Sick of NURSES who say they HATE NURSING!! Another Vent

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OKK.. I am a new grad, who is still searching for a job ( 1 1/2 months), as are many others right now, I am just so sick of hearing nurses who HAVE JOBS talk about how they HATE nursing, how is this fair?? I understand having days that are frustrating, but not nurses who openly talk about how they HATE their jobs...SO QUIT ALREADY so that those of us who actually would like to work can have a job!! Alot of nurses say ..."just wait you'll see what we're saying", but I worked as a pca/cna for 3 years and @ times frustrating (yes...2 pca's on a large unit w/ total care patients is no cake walk either) but overall I still liked my job...I can only hope that one day IF I ever reach the point where I feel like I hate my job (esp. since being a nurse does involves CARING) that I will have the courage and care enough for my patients to leave!

Specializes in Cardiac.

Here's just one example of where I am coming from, a new graduate shows up for her first day of work the, unit manager goes on the floor and finds someone to place the new graduate with, goes up to the nurse introduces the new graduate to her new preceptor (who obviously had no clue that she was going to be training her that day) and says "this is Adrianna a new graduate im going to put her with you today " the nurse who is going to train her then says "WHO ME...NO YOU AINT" ( although she acts like its a joke to the unit manager ...she was serious)

Let's discuss this, because this kind of thing is why nurses hate their jobs--->poor management.

Now, a good manager should have picked out the appropriate preceptor PRIOR to the new grad arriving on the floor. The preceptor should be matched to personality of the new grad.

Precepting new grads is very difficult. Having done them myself, I can tell you it takes a lot of energy. And some people should NOT be preceptors. And they know it.

Now, if the manager just waltzes onto the floor and randomly picks a nurse to precept a new grad, that's just bad management.

Bad management affects nursing in many, many ways. In fact, the only real thing that has caused me to look for other work is management.

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So you're saying that the high turnover rate is due to the education of nurses? The education of nurses has no bearing on the situation dealing with staffing issues, too-sick-for-the-floor patients, and other institutionalized conondrums the post-grad RN faces. Educators have no control over what their graduates face after school. They can prepare them as best as they can, but to teach them shortcuts they have know to survive is showing them how to do a job, not to think as a nurse.

The research on the high turnover and stress in the field is well documented. The nurse faces a multitude of obstacles to care for a patient, most of which are brought upon by the hospital itself. It can be an "against all odds" profession. I have nothing by empathy for the ones that need to vent.

Then how will you justify nurses from the past,why there was no such high turnover rate,I'm blaming for the most parts the nursing school which for some uknown reason pamper their young.

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Let's discuss this, because this kind of thing is why nurses hate their jobs--->poor management.

Now, a good manager should have picked out the appropriate preceptor PRIOR to the new grad arriving on the floor. The preceptor should be matched to personality of the new grad.

Precepting new grads is very difficult. Having done them myself, I can tell you it takes a lot of energy. And some people should NOT be preceptors. And they know it.

Now, if the manager just waltzes onto the floor and randomly picks a nurse to precept a new grad, that's just bad management.

Bad management affects nursing in many, many ways. In fact, the only real thing that has caused me to look for other work is management.

Totally agree! Still Im shocked at some of these responses...whether she knew or not, I just dont think, that was an appropriate way to handle the situation.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

I have been an RN for over a year now. Before I was an RN I worked as a nurse tech for 2 years and I LOVED it. I HATED being the RN though.

It had nothing to do with my patients though. I really did enjoy patient care. It was just as soon as your the RN, everything changes from your outlook, to your level of responsibility, to the stress (that can be truly overwhelming) and when it starts affecting your home life, you know something is wrong. There are a LOT of nurses out there taking antidepressants and anti anxiety meds in order to function---I was one of them.

Another thing I hated (sorry) was that as a new RN I would sometimes have 2 nursing students with me all day! I didn't have time for them, which isn't fair to them OR me OR the patient.

But I did something about my hating nursing. I left the hospital. I will never go back. I work in a psych unit (we have our own building) and it is a job that a lot of nurses would kill for. I am terribly lucky.

We NEED nurses, and good ones, I have no idea what the answer is to this problem....nurses are treated so badly, and overworked (I made 18.65/hr as a new grad RN) and underpaid, something has to change. I hope it is soon for the sake of the patients (because I may be one someday....as well as my aging parents). It's scary.

