Nurses leaving in droves...

dazzle256 · Oct 31, 2004

Seems to be a popular nursing news headliner for awhile...
Curious.
Are you a nurse planning to leave or has left the profession?
Where will/did you go?
New nurse, seasoned nurse?
Do you know many nurses who have left?
Specific reasons why you are leaving or have left?
I think about it frequently....but have made no moves towards a second career. Where are other nurses with this?:uhoh21:

I've thought about going back to school to be an Ultrasound tech. I've been a nurse for 8 years 6 of it in MICU.

Roozeyk · Nov 1, 2004

I've been in nursing for over 20 years. I recently relocated to another state, the salary offered here is what I made 15 years ago, I feel that when facilities offer that kind of salary to any nurse, it's an insult, but when they offer it to seasoned nurses, I feel it's just downright disrespectful, and I am considering leaving the entire medical profession, seems like any more it's not about getting good experienced nurses, it's just about getting a warm body, with the right title in the position for the least amount of pay. It's no wonder so many nurses have a sh**less attitude anymore.

live4today, RN · Nov 1, 2004

i've been in nursing for over 20 years. i recently relocated to another state, the salary offered here is what i made 15 years ago, i feel that when facilities offer that kind of salary to any nurse, it's an insult, but when they offer it to seasoned nurses, i feel it's just downright disrespectful, and i am considering leaving the entire medical profession, seems like any more it's not about getting good experienced nurses, it's just about getting a warm body, with the right title in the position for the least amount of pay. it's no wonder so many nurses have a sh**less attitude anymore.

i could have written what you wrote myself. it's exactly how i feel as a seasoned nurse (17 years for me). i, too, just relocated to another state, and i'm shocked...to say the least...at how lowwwwww the pay is here! i only took the job until something that pays more comes along. it's pathetic what i was offered! :angryfire

CCU NRS · Nov 1, 2004

Nursing 10yrs Not gonna leave no reason to. I love my work my job and my associates. Hope this isn't too cheery for this topic.

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 1, 2004

I am so lucky. I do love what I do; love my coworkers and really do like my job.

But I am very quickly becoming disgusted with the HUGE emphasis on RECRUITMENT, while RETENTION is ignored. It tells me a lot; it says to us experienced nurses have little to no respect or value to employers despite their vast knowledge and abilities. As a matter of fact, recruiting a warm body fresh out of school is a lot easier and requires a lot less imagination than trying to find ways to RETAIN your PROVEN staff. It would seem this is a common problem nation-wide. I find this so sad.

I can see why nurses may be "leaving in droves", in light of the litigious, exhausting, and often dangerous environment in which we find ourselves working. Hell, we are sandwiched between greedy, self-serving administrators and doctors and a demanding, entitled, and increasingly rude public which we serve. A body can only take so much and after a while, when little gratitude or compensation are forthcoming, a self-respecting person decides to vote with his or her feet. That is no real mystery or secret! :rolleyes:

I just consider myself highly fortunate in that I have made nursing work for ME, not the other way around--- so far ! But I would not blow sunshine up anyone's skirt; I am a realist and I can see why nurses are leaving for good. And like I said, I think that is sad. :stone

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Nov 1, 2004

I think corporate minded hospital administrators should admit that they have failed miserably as a profession and should go into another line of work...like managing amusement parks or running hotel chains. Maybe they can put their talents there and blossom. I say, give the hospitals back to the physicians and nurses. Our hospitals have lost their souls in this corporate mind set. Hospitals are not the place to provide three hots and a cot, to provide amusement as the indicator of successful treatment, or room service with a view. God help us, if things keep on going like they are, hospitals will soon have ferris wheels and cotton candy booths out in the parking lots and inground pools for "guests" with nurses at the beck and call to hand out towels. Sorry for the rant. Ignorant administrators and self serving "guests" who ARE NOT ill suck out our life blood. No wonder we burn out. If I wanted to work at Disneyland or the Hilton, I would have went there. Been a RN for 19 years. Plan to tough it out. End of rant.

weetziebat · Nov 1, 2004

But I am very quickly becoming disgusted with the HUGE emphasis on RECRUITMENT, while RETENTION is ignored. It tells me a lot; it says to us experienced nurses have little to no respect or value to employers despite their vast knowledge and abilities. As a matter of fact, recruiting a warm body fresh out of school is a lot easier and requires a lot less imagination than trying to find ways to RETAIN your PROVEN staff. It would seem this is a common problem nation-wide. I find this so sad.
I can see why nurses may be "leaving in droves", in light of the litigious, exhausting, and often dangerous environment in which we find ourselves working. Hell, we are sandwiched between greedy, self-serving administrators and doctors and a demanding, entitled, and increasingly rude public which we serve. A body can only take so much and after a while, when little gratitude or compensation are forthcoming, a self-respecting person decides to vote with his or her feet. That is no real mystery or secret!
I just consider myself highly fortunate in that I have made nursing work for ME, not the other way around--- so far ! But I would not blow sunshine up anyone's skirt; I am a realist and I can see why nurses are leaving for good. And like I said, I think that is sad. :stone

Very well said, Deb. And I agree 100%. Been in nursing over 30 years - for many of those years I lived in a very small town, had no money and no way out. Finally I have managed, as above poster did, to make nursing work for me. Now have a great job, but if I were young I'd never stay in this field with the way things are now. And, yeah, that sure is sad.

Repat · Nov 1, 2004

Been an RN for 20 years, and I am back in school to get OUT of the hospital. Corporate mind set does not belong in health care. We have a new "customer service recovery initiative" that involves teaching us nurses to apologize, admit we are wrong, and hand out McDonald's gift certificates. I wonder why hospitals don't just hire WalMart greeters and be done with the pretense that they are institutions of clinical competence. It makes me so angry. I was out of the country for 15 years, and the pay I was offered when I returned was less than I was making as a new graduate. I am trying to educate my family and others to be nurse advocates while they are patients. Nothing will change until the public stands up and says they want to be cared for by people who know what they are doing, not by people concerned with "customer service".

weetziebat · Nov 1, 2004

. We have a new "customer service recovery initiative" that involves teaching us nurses to apologize, admit we are wrong, and hand out McDonald's gift certificates. I wonder why hospitals don't just hire WalMart greeters and be done with the pretense that they are institutions of clinical competence. It makes me so angry.

My first reaction is that you must be kidding. But I suspect that is not the case. I just cannot believe it has come to this. Maybe nurses should stand by the front door, like prostitutes at a brothel, and the "customers" could choose who they want as they are admitted. What a terribly sad state of affairs.

Trauma Columnist · Nov 1, 2004

Service recovery is a biggie at my hospital too. It includes flowers, candy, balloons, etc.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2004

It has always been my opinion that every single nurse should start their career with a Plan B for "after the hospital". I spent about 12 years in the hospital environment and it was clear to me after about 6 months I couldn't do that kind of work through to retirement.

I'm also amongst the lucky to have a nursing job I love. But I worked like crazy to find it and it took 10 years to land it. THIS job I can take through to retirement. But hospital? No way I'd have made it.