Nursing Is No Longer Worth It

Nurses are treated like expendable pieces of meat that are readily replaced like a disposable dead battery. Covid-19 is the straw that has finally broken the camel's back for me and now I'm ready to leave nursing completely. You only live once in this life. If you happen to discover this article and you're considering a career in nursing, I would urge you to turn around and look elsewhere. Nurses COVID News

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You are reading page 13 of Nursing Is No Longer Worth It

Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.
On 7/3/2020 at 7:17 AM, Sorentomax said:

Well said unfortunately many of us equate this proffesion with our identity

YES and..most “other professions” do not hold peoples lives and well-being in their hands. Many other professionals, especially in business, have some leeway in when they get their work done or what to do now VS later. They stay late or work weekends (not ideal life style, but...), and don’t have to worry for example about monitoring an unstable patient every 5 mins getting a blood transfusion while some other equally important need is happening with another patient/s, at the same time you are told you have to take your break NOW or not get one, etc. etc.,etc...

I used to try to come in early to prepare or stay late to chart, but then of course, you cannot work “off the clock” and OT was highly discouraged. Or then told you’re being floated to another unit within the hour and have to get your charting done before you float.

Its maddening!!

Asystole RN

2,352 Posts

1 hour ago, BeenThere2012 said:

As some may have noticed from my postings, I feel the same at this point. I wonder where the disconnect comes in? So many of us feel this way.

Is it unrealistic/fantasy images of the Nursing profession causing false expectations?

Do the nursing schools/instructors mislead or withhold important teachings in preparing students? I mean, we have “safety” drilled into us and the importance of proper time management and prioritization but then in reality, we find it so difficult to uphold (even come close at times) what we are taught.

For those of us who’ve been in this awhile, have “things” changed over the years from where we started? (I’m not speaking to “good ole days” mentality). Obviously they’ve changed a lot with medical knowledge, technology etc...I still think the corporate world has changed the medical profession globally. Not just for nurses.

After 35+ years and personal maturity, I hope I’m not just a weak weenie. ?

What is changing is our awareness. The modern healthcare environment is several orders of magnitude safer today than it was when my mother was practicing. Today we have gloves, we sharps protection, smoking indoors is banned, there is training and some lift assistance etc. Along with growing safer our awareness of the danger has grown as well.

This phenomenon is similar to what is seen in the news. If one took their view of the reality of the world one would think things are worse than ever. In reality the world has not become worse, it has only become smaller and more recorded. I think this quote from Will Smith regarding racism is describes this phenomenon well, "When I hear people say "it's worse than it's ever been", I really disagree completely. It's clearly not as bad as it was in the 60s, and it's certainly not as bad as it was in the 1860s'...'Racism isn't getting worse, it's getting filmed'."

Asystole RN

2,352 Posts

53 minutes ago, BeenThere2012 said:

YES and..most “other professions” do not hold peoples lives and well-being in their hands. Many other professionals, especially in business, have some leeway in when they get their work done or what to do now VS later. They stay late or work weekends (not ideal life style, but...), and don’t have to worry for example about monitoring an unstable patient every 5 mins getting a blood transfusion while some other equally important need is happening with another patient/s, at the same time you are told you have to take your break NOW or not get one, etc. etc.,etc...

I used to try to come in early to prepare or stay late to chart, but then of course, you cannot work “off the clock” and OT was highly discouraged. Or then told you’re being floated to another unit within the hour and have to get your charting done before you float.

Its maddening!!

I personally think a lot of our issues stem to how nursing is viewed institutionally and legally.

In the 70's before the DRG, HIPAA, HCAHPS or any other the modern non-sense there was a large debate over how to control healthcare costs. The early PPS system that was the predecessor to the modern MS-DRG system intentionally sought to control healthcare spending by controlling the single largest and most variable (read controllable) expense any organization has, and that is labor costs. Today hospitals are literally financially penalized by the federal government for staffing heavy. If anyone is interested you can find the old health econ articles on controlling healthcare costs by controlling nursing wages and the nurse to patient ratio, most of the articles are written in the 70's and 80's.

Personally I think we should be reimbursed by our patients, not hourly by the hospital. As professionals we should be compensated for the skilled work that we do and thus be allowed to bill for services rendered.

When I practiced vascular access I billed for the services I rendered. I was paid a flat fee for each service regardless if it took me 5 minutes or 5 hours. It allowed me to focus on the important things and give attention to the things that were important.

guest769224

1,698 Posts

46 minutes ago, Asystole RN said:

Personally I think we should be reimbursed by our patients, not hourly by the hospital. As professionals we should be compensated for the skilled work that we do and thus be allowed to bill for services rendered.

