Nurses leaving in droves...

harleytx · Nov 1, 2004

New 40 yr. old nurse here (lvn). 5 months into skilled nursing home unit and am glad to know it is not just me. I hate it, worked 2-10 m-f to start. Then switched to sat & sun @ 16 hrs. per day just "to get it over with". 36 "residents" with 6 being "patients" and 30 of the most ungrateful people that I have ever met. At first I felt sorry for these people thinking They should not be in here, they should be at home with their families...how sad... Until a week into my new job did I realize that most of them are here because their families cannot stand them and rightly so. I'm so tired of hearing about the food / menus, activities, where is my ice, where is my aide, I need my phen. inj. for "acid reflux" ( she forgot the symptom she is suppost to have... ). All this while my double AKA - trach - g tube "pt." with stage IV decube needs meds, suctioning, dressing change, and fecal impaction removal AND Mr. So -n So fell (Unwitnessed) Neuro checks, AND FSBS of 425 AND FSBS of 62!!!!! So MY QUESTION TO YOU EXPERIENCED NURSES IS: What else can I do with my newly obtained LVN license????? It is not the work or the stress or my co-workers, It Is The People that I take care of. I am thinking about Home Health after a few more months experience maybe I could stand them if I only had to see them for 30 min to 1 hour per week. Serious replys please... the new Walmart is looking very tempting, I hear they are hiring. Sorry this is a long rant but I really do not know what else to do.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Nov 1, 2004

LOL, I feel the same way you do with most of my residents...so I tell them all the time "this isn't the Burger King of medicine folks...I don't necessarily do it YOUR way, and don't guarentee 2 minutes or less!" But go figure...if you don't respond to that light in 2 mins or less...residents start calling their families..I am NOT kidding!

I had a situation once where I had to respond to two emergencies..but one resident had a 'stomach ache' and insisted on seeing me STAT. Well considering both my residents in the emergencies were on the ground unresponsive, my choise in priorities was a bit different then his..and he complained to his family on the phone, and wrote me up! OH boy did he get it from me...professionally I assure you...but he did get quite the brow beating of his life! The write up was thrown away very quickly, and he doesn't do that to me anymore, but he is one of 160!!!!! UHGGGGG!

I think finding more understanding clients is pretty much like choosing relatives..you just can't so deal with what you have. There are turkeys everywhere..and there are sweeties too...and that goes for staff and patients. I have just learned over time to take care of my own when faced with unreasonable patients/family/staff and professionally but sternly let them know I won't take too much bs from them...it is paying off slowly...

Maybe if picking a new job, have them introduce you to a few of the patients. That may help? I know my admin would have had me meeting the most independant happy ones, but guess that is just a risk you get to take in this case..LOL! Yeah, they would have thrown me quite a jaycee! LOL!!!!!

And feel free to give an inch in your job...but realize THEY WILL take a mile! Be aware of that, it is how it goes in any customer service field! They can't help it, and they even will admit they wouldn't walk a foot in your shoes, they just don't have the experience to know what sacrifices you do each day! Something good to remember..even if it is seirously frustrating!

mickeymouse1205 · Nov 1, 2004

Yes I have thought about it. I have been a nurse for 8 yrs, and relocated also, pay is terrible.That is why I am not a "real nurse" right now I do defense audits for the hospital against the insurance co's. They want a nurse to do it to be able to understand the surgical reports etc. I don't know if I'll go back to floor nursing ever. I feel it's too dangerous nowadays the way staffing is.I've looked for the light at the end of the tunnel, but I just don't see it.

Cheryl

Repat · Nov 1, 2004

The new sign in our break room: "There is no such thing as a difficult patient, only a patient with difficulties." Just about says it all, I think...

harleytx · Nov 1, 2004

TriageRN 34: Thanks for the reply. "Calling the family" I forgot that one! I really do heve several "favorites" that are nice. I guess you can tell that I had a BAD "yesterday"! But on the calling the family issue: at this point I do what I can to provide safe care, prioritize my "emergencies", document document document, never speak harshly or rude, etc. SO call your family, write me up, Give me an excuse to go somewhere else. lol... not really.............the pay is great!

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Nov 1, 2004

I like that one actually...but hidden in my nurses office would be another sign..."there are no difficult nurses...only nurses with their 'patient's difficulties' on their shoulders, and boy is it getting heavier!"

We have this lovely sign in our breakroom among the several "don't do this, don't do that" signs all over the place..."the customer is ALWAYS right". It has been torn down several times! LOL!!!! But it keeps getting put back up! Last week another sign popped up next to it..."then it is really Saturday March 22, 1944!" LOL!!!!!!

I like my sign in my office...it is nothing but funny ironic jokes about being nurses (which I change weekly), we NEED some humor at our place!!!!!! The PC stuff is getting old!!!!!

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Nov 1, 2004

TriageRN 34: Thanks for the reply. "Calling the family" I forgot that one! I really do heve several "favorites" that are nice. I guess you can tell that I had a BAD "yesterday"! But on the calling the family issue: at this point I do what I can to provide safe care, prioritize my "emergencies", document document document, never speak harshly or rude, etc. SO call your family, write me up, Give me an excuse to go somewhere else. lol... not really.............the pay is great!

Oh I hear ya there!!!!!!! What scared my admin and residents is that I did just that! I said in a very professional calm mannor that they have the RIGHT to call their family, they have the RIGHT to complain, and they have a RIGHT to nursing services...so I asked them to call, and that way maybe more nurses will be hired, better attention to client needs will be addressed, and things might just change!!!!! Admin heard I was advocating for this, and put out a few little threats and I said that basically I am a patient advocate in my profession, and if they had a probelm with it to look at the state board administrative rules and see if I was mistaken?!?!? LOL, at that point they knew I was not too worried about their threats...oh well that and saying it would be nice to get the unemployment and not work my tail feathers off for a while..LOL!:chuckle

zenman · Nov 1, 2004

I've been in the profession for 30 years and plan to leave as early next year as I can, hopefully January!

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 1, 2004

I've been in the profession for 30 years and plan to leave as early next year as I can, hopefully January!

HUGE loss, if you ask me. I bet this is not isolated, and that really does scare me. We can't afford to lose valuable people with experience like yours.

obeyacts2 · Nov 1, 2004

HUGE loss, if you ask me. I bet this is not isolated, and that really does scare me. We can't afford to lose valuable people with experience like yours.

All these stories make me wonder if killing myself trying to get into RN school is really worth it.

Laura

Trauma-tizedRN · Nov 1, 2004

I've been in the profession for 30 years and plan to leave as early next year as I can, hopefully January!

I ditto that. Can't afford to lose experienced nurses like yourself. Where will you go from here? Completely away from healthcare?

mattsmom81 · Nov 1, 2004

28 yrs into this and I've survived by finding a 'niche', working less than fulltime whenever possible, and taking breaks from time to time. Now...I am burned out in my 'niche' of critical care and looking down a side road. Considering acute dialysis, telephone triage, and travel... and have interviews this next week. Good thing there are so many options in this field, eh? Good luck to all here and look out for #1. :)