Problems with nursing profession and why I want to quit

[bravewarrior1]

Many of you will ask, why not just quit and find something else? If only it was that easy. I don't have the time or money to spend on another degree, and at the end of the day, I need this job to pay the bills, not because this is my calling. This is a 2nd degree, and saw nursing as a form of income and job security. I love caring for patients, but the other things that come with this profession makes it not worth it. If i won the lottery today, I'd personally revoke my nursing license in a heart beat.

So many problems with the nursing profession. Where do I begin?

1)Abuse - From Doctors, family members, patients who are even normal, and demented patients, suicidal, alcoholics, and the entitled brats. Abuse includes verbal, physical, and emotional.

2)Pay- If i'm saving lives, we should be one of the highest paid professions on the planet. Sorry, 50 or even 100k is not going to cut it

3)Management/Administration - High expectations, poor incentives, with little to no backing

4)Staffing - Not enough nurses or support staff. Too many acutely ill patients per nurse.

5)12-13 hour shifts - Sorry but a job that requires you to be standing all day, should not be that long. Office employees who sit down only have to do 8 hr shifts

6) Night shift - Not enough support on nights

7) Day shift - Too busy/stressful, doctors barking orders, and management nagging you all day

8) Essential personnel - Sorry but i'm not going to risk my welfare during a snowstorm for complete strangers. They are patients but strangers at the end of the day. They wouldn't risk themselves for me.

9) Meal/bathroom breaks - Almost non-existent.

10) Retention of educated staff - Sorry but this profession is going down the tubes real fast with all experienced nurses near or at retirement age. The newbies are from a different generation with different reasons for entering. Having a whole floor run by new suckers will only lead to errors or even fatal mistakes.

Like i said, if I could run I would but I need this job or I'll be on the street.

[SaltineQueen]

In response to #5...

I've worked hospital and I've worked office. If you really think office nurses only work 8 hours, you're sorely mistaken. Have you never been to a doctor appointment & they're running 15-30 or more minutes behind? Often those 8 hour days turned into 10 hour days. And there were days of not much sitting.

The grass is always greener when you aren't watering your own. Nursing offers so many varried opportunities. Do your research & find one that you think will make you happy.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

Yes nursing has its problems, but for a little perspective...I still remember working at McDonald's for $5 an hour, getting covered in grease for minimum wage, I remember cleaning people's toilets for $3 where the cost of the train ride home barely made it worth going to work. I remember being a motorcycle courier risking my life in the rain and the cold to deliver parcels for $1.50 each and having a serious accident that put me in hospital for weeks. Compared to all of that, nursing is amazing. It's given me two degrees, a six figure income, respect and comparably good working conditions...oh and 4 days off a week! Sometimes, it's all in your perspective and your attitude. Feeling entitled won't get you where you need to be. You can do anything in nursing...make it work for you.

[90sKidSayWhat]

I think, like most jobs, it comes down to perspective. Plus the fact that every job comes with its ups and downs and focusing on the ups of that profession makes dealing with the downs just that much easier.

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

Yep you described nursing to a "T". Its a tough gig & that's the way it is. Please do not be another one of those nurses who moans constantly about how much he / she hates being a nurse daily to your co-workers. Its a tough enough line of work without getting bombarded with that stuff. If you hate it enough to earn less money quit. If not accept nursing for the tough job it is and move on with life.

[Oldmahubbard]

Yep, the Med-Surg ward in the hospital was not for me either. Nursing was also a second career just to pay the bills, and not a calling in any way. Then I found my calling within it.

I pursued the additional education I needed. It wasn't easy. For 5 years, I drove to classes every week, 2 hours away, before online education existed.

I agree with everything you have said. I understand your frustration as well.

A four wheel drive vehicle might be an essential expense. You are expected to be there, unless all local roads are closed- a rarity.

I wish you well in your search.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Like every career out there nursing has it's definite ups and downs. For me the 12 hour shifts are a complete up, I'll never willingly return to 8 hr shifts. I really, really like working 3 days a week instead of 5. Sure, the pay could and should be better. But frankly, I make pretty decent money. I can honestly say I've never been subjected to abuse by a doctor or a manager. The abuse I've dealt with from patients doesn't get to me too much, but then I've never been in a truly dangerous situation. I really feel for those who have. Nobody should have to feel or be unsafe at work. Sure, I'll complain about the total stupidity I see on a daily basis. I get the feeling though that no matter what I do for a living I'd probably be complaining about pretty much those same things.

I just don't see nursing as the total soul sucking experience that some describe. Cripes if it was I'd find some way, any way to get out. I figure I spend a pretty good portion of my life at work. I couldn't imagine going to a job day in and day out that I hated so much.