When I practiced vascular access I billed for the services I rendered. I was paid a flat fee for each service regardless if it took me 5 minutes or 5 hours. It allowed me to focus on the important things and give attention to the things that were important.

Yes. Just like PT and OT services do. Nursing ought to have this option as well. What type of nursing do you do now that you've left vascular access?

kbrn2002, ADN, RN

3,822 Posts

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
17 hours ago, BeenThere2012 said:

As some may have noticed from my postings, I feel the same at this point. I wonder where the disconnect comes in? So many of us feel this way.

Is it unrealistic/fantasy images of the Nursing profession causing false expectations?

Do the nursing schools/instructors mislead or withhold important teachings in preparing students? I mean, we have “safety” drilled into us and the importance of proper time management and prioritization but then in reality, we find it so difficult to uphold (even come close at times) what we are taught.

For those of us who’ve been in this awhile, have “things” changed over the years from where we started? (I’m not speaking to “good ole days” mentality). Obviously they’ve changed a lot with medical knowledge, technology etc...I still think the corporate world has changed the medical profession globally. Not just for nurses.

After 35+ years and personal maturity, I hope I’m not just a weak weenie. ?

HaHa, weak weenie! I love it. As a 25+ year veteran in nursing I agree. No, I don't think you are a weak weenie at all. I do think it's several factor's that have caused the shift to more nurses dissatisfaction with the career.

I also don't want this to be one of those "in the good old days" responses but there are certain realities of current nursing that make that kind of difficult.

The biggest is probably the lack of respect from our employers. While nursing remains one the most respected professions by the general public we sure don't get anywhere near that measure of respect from our employers. With rare exceptions we are treated like interchangeable pieces of machinery.

Wage stagnation is also a big factor for many of us. Sure, there are places that fairly compensate nurses, maybe. I mean I hear rumors about these employers but I've yet to actually find one. Seems every time a decent raise is on the table it's offset by worsening benefits. I recently changed jobs after many years for an employer with better pay and benefits than I was getting, in particular the health insurance is half the cost for better coverage so that was the tipping point for me changing jobs.

It's also pretty darn hard not to be offended by nurse managers and above getting huge annual bonuses largely based on budget. Which means of course the less the front line workers get the more they make. I know I am truly offended by the go team go newsletters from some company bigwig touting how "we're all in this together!" when I know darn well we are not. That person is raking in multi-millions a year while sitting in a boardroom discussing budget cuts which don't affect that job but sure impact us nurses!

Asystole RN

2,352 Posts

18 hours ago, ICUman said:

Yes. Just like PT and OT services do. Nursing ought to have this option as well. What type of nursing do you do now that you've left vascular access?

I am still heavily involved in vascular access, I just work a desk now. I consult on global vascular access issues now.

Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.
20 hours ago, Asystole RN said:

What is changing is our awareness. The modern healthcare environment is several orders of magnitude safer today than it was when my mother was practicing. Today we have gloves, we sharps protection, smoking indoors is banned, there is training and some lift assistance etc. Along with growing safer our awareness of the danger has grown as well.

This phenomenon is similar to what is seen in the news. If one took their view of the reality of the world one would think things are worse than ever. In reality the world has not become worse, it has only become smaller and more recorded. I think this quote from Will Smith regarding racism is describes this phenomenon well, "When I hear people say "it's worse than it's ever been", I really disagree completely. It's clearly not as bad as it was in the 60s, and it's certainly not as bad as it was in the 1860s'...'Racism isn't getting worse, it's getting filmed'."

Your points are well taken. There is more safety, but then not really if as a nurse you can not uphold the duties and tasks associated with maintaining safety. We give so many more powerful medications. So so many more procedures and have equipment uses which are supposed to benefit the patients. Our ability to treat so many more issues patients face is awesome! Just wish I was given the time to do so safely. I find I have to choose between tasks and care.

THAT is the difference. How many times do I walk down a hall and see a patient’s leg hanging off the bed and the linen in a disarray? Note how depressed a patient may be or see the fear and anxiety in a family member’s face and feel as if I don’t have the time to address these issues? That used to be a part of my care consistently. When I bring these issues up with younger colleagues, they look at me as if I have two heads and shrug their shoulders, and proceed to TELL ME I have to prioritize, or that the messy linens don’t matter etc., as if I don’t already know that.

Its “safer” alright, but at what expense?

amoLucia

7,736 Posts

Specializes in retired LTC.
2 hours ago, BeenThere2012 said:

....

