nottheproblem

Why is it that management in nursing or anyone close to it are so passive aggressive? Years ago I had a great manager so this isn’t a blanket statement but pretty confident it’s pretty pervasive. My friend who is a Manager definitely changed when she became a one at a unit at another hospital. She quit due to being written up for a patient care issue that let’s just say she was told thankfully we are not being sued over. So she was one foot out the door anyway. Despite this due to her education and experience she checked off all the boxes so they hired her as manager. She’s told me once after she became manager she can’t believe how the nurses she manages talk to her. Her exact words “don’t they realize I am the manger”. My response “ How many times did you but heads and argue with our manager” She sheepishly said “a lot”. So, she had quickly forgotten what it was like to be the bedside nurse she once was and pretty clear the FNP here that commented has done the same.

No judgement on decisions made in nursing. Just to people not being completely honest about the reality of the situation. If ones very happy with their career then that’s great. Some appear to thrive in the field. I just can’t be convinced that Nursing in general is not pervasively a toxic field to work in. I gave it over a decade of my life to doing the best I could at patient care. It’s truly a critical essential job for our society so I wish it would be treated as such. For those who say they can’t get out I truly get that feeling. I was wanting out about as soon as I got in but I kept hoping and thinking there would be better days ahead but it just got worst. I saw how hard it was on the older nurses and noticed nobody in my particular area was over the age of 60. I knew I would not be able to retire doing that particular job. Age discrimination is real and I think particularly in Nursing. Having said all that.....to keep a roof over my head and food on the table I would do whatever it took to ensure my family was taken care of financially. If out of options it came down to the crappiest nursing job out there I would do it. Just got to be realistic about what I would be getting into to.

I remember when this topic came out back in April 2020 and not surprised it’s still going. I understand your frustration and this isn’t exactly a blanket statement I am about to make but pretty close. Healthcare working environments especially hospitals and LTC facilities are toxic work environments. Full stop. What is more valuable to your own life. Is it time or money? Nurses should know the answer to that more than anyway.

Supposedly seasoned? Either you are or your not unless you are questioning the honesty of people on here. I think the way your coming across is a bigger deterrent to new potential nurses getting into the field. Were you the one who felt nurses should give their lives to the profession and die if necessary for your patient? Now that is being discouraging to new nurses. I agree with the person who talked about how it is hard to get out of the mindset of bedside nursing or their comfort zone. Especially for the older people on here that didn’t job hop the way the younger generation does and there are no doubt those jobs exist outside of bedside. That’s not where the shortage is and not where the most problems exist. It’s also where people are needed the most especially right now. Acute care ICU or bedside and I am so glad there are people that are there to do the job. I don’t care if they love or hate their job but as long as they do a good job in their nursing care. I think anyone considering the nursing need to hear not just the bad but the good. They need honest opinions from people who have been in it a while. To my knowledge, nobody has gotten backlash on here for saying they love nursing from their experience. It’s only the ones who admit that they don’t from their experience. Or if your one who claims you love it and have to throw in your comment opinions of the ones that don’t therefore dismissing them and the true problems with nursing. The people who are out of bedside nursing in the job of researching and writing articles about the problems in nursing I guess are the only ones you would believe? If people don’t believe the honest opinion of this OP or the ones on here telling their stories then just look up researched articles on the problems. They do exist and are pervasive and it does not have to be that way. I don’t think anyone is naive enough to believe there will be no problems in nursing just like anything else. First step to fixing a problem is admitting there is one. I wish everyone the best no matter where you stand on the issue and for the ones considering it as a career too.

