Nursing is slavery Period!!!

[sonia211]

I am probably going to offend some of you and I apologize in advance for that.

However I really need a safe place to vent my frustrations about nursing and

this is the place.

A little background:

I have a Bachelors in Business. I worked in that field for just under 8 years. I liked it but it was starting to get boring and I felt I needed a challenge. I got my BSN and started working as a nurse for a big hospital. I didn't expect it to be all roses however I have to say what I have found in this profession has quickly turned me negative. I have been in this profession for over 2 years now and while I know that isn't long I have to be HONEST and say that I don't feel that I can honestly make it in this job.

Here is what I have noticed about the roles a nurse plays:

to administration: cogs (yet they don't want to pay the price required to keep us

so they keep increasing our task list, Responsibilites, documentation requirements,

etc while not increasing our pay)

to Dr: waitress/slave

to families: waitress/slave

Every job I have done went by satisfactory meaning I have never been written up or even had a verbal warning given. In this job people get written up for stupid stuff and no one thinks to give verbal warnings. The amount of demoralization that takes place on new grads is profound and now I understand why the smiles on new grad faces quickly turn sour. Every Dr I have s/w told me the same thing which is "get out of nursing or go higher fast . . . but do not stay in it"

Thus the message is clear that this profession needs a Major rehaul. Policies change on a daily basis (No Joke) and there is no effective means of getting the information across to all employees such that NO ONE has any idea what is the proper way of doing anything anymore. Everyone I've asked has a different idea and the new policy is not always on the intranet. The more nurses I talk to the more I realize they are not leaving this profession only because they do not have another option. The ones that do take it QUICK!

I keep hearing people tell me that nurses make such great money at the bedside but I have to say Nurses earn every single $ they make NO JOKE. We are expected to work tirelessly without taking bathroom breaks, lunches, etc. There is no regard for our healthy while all focus is given to patient safety. Now I know why nurses burn out at the rate that they do.

And after all is said and done the amount of responsibility and liability that a nurse carries is starting to increase. We live in such an age of Entitlement where people want the best care and they do NOT understand the stressors that are forged upon nurses such that if you don't bring them their cup of tea on time they get upset with you. I thought about pursuing my MSN in the clinical arena however after much deliberation I realized despite the fact that my desire to help people is strong I don't want the amount of liability that comes with it. I am working on getting out of it. Although I do feel like a failure because I will always remember that I wasn't able to make it in nursing.

I have spoken to other new grads about this and they feel the same way in fact a lot of them didn't even finish 1 year bedside nursing before they turned around and enrolled themselves in NP programs to get out of this dreary profession.

Please feel free to comment on this post. . .

[KBrown1981]

I have only been nursing for approximately 2 years but I have to say that nursing is not an easy job. However, I knew that when I got into the profession; in fact, it was one of the reasons that I chose to become a nurse. Prior to nursing school, I worked in a factory that made belts for all sorts of vehicles. It was a physical job; lifting, pulling and pushing for 10 hours in a very warm environment with chemicals. I got laid off from that job due to budget cuts and chose to go into nursing.

The reason that I chose nursing was due to the fact that it is a physical, mental and emotional job. Factory work bored me to tears, doing the same thing over and over again with no thought process tends to do that. The reasons that I enjoy nursing are because I get to use my mind and I get to become involved with my patients. I work in a 45 bed retirement home where, on shift, I am the only nurse and I have 3 PSWs working under me. That is 45 people to 4 health care workers. It does get stressful and I do feel tired after my shift, don't get me wrong. But what I like about being a nurse is that I am dealing with a person. I am caring for that person. I have a feeling that I will be a nurse for a long while yet. Perhaps you just need to find that spot where you fit and where your abilities and expectations about being a nurse coincide? There are so many avenues in nursing that are available - maybe try something different?

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Everything you've said is true sonia211. They will write you up for being a day late on one of the endless education requirements. One minute late is 1/2 an incident and on and on. Sad thing is many people are going into RN programs for the "money", but most of the current nurses are not planning on staying and turn around and enroll in NP programs to get out of the rat race ASAP. Sad thing is NP is also a rat race, assembly line, see a patient every 7 minutes, move quicker, jump; plus salary so long hours; but at least your not moving 300-400 pound patients and won't be stuck dealing with dementia/psyche patients.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I have been a nurse for close to 10 years and I must say that I agree with you. It may not be exactly the same everywhere but the concept is the same and patients are patients no matter where you work. I have worked at magnet hospitals and although their staffing may be better its still the same old crap. I currently do not work at the bedside and I feel better, sleep better and have a more balanced family work life. Nurses do not give themselves credit for providing one of the most difficult responsibilities on this earth and that's being a caregiver. I like being a nurse but there is more to this career than bedside and when I felt that I didn't want the patient care liability anymore I moved on.

What do you do instead? Did you have to take a pay cut?

[maelstrom143]

I can see how our profession may be viewed as being comprised of individuals being abused and taken advantage of by the system and even those who are there to be cared for by us. On the other hand, our profession is comprised of individuals who, for one reason or another, have entered this field to care for others. Some say they need the money (trust me, their words, not mine! and they defended their stance), others cause they love people/are people persons (again, their words), and a myriad other reasons. Each individual chooses the field for their own reasons. I entered the field to care for others because I could not care for my own and survive intact.

