Life of the average nurse

Here's a biggie:

Back injuries are occurring within the nursing population at an alarming rate. William Charney (2001), Department of Health, states that, "Every day in the USA, 9,000 health care workers sustain a disabling injury while on the job." In evaluating studies related to back injury, Bernice Owens, RN, (2000), reports that "thirty-eight percent of 503 respondents had suffered back pain severe enough to require leave from work." Registered Nurses and nurses aides are the number one back injured group in most states of the USA. Ms. Owens (2000) also refers to another study in England that found "that twelve percent of all nurses intending to leave nursing permanently cited back pain as either a main or contributing factor."

In my experience it isn't one incident that causes the injury, but rather a repetitive and cumulative effect.

How long does the average nurse last in today's hopital environment?

What are some of the things that cause nurses to quit, besides being

under staff.

Thanks

Well, I've been doing this for over 40 yrs. Over 30 yrs on the nite shift.

Despite sometimes not so great staffing & lots of other difficulties, I wouldn't trade my job for any other.

No matter what, & I know this sounds hokey, This is what I love!!!

Some nurses say they burn out & such; Some nurses have a problem with all the paperwork.

Many reasons.

If you make up your mind that this is what you're going to do with your life, you just persist.

Well, that's just my humble opinion!!

Good Luck!!

We need more lovely posts like these!!!!!!!!

I was a ward nurse for 18 years and over half of that on nights. I left for 50% health reasons. My Hospital brought in internal rotation, that is I couldn't just work nights, which wasn't too bad when we were doing 12.5 hr shifts but when they started bringing in early/lates/ twilights and nights I couldn't do it. I can work 6,7,8,9,even 10 12.5hr nights in a row but ask me to go from mornings to afternoons to nights in no real order........................

The other 50% was frustration at the current situation, at the current state in the NHS and then I went for an interview on spec and they not only offered me it but also offered me salary wise well over what I had asked.

Sadly and I know they're are some who will condemn me for it but the money........, oh the money. My partner and I have been together a long time he supported me all through nursing school, emotionally and financially, we only have the house that we have because of his salary. Now we want kids and it's looking more and more like we need to either go the fertility route or adoption.

But even with that if nurses still had the power to do their jobs that they used to i.e.: to NURSE, not fill in paper work, I'd have stayed, we would have found the money.

I miss it, but I don't miss the stress and the pressure and the harassment and that's from management. I do miss true nursing, helping people.

:rolleyes: paper work. paper work. paper work

sorry do the best you have with what you have. no help to send you

joint Commision

short staffed

I have seen new nurses, meaning those with less then 5 years leave because they realized " school/book nursing" is not "real, on the job, running around like a chicken with your neck broke, nursing":nono::smiley_ab with Management and the big dudes and dudettes that say hey this looks good on paper, let's try it!!

At least this is my 0.2 cents worth!