Nursing sucks!

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Its like hospitals call for the smartest, best, top notch people to come forward so they can be taught to sacrifice their lives and eat dirt. There is a nursing shortage now and a even larger one predicted in the coming future. The nursing profession has become so unpleasant that we aren't going to have anyone wanting to be nurses anymore. For those of you that think money makes you happy then good luck with that. Money doesn't do any good when your miserable.

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Well, I never went into nursing for the money. My bank account will verify that. I also refuse to eat dirt, not a good food choice. I do agree that there are some things that can make the job miserable, but personal outlook and perspective play a major role in how someone views a situation.

Please don't fool yourself. There is NO nursing shortage. There was a little over a decade ago, but now schools are cranking out new grads like Dairy Queen pumps out soft serve. What we have is a shortage of EXPERIENCED and QUALIFIED nurses willing to work at a facility full time and/or for the pay they offer compared to other places, especially agencies. For example, one can make $24 an hour FT, $30 an hour PRN, or $40 an hour agency going to the same facility....which one is someone going to want to work? And then the higher one doesn't have the politics attached.

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Preach!

I've spent 11 years pouring my soul into my job for nothing. I've sacrificing time with my family, staying at work late because a patient asked me to hold their hand until a parent returned, payed for rewards with my own money to motivate teenagers to complete their treatments, volunteered for countless committees, working every christmas because I don't have kids, comforted the infants of strangers for hours on end while they got a good nights sleep at the Ronald McDonald House, Volunteered for Vaccination drives, held children and infants while they died so they wouldn't be alone when their parent's couldn't handle being in the room for the end, recieved dozens of daisy nominations, and done thousands of random acts of kindness no one else will ever know about because I never did any of it for a gold star I did it because it was the right thing to do, and because I am a nurse. It's my job to help.

Meanwhile i'm being yelled at because of unrealistic expectations crappy food uncomfortable sleeping arrangements or visitation hours, I only hearing from my boss when I forgot (one time) to check the crash cart, I got accused of diverting drugs and was searched like a junky because someone said they saw po tylenol.... I'm going to let that sink in a bit longer... PO TYLENOL in my pocket, I got fired from a travel assignment with no warning due process or counseling for "being too autonomous", I was threatened by a patient and told I could not file charges or change assignments because this 6ft 2in 200 lb "child" was a minor, I spent a week in the hospital with Clindamycin resistant MRSA identical to the strain running around my hospital and was told the facility was not liable for my medical bills because there was no "exposure event" I've been yelled at by doctors in front of crowds of staff members only to be reprimanded when I privately told them to learn to show mutual respect for nursing staff being as though I've been doing this since they where in high school. I've been abused and bullied by every tier of the healthcare industry. I know I went into more detail than you but i'm sure plenty of these stories sound familiar.

And you're right I've got 11 years of Pediatric ICU experience, I've worked in some of the sickest hospitals in the country and specialized in everything from trauma, neurosurgery, cardiac, transplant, renal, ortho, heme onc, respiratory, and genetics I am uncertain about a whole lot of things in life, but I know I am a good nurse

But not for much longer, I just transferred to the radiology department for better hours and started the accelerated MS in Project Management program at USC. I'll be hanging up my stethoscope for good in 13 months. Free to a good home.

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"accelerated MS in Project Management program at USC" - get ready to babysit adults... I did project management for 6 months before going back to my previous IT role, all I did DAY IN AND DAY OUT was create schedules that the other 'adults' I was managing would ignore. And I was managing a HOLIDAY project - you know one of those that doesn't ever change it's date (ie Christmas)... Everyday they had excuses for why they couldn't do xyz that needed to be done. Every. Day.

Every job has a sucky part.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Sounds like you've been through a lot. The people you helped remember you for your kindness. God sees the good you've done. Your story reminds me of It's a Wonderful Life where the main character was so bitter and disillusioned until the angel showed the difference he made in his world. I wish you the best of luck. Never heard of project management are you sure there are jobs available? I would think NP would have more job opportunities. I hope your stint in radiology will be a welcome respite from what you've gone through. Hope better times are ahead where you will be appreciated for the good nurse you are!

Good luck! May God bless you!

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"accelerated MS in Project Management program at USC" - get ready to babysit adults... I did project management for 6 months before going back to my previous IT role, all I did DAY IN AND DAY OUT was create schedules that the other 'adults' I was managing would ignore. And I was managing a HOLIDAY project - you know one of those that doesn't ever change it's date (ie Christmas)... Everyday they had excuses for why they couldn't do xyz that needed to be done. Every. Day.

