Appalachia... may not be the "south" in general. Dunno.
Sure wish you could come work with me at my dialysis facility, Renee. It would restore your faith in humankind and in nursing.
We are very much valued at our little clinic.. at least by our patients and their families. The company sux, (of course) but our patients and their families have set us on a pedestal and can't do enough for us. The m/s unit I'm orienting to at the hospital can be hectic and I can see where you don't feel you are able to give your best care... this is frustrating to be sure, but so far, the families/visitors still value the nurses' opinions and her care. Hope it stays that way for a good while yet....
Please don't give up on nursing in general, Renee... you have too much heart to give...it has been broken, to be sure, but just a few GOOD experiences would patch it up good as new.
As with ANY muscle, the more you use it, the bigger it gets, ergo the more you have to give away. Don't let that beautiful heart of yours atrophy, dear friend.
I am there with you Cheerfuldoer. Bedside care is a pain in the butt. I wonder what it would be like to work in an office. I think the pay cut would be worth while. Hmmm... I wonder. Big Hugs To You. It will be ok.
I wish so much we could fight what we are experiencing from these institutions and change things. I hate to see other nurses hurting like I am hurting from a job that we love so much. How sad and frustrating!
Thanks to all who shared their hearts with me, and offered support and encouraging words. :kiss
I've been awake for over an hour now, and have to get ready for work in about fifteen minutes. I got up and fell to my knees asking God to please take this burden from me because it is much too big for me to carry all by myself. I'm not afraid to admit I'm not perfect, and can't make everything work the way I want it to, or the way it should. I need all the support and encouragement I can get, and don't mind asking for it, so thanks sibs. :)
To the nursing students: Nursing is lots of things. You'll start out happy and filled with glee once you graduate and pass those boards. Then...reality sets in...the world of nursing becomes far more than you imagined it to be, YET......it has been a profession I chose because I had so much to give to others, and chose to help the sick. It's not a bad thing to have those "rose colored glasses" removed before you become a licensed nurse working in the career of your choosing. The TRUTH is suppose to set us all free, so don't shy away from the reality of your chosen career. Face it head on, look it square in the eye, and give it your best shot. For me.......my shots have reached their limit, and it's time for me to move on to something else before I forget completely the glorious moments I use to enjoy as a RN.
I will try not too flame anyone here, but I really do not understand these kind of posts..
Please help me to understand why you get to this breaking point? Are you the kind of person who just sucks things up till you cant take any more?
I'd really love to understand this perspective as a nursing student.
I live in Washington state (not Seattle) and folks here are more or less rural and patients and families are not too bad. I came from Montana where civility still exists and that was great. But I do notice increasingly that there is a lack of respect for nurses. You know s---- rolls down hill and the lack of respect the hospitals and employers have for us is reflected in the relationships we have with our patients and families. If our employees would not tolerate abuse toward us and offered a little protection we wouldn't be so bad off. But alas!! I hope everyone has a blessed day and it would be better this day somehow. Keep on keeping on!:kiss :kiss
i cant help but feel guilty when i read your postings, i was one of those family members and my father was in ICU i camped out in the visitors room because if he was going to die i wanted to be there. i asked alot of questions because i was scared and it kind of gave me some comfort having answers. when i look back i hope that i wasnt that type of person.
I write my registration exam in May but I have had more dying patients than the usual student (at least according to my instructor). I like palliative care. I like making a dying patient comfortable and pain free (because my father had one RN who was uncomfortable with giving him morphine when he was dying. I had to ask her to remove herself from caring for him because I KNEW he needed the morphine every hour on the hour and he was going to get it). The most important thing about palliative care is that a nurse should remember to care for the family as well. This is their loved one, dying is a personal thing, and NURSES are the guests in this case. I go out of my way, as do all nurses in palliative care, to ensure that the family is also as comfortable as possible. I ENCOURAGE them to ask questions. If you don't ask, you won't know. Knowing makes it a LITTLE easier, not much but a little. Don't feel guilty for asking questions.
Do I get credit for the 57 plus patients who happened to like the care received by them from me? Oh noooooooo....just let ONE irate family member complain about something I did NOT do, or let a doctor complain they didn't get what they wanted when they wanted it, let me come into work and be the nurse blasted by unhappy family or patients for the care they've received all week (not from me by the way cause I've not been at work all week), and I'm NOT a nice nurse. Whatever! 
nursek86
8 Posts
:kiss Now that is not they way to go. I feel your pain, but remember those people out there watch too much TV. Nursing is a wonderful profession. You probably need a vacation in the tropics. When you return it will look better. Those people need YOU. Nursing is NOT the same. Adm always is looking for the big dollars and we are just the means to get it. Adm dosen't refer to the people as patients they are CUSTOMERS, at least that is what we are told by the adm in my hospital. The public looks to us for comfort and caring and generally a shoulder to cry on and to use us as a sounding board. It gets harder all the time but believe me You will make a difference even if it is a small one. When one of your family members says thanks it will make it all better.