If you really hate your job that much look for a different job. There are so many opportunities in nursing that you are bound to find something you enjoy doing. If you really just hate nursing that much then don't waste any more of your precious life doing something you hate. Find a way to make a change that works for you.

[Renell]

You have a lot of legitimate grievances. I've second guessed my career choice many, MANY times! The lack of appreciation. The work conditions. The politics. It's a lot to deal with while trying to maintain a career. I get through it by holding on to those 'gems' I get sometimes. What am I talking about, you say? An example. My patient had chest pain. Gave her a nitro pill and Tylenol, and it worked like a charm. No more chest pain. That's something I did. Or my patient with the trach who couldn't breathe. I panicked internally, but I simply suctioned her and got out a huge mucous plug. She could breathe again. And she hugged me! I used my nursing judgment to help my patients, and I kept them from crashing. That's reassuring to me as a newbie nurse.

It's frustrating, by all means, but there are gratifying moments sprinkled in. But, make nursing work for you. Don't spend time in misery. If bedside isn't your thing ( like me), find something new. Update your resume, look for job opportunities, and go for them. The worse that can happen is they do not respond, or just say no.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

To Bravewarrior I understand your frustrations and wonder if we aren't working for the same corporate system. LOL It sounds like you are new to nursing and I would recommend trying to find a job with another hospital system if possible. I've been a nurse for many years and have witnessed the worsening nursing conditions as corporations starting running the show, but I believe there are still a few hidden gems out there.

As a new nurse you have nothing to lose to switch employers. I wouldn't suggest just switching jobs in the same hospital system if short staffing is the name of the game. Start reading the news, especially the business news re your city and the hospital systems there. Check out Glass Door on these other places and see how people feel who have been working there, you can also found salary levels too!

The best way to increase your pay is job hopping. Hopefully your news hunt will show you a competitor out there that treats its employees better than yours does and is also doing well financially! You will probably get a bump in salary too. If I decide to jump ship I know where to go in my city. I've researched the various hospital systems and know which one is the best of the bunch. Of course they are corporate as well and I know both clinic nurses and NP's have been laid off by that system in the past when the recession was in full swing. Consider a union hospital and/or a VA hospital if you have such choices. They usually have better working conditions, but it is not a guarantee. The VA has better staffing than most, great benefits and pension, as well as awesome tuition reimbursement!

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Yep you described nursing to a "T". Its a tough gig & that's the way it is. Please do not be another one of those nurses who moans constantly about how much he / she hates being a nurse daily to your co-workers. Its a tough enough line of work without getting bombarded with that stuff. If you hate it enough to earn less money quit. If not accept nursing for the tough job it is and move on with life.

I agree it is a tough gig and complaining to coworkers won't help. They are struggling too. I remember writing down whenever I had a good day to remind myself it wasn't always bad. I listen to music to relax and sometimes we have pot luck days or pizza nights. I appreciate my coworkers, focus on their strengths and overlook their faults. I prefer night shift and while it can be crazy busy at times, usually there are down periods to finish charting and read up on the patients. I would never work days I think it is too busy with no downtime so I choose nights!

[clarkheart]

The great thing about that nursing degree is it opens other opportunities if you want. If you are fed up with bedside care then use your clinical knowledge in other areas in healthcare such as quality, case management, risk management, informatics, etc. I worked in a quality department for a number of years to get a break from direct patient care and believe it or not I went back this year as a clinical coordinator on a cardiac telemetry floor because I missed direct patient care. Sometimes getting away for awhile can end up giving you new and different perspectives on things.

[djh123]

*Some* of those problems might be present in other careers, but even if not, there will be something else that some people won't like. But on pay, I learned a long time ago that there is little rhyme or reason (although supply and demand are part of it) to what different professions pay. Yeah, I think nursing should be paid more, as should teachers (in all levels), and I'm sure I could think of many more professions. I'll probably retire as a nurse before I make the lowest dollar/hr. rate I made as a programmer in the last 10 years I was a programmer... but like I said, pay level often doesn't make sense (and admittedly, I had a lot of experience as a programmer).

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

I agree with everything except #5-

Almost everyone whined and carried on to have 12 hr(not me,never wanted that).

It is a miserable job ,thankless. Let me ask you ,when was your last vacation or mental health day? We all need to do things to survive another day to be able to work the next shift.

We work because we need to keep a roof over our heads,we love the patients but not the crap that goes with it. Those that claim a deep calling and do not do it for any interest of money probably have rich husbands.