NocNurs

I'm a new RN, but I have been a LPN for almost 20 years, I don't have an unrealistic veiw or expectation but I can say this. The biggest stressor in nursing for me is the recent (last 10 years or so) change in what all health care areas are focusing on: a ridiculous expectation of customer satisfaction. The outcome is very few satisfied customers and nurses who are sick of being pushed into a role of satisfaction and not nursing. Do I want my pt and families comfortable? Yes. Is that really possible when pts and families are in a scary and uncertain situation? Is it OK to send a nurse after sodas for a pts perfectly able bodied visitor? No. But in the eyes of management I should deliver those sodas with a smile. I have to smile and be ok with an insane amount of demands, verbal abuse and questioning of my abilities because Dr. Google has afforded the average person with more then enough education to do my job. The disrespect is insane and health care facilities are not focusing on fixing it in any way. I leave work feeling defeated because 3 out of 10 pts. and their families feel as though the customer is always right. I have to feel guilty that pt. A who is very ill, had to get the very minium of care because pt. B has a more demanding family.

My first semester of nursing (lpn) started with 54 students. 21 graduated. A good portion of those chose to drop out. Some failed and others changed quickly as the content became harder. I think you are probably not the only one who is disgusted and soon those who lack the seriousness nursing requires will find their way out. :)

I have just finished a lpn to rn program and can relate, I failed my next to last quarter by 1 point. But, 75% of students fail this course. When I made that statement outloud in front of an instructor I was corrected, that actually they have improved the pass rate in this course and now only 68% of the students fail! It is a private college, and I truly believe that 1) the course is too difficult to only be 12 weeks and 2) it is a for profit college and this is more money made. They also raised the exit exam score needed to pass, even though there are students who struggled to get the previous score. I have looked into any type of action that might could change this and have come up with nothing. I had hoped if they are receiving federal student loan money then there would be some kind of requirements that must be met regarding pass rates of classes but cannot find one if such a thing exists. It is discouraging and am relieved to have finally completed this program. The only thing I can do is tell anyone who asks me if it was a good program not to go.