THAT is the difference. How many times do I walk down a hall and see a patient’s leg hanging off the bed and the linen in a disarray? ...

or that the messy linens don’t matter etc., as if I don’t already know that.

Its “safer” alright, but at what expense?

Funny thing ... my previous 9/2019 hospitalization, bed linens WERE NOT routinely changed daily. If you felt you needed or just WANTED a change, you told the nurse or housekeeping. No big deal - I could see how decreasing UNNEC linen changes could save the facility staff time & money.

But the interesting thing --- my roommate was SOOOOOOO indignant & highly offended. She must have complained bitterly to every one of her MULTIPLE phonecalls/texts! As if her WHOLE hosp stay revolved about the bed linens! She TRULY had several other serious physical, emotional & life altering issues, so it made sense that the linens were the ONE thing she could piss & moan about safely. (I wonder what her post hosp survey had to say!)

But personally, I NEVER would have expected to see HOW SIGNIFICANTLY measley lousy bed sheets mattered to that woman! The BED LINENS ISSUE - 'at what expense?' That was a difference to her AND to her caregivers who had to 'grin & bear' her petty nastiness. THEY DIDN''T DESERVE THAT and WAS NSG STILL WORTH IT TO THEM??? I doubt it. Nor did they expect it (or think it OK) when 'they signed up' for nsg (like from another not too old post).

On 4/29/2020 at 9:35 PM, LaJuaNA14 said:

To be honest with you these post are frightening. I am new grad and recently obtained my license. I am/was hopeful nursing is where I wanted to be. I did not realize how degrading it could be. I am a former EMT in NYC and had dealt with emergency department nurses and never heard of such horrific conditions. Few of my friends are nurses and it has worked for them. Obviously the do not have 20-30 yrs of experience under their belt. Would that be one of the reasons? Trauma and ICU is where I want to be. I really hope I get to experience a different side of nursing. This would be my second profession and I do have military experience. I know I have a very thick skin but reading some of these posts makes me think otherwise!! I'm already here cant go back and change to a different profession however, I took notes and will be on the lookout. Thank you everyone for all of the advice! I'll keep you posted on how life as a nurse turns out!

Completely agree with you. I am just getting started with nursing school and reading all of this really is making me think. I am used to working hard without being recognized, however, hearing many of these people say that they have felt under appreciated even after 20-30 years is disheartening...

allnurses Guide

herring_RN, ASN, BSN

3,651 Posts

Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

For decades WE who provided direct nursing care (LVN, CNA, and RN) respiratory therapists, therapists (PT, OT, and others, our wonderful unit clerks/secretaries, Lab Techs and phlebotomists, radiology techs, transporters, pharmacists and techs, most nurse managers and shift supervisors, NP and PA, appreciated and supported each other. We had CEOs and departments who were clueless, OK, good, and a few actually listened to we who provided care.

Once 100% of top management went on a nine day retreat on Maui. WE staff ran the hospital, including calling in extra staff. After they returned as charge nurse I was told by our manager I was lucky that although I allowed extra staff at the beginning of the shift patients were admitted on those nights so the budget was OK.

The ONLY reason for a person to be admitted to a hospital is that they need NURSING CARE. I won't even imagine what would happen if all the nurses went on a retreat. We deserve to be proud of ourselves and each other!

And most patients appreciate us too.

PS: Once I got to tour the Alamo with fellow nurses. The Texas Ranger who greeted us said, "When my wife was in the hospital it was the nurses who saved her life!" THAT is appreciation!

amoLucia

7,736 Posts

Specializes in retired LTC.

A sad realization for many, if not most, of the more experienced nurses here is that it is prob much TOO LATE in their careers to do a major shift to a second profession (like from teaching to nsg, or pharm or LEOs to nsg, etc).

Our education is SOOO very specific. I don't have any political science or world finance school credits. I just can't become an architect, mechanical engineer, stock broker, social worker or fiscal auditor. I don't have the blue collar labor skills to become a plumber, electrician, HVAC tech, cosmetologist. No legal training to become a paralegal.

There are 3 major obstacles for nurses like myself - schooling is time consuming and expensive. Entry competitive and prob very hi-tech for many. Then the job market for many other professions are prob just as limited also (AEB by freq AN posters). Career switchers will likely be giving up a salary (and a commensurate lifestyle). Thirdly, our age and HEALTH may be against us. Just too many years pounding the floors, strining iur backs,

toomuchbaloney

12,695 Posts

Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

What is too late?

I'm retired after 40+ years. I worked with nurses who changed careers in their 30s, 40s, and even their 50s. Both ways, in and out of the profession. I know retired RNs who supplement their income with hobby "work". Does that count as a career change? LOL