Sick and tired! What next?

[ANnot4me]

I've been working in the same hospital for 2 years. I know that's not awfully long, but I'm getting crispy. I'm way over it. The place is large, full of politics and it seems like a nurse mill. New grads come and go. Experienced nurses rarely come and many of the long-time nurses are either on a power trip or tired and lazy. There also seems to be a large contigency of nurses who seem to come to work to socialize, rest their butts on the chair and collect a check q 2 weeks. The place is very negative and those that are not yet totally burnt out are on their way or getting out.

I recently left the ICU and transferred to the PACU so that I could get a fresh start, but the game is the same; only the players have changed. They are "deperate" for nurses, but when a new one shows up they couldn't be bothered helping them (i'm not the only person who notices this). They sit on their butts, do the bare minimum and won't even speak to anyone who isn't one of theirs.

I came back from break the other day and the nurse who covered me condescendingly told me that I should have done x,y and z. Granted, I should have done z (minor oversight), but x and y were not policy, but opinion and a way to belittle me. I had done what needed to be done and well. I am a nurse with over 5 years of experience; the last 2 years I have worked in ICU.

It's just so childish, clique, abusive and demeaning. The whole darn place. I want out. I'm getting depressed and I get sick every time I have to go to work because I know that a already difficult job is going to be made 10x harder because of the abuse by the system and my coworkers. I'm trapped because I know it's pretty much the same everywhere.

Today was a good day. The only pitfall was when I walked in and about half of my coworkers ignored me. I made sure that I looked each of them in the face and said good morning and that I was right there every time they needed help. The most pleasant people to work with are the travelers as they are always glad to see a friendly face instead of a bunch of scowling ingrates.

I need a vacation, but I don't think anything less than a month would help. I do a good job and am kind to my patients. Some days I don't know how, but I manage a smile and a kind tone.

[CseMgr1, ASN, RN]

Originally posted by chigap

I've been working in the same hospital for 2 years. I know

It's just so childish, clique, abusive and demeaning. The whole darn place. I want out. I'm getting depressed and I get sick every time I have to go to work because I know that a already difficult job is going to be made 10x harder because of the abuse by the system and my coworkers. I'm trapped because I know it's pretty much the same everywhere.

You have hit the nail on the head, dear. I am in the same situation where I work. What irks the s--- out of me, too, are Management's pets, who have been given the power to walk

on water...and all over everyone else who has to tow the line

for them. I too, transfered from one department to another,

trying to escape...but wound up out of the frying pan and

into the fire instead, as they say. Same old s---, only different faces,

and I'm ready, too, to take the first Agency Train....out of

Dodge.

[mattsmom81]

So true, at least with agency ya KNOW you're probably gonna be getting the worst patients, etc. But if the treatment is TOO harsh, we never have to go back...we aren't trapped...

I'm back on staff for now, but missing some of the joys of agency.

One downfall to agency in my parts.. we will be assigned the 'bad docs' patients, the ones who blame the nurses for everything and open us up to complaint and litigation.

Going on staff for me was partly in self defense ie 'the devil ya know is better than the devil ya don't know'. But it is SUUURE tiresome to be amidst facility politics again.

If you go agency or travel/contract, do the short hauls so ya don't get stuck in a bad place too long...good luck to ya!

[altomga, ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN]

hey there {{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}

I can also relate to what you are saying. I fortunately do work with a great bunch of people (overall) I believe in smiling at someone as you walk by them even if you don't know them.

the politics of the hospital and the way management can sometimes treat those certain few with a special attitude and others with disgust is nauseating.

I frequently will float to another department while I am working on my own unit to help them out...either to draw blood, start and IV, transport a pt for them that is on a monitor...why, b/c I don't mind doing it and to me if you help others willingly they will want to help you out sometime if you need them to.

Take that vacation...sometimes it will help A LOT...if when you return you still feel the same way think about leaving to find a better job...

[NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN]

I can SO relate to what you're feeling. I have two shifts left at my current job before I start work at my new facility, and I am leaving because of many of the reasons you've listed. Poor management, poor administration, negativity EVERYWHERE that just sucks the life and enthusiasm out of you, favoritism supported by crappy policy and a system that not only encourages lies and falsifying information to get what you want, but one that refuses to reward genuine hard work and backbreaking effort with even a mere compliment. The team members that I work with are, for the most part, SPECTACULAR and I'd carry them with me if I could, but the positive aspects they bring to the situation don't outweigh the negatives. Call me naive, call me idealistic, but I'm moving with the hope that every facility is not like the one I am currently working at, and it's as simple as that. I'm hoping for something better. In fact, I am demanding something better and am "voting with my feet" so to speak. I can't change the system- it was in place long before I came along, but I can change the environment that I work in and that's exactly what I did. Maybe it's time for you to move on in a bigger way? Don't feel bad about the two years; I've only been here 19 months, and it was about 13 months too long. It is my firm belief that it is NOT the same everywhere. Hanging on to that belief is what will *keep* you working for a facility that offers you little benefit for far too long. My life is too short and valuable for me to make an assumption like that, and so is yours! Don't let these people or this workplace color your perspective in such a dramatic way. Everyone is different, every place is different, and it's just a matter of finding one that fits.

[mattsmom81]

PS...forgot to say DEFINITELY take a nice long vacation and think about your options!

I'm watching 'Flight of the Phoenix' now on TV and am thinking myself...hmmm...

[seanymph]

I can relate to your problem totally. My absenteeism was to the point where I was endanger of being fired. My migraines were very frequent. I had been tossing around the idea of travel nursing for 2yrs, but was too afraid, well I bit the bullet. I am on my second assignment. On my fisrt assignment I had one migraine which was related to my menses and never had a call in. The nursing profession which I was thinking of getting out of I love doing again. I enjoy going to work doing patient care and teaching with no politics and bs. I get to see new places and meet new people and still travel w/ my dog and cat.

[sjoe]

kristi writes: "I'm moving with the hope that every facility is not like the one I am currently working at, and it's as simple as that "

I wish you better fortune than I have had--12 jobs later, the same old stuff, just slightly different versions.

[sjoe]

dawn--how do you deal with the places where you get no or stunningly inadequate orientation, then are expected to magically know all the paperwork, etc.?

[NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the ray of sunshine!

[sjoe]

If it's a ray of sunshine you want, go see "Seabiscuit."

[seanymph]

So far the staff has been very helpful in answering questions. they are thankful for the help as they are usually working shorthanded.

[ANnot4me]

Update: I am off orientation and the last few days have been fine. I have signed up to go home everday and have been able to due low census. I keep busy and try to help others; I ignore the politics. I've also planned a long trip in January and plan to resign or go per diem (it's nearly impossible to get vacation when I want it). I will only be working at this facility part-time beginning in September. I want to get a per diem job in a float pool. That's all there is to it. I just try to remember that I have no intention of staying there forever.

That's not saying that I won't be completely fed up again!