Brandy1017, it’s interesting because I thought the same thing about the meds. The length of time you have been in nursing proves you can handle the job. Unfortunately, it all too often takes such a toll over time and then you reach a point in age where all the options in nursing to get into are not as easy as it sounds. Your not alone in your feelings for sure and I wish you the best! For the new ones starting out feeling discouraged reading this thread which is understandable just look at it as another perspective to consider. If you go into it fully understanding all sides and still decide to go into it then I wish you the best. I just know if I could rewind time I would have chosen something else.

amoLucia, agree 100%.

keldorn, love the response Baneni, with your chemotherapy post you then admit your response to OP was toxic. You come across as aggressive and like your preaching. It’s just the type of stuff that starts lateral violence so prevalent in healthcare. Your telling nurses with a heck of a lot of experience how they should be not just expressing your views. Talking about not growing up until you have obstacles in your way? The OP has a lot of experience and many of us on here do and therefore have had many obstacles in the way. So, that remark was just demeaning. The one about nurses is about caring for others even at the cost of your life? If someone does that then they definitely deserve a medal because that’s going WAY beyond the call of duty in this profession. I did not see giving your life for another part of the job when I signed up. Wish you the best.

After reading the Baneni comment, I becoming more convinced nursing needs to be turned over to only Priests and Nuns. Your post comes across as very toxic.

herring - BRAVO! People act like it is literal sin to complain about what is the truth about nursing. A lot of people hate their job and I would say likely most people at least don't like their jobs. That does not mean they don't get up and go to work and do the best job they can do because that is their character. Not liking your job does not equate to poor performance or even attitude on the job. I didn't like mine but I came to work with no complaints and a smile on my face being friendly to all my patients and coworkers. Yet, I have witnessed my fair share of nurses over a decade who proclaimed to love the profession yet be MISERABLE to work with and complained the most on the job. I remember thinking either they are lying to me or to themselves.

Oh, one more thing to add to my two cents. You don’t have to love or even like your job to be good at it. A lot of people don’t like their jobs but still get up and go to work giving it their all. Here’s is a common thing you see as well with other professions/jobs and not just back stabbers, underfunding etc but that most people don’t like their jobs and complain about it. I have noticed though the backlash from people who complain about nursing is on another level sometimes. It’s as if the nurse that was venting just committed a sin.

Your right, everything she stated does happen in every profession. List off all the professions you can compare nursing too? There are some and then check suicide rates in each one. She’s been in this for 20 years as she states so she must be doing something right. Years of experience should really mean something in this profession than many others. We Sadly, that’s not what I have personally seen. Just get a bigger target on your back because they can always get a new grad. There are some gravy nursing jobs out of the acute setting. However, vast majority of the venting on this thread is from the acute care setting. I could go on and on about this but it’s like beating a dead horse. If you love nursing and can’t understand why others have complaints then you do you. I prefer though to listen and support people in this profession that are having problems. Sometimes people just need to vent. Nothing she is saying is not obviously true and I don’t think that anyone getting into a field of caring for others would expect that they would feel so devalued. Just my two cents.

I agree. There needs to something in place that puts uppers on notice to do the right thing. Nurses can mobilize in some form but when they do even in a pandemic they get fired to be made example of to scare the rest.

Brandy1017, I agree and I have had two of the only people that I truly enjoyed working with die in their 50’s. They had 20+ years on the job. Its hard when you put so much time, energy and money to get your license to walk away. My decision to leave was not necessarily my own. Long story short it was a parking issue that caused my departure. It was just stupid and 10 years of nursing experience and a perfect employment file did not matter. It was the money and retirement that kept me in it. I think I wanted out for probably the vast majority of that time I was there and relieved in a way of getting out. I never thought I could bring myself to quit. I have considered trying to figure a way to get back into it out of fear of not being able to make my own way. I was independent women but I think I really need to get out of the mentality of needing to get back into nursing when the time comes. I don’t want to feel stuck and miserable again. I would say the same thing to people considering this career path. Run as fast as you can. The OP of this topic is exactly right and it’s not what a lot of people want to hear from nurses. It’s the reality though.

Agreed but only the industries where you have patients lives in your hands, hard earned expensive education to get a license to do the work on the line every shift can you compare. If the complaints were all about the money or basic treatment of the average worker then that’s pretty much vast majority of people. Feel particularly sorry right now for the meat packing plant workers. Just my thoughts now.

