People in it only for the quick hire

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I hate how I see nurses in my hospital who I KNOW from the bottom of their heart, only went to nursing school because they wanted to get hired quickly and have a guaranteed job. To be in this profession you have to have compassion and empathy. I work as a nurse extender in my hospital and I see nurses who are there that don't give a rats @$$ about anything. They point their fingers and give orders, they don't have that quality that most other nurses have. People should be on a very massive probation when they get hired because the NCC needs to be aware of these idiot nurses who don't care about human emotions. I am so sick of it.

Specializes in Med-Surg.
I had just left an abusive relationship and had 2 small children. Damn straight I wanted to get into a career where I'd always be able to find work, and had enough money coming in to support us without ever again being dependent on another to do so.

I love nursing. It's in my blood, I can't imagine doing anything else. But to deny that job security and the pay and "a quick hire" wasn't a part of my decision to go into nursing would be dishonest. I'm not THAT altruistic.

You're not the type of person the op is talking about. You love nursing and it's in your blood, and I'll step out on a limb and say you have compassion and empathy (it shows in your posts).

The op is talking about someone without compassion and empathy, that probably hates being a nurse, and is just going through the motions to collect a paycheck in a profession that will always be there for them, that has a shortage so mediocrity and even uncaring is o.k. as long as you're a warm body doing the job.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
You need to focus on yourself. You can't know what's in someone's heart, so to paint someone as an "idiot, " who doesn't give a "rat's @ss" could be interpreted as just as bad as the behavior you judge so harshly. The "angel nurse" stereotype has been very damaging to the profession, and it's about time we sacked it. As long as someone is competent and provides safe care, I couldn't care less what his/her motivation was for getting the job.

You're judging licensed nurses and you yourself are not a licensed nurse but a nurse extender. Could some of your frustration be jealousy tht you are not yet a licensed nurse? Understand that the two roles are very different, so you really aren't in a position to judge what a licensed nurse does until you yourself are one.

Keep your own house in order. If these nurses are that bad, their behavior will catch up with them.

I doubt the post is motivated by jealousy, not all CNAs are jealous of licensed people. (you're probably going to get a flame back for that one, so put on your fire-retradant suit. :) ).

But what I like about your post is that we should never judge a person's insides by their outsides.

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

I would spend a lot more time focusing on my own goals and ethics and worry less about others' intentions and motivations. As long as you know what you want and do your best at it, what else can you do? We need more nurses like you, for sure. But you can't spend too much time focusing on what others' reasons for entering nursing are. I entered nursing for a lot of reasons. I won't lie and say it was just to take care of people, either. A reliable income and opportunities for employment and personal growth, were at the top of the list, however. And I am still a good nurse!

Good luck to you.

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You're not the type of person the op is talking about. You love nursing and it's in your blood, and I'll step out on a limb and say you have compassion and empathy (it shows in your posts).

The op is talking about someone without compassion and empathy, that probably hates being a nurse, and is just going through the motions to collect a paycheck in a profession that will always be there for them, that has a shortage so mediocrity and even uncaring is o.k. as long as you're a warm body doing the job.

But it's not up to the OP to judge what is in someone's heart. I've had days when someone could accuse me of being uncaring, and to be honest, I have had days when I have felt less than caring...too many nasty pts and families, too many nasty docs, all I want is to get out.

I just have a problem with people who set themselves up as being able to know how someone feels inside. We have no idea sometimes what our co-workers are dealing with at home and why they may seem to be aloof or uncaring. If the OP is so concerned about a lack of compassion on her unit, she could best effect a change by making sure that she is the caring kind of health assistant she would want for herself or her family.

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I doubt the post is motivated by jealousy, not all CNAs are jealous of licensed people. (you're probably going to get a flame back for that one, so put on your fire-retradant suit. :) ).

But what I like about your post is that we should never judge a person's insides by their outsides.

That doesn't bother me at all, and I expect it. I did say "perhaps." ;)

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Specializes in orthopaedics.

i just don't understand how you could go through all the schooling, testing, nclex, etc and shell out all the money and not have your heart in in. why waste your time and everyone elses. there is a someone out there who is dying to get into nursing school but is sitting on a 2+ year waiting list because susie q. student heard that nurses make a lot of money.

[color=#483d8b]i know all of us are in nursing for different reasons but, we all join for the well being of our patients and don't just show up for a paycheck.

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You're not the type of person the op is talking about. You love nursing and it's in your blood, and I'll step out on a limb and say you have compassion and empathy (it shows in your posts).

The op is talking about someone without compassion and empathy, that probably hates being a nurse, and is just going through the motions to collect a paycheck in a profession that will always be there for them, that has a shortage so mediocrity and even uncaring is o.k. as long as you're a warm body doing the job.

Thanks.

I feel that I have compassion. Like you, it sometimes gets stretched thin, but without it I doubt I would have lasted this long. Something else that probably shows through in my posts is my frustration with management and what (in my eyes, anyway) takes us farther and farther away from the bedside.

But no matter how frustrated I get with goofy policies and clueless administrations and press-ganey (lol, just typing the name sets my teeth on edge), when it's just me and the patient, I'm a happy camper. When I know that I've made a difference, that I've made that connection, I still get the same thrill I felt as a new grad 24 years ago.

I agree with some here who've said we need to get away from this romanticized view of nursing; it does perpetuate a stereotype. I also think that if you don't have at least some empathy, you won't last long. Or if you do, you're going to be miserable.

When I first started out I worked with a new RN (less than a year out of school). She was a stereotypical spoiled rich kid. Recently married to another spoiled (but even richer) kid. She told us one night that the only reason she went to nursing school was because after so long of flitting around in college, her parents made her pick a major and stick to it. So she closed her eyes, opened the book and pointed to a page. And it was nursing.

