Think Twice Before Becoming a "NURSE"

Nurses Activism

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No offense to the old-timers

Face reality- Nurses are change resistors, not game changers. Working in the worst conditions surrounded by medical money. Making ends meet and supporting their significant others. Thinking they help others. Sorry Johnson & Johnson, we don't make the difference you think we do.

New Graduates struggling to gain experience and settle a career- they might as well give up before they even start. Because every nurse who has been around awhile knows that only they know it all. And these new rookies, they can eat it.

I am far from alone on this one. I'm not an LPN making 15 bucks an hour either. I just see through this nursing crap.

After interacting with enough nurses, its become pretty clear. RUN away before you think you may want to enter the nursing world. It only gets worse.

In the OP's own world where she is supreme being and all revolves around her, I would suppose that ripping us all a new one would be par for the course. However, for most of us, I'd be far more impressed if perhaps the OP shared some thoughts about how she can make our world run more effectively. If the goal is leadership, to actually be able to enact change, then have at it.

As I tell my own adult kids There's gotta be the butt-wipers, the butt-kissers, and the owner of the butt, where you fall on that cycle of a** is by choice or by chance......

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Specializes in none.
In the OP's own world where she is supreme being and all revolves around her, I would suppose that ripping us all a new one would be par for the course. However, for most of us, I'd be far more impressed if perhaps the OP shared some thoughts about how she can make our world run more effectively. If the goal is leadership, to actually be able to enact change, then have at it.

As I tell my own adult kids There's gotta be the butt-wipers, the butt-kissers, and the owner of the butt, where you fall on that cycle of a** is by choice or by chance......

jadelpn, You have to understand, the OP is suffering from a little head bump from when she was pushed off Mt. Olympus.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU/Trauma/Emergency.

I am surprised by the sentiments of the OP. Clearly you are in the wrong profession if you don't feel fulfilled within your current position or many positions available.

I preach this all the time, nursing is not for everyone. If the media will stop touting the profession as the only hiring field, and shed light that you must work just as hard to obtain a position(as in many fields), we may be able to weed the nurses like you out.

Or, is it you fear the new nurses coming into the field could be more viable than yourself? Don't discourage others who truly have a passion. Aim at recruiting better nurses. The senior nursing staff are headed into retirement ,and we need GREAT nurses!

You're not there mentally!

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Specializes in none.
I am surprised by the sentiments of the OP. Clearly you are in the wrong profession if you don't feel fulfilled within your current position or many positions available.

I preach this all the time, nursing is not for everyone. If the media will stop touting the profession as the only hiring field, and shed light that you must work just as hard to obtain a position(as in many fields), we may be able to weed the nurses like you out.

Or, is it you fear the new nurses coming into the field could be more viable than yourself? Don't discourage others who truly have a passion. Aim at recruiting better nurses. The senior nursing staff are headed into retirement ,and we need GREAT nurses!

You're not there mentally!

No! you loose the whole meaning of the OP rant. You see, me as an old nurse is resistant to the changes new nurses bring with them for the Mountain of Knowledge located somewhere in Mission, SD. We are all set in our ways because we do bed side nursing which to Susie Snowflake RN or LPN or NP or DDT is a dead end. It seems that she is the dynamic spark that holds the universe together. Now I hope that is clear and if it is can you explain it to me?
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Specializes in Pulmonary, Transplant, Travel RN.

All I have to say is "Get used to it, you ain't seen nothin yet."

That's directed at the topic responders who are so upset with the OP.

With the media portraying nursing as a cushy, "recession proof", in demand career.........people are flocking to to it as though it were an oasis. Problem is, the oasis has many dangers hidden away that not every Average Joe or Plain Jane is equipped to deal with.

Once seeing this reality, these people become very bitter very fast. Most are done with the field entirely by the end of their first year or so.

Im thinking we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg with regards to topics with this tone. It only makes sense. Create a timeline in your mind, go back to when the recession started. Move forward 6 or 8 months (time for person to lose their job)..........then another 2 or 3 (time to decide to go into nursing)............then give it time for going through school and a few more months to work at the first job. That'd put us at............right about now.........or a few months in the future.

We are going to see tons of these people in the very near future.

We all float down here.

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I remember my fourth year, fifth year, etc., as an LPN, and now, 24 years later, I have to agree with your opinion. I have never felt any loyalty to any company, only to those I can help, even the ones that seem no one can help them, that feel there is no hope of help at all. Sometimes I cannot give them the rosy answers they are looking for but I try to give them the cold hard facts in a caring and understanding, tactful way, and remind them that I am there for them whenever they have questions or just need to talk. Most times thwe seem to just want to truth and to not be kept in the dark. A blanket statement like "We will take care of that', or "We know what is best, just do as I say" is not how to make a patient feel better. It only tends to worry them more because they know they are not getting the whole story and become frustrated, disillusioned and distrustful with medical staff in general. Along with medications and so forth, too many seem to think that all there is to nursing is their own opinions and POVs. To me, being honest and frothright is doing them much more good than keeping them in the dark with vague answers and outright unanswered questions and "little white lies". And administration - don't even want to get started on that one!

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Mindset only goes so far in the face of abject negativity and butting up against brick walls and backstabbers. All of which are far too abundant in this world, and seems at times to be more concentrated in nursing. There are many fine and good nurses out there but I have seen so many become apathetic over the years because of such a barrage of these things that it is just mind boggling.

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

wait for it.........

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I understand your frustration. I am a new nurse and often see the negative sides new RNs have to face in the workplace. I am determined to not let this get in the way of my excelling in this career! I have worked too hard earning my degree and homing my nursing skills to throw in the towel because of workplace incivility. I believe that will be a problem anywhere you go and in any profession. It's how you deal with those negative people is what that sets you apart from others. I am sorry you are having problems adjusting to your career, but I feel just giving up and switching careers is not going to fix the problem. Try working on another floor and searching for positive people that have positive outlooks of life to work with. Good Luck and hang in there!!

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I am told by my pts and their families that I am making a positive difference in the life/lives.....

Everything else is noise.....

I love being a nurse

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Specializes in EDUCATION;HOMECARE;MATERNAL-CHILD; PSYCH.
No, nursing in and of itself is not meant to change. It is meant to serve. So you may serve and help one person at a time. But you are not changing the system.

It is nursing as a whole I am talking about.

You can use the nursing profession to change the system. Many nurses are in Washington lobbying. You may not see the change but it is happening. Every time a nurse takes a stand for her patients and the profession, change happens. I empathize with you. I know how you feel. Don't give up. Explore how you can help change the system. Go back to school, join committees, mentor a new nurse graduate, write an article...you will be amazed what will happen.

Thanks for your post.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

I see that this thread is more than two years old, but I must...

The worst working conditions? Can we say "hyperbole??" Really? Worse working conditions than coal mining? Worse than mass manufacturing in SE Asia? Worse than plucking and gutting chickens all day long?

Honestly. :sarcastic:

Face reality- Nurses are change resistors, not game changers. Working in the worst conditions surrounded by medical money. Making ends meet and supporting their significant others. Thinking they help others. Sorry Johnson & Johnson, we don't make the difference you think we do.
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