I have been reading thread after thread on this forum and I have come to one conclusion. We are all a pathetic bunch. We take abuse that most other human beings would not put up with. We are physically, mentally and emotionally abused by doctors, managers, patients, and families. We work ungodly hours, skip our much needed breaks without pay for months and years on end. And this goes on and on and on. The stories are endless. Then we are all shocked when a nurse who has had enough finally cracks and administers 32 vials of Dilantin and kills a patient. Is this so different than any other human being who finally after years and years of this abuse, just cannot take it anymore? I think not. When are we all going to stand up and demand decent pay, decent working conditions, and respect? Well, the answer is never because we are not a solid group. We have no autonomy or solidarity because we are a weak profession. We pit one against another. We ***** and backstab. We deserve all the abuse that is dealt to us. In nursing school, we are taught to make beds, empty bedpans and clean dentures. Instead we should get vast lessons in how to deal with some of the real issues that face us today. We are understaffed, overworked, pushed to the breaking point. But yet, the martyr instinct kicks in, we get up and go back and endure more of the same. When is enough, enough? When are we all going to come together and and start shouting about our working conditions and wages? We make less than a crew on road construction or a plumber. And look what we do. We are responsible for peoples lives. I went to work down the road as my current employer is union and I felt that maybe the non union hospital down the road would be a better place. Well, it is not, it is worse. 13 nurses have quit in the 6 weeks I have worked there. I won't renew my contract. It is just too unsafe. The hospital is all about profit at the expense of some great nurses. They even charge for an individual bandaid. It is ridiculous. I have decided that as soon as I can afford to, I'm getting out. I will no longer be a member of a profession that eats its young while at the same time, taking unwarrented abuse from unapreciative doctors that we bend over backwards for. Its not about making a living any more, it is about retaining some self respect, free of abuse by doctors, managers and other nurses who have nothing better to do than put a knife in your back the minute you turn around. At least at walmart I won't have to worry about making a life threatening mistake because I'm overwhelmed by what is required of me each day.
I watched a doctor chew out a poor new grad the other morning in front of the entire shift change. I guess he does this frequently. Why do we put up with this? Why do we not band together and put a stop to this crap? He chewed her out because the blood glucose was not on the computer yet as the glucometer had not been docked. This is part of what is wrong. This is one small example. This is what I hate. We all stood around and allowed him to carry on and reduce her to tears. And I am as guilty as the rest but I am the traveler and had to be silent.
" I don't think nurses are pathetic, rather that they are "angels". They take abuse and turn the other cheek, they care for the ill/injured and they do it while accepting little in the way of pay and respect. That's an angel in my book."
Now that's pathetic. Why don't you tell your kids that when you can't afford to get them braces. Tell them you're an angel next time you get into an argument with your spouse over money. Make sure they know you're an angel when they sense your stress at home, despite your best attempts to hide it becuase you work with a bunch of self hating backstabbers, who are taught from the first day of nursing school that they should have no self esteem what-so-ever.
LORSTER- thank you for being honest, for not sugar coating OR APOLOGIZING FOR YOUR FEELINGS OF ANGER. You didn't "backstab" anyone. No doubt, anyone who was offended by your post is part of the problem, part of that miserable co-dependant put on a smile and don't complain brigade, you know the one, inhaling chocolate bars at every possible second.
Yes and no. We get stuff and small appreciation. But remember the time you made a difference? Come on, more than once, you held that dying patient's hand; told the doc, naw, I don't think she needs 500mg fentanyl; let's keep the pit below 20; Dr. uh..well, really are you sure you want .... We do it because we can. Not for pay or a pat on the back. I'm old and still love nursing. And yes, i've had many bad experiences. What about the time you just "felt something was wrong"....took an extra step and saved someones life?
This post scares me. I am in my second semester of nursing school with two left after this. I have been doing clinicals both semesters, at two hospitals, and at both places it has been the same...too many patients per nurse, and the nurse unable to do much "nursing" at all. The nurses seem to see very little of their patients during their shift, less than 1.5 hr/patient/12 hr shift, it seems! And yet they are insanely busy the whole day on the computer. Is this really how nursing is? And does it have to be this way?
Yes and no. We get stuff and small appreciation. But remember the time you made a difference? Come on, more than once, you held that dying patient's hand; told the doc, naw, I don't think she needs 500mg fentanyl; let's keep the pit below 20; Dr. uh..well, really are you sure you want .... We do it because we can. Not for pay or a pat on the back. I'm old and still love nursing. And yes, i've had many bad experiences. What about the time you just "felt something was wrong"....took an extra step and saved someones life?
ok, so perhaps i will sound totally naive and very new-gradish, but...
WHY didnt anyone stand up for that new grad? More importantly, why didnt that new grad stand up for herself? Something as simple as "if you have a problem, we can address it without an audience" or even simpler "please lower your tone". She should take it further and complain to anyone that gives her a few minutes of their time. This is ABUSE and the longer YOU tolerate it (you, the new grad, and everyone standing around listening and doing nothing), the longer it will continue.
I find that it really is up to the culture of the floor. I have been fortunate enough to see a nurses hang up the phone on screaming physicians, I have seen nurses file official complaints...i have seen nurses have zero tolerance towards this kind of stuff, and you know what? no one takes advantage of those nurses.