I was soooo angry and --- well --- jealous. I'd scratched and clawed my way through LPN school so that I could work for a few years to save enough to begin an associates' RN program, because I couldn't afford a 4-year degree in either money OR time--- like I said above, I had two small children to support.

And here was this rich little Daddy's girl, who had a BSN handed to her on a silver platter.

Then I stopped and thought about it.

It didn't really matter. She was a fantastic nurse. Compassion? I don't know. Perhaps she had it, perhaps she faked it. Perhaps she went into the field for all the wrong reasons, but in the end I was glad she did.

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Specializes in ER/EHR Trainer.

Wow, so judgemental! There are some shoes you never want to walk in....

There are many areas of nursing which don't require emotional involvement-just like real life- nursing has many facets. A hospice nurse many not like the detached feeling of the OR(HD or others) and visa versa. I returned to school after being in business for many years-my classmates were like me former managers who'd been downsized. They have all chosen different directions based on their personalities. I am not sure nursing is what it used to be-it's hectic-lots of paperwork-tasks-responsibilities. My med surg friends tell me they barely have time to chart and have their meds administered on time. Who has time to do bedside nursing? Some people are always into their jobs for the money-but if you are not happy with what you do-you won't last.

During my rotations I actually had nurses tell me they didn't like people or want to be involved with "patient care" Many of these nurses were in OR, HD, Radiology, Lab, ID or others. They were pleasant with the patients, but truly had no responsiblity other than the task to be performed. It doesn't make them bad nurses-they were all proficient and the patients never knew how they felt. They perform a nursing service that they are suited to perform.

I read the forum discussions often, 98% I am not signed in or do not comment. It seems to me there is great caring and understanding for truly sick people-but repeat offenders, underinsured, complainers(basically pain in the a.... patients) are not tolerated. Sometimes that bugs me more!!! Don't worry about competent nurses, worry about patient generalization-that is truly more dangerous!

;) Love to all-The New, old nurse who likes the job, patients and the money! SO FAR....

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I went to nursing school because I needed a job that paid more than minimum wage to support my family, not because I needed to feel self-actualized.

I guess it's a good thing I'm naturally compassionate.

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During my rotations I actually had nurses tell me they didn't like people

I see you've worked with my crew!! :lol2:

We didn't really hate people, we just hated people.

On particularly frustrating nights, we'd sit around and plot about how we were all going to move to a large, fenced compound in Montana and shoot anyone who came within 1000 yards of the property.

Occasionally, a few of the newer nurses wouldn't 'get' our humor, and would be like ---> :eek:

*sigh*

So we'd have to tell them, nooooo, we really wouldn't shoot anyone.

Way too much paperwork.

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It seems to me there is great caring and understanding for truly sick people-but repeat offenders, underinsured, complainers(basically pain in the a.... patients) are not tolerated. Sometimes that bugs me more!!! Don't worry about competent nurses, worry about patient generalization-that is truly more dangerous!

point well taken, maisy.

the irony is startling, yes?

that compassion/empathy are synonymous w/excellent care;

yet we read the many posts who can shred apart a certain pt population.

i've been humbled.

thanks.

leslie

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
But it's not up to the OP to judge what is in someone's heart. I've had days when someone could accuse me of being uncaring, and to be honest, I have had days when I have felt less than caring...too many nasty pts and families, too many nasty docs, all I want is to get out.

I just have a problem with people who set themselves up as being able to know how someone feels inside. We have no idea sometimes what our co-workers are dealing with at home and why they may seem to be aloof or uncaring. If the OP is so concerned about a lack of compassion on her unit, she could best effect a change by making sure that she is the caring kind of health assistant she would want for herself or her family.

I think we can tow the line with the OP; if he/she is not a nurse, they may not be able to imagine the shoes that we walk in each day. I was that way to an extent when I was a CNA and technician. But, maybe the OP witnessed some things that were blatently obvious.

An example of that is I used to work for a psych hospital as an aide, so, I sort of look out for the patients as well as the aides that come from that hospital when they escort the clients for an evaluation. I ran into one of the psych aides and she told me that she was just relieved and while she was sitting in the ER with her patient, the client soiled herself. She told a nurse that her patient was wet, the nurse brushed her off. She tried to go to the linen closet to clean the patient herself and she was told by another nurse she had 'no right' to wander in their ER for supplies. She told me that she watched those nurses for three hours sitting around the ER eating, talking on the phone and gossiping while her patient sat there wet. I work in the clinic, but I KNOW what she said was true, and when she described them, I knew the players. This, to me, is blatent disregard. At least let the escort get supplies to clean her patient or get the supplies for her, for goodness sakes!

I had a situation where I knew I had an attitude towards a patient. I was sitting outside alone during my lunch break. It was a nice breeze, and it made me relax. Then, I just had minutes to get back to my clinic. A patient came to me in the lobby just when the elevator came and asked me if I could possibly escort another patient that was using a walker to the bathroom. I knew it would take some time when I saw how the patient was ambulating...and, I had seconds to get back from break. The EMPATHY made me take the time to get a wheelchair, escort he patient to the bathroom and then bring her back safely to the lobby. It extended even further because then, her cab arrived, and from there, I might as well escort her to the car and ensure she gets in there safely. The patients and cab driver thanked me profusely, but, I had to admit to myself that I was annoyed. I felt bad about it, later, but I really was annoyed and had to discover why. Later on, I discovered that I was mad simply because I could not even have that moment of peace and relaxation to recollect my thoughts before I am interrupted. That was what pissed me off. But, then, I had to think that the patient probably asked other nurses and they probably refused...therefore, I did the right thing, but had the wrong attitude about it within.

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