Nurses... Unhappy? ...Say it ain't so.

Good grief. In my opinion, you really need to find what fits you best. If you are going for CRNA, you'll need at least a years experience in ICU. Bedside nursing is not that bad. Like any other job, it has it's ups and downs. Actually to be honest, I've liked it even more since I quit Beaumont and went to HFH-Detroit. You just need to find where you fit best, hospital and specialty.

SnowStar4 · Nov 16, 2008

I think you need to take a website like that with a grain of salt. There are going to be both happy and disgruntled people in every profession, and the unhappy are usually the loudest.

Happy people usually don't go to the internet to post on sites like this. They are happy, so there is no need. It's apparent in any internet venue. Have you ever looks at store reviews, consumer affiars sites, etc? Almost all bad. I don't think it's becuase the service/product/profession is all bad (in most cases), it's just that the bad experiences are the only ones we hear about.

Just my opinion.

As for the personal thoughts you stated in the first post, you are not alone.

John20 · Nov 16, 2008

I read several of those links and thought they were hilarious. If you are ready to lose your mind with rage because a patient asks for "sparkling water" you probably shouldn't be a nurse or any other job that involves working directly with people. Go into computer programming. I had a patient point to an itch on their arm and ask me to scratch it for them. I kept a straight face while telling them that I was only there to help them become independent again and that scratching that itch themselves was a good start. Inside I was rolling on the ground laughing. I've never understood people who get mad at nutty requests. Take it as entertainment. I'm the life of any party because of all the entertaining stories I have.

As far as dealing with coworkers who are a pain, always offer and be willing to help them even when you're tired, because they will view you as an asset. Never partake in gossip. If you listen to them while not adding to it you stay above the fray without coming off as a snob and they will develop respect for you as someone who won't talk behind their backs either. Being a male has helped me as well. A lot of times I feel like a zebra in a herd of horses staring at me not knowing what to think.

The main point is; Don't expect utopia because you'll be let down. There are headaches in any line of work so learn to adapt and you'll be fine. Of course I've only been in the industry for a year so what do I know?:weatherstruck:

jabraham99 · Nov 16, 2008

I read several of those links and thought they were hilarious. If you are ready to lose your mind with rage because a patient asks for "sparkling water" you probably shouldn't be a nurse or any other job that involves working directly with people. Go into computer programming. I had a patient point to an itch on their arm and ask me to scratch it for them. I kept a straight face while telling them that I was only there to help them become independent again and that scratching that itch themselves was a good start. Inside I was rolling on the ground laughing. I've never understood people who get mad at nutty requests. Take it as entertainment. I'm the life of any party because of all the entertaining stories I have.
As far as dealing with coworkers who are a pain, always offer and be willing to help them even when you're tired, because they will view you as an asset. Never partake in gossip. If you listen to them while not adding to it you stay above the fray without coming off as a snob and they will develop respect for you as someone who won't talk behind their backs either. Being a male has helped me as well. A lot of times I feel like a zebra in a herd of horses staring at me not knowing what to think.
The main point is; Don't expect utopia because you'll be let down. There are headaches in any line of work so learn to adapt and you'll be fine. Of course I've only been in the industry for a year so what do I know?:weatherstruck:

Well John, I would say you know a lot! What a great attitude. I am sure that you are a great nurse!

CandyGyrl · Nov 16, 2008

Trust me... I know the site is nothing more than entertainment at its best however, I do come across quite a few of these more often than not. But at the same time I think it is a realistic view of plenty of nurses in the field ... if it wasn't, why the shortage... why the lack of pay or respect.

As a student even I'm an advocate for change. The healthcare industry couldn't manage without nurses so when are we going to DEMAND more! Don't they deserve it? :yeahthat: Nurses are totally worth their weight in gold. Unfortunately, I don't see us being taken seriously anytime soon so naive I will not be... a great nurse I will strive to be nothing less than.

I truly believe nursing is an awesome field by all means... noble, rewarding, respectful, its just the industry, the economics, the hospital politics, the burnouts and all the other non nursing aspects that really wear on good nurses who just want to do their jobs. I also think that the more of us who go into advanced nursing positions is steering the field one step further into the right direction.

Even being a student I see the nurses looking at us like "oh they're so bright eyed and bushy tailed... just wait!" And I think to myself... No you just wait!

ToxicShock · Nov 20, 2008

If you want to be a nurse because you have a true passion for the field, a desire to care for the ill, and an insatiable interest in medicine, then you will be an excellent nurse, no matter what. :)

Pauligirl · Nov 28, 2008

As far as dealing with coworkers who are a pain, always offer and be willing to help them even when you're tired, because they will view you as an asset.....:weatherstruck:

In my case I've found this to be untrue. I was always willing to help out all my co-workers and offer assistance. Until I realized that it was not being reciprocated. Some of my co-wokers had absolutely no problem with me tending to their patients when they were no where to be found. Or if they saw me walking down their assigned hall rooms which had a call bell ringing they'd continue to sit at the nurse's station engaged in chit chat because they knew I wouldn't just walk by a patient's room when the call bell was ding, ding, a dinging.

One co-worker even had the nerve to shout out my name from the nurse's station when they knew I was in a nearby room tending to one of my other patient's. Hey! Hey! Pauligirl! YOUR room XX is callin' YOU! Geeh! That sure was nice of her to inform me. Because she was just too busy leaning her rump on the nurse's station desk to help a patient in need. :madface: It wasn't like the patient was calling me specifically by name and refusing all others...the call bell was ringing, singing my name. :banghead:

Now granted this occured while I was a patient care tech. But I've seen the same thing occur at my hospital amongst the nurse's. If it wasn't their assigned patient they'd have absolutely nothing to do with the patient if the other nurse was truly busy. :nono:

Those kinds of attitudes, lack of team work, and lack of concern for any patient in need is uncalled for. At least in my opinion. :bugeyes: A few bad apples really can spoil the bunch. Or rather unit.

After the experiences I've had working that unit, other units at that particular hospital, and a LTC facility I have absolutely no desire to work the floors (do floor nursing). Ya could offer me 100 grand/year and I wouldn't do it. :clown:

I hold myself to a certain level of professionalism and expect the same of my co-workers. Guess I was expecting too much. And is floor nursing considered a "professional" career anyway? I dunno...