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Back in a day the junior and senior nursing student had to run the entire floor and they were expected to do majority of the nursing tasks under the supervision of nurses.

I'm curious, back in what day?

Under the primary care model students were limited to 2-3 patients when I graduated 20 years ago. My mom graduated in 1970 and never had more than 4.

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Specializes in CAMHS, acute psych,.

I think hate is just another side of fear.

I've been working in aged care and/or psychology - and I've been around - for a loooong time. I decided to get my BN so I could become a credible voice for change - the system sucks (and leads easily to burnout - probably mostly for those who don't know how to look after themselves well). It's a plain and simple fact in this reality that the entire planet's health system would collapse if it weren't for the fundamental goodwill and caring natures of the majority of the nursing population the world over.

Think what would happen if all the nurses "downed tools" for half an hour (and in some wards, for 15mins).

So I agree with the responders who have counselled you to be compassionate about the weary and the heart-sore - remember that they care enough that they haven't given up

Regarding the evil wench your friend was chained to for the day - haven't you and your friend learned HEAPS from this experience - how lucky you have both been so early in your careers.

I would be very interested to read a post from you, OP, on what you have learned from this and from all the responses you have read here - in their entirety - including the ones that made you wince or revolted you or confused you - because they too have given you some important information, neh? A suggestion if you'll forgive me (I don't mean to patronise you) do your preliminary analysis in two or more columns ....

You'll get where you need and are ready to be - you're obviously no quitter - Bravo!!

Good luck and good heart

My best wishes to you

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

i say we all get together and have a much needed beer together.

leslie[/i]

I agree with you!!! :beer: :beer: :beer: (could.not.resist.):) We need to delegate someone to let the Pres. know we're on our way!! :lol2:

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Specializes in CAMHS, acute psych,.
I'm one of those people who, most days, I don't enjoy my job. I don't quit because I can't afford to. This is NOT my "dream" job, but I have to survive- I need to earn a living. Nursing school/ Clinicals does NOT prepare you for the real world. Good luck finding a job.

Get out now - get a job waitressing to support you while you find your dream job -

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Specializes in CAMHS, acute psych,.
so of course we can't take our leave and are getting burned out.

Can you get rotated to a different ward or a different job for a while, while you wait your turn for leave? Don't give up - you trained too long and you worked too hard...

good luck

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Specializes in CAMHS, acute psych,.
its the families that I dread. ... I try to provide safe effective care but with the tools that I am handed it seems like an uphill battle.
When your only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Does your hospital or local college offer courses or in-services in how to manage/interact with families, or even some basic family counselling skills? Check it out and take back the power!

I do love being a nurse but some days were treated like glorified waitresses. Nothing wrong with waitressess did it many years but,,, It is a hard job can be very rewarding
Suggest you practice - with your friends as guides/mirrors - perfecting the art of the gentle, kind, "I-can't-believe-you-said-that-but-I-forgive-you" look to use with unreasonably demanding people. No-one has the right to treat other people like sheet - be they nurses, waitresses, cleaners or the pope. We all wipe our orifices - so learn to stand up for yourself nicely (including how to say no, nicely). You are a member of a proud and ancient tradition and profession and you have earned the right to be treated with respect - until/unless you prove by your actions you aren't worth it.

Good luck

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Specializes in CAMHS, acute psych,.
Then how will you justify nurses from the past,why there was no such high turnover rate,I'm blaming for the most parts the nursing school which for some uknown reason pamper their young.

1. What is the source for your historical assertion?

2. How can a nursing school prepare a student for the chaos that results from modern under-funded hospital management without ending up throwing the baby out with the bath water (if you'll forgive a mixed metaphor)

3. Would you rather they ate their young? Why then, guess what.... you'd never have a new grad to look down on or give a hard time to or to help ease the load off your back. Think about that, huh?

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Specializes in CAMHS, acute psych,.
Totally agree! Still Im shocked at some of these responses...whether she knew or not, I just dont think, that was an appropriate way to handle the situation.

Good point - good pick-up. You are 100% right - but she did do it the way she did. Would you have handled it differently from your friend? This is an important question - if you really want to be a nurse. Think about it...

By the way, "once upon a time" really is a fairy tale ... real life is so much more challenging - because sometimes the bad guys win. When a bad guy wins, what do you do, OP? This is an adult life prac question....

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