I am a protector at heart. I raised and protected my siblings, I protected my mentally ill mother, even when I did not want to...I do not know how to do aught else. When in service and being useful is when I feel most at ease. Most other times I feel ill at ease around others and have not much to say (hate small talk unless feeling hyper). What makes me angry as heck is when others use the job to further their own needs w/no regard to the needs of those they are serving (i.e. being on cell phone when instead they should be helping their CNAs better care for their patients).

I am not always happy with my job. I have my days when I go home and am snarky as heck due to the cruddy day I've had. Yet, when all is said and done, I do the job that others will not. I get something out of it, just as others get something out of the service I provide. Could it be better? Heck yeah; any job, any field can use improvements. That is a fact of life. The only job I would do if I were not a nurse? Go back to being a soldier.

[mptinstr]

Welcome to our world. If you're that discouraged after just 2 yrs, I say get out now while you're still young. The physical toll isn't worth the aggravation. And the public feels more & more entitled as the years go on!! The pay is crap considering the life & death responsibilities every day. The only way things will get better is with a strong union to fight for adequate wages, ratios, representation .......Teacher's unions have made a huge difference for them! I'm switching to another career after 25 yrs- my body is a mess ): from doing men's lifting, pushing & pulling.

[mptinstr]

so agreed.... the public has NO idea what we really do

[nursegrant]

First let me say that I'm a nurse with over 35 years of experience in various areas. I fully understand, and can empathize with your situation, and the emotions that you express. I think every nurse has had them at one time or another. But I would hate to have your experience up to this point turn you away from the profession. It is rewarding, and it is a "calling". But if you are gratified only when people are nice, say "thank-you", or verbally acknowledge your hard work: perhaps its not the right path for you. We all have those patients that have driven us to the brink, and were so glad when they were finally discharged. But I'll bet you're had some that we so kind that you just wanted to give them a hug, or so grateful that you were a bit ashamed by their continuous thank you's. There are a lot of different places to practice nursing: not just the hospital. Public Health not only allows you to do clinic nursing; but it gives you an education about the health of a whole community, and the ability to really make a recognizable difference in the lives of your patients and the community. Private duty nursing allows you to take care of patients on a one-to-one basis; Home Healthcare gives you a "caseload" of patients that you visit on some regular basis; Nursing Education allows you the satisfaction of educating future nurses (and it is very gratifying when you see the "light bulb" of understanding light up the face of a student). Don't give up until you try another nursing environment. I've been in many, and all have given me great satisfaction.

[rckirby]

God Bless You. My heart goes out to the the nurses in the trenches. I spent much of my time as an RN in a skilled facility. I just feel bad that many have spent decades in the field yet someone is whining about 2 years......and calls it 'slavery'. Really?

[avarn]

I'm a beside nurse. My co-workers are not jerks. My boss a boss, but if you are having major tragedy or life change then she can be a friend and my patients run the gamut. Some are incredible inspiring people and some are entitled snits. I try to tell myself the entitled snits are going through the worst time of their life and therefore don't really realize how bad they are acting. The patient satisfaction stuff is evidence based. It's common sense that people who feel like you really care for them will listen to education and try to follow instructions. Some times I feel a little unprofessional that the whole circus just really amuses me. People amuse, they way they act and react and I just enjoy getting to know them. After 12 hours if I really don't like them, no worries, they aren't coming home with me. Some days I feel exactly like the OP, but they are rare. Usually at least one person at my job shows genuine concern for my welfare. I don't always take my break, at least not all in one chunk cause I don't want Mrs. So and So waiting for the bathroom help until she goes it on her own and hits the floor. I could tell the secretary I'm on lunch and if my time is on the sheet then I would not be liable. I can even leave the floor and still get my work done. The OP is either in a toxic environment or just burned out. I would not encourage my girls to go into nursing and I am pursing an advanced degree but I feel like my baby's starting kindergarten. I want to cherish my last days on the floor. I could quit tommorow and live off my hubbys income. I juggle childcare and probably clear less than $200 to $300 a week for what I do but it's fun. It is really fun. It has changed a lot though in the seven years I have been a nurse and I am afraid it soon will be as the OP spoke of everywhere nursing is practiced. It breaks my heart. I don't know how our profession and those in it will adapt but we will because we must. Just wish I could change statuses more often than I changed my underwear as my former nurse manager put in 05 and still get a raise every six months. It's not what it used to be but my hearts still in it.

[Calabria, BSN, RN]

I'm a bedside nurse and I wanted to post to say that I love my job (most of the time, anyway ). I'm working in the field that I love, with the patient population that I love. I have bad days at work, but so does everybody else, whether they work in nursing or not.

My mother wanted to be a nurse. When I was a toddler, she was thinking about going back to school to be a nurse, and then was permanently disabled in an accident. She was never able to fulfill her dream as a result. Every time that I start to feel down because of work, I try to remind myself of the fact that I'm fortunate enough to live out a dream that she never was able to fulfill.

