I hate nursing, never thought I would say that but after 1.5yrs of working as a floor RN, I know this crap is not for me. This job will suck the living life out of you.
Your emotional, physical and mental health will suffer along with your family life. I have finally decided to leave the bedside and I've never felt so happy. At only 25, I felt like I was going to be stuck in this state for the rest of my working life but I found the courage to finally make the decision that saved my health and my marriage.
I went into nursing with the intention of helping people and being the one to make a difference to those who may feel hopeless. All my intentions were quickly shut down when I started working on the floor.
We deal with some unappreciative, sarcastic, rude, and egotistical (patients, family members, physicians, coworkers, and managers). There is no care in nursing just bottom-line concerns.
My first nursing job was ok, I worked in ND at the time, I moved to FL and that gave me the green light to officially leave floor nursing. I hate the anxious feeling before every shift, the nagging family members, pts who are rude self-entitled, coworkers who throw each other under the bus, physicians who disregard concerns, and a whole lot of other things I can elaborate about that is just downright awful.
I'm glad to say my degree didn't completely go to waste as I am now an RN case manager. I believe being away from the bedside will renew my interest. I refuse to live a day dreading having to go to work, nursing has literally changed how I respond to people before I use to smile at everyone now I walk past people with my face looking like a pit bull ready to bite.
Whenever someone would tell me to smile I thought, "Wow I have changed for the worst" I refuse to be a martyr for this profession.
Taking care of myself is more important than risking it for people who **** on theirs.
You use the word "Defend", as if in a battle of wit and word, or wit and debate. Your opinion based on your personal experience is not up for debate or a battle of wit and word. It is your opinion and like all opinions everyone has one and they all differ from one another but it doesn't make one more right or wrong than the other.
Your experience was poor for likely several reasons that truthfully is between you and whatever God you serve. None of us can judge your motives, only actions . . . and your action was to exit stage left and try something new. How new this new aspect of nursing will be to you is still up for interpretation since ALL nursing involves some level of interaction with the Patients, the family or other colleges. It all involves some level of customer service to reach an objective for your employer that goes beyond the patients health. One that lines the pockets of the facility and the ensures you have a paycheck.
I wish you luck in your new position, and new outlook. I hope things work out for you because the last thing we need is more nurses leaving the field.
Well put HeatherM. I was so affected when I responded to her negativity and blame that I misspelled every other word in my original post. Think it will be critiqued?
I have been in home health for 21 years. A case manager in home health deals with more family and provider issues than hospital by a long shot. There is still bedside care, long days and way more paperwork than you ever imagined. OASIS will become a curse word, but I love it. Reimbursement for home is on the bringk. No agency is safe. Theexpectation nowfor the face to face and nursing documentaiton is scrutinized pre payment byMedicare. I just dont see a grumpy nurse likeing it
You know what! Good for you-- that you see that bedside nursing, that hospitals, that institutions do not value you now. I have worked for 28 years at the same hospital. I LOVED my job, I LOVED my career, and I am a leader. After 28 years of sacrificing, of working overtime, of leaving my family on holidays, missing school events, being loyal...because I thought that I was valued and needed. WRONG> I just filled the space that they needed filled. After all these years of giving....I was thrown so far under the bus by my current boss and administration when a physician with a history-- bullied me, that I now see reality. Luckily, i have a union, a reputation, and hundreds of friends and physicians who stood behind me, but realizing that you are insignificant and costly is a hard lesson. I really thought that I was valued, that my years of experience and loyalty were valued, but no. In fact, being experienced and having longevity is actually just a cost that hospitals do not want or need. Luckily I have been working on my Master's degree for the past two years and have a light at the end of my tunnel...but I do cheer those on who see the reality of bedside nursing before giving up every other Christmas, Easter, 4th of July, and every other weekend...before their kids are grown and gone...I don't know the answer, and until a year ago...I still loved beside nursing...but i think i was blinded to love of nursing and did not see that hospitals did not care, at all, about me as a person. Keep it real, and be aware. I would not give up my 28 years of bedside nursing, because I saved lives, and loved doing it...but I do advise those younger and just starting out to consider what is really important to them...family, friends, career......And keep a healthy balance!!!
I, also, plan on leaving soon ... it's just hard to move on after 1.3 years of exp. My plan is managed care as a Case Manager at an insurance company. I've been applying but not getting any call backs yet. Congrats on the CM position!
FYI.....Medicare/Medicaid are reimbursing healthcare costs based on patient outcomes AND satisfaction rates. I hate it too, but playing devil's advocate here.
You should get out of nursing. Clearly this is not the career for you and it has been less than 2 years. From your post it feels like the job is harder than you thought and now your whining. Case managers deal with much more issues related to family dynamics and managing patients with difficult needs. It does not sound like this is the job for you either.
The best hospital I've worked for was a Planetree hospital, Enloe Medical Center, in Chico, CA. I'm very sorry you've had a negative experience so far and seem to be experiencing burnout. It's not a good feeling. Hopefully you will find your niche.
By your statement about taking care of people who don't take care of themselves I am thinking you made the wrong career choice. There is nothing wrong with that but maybe you need to head in another direction
Nursing in some settings is open 24 hours... Did you think it wouldn't involve weekends and holidays and off shifts? Yes, it is a pain esp when you are working holidays and other professions whine about working a Friday. Nursing is tough and stressful. Not everyone is cut out for it.
I love nursing. I've been caring for patients since 1998. I've been in long term care and acute care. I've done bedside nursing, charge, ER, ICU, Director of nursing, wound care, long term acute, etc. I love it all. Some is more challenging than others, but I love it just the same. I've given this vocation my blood, sweat and tears. It has given me a purpose. I find immense satisfaction in my purpose driven life! I will be doing this until I am no longer physically able. Until then, I'll be there, at the bedside, doing what I love.
Many possibilities in nursing. Have to find your niche. I am retired, but did see the staffing ratio changes start, and the increase of the importance of 'PT satisfaction surveys' by management/administrators. Still do not understand how management thinks they can improve these scores when they continue to increase that PT/ nurse ratio. Can not find any common sense in that at all!! It is a tough profession!! But still a very special one. We have to keep pushing for the needed improvements. Maybe focusing on how you can make a difference will help!
CRivay76
1 Post
You use the word "Defend", as if in a battle of wit and word, or wit and debate. Your opinion based on your personal experience is not up for debate or a battle of wit and word. It is your opinion and like all opinions everyone has one and they all differ from one another but it doesn't make one more right or wrong than the other.
Your experience was poor for likely several reasons that truthfully is between you and whatever God you serve. None of us can judge your motives, only actions . . . and your action was to exit stage left and try something new. How new this new aspect of nursing will be to you is still up for interpretation since ALL nursing involves some level of interaction with the Patients, the family or other colleges. It all involves some level of customer service to reach an objective for your employer that goes beyond the patients health. One that lines the pockets of the facility and the ensures you have a paycheck.
I wish you luck in your new position, and new outlook. I hope things work out for you because the last thing we need is more nurses leaving the field.