11blade, I agree the OP did articulate the problem quite well. I wish more people would be proactive like yourself and do something to speak out in some way. I have been thinking about sending a letter to our states Governor.

Thanks for the input and I could see where that would be the case. I just think it’s going to be hard either way for me. I am going to have that awkward conversation explaining my situation. However, if it comes to having to get back in it then all I can do is be honest and try. If I don”t get hired then at least I tried and will have to figure something else out. What that would be in this economy now or in forseeable future is scary. It is for a lot of people right now and I am just thankful that I have roof over my head and food stocked up. I feel so sorry for people that are in long lines for food right now because they are out of work. Very sad.

Thanks for the input. I am not looking right now because my family life is still not where I can make any moves. I was interested in what people might say since pandemic. For any who may have read this post who might have been in similar position I wanted to say those feelings of failure did fade away. My choice would be to not go back jnto nursing. Not for what happened to me but the burn out I experienced and could not seei myself working until I retired in it. Just a toxic environment. However, never say never considering you never know what life will throw at you and I might be in a position of really needing to get back in it. I will just know full well what I am getting myself back into. I hope if anything good comes out of this pandemic it will be a change in the pervasive toxic working environments nurses deal with so often. Sadly, I doubt it. I

I was fired but contested it and allowed to resign but given a no rehire status. It was not patient related at all. I had worked there for a decade with a perfect record. I have been out a few years and was going to make an attempt to get back in. I was out for so long actually to care for family and completely unrelated to what happened at work. The CON told me everything including my 'no rehire status" was confidential. I know I have to be completely honest if asked why I left the hospital or asked about rehire status. My questions are first anyones opinion considering how long I have been out what my best route to get back in would be? I have multiple people who would give me good references. Also, does the fact I was allowed to resign instead of being fired say something more positive about how the employer views me? Would the no rehire status alone put me out of ever getting a job in nursing again? I have 22 years consistent working experience. I have never been in this position before and even though it has been a while it still has an effect on me. I wish I could shake this feeling of being a failure and embarrassed about it. If I could keep from having to bring it up I would but know I won't get out of it. I would love anyone willing to give some advice and input. Thanks!

I agree with the original post.

She said she has been on the front lines for 4 weeks and from her view it probably seemed apocalyptic to her. She states in the title “My ultimate warning based on personal experience” I read that then viewed the rest of the post knowing this is from her experience. Her experience must have been quite traumatic for her and she’s coming across as someone who really feels she needs to get this out. We all have our opinions and mine is that I have no issue with the post. I thank her for it and pray she stays well.

It is still the same now. Nurses are being fired during a pandemic for completely non-patient related issues. If we are throwing out the rules on proper PPE usage then throw out the rules on some of these stupid petty things they have in place so they can save face. The administration can’t get out of their mentality of your nothing but a number during a pandemic. A hospital bed, oxygen tank, tubing, ventilator etc means absolutely NOTHING if you have no staff who are trained in this field who know how to use it.

Thank you for your post expressing your thoughts based on your experience. You said it was based on your experience. I kept that in mind while reading it and my take away was your saying to those who are overwhelmed and scared that it’s okay if you quit. Some people need that support of just someone understanding. It would be a hard thing to do but for someone like yourself staying on the frontline telling someone who just can’t that you understand means a lot. Actually shows great compassion for other nurses which is in short supply in this field.

Thanks for the input. I agree 100% on the lack of integrity with the managers. Sadly, on that floor in my decade there they went through several managers and found the ones who stood up to Administration for their employees did not last long.

Are there any experienced bedside nurses who feel like they have a target on their back? Meaning, anything could get them fired or forced out in someway because they make more than the cheap new grad? The hospital I use to work for made it glaringly obvious the new grad was preferred. I think it is sad that in a profession where experience could mean life or death for a person just does not seem valued at least not for the bedside nurse. This post is not knocking new grads either because we all have to start somewhere. Its actually to warn them that if you think experience will just make you more valuable and job more secure in the future need to think again. Agree or disagree?