Problems nurses face that no other professions understand

itsmejuli · Jun 20, 2014

This is your first post.

Looks like you are writing an essay.

The list you've created so far is not unique to nursing.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2014

Nursing is a 24/7 profession. We work holidays and weekends. We must go to work in good weather and bad. Every other weekend is the standard. Nothing new here.

Is this a project for school? When did you graduate?

rachel0609, ADN, RN · Jun 20, 2014

I was going to say my top 3 difficulties would be.

#1 . How am I going to hide that smear of poop of my scrub top?

# 2 Do I have enough time to pee before my pt trys to climb out of the bed again.

#3 How many different ways I can explain to my diabetic, renal failure, CHF patients family that bringing him in Chinese food is really not helping.

RN , BSN future FNP

OCRN3 · Jun 20, 2014

All those are accurate of floor nursing.

Jillybean48 · Jun 20, 2014

In what other profession does your rate of pay go down through the years even though you gain experience?? Just because of the law of supply and demand, whatever..... :no:

OnlinePersona, LPN · Jun 20, 2014

I was going to say my top 3 difficulties would be.
#1 . How am I going to hide that smear of poop of my scrub top?
# 2 Do I have enough time to pee before my pt trys to climb out of the bed again.
#3 How many different ways I can explain to my diabetic, renal failure, CHF patients family that bringing him in Chinese food is really not helping.
RN , BSN future FNP

Lol totally agree

newohiorn, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 20, 2014

If I put more thought into this I can probably come up with a lot more but here's a few off the top of my head:

1) My hospital is actually referring to us being on stage and off stage like we work in a Disney park. As in, they prefer we not eat or make phone calls in the public areas when we're "on stage." Heaven forbid the patients and families find out that nurses are human beings! I refuse to abide by this. I am a human being and I think it's okay for them to "find out" that I also eat, use the bathroom and call my family--just like they do.

2) Absurdity. There are many days when this job is just plain absurd. Some of the weirdest things I've ever done or weirdest situations I have ever been in have been on the job. People have absolutely no idea what nurses really do. If it didn't violate HIPAA I would absolutely LOVE IT if there was a reality show following nurses so people could finally get it. I think they would be a lot nicer to us.

3) The family members who think we should fix their loved one in an instant. Nevermind that said loved one has spent the last 50 years smoking, drinking and eating everything in sight while rarely moving about. Families still think we should be able to fix 50 years of damage in an hour and a half--ain't gonna happen...if it can be fixed at all.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Jun 20, 2014

Not getting a break. All the noise. No one understands this- why I can't stand noise after work and really don't want to get together and do something after work, even if I'm not back the next day. How exhausting 12.5 hour shifts are.

PMFB-RN, RN · Jun 21, 2014

All of the issues you mentioned are only symptoms of the real problems. As far as I am concerned the real problems, and the mother of the problems you mentioned, is the deliberately created vast over supply of nurses. We are in a very weak position as a result. Working short staffed? We suck it up cause there are 12 qualified applicants for your job. No raises & declining wages? Crappy schedules? Treated in a condescending and rude manner by management and / or physicians? Well suck it up cause you can't vote with your feet since every hospital already has a pile of resumes of qualified nurses.

Not many years ago nurses faced the same problems. However when things got bad we had the option of leaving and getting another job easily. Those facilities who were the worst offenders HAD to fix things when they could no longer staff their units. Now there is no incentive to treat nurses decently and fairly. No incentive to improve working conditions.

anon456, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2014

Top 3 Difficulties for me:

1) Not having the advanced education to easily find another position if I need or want to. Experience doesn't count as much as having those letters behind your name anymore. It's all about how many BSNs a facility has to obtain or keep magnet status.

2) Catering to every whim of family members, especially the patients who are frequent admits and they know how to work the system. If we don't treat them like they are at a 5 star hotel we get complaints filed against us, and then it affects patient satisfaction surveys, which directly impacts our schedule for raises and bonuses.

3) Seeing the very sickest pediatric patients, many of whom have very poor long-term prognosis. It's emotionally heart-wrenching.

But here are the flip sides:

1) It's an honor and privilege to work with the sickest of the sick, to be able to play a role in providing comfort or healing. Because there will always be sick and broken children. And someone has to be there to take care of them and their families. And I am lucky to work around doctors and nurses who feel the same way I do.

2) I have experienced a lot of personal growth in my job that makes me a strong person, also always learning new things. It's mentally challenging and makes me count my blessings every day.

3) I feel proud to say I'm a nurse when people ask what I do. It's one of the most respected professions out there.

maxthecat · Jun 22, 2014

Nothing on your list is unique to nursing. Other careers have these same issues. It's just how the work world operates these days.