Most Challenging Aspect in Your Nursing Career?

EaglesWings21, ASN, RN · Jul 19, 2013

That is terrible. Where does this occur? On a PICU? In the inner city or just anywhere? I am asking because my goal is to help kids who are neglected by their parents or caregivers.

katiemule · Jul 19, 2013

As a 10 year "veteran" nurse I can only nod in agreement with everything that has been said by others. I have walked off several nursing jobs by turning in my badge at the end of a shift and just going home. I have vowed to leave nursing more than once.

So for me the question also becomes - why stay in nursing? The patients. That's the only reason I keep coming back. If we, who truly do care what happens to our brothers and sisters when they are sick, hurting, healing or dying, leave - then who is left? The bean counters who make up hospital management won't do it. Lazy coworkers won't do it - they aren't doing it now. Family members aren't going to do it - that's usually why they get mad at us in the first place - cause they are scared to death they might have to actually turn a hand or get up off the sofa to do what they expect us to do at the drop of a hat WHEN they want it, HOW they want it.

Having said that, I must also say that some of the most intensely intimate and God filled moments in my life have been spent in the company of my patients and their family members. I remind myself that I am to have a servant's heart and that makes it less taxing to deal with demands. But actually, the family and patient demands are a cake walk compared to the expectations of those who employ nurses.

I expect myself to be prepared, efficient, caring, educated, informed and hardworking. I have no problem with my employer expecting the same. I do have a problem with being used as the scapegoat for failed technologies, corporate penny pinching at the bedside, and healthcare dogma that is used to keep lots of high paying jobs afloat for people who never even see or touch a patient (JACHO - cough, cough - among others . . .), patients being seen as "customers" and "giving them the pickle" - I'm going to throw up if I watch that video one more time. Don't get me wrong - I totally agree with good customer service. But if we begin to see ourselves as car hops at the local fast food restaurant, then we lose everything our nursing predecessors worked so hard to achieve - nursing as a profession and not just a job.

Would I recommend nursing as a career? Only if one fells it as a calling. It is entirely too intense and difficult to pursue as a job.

rednotebook · Jul 19, 2013

SleepyRN: Thank you for the care you deliver to your residents. The amount of residents you had to take care of at once sounds impossible and I commend you for doing your best. I hope that you find a position that is more manageable because 40 to 1 sounds absolutely crazy.

Thank you for the honest responses so far. You all sound like such amazing and caring professionals.

MrsMig, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2013

Wow, so many of these responses are well thought out and just all around valid complaints. Thanks you all.

Morainey, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2013

I had to learn how to grow a thicker skin, not take everything personally, not be afraid to look stupid, stand up for myself, how to say no, and stand up for my patients.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 19, 2013

When a hospice patient asks me "how is it to die? Will I just go to sleep?"

Caffeine_IV · Jul 20, 2013

Unrealistic expectations. Staffing..expecting 2 people to do the work of 4.

SleeepyRN · Jul 21, 2013

SleepyRN: Thank you for the care you deliver to your residents. The amount of residents you had to take care of at once sounds impossible and I commend you for doing your best. I hope that you find a position that is more manageable because 40 to 1 sounds absolutely crazy.
Thank you for the honest responses so far. You all sound like such amazing and caring professionals.

You've come to the right place to do your research. We all have many, many legitimate complains, but many of us with our hearts in it can't imagine doing anything else. You are already in the right direction by admitting you have a romanticized view. I was a CNA for 5 years before graduating nursing school, 3 of which was in a hospital. I saw first hand the frustrations of the nurses, so the romanticized view of nursing was long gone before I even graduated. I recommend to anybody who can, to become a CNA before nursing. I was lucky enough to have a registry position in a hospital throughout nursing school where I worked 1 day a week. I learned so much about real world nursing vs the nursing we learned in school. As for the ratios, the resident load I mentioned is very typical of long term care and skilled nursing facilities. I've even read on here of nurses caring for 60 at a time (usually at night.) Thanks for the well wishes. I hope to find my niche. Best of luck to you.

mandajoy18 · Jul 21, 2013

I had to learn how to grow a thicker skin not take everything personally, not be afraid to look stupid, stand up for myself, how to say no, and stand up for my patients.[/quote']
This!

krwrnbsn · Jul 21, 2013

I'd rather have the obnoxious rude family member in the room then deal with the absent ones. I work in pediatrics as an acute care bedside nurse, and the hardest part of the job for me is watching sick kids suffer and fight alone because their parents are worthless. I will never ever get used to it. No amount of love from me will replace the love that these kids need from their mom/dad. And nothing will ever prepare you for listening to a 5 year old cry in his room alone for his Momma who can't even be bothered to call in and tell him good night.[/quote']
Heartbreaking for sure.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Jul 21, 2013

I just posted a rant about the most challenging aspect simply because it should be unnecessary to babysit ancillary departments.

Why I stay: my paycheck and many of the patients. Not necessarily in that order, depending on the day. Some patients are a delight to be their nurse, and I tell them so at the end of my shift, with a sincere, "It's been a pleasure being your nurse. Good luck to you." These aren't necessarily the most healthy patients, but they are the patients who are involved in their own care, ask important questions, and are committed to working with the healthcare team on getting better. Sometimes, I say it to families who show the same characteristics. I absolutely love discharging these patients to continue on with their lives healthier and more informed.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Jul 22, 2013

Liked your post, Weeping!