The day that I stop loving my job is the day that I start looking for a job in another specialty, or another hospital, or a different locale entirely. Maybe that's a solution worth looking into for some of the posters struggling in this thread.

[CheesePotato, BSN, RN]

I have to say that I am in agreement with many of the sentiments expressed in the various replies.

I firmly believe that the key to success is all about finding the niche in nursing; as it is such an advanced and expansive (compared to what it was once upon a time) field, there is something for everyone, provided one is willing to take the time, energy and effort to truly look.

Okay, so floor nursing isn't something that feels good to you--you can't seem to find joy in it or validation in your work. That's okay. But something out there is going to feel right and higher education, I hate to say it, is a lot like having money: it doesn't make you magically happy although true, I don't know anyone who is going to turn it down either. So before you move on, pitch in the towel, etc, figure out what, exactly, is going to bring you fulfillment in spite of poor pay and days that drive you to insanity.

As far as the slavery/servant bit goes, I think such a statement is a little dramatic. I mean...really? Really.

No one prevented you from saying, "You know what? Mrs. Spock's cup of ice chips is just going to have to wait a second while I find the nearest bathroom." You forgot to advocate for yourself and honestly, whose responsibility is that?

Life is a service industry.

Whether it's internal customers (meaning co-workers, other departments, etc) or external customers (patients, customers, sales reps, etc) every job, and I do mean every job, revolves the production and rendering of services in some form.

So when you went through nursing school, and had to administer medications and answer call lights.....did you honestly think all that would go away when you graduated?

(As an aside, I agree that patient's do not know what we do. The media has made damn sure that patient's believe we are too busy fornicating wildly in linen closets or fixing our push up bras ß that's right...I went there, to actually do something interesting like..I dunno, provide care. Some of it is about re-education and what better time than when they are in the hospital? Talk with your patients. Just because they are half-naked beneath a shabby hospital gown doesn't mean they aren't members of the workforce and won't understand when you explain that, "Yes, I know you really want me to check getting you a magazine, but I have to wrangle a physician right now. All operators are currently assisting other customers. Your estimated wait time is twenty minutes. Please hold." Obviously not in those words exactly.....could you imagine? Lol. Take that patient satisfaction survey, ya bastards.)

And yes, we are all but cogs in the great machine of the health care industry. You were a cog in a machine when you worked in business for eight years. But being a cog doesn't make you silent. If you see a problem, by all means squeak! Squeak like crazy, but do it with purpose. Don't offer problems, but solutions to boot. Find/form committees, pursue answers, be aggressive, be be aggressive!

If you take nothing else away from my ridiculous words, please remember this: negativity begets negativity.

It's the craziest thing but it's a proven fact and can be rather fun to witness if you are a people watcher, such as myself. Example: If I go into the break room, chock full of worn out nurses and start growling and rawring about this broken policy and that @#$% surgeon, it's like setting off a powder keg. Suddenly there's hair pulling and someone has shot-put a chair through glass and where the hell did the pygmy donkey come from?!

But if a joke is made, a story shared of laughable but stressful, stressful, stressful moments, there is laughter, camaraderie and good natured complaints that come from a group that is worn out but knowing that tomorrow is another day.

So my wish for you: leave this hospital if it feels oppressive, find your direction, rediscover whatever it was that drew you to this field, and be successful.

Kindest regards,

~~ CP ~~

[pwoodhcs]

Before you give up on nursing, I recommend you reflect on why you went into nursing in the first place and why you did your first job for 8 years. What are your skills? Why have you not tried a different hospital to work at? Or a different area of nursing? Find out what you really want and what risks you are willing to take in the nursing field.

I have worked for 35 years in some capacity as an RN and am proud to say I am a nurse. Have times changed? Of course! I started working in L&D in 1977 with 8 labor beds and 3 delivery rooms and we did not get babies to breastfeed-they went off to the nursery immediately! Worse than that, it was me and a nurse aide/ex-medic for an 8 hour shift. Food was a tricky thing some nights! And I remember petitioning for 2 RNs an an NA! I was never going to go into Administration...instead I became a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Perinatology, caring for very sick moms and teaching new grads. One day the manager and director quit and the CNO appointed me manager. I found out that I loved it and still worked in L&D as I had been doing. The I took a job as a Director of OB/GYN at another hospital for profit system with a union. Moved onto Director of MCH at a large hospital, added surgical services and then became the CNO. I ended up loving it and obviously I am a risk taker. Teaching nursing students and working in an OB/GYN office were other jobs I did, but am now an independent consultant assisting facilities to prepare for Joint Commission and CMS survey. I am still helping people, as I am a helper!

I think you see nursing from a blurred perspective and not based on the values of nursing. When was the last time you sat for just a moment with a patient and LISTENED to the patient? When was the last time you took the time to figure out what the family is really trying to tell you? TOUCHING is a key piece of healing.....I don;t think you do this unless you HAVE to!

Time for an inventory, my friend. Don't run away-look for what change you can make if you have the right healing skills of a nurse!

Semi-retired, but still an RN in California