Every job has a sucky part.

Yes but did you do post mortem care on any 5 month olds who's parents threw them against the wall? I'm too young (31) to be in therapy and on meds for PTSD because of my job. I know the grass won't be greener, there is no such thing as a "perfect" job it's called "work" for a reason. But I have to learn to take care of myself and accept that it is OK if I'm just not the type of person cut out for this. If I stay on the path I'm on, I know my patient care will suffer. This is unacceptable.

I chose project management because I know I have to go to grad school to leave the bedside. I don't like patient care anymore, but I still like the healthcare industry. I don't want to specialize and I know I have to if I go the MSN route. With an MS in project management I can keep working in the hospitals on QI projects, expansions, tech role outs, care initiatives, and education without having to limit myself to a specialty. At least this is my hope. I live very close to three very large medical centers. Who knows I might end up working in an entry level job doing data entry for a consulting firm, but hopefully I won't be having nightmares about spreadsheets.

Brandy1017: I LOVE THAT MOVIE, I appreciate your comment. I can see where you would draw that conclusion, I was on a bit of a rampage when I wrote that last post (though I firmly stand by everything I wrote) But I do know I have made a difference in countless lives. I've let parents practice injections (with NS) on me because we expect them to learn lovenox injections on their kid and they are terrified of sticking their own baby the first time they give a shot (knowing full well if anyone found out I would be suspended), I've given families my lunch and gotten through my shift on a granola bar because they didn't qualify for meal assistance, I had a parent tell me once the only time she slept in the monthe her infant was in the hospital was when I was her nurse because she didn't feel like she could relax and rest when anyone else was her little girls nurse, I blow bubbles that I order in bulk from amazon and keep in my bag, sneak stickers for the kids to decorate thier IV pumps, and when teenagers complain I cuss right along with them and tell them I know this **** sucks and isn't fair and I promise not to pretend everything will be ok or lie to them about what's going on.

I know I have made a difference in thousands of lives through my work, the problem is it has been at the cost of my own. Nurses burn out because we spend too much time taking care of everyone else, we forget to take care of ourselves. I agreed with OP because administration, leadership, physicians, lobbyists, legislators, unions, and even our peers along with everyone else who has power to change the nursing profession for the good or the bad is also too focused on how we take care of everyone else and unconcerned about taking care of us.

Hopefully, one day i'll be able to play a hand in making things better for nurses as an outsider with insider experience.... who knows.

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Actually, eating dirt is probably really good for our immune systems. It might take a while for your body to adjust though...

Good luck with all your future endeavors.

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....think that's called pica....

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I have been a RN for 20+ years. I am so sorry that I chose this profession. Over the years, I have been giving more than 100% with not much thanks or appreciation. There is some, but not enough to make this profession rewarding. Now that I can retire in a few years, I know I no longer want to be a nurse (actually knew this 15 years ago) and would rather waitress like I did when I was going to nursing school. I am sorry to say this, but when I meet anyone who is in school to become a nurse, I want to say DON'T DO IT - but bite my lip.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

PSSSHHHH there is no shortage of nurses. Just those willing to continue as things are now.

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Meanwhile in Canada.....

The Ontario government under Doug Ford introduced wage suppression legislation, Bill 124, just before the pandemic, effectively capping pay for nurses and restricting our bargaining rights that we have as unionized workers. Nurses are retiring and leaving the profession entirely in our province and it is time for change. The shortages are evident in the barebones staffing across the province in hospitals. Signing these petitions will signal to the Ford government that this change needs to happen NOW.

Please support and show solidarity....

https://www.change.org/p/ontario-premier-doug-ford-support-ontario-nurses-against-bill-124

https://www.ona.org/bill124/

 

If you are out of province/country, you can put our leader Doug Ford's riding postal code to get his attention ? -- it is M9V 1A3

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Specializes in Critical Care.
On 5/17/2021 at 10:40 PM, SmilingBluEyes said:

PSSSHHHH there is no shortage of nurses. Just those willing to continue as things are now.

So very true!  My mom is a patient frequently so I'm with her at the hospital and part of me is engaged in the medical side of things, but then I think no I don't want to deal with the inevitable stress and short staffing.  Plus it's so wonderful having weekends and holidays free after almost 30 years of hospital nursing!  I can't picture myself going back.  Being free feels too good!  Plus I don't think the stress in these jobs is good for anyone.  I wonder how many years my life will be shortened from the extreme stress I was under.  I just hope I can still repair the damage.  I've been bike riding again, exercising, spending time with my family, friends and my faithful dog and on a fairly regular sleep schedule now. 

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