Perhaps it is time to start changing the culture on your floor. I know, its much easier said than done, but you have to start somewhere...
OP - I totally agree with everything you've said. And those of you who don't agree, I suspect it's because you're naive and have never worked outside of the nursing field to know what acceptable working conditions are.
Nursing is my second career, and I've been appauled by the low level of respect and terrible working conditions. The way we are treated would NEVER fly in the corporate world.
I know it sounds noble to say we're "angels" and we do our jobs not for money, but to help others, blah, blah. But we're only selling ourselves short. We're human beings and should be compensated for our hard work, just like anyone else who holds down a job.
And what would you call those nurses who have banned together and gotten better treatment? Are they any less of an "angel" because they're compensated appropriately and treated better? Actually, I think they could be BETTER nurses because they don't exhibit burn-out as easily, are happier and therefore treat their patients and each other better. And, they're not as likely to turn into bitter old bats who eat their young.
Unfortunately, there are too many martyrs in our field who ruin our chances for organizing and getting what we deserve. The way I've handled it individually, is I quit my last job (in which I lost almost 20 lbs from not eating and stress), and switched to a new unit with better treatment. I may not be organzing a union or anything, but I spoke loudly when I left and my old unit lost money to replace me. That's a simple thing that anyone can do.
You're really a better nurse - and a better person - if you take care of yourself first. The positive treatment you demand for yourself then trickles down to your patients.
WHAT? That's a progressive enlightened attitude. Why did you even bother to reply?
You take what they give you, eh? That makes you what, ECEdude? Stoic? Tough? A real team player? Do you go home to your family and brag about how much crap you took at work today because you're just happy to have a job?
Dude, we are a commodity. There is an incredible shortage of people with our license. We have the skills to do a job that would make most people puke, and we do that job well. No other specialized profession take as much crap as nurses do. Just be happy you have a job, are things really that bad?
OP - I totally agree with everything you've said. And those of you who don't agree, I suspect it's because you're naive and have never worked outside of the nursing field to know what acceptable working conditions are.
Nursing is my second career, and I've been appauled by the low level of respect and terrible working conditions. The way we are treated would NEVER fly in the corporate world.
I know it sounds noble to say we're "angels" and we do our jobs not for money, but to help others, blah, blah. But we're only selling ourselves short. We're human beings and should be compensated for our hard work, just like anyone else who holds down a job.
And what would you call those nurses who have banned together and gotten better treatment? Are they any less of an "angel" because they're compensated appropriately and treated better? Actually, I think they could be BETTER nurses because they don't exhibit burn-out as easily, are happier and therefore treat their patients and each other better. And, they're not as likely to turn into bitter old bats who eat their young.
Unfortunately, there are too many martyrs in our field who ruin our chances for organizing and getting what we deserve. The way I've handled it individually, is I quit my last job (in which I lost almost 20 lbs from not eating and stress), and switched to a new unit with better treatment. I may not be organzing a union or anything, but I spoke loudly when I left and my old unit lost money to replace me. That's a simple thing that anyone can do.
You're really a better nurse - and a better person - if you take care of yourself first. The positive treatment you demand for yourself then trickles down to your patients.
Anne74 you absolutely rock! I'm in the same career situation as you. My second career and I find myself thinking EVERYDAY, if nurses had just had a small taste of how less skilled, less educateed corporate workers are treated they would walk out of their jobs in total disgust. THE BEST PATIENT CARE STARTS WITH THE BEST NURSE TREATMENT POSSIBLE!
Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
" I don't think nurses are pathetic, rather that they are "angels". They take abuse and turn the other cheek, they care for the ill/injured and they do it while accepting little in the way of pay and respect. That's an angel in my book."
Now that's pathetic. Why don't you tell your kids that when you can't afford to get them braces. Tell them you're an angel next time you get into an argument with your spouse over money. Make sure they know you're an angel when they sense your stress at home, despite your best attempts to hide it becuase you work with a bunch of self hating backstabbers, who are taught from the first day of nursing school that they should have no self esteem what-so-ever.
LORSTER- thank you for being honest, for not sugar coating OR APOLOGIZING FOR YOUR FEELINGS OF ANGER. You didn't "backstab" anyone. No doubt, anyone who was offended by your post is part of the problem, part of that miserable co-dependant put on a smile and don't complain brigade, you know the one, inhaling chocolate bars at every possible second.
Right on Lorster!
You must be a troll...because it's OBVIOUS you got nothing from my post. Lorster was OBVIOUSLY venting, and rightly so...good for her. She needed some support, and to know that her efforts to be and stay a good nurse aren't in vain.
I guess I'll take the high road on this one so as not to attract any mods to my post except to suggest that perhaps sonnyluv is experiencing some burnout issues as well. Warrants some thought.
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lorster
224 Posts
I watched a doctor chew out a poor new grad the other morning in front of the entire shift change. I guess he does this frequently. Why do we put up with this? Why do we not band together and put a stop to this crap? He chewed her out because the blood glucose was not on the computer yet as the glucometer had not been docked. This is part of what is wrong. This is one small example. This is what I hate. We all stood around and allowed him to carry on and reduce her to tears. And I am as guilty as the rest but I am the traveler and had to be silent.