Let me ask sort of a blunt question

Specialties NP

Published

I have found a recurring theme among all of my places of employment as a Registered Nurse for the past five years: I am often treated like a piece of dirt. Although I am hoping my next place of employment will be better. Do you often feel this way as a nurse practitioner? Ever feel like you are made out to be a devalued and mindless piece of IV-starting, bedpan-changing hospital equipment?

I am really starting to get burnt out by all the catty and childish behavior, horizontal violence from "fellow" nursing staff, aggressive and entitled family members, arrogant and abusive physicians, and just general lack of respect for how hard I work and what I contribute to the healthcare team. I figure I will give the NP thing a go-around, but if it continues like this I might just have to throw in the towel and go work for UPS, or drive a truck, or something. I just want to work hard, learn, and have a job with decent folks in a non-toxic environment. Is that really so much to ask for?

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Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

I get where you're coming from...completely. I left the hospital scene because I was spoiled by a wonderful hospital in another state. When I moved I was shocked by exactly what you're referring to in your post. I survived 4 months and had to move on. Since then I have found some peace in a different area of nursing, but I'm returning to school this very month to pursue a MSN as a PMHNP. I think a toxic environment can be found in just about any work situation. I do know that with an advanced degreeI will be higher on the food chain and hopefully have more options; including private practice. Furthermore,I plan to treat others with respect. I know what it's like to be in the trenches. Good luck and explore your options.

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I apologize; I'm just going to type a lot and hopefully it makes sense. I'm not an NP, but I am a year into my DNP program. These are definitely just my opinions and may not work or be true for you!

There is some societal stigma to our title, "Nurse," but can be overcome by your own attitude. I worked for a year at a hospital in an ICU, ER, and IMCU as an RN and had minimal poor interactions. Maybe it's because I just ignored the lateral violence because I saw it as a method for other's catharsis of their unhappiness and chose not to let it affect me. Last year, I transitioned to another role for a larger academic medical center where I don't function as a floor RN but rather write orders through protocol and manage care for a certain population of patients (still as an RN, it's complicated). The position still required me to have critical care RN experience, and now I collaborate with RN's, RT's, MD's, and NP's throughout every hospital in my state.

I have very few poor interactions with these individuals. I believe it's because of the knowledge I've chosen to gain by always asking questions and never seeming like I know everything; I always keeping up to date with most recent research. I guess the best thing you can do is act like you're an equal to everyone. If you get a negative response, then you know you're already better than those individuals (providers included). I see you have a lot of nursing experience. I wonder if you've adapted some of these toxic traits you've seen? Talk with everyone, MD's, NP's, colleague RN's as if they're a friend. Keep a positive attitude no matter what; it sounds like you've kind of gotten yourself into a negative one, probably influenced by the negative attitudes others have around you. Go to your workplace thinking, what can I learn today? Who can I learn it from (even if it's a CNA, a social worker, a pharmacist).

Kill them with kindness.

I'm not sure a degree will fix the issue you're having, but won't hurt either! I am a year into my DNP program and don't expect it to change too much besides letters officiating the knowledge I've obtained. I'd be interested to hear what others say that are currently NP's. Looking at some of the other recent posts, other's still have issues with respect no matter what. I hope your next place of employment is better too; maybe it can be seen as a fresh slate.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

Never.

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Things change when you go from being an expense (RN) to someone who generates revenue (NP).

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Never.

But you need to have thick skin: you will be making orders that patients, staff nurses, families, and other colleagues might not like. You need to be able to be confident I those decisions and not let professional tension rattle you. I have several colleagues in speciality practice around my practice that I have fundamental disagreements with but it is all professional and we get along fine otherwise.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Thick skin is a universal requirement.

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Are you saying that you think I don't have thick skin? Because I wouldn't have survived in nursing (and before, EMS) this long if I got butt-hurt every time someone was ugly to me. It's just that now this sort of thing is starting to get kind of old. Before I worked in healthcare, I had a few jobs "on the outside," like in an engineering company, and sure there were difficulties, but overall I just don't remember the same amount of child-like behavior being tolerated in that office type setting. Everyone was pretty professional, and acted like grown-ups, and we got the work done.

If this is just the way it is in healthcare than maybe I need to just move on and go to engineering or computer school. I want to hear what it's like in your world though, to see if perhaps I can make this nursing thing work out, and just hold out for a better position. After all, I have invested some time this field, and people say that I am good at what I do.

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Specializes in ER.

When I deal with unpleasant members of the health care team that have no regard for the spirit of cooperation, I take their comments as a grain of salt. I would suggest killing people with kindness and to bite your tongue when you get frustrated. Part of being a nurse is like being an academy award winning actor. Try to smile at people who try to frustrate you.We all have to deal with the "wanna be doctor RN know it all," the lazy nurse tech, the miserable unit clerk, or the unhappy family member.

Its funny you say that you should work for UPS, the drivers make $36/hour, that is as much as I make a senior RN with close to 14 years ER experience for a level I facility. Societies value of nurses has declined to the level or prestige as a garbage man.

What makes the profession even worse is the wages stagnate while the cost of our healthcare benefits continues to increase annually. To top it off when it is time to retire, I can look forward to paying for my own medical expenses, because I do not get no retirement medical benefits as an RN. Even as a NP the retirement benefits are pretty much the same. The best bet is to work for the VA, county health department, or possibly for the state in the prison system. At lest there you may make less per hour but you get better retirement package.

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Specializes in ER.

Actually nurses do create revenue, not as much as an NP of course. I was told by management that for each IV start is $250 the hospital can charge the insurance company.

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I'll be blunt.

Don't bother. Anyone who comes on here and looks for sympathy, because their job stinks, and says, "I think I will give NP a go-round", needs to stop posting here. Really. Your life won't improve.

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If you think going to UPS is going to improve your feelings towards work, you may be very disappointed. My other half wears brown. The stress and micromanaging are not for the faint of heart. It sounds to me like you have no idea what working there would be like.

Maybe looking at your own feelings of worth is the issue here? People can be catty but it's on you if you let that behavior alter your mood.

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