Ridiculous accreditation efforts by ignorant regulators and management
Mind numbing charting
Neglect and disregard of wellbeing of frontline workers
Escalation of above since Covid
FYI, I have died and gone to job Heaven and will be starting my new job at the farm store in October. I have been promised no stress, and will not be required to wear a mask! Not only that, I'll get an employee discount!
@Davey Do: Nursing instructors are also teaching idealism to these young students (Florence Nightingale and all that jazz). They need to be more honest and teach toward realities of the job. How to cut corners effectively (let's quit calling it "prioritization"), how to deal with snarky coworkers, what to do when your supervisor ignores you, how to charm your patient so you can raise satisfaction scores. I think bartending school would be a great supplement to nursing school!
@Davey Do: Nursing instructors are also teaching idealism to these young students (Florence Nightingale and all that jazz). They need to be more honest and teach toward realities of the job. How to cut corners effectively (let's quit calling it "prioritization"), how to deal with snarky coworkers, what to do when your supervisor ignores you, how to charm your patient so you can raise satisfaction scores. I think bartending school would be a great supplement to nursing school!
Yes @Davey Do definitely publish your time travel story! I woke up thinking about my sweet patient who coded in IR while having a PEG placed that no doctors thought was a good idea due to her stage 4 metastatic gastric cancer and inability to breathe unless had NG tube connected to suction and could not tolerate lying flat.
I still feel guilty about not re-checking a blood sugar of 63 from the AM labs although I gave juice and she was on D5, and her death was likely due to being unhooked from suction and trying to lie flat for procedure. The night nurse, night MD, day MDs, and 2 charge nurses also overlooked the blood sugar, and I'm sure they don't think of it a year later. Everyone told me the patient was going to pass away soon anyway and it was a blessing in disguise as she was recommended for palliative care but family wanted aggressive treatment (sweet family who took great care of her but low health literacy and thought palliative meant they were killing her.) Why am I like this? I really think nursing has ruined my life = ( Sorry for the drama = (
Hey @LibraNurse27 I am 100% the same way. I have had some patients go bad for reasons that had nothing to do with my care, but when it happens while they’re on your assignment you just beat yourself up forever. In that way I’d say nursing has truly damaged my mental health, too. I’m a perfectionist and highly self-conscious and sensitive, so when things go awry I am my own worst enemy. I don’t know what to do about it aside from just do my best and try to decompress after each shift. Not really offering advice, just sending a hug your way, we sound very similar.
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
Hug back to you @0.9%NormalSarah ! And I love your username by the way! Yes definitely take time to decompress after each shift and try not to think about work when you're not at work... easier said than done, I know! Thank you for the validation and the empathy; it's good to know I'm not the only one reviewing mistakes from years ago! But, I am sorry that you do that too, because I know how bad it feels.
Those of us who believe that nursing is/was our calling, it takes some time before we stop thinking of ourselves as nurses.
For me, the realization came to me just the other day.
I submit my comics & art to no fewer than four websites and have a tendency to draw my character in green scrubs. I poised a question to some other artists, asking them if I should not draw my comic character dressed in scrubs now that I'm no longer working as a nurse.
The consensus was to continue my character as before, since that's how they know me. Sort of like Charlie Brown in his jagged striped shirt.
But now, I no longer feel like I'm a nