Nursing Shortage

[LindaGracie, ADN, BSN]

What type of nurse and person are you? Do you encourage your coworkers and other people in your life? Are you critical of nurses who are not as knowledgeable and competent in their skills as you? Are you quick to vocalize your dislike and criticism of inexperienced or "young" nurses? Do you advocate for positive changes? Do you teach "young" or inexperienced nurses "tricks" you have learned through experience to master skills such as hitting the vein successfully each time when inserting an IV? Do you treat others with kindness and patience, or do you think these "young" inexperienced nurses should "toughen up" and "do their job" or "get out"?

Do you wonder why there is a nursing shortage? Do you wonder if there is anything you can do to help with nurse retention at the facility where you are working? Do you want to improve the nursing crisis by attracting and retaining nurses?

Well, I personally know there of several nurses who are no longer working as nurses or no longer working in hospitals, and it isn't just because of the patients. It is because of how nurses (and sometimes management) treat nurses. It's true that there are way too many nurses who "eat their young". Otherwise known as "bullying". These are nurses (and people in any position) who are critical of others who are not as knowledgeable or skillful in completing skills. These bullies are too critical and opinionated and often time come across as being superior. These nurses forget an important role of nurses to be educators. Everyone doesn't learn the same way, everyone is different in learning style, and yes, learning curve. 

From what I have learned and still learning, that we need to create an environment of acceptance, kindness, encouragement, and accommodation. There is apparently a "vibrational wave of energy" that radiates outward from each person which impacts other people in the vicinity. The positive and loving energy vibrates at a higher level and criticism and bullying vibrates at a lower level. Think of this as positive and negative energies. Most people desire positive energies which creates a positive work environment. I am allowing the fact that there may be some people who likes negative energy which creates a toxic work environment. 

Which work environment do you want to work in? It's as if there is good and evil. People showing the fruits of the spirit and people showing fruits of the flesh. Good versus evil. Which do you choose? It's up to you. I personally think if the work culture changes to a positive, caring, supportive, servant and accepting work culture, then there would be less nurses leaving the profession and improved nurse retention.

I do hope and pray this will encourage someone and inspire someone to take a step towards making some positive changes.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I agree with most of what you said. I've been a nurse for 30+ years, RN for 12 years and APN for 18 years. I will say that I have been both: the rude, no holds barred RN and the kinder, gentler nurse who does nurture new nurses. It has depended on many factors. When I worked in a level one trauma ER for 10 years we were constantly short handed and expected to cont to do more with less. We had scripts: "yes, I have the time" when it was obvious to everyone that we did NOT have the time or resources to do what was needed. The saving grace during this time was the people I worked with. The teamwork was the only thing that kept me coming back shift after shift. 

As an APN I feel that I'm not as stressed with regard to staffing but there are other expectations that can cause stress such as

1.  dealing with prior authorizations for meds that are necessary to keep my patients healthy and out of the hospital. 

2. Managed care programs that only manage the dollars for the insurance companies

3. Expectations from supervisors that are unreasonable.

Well....I'm sure that is more info than you wanted.

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

While there is never an excuse for meanness, sometimes after days and weeks, and even years of feeling like you have been beat on by supervisors, managers, patients, families, everyone reaches a breaking point.  We all should be mindful of what the other may be experiencing.  Just because someone may be harsh one day does not mean they are a "bully"  I have been on both the receiving end as well as the giving end and I regret the times when I either responded harshly or should have used other words.  

Nursing is very hard some days and we all have our home life too. It would be great if everyday things ran smoothly, however we are dealing with humans and we all make our mistakes.  We all can do our part to recognize our own stress levels and learn to step away when needed as well as others need to respect if someone says they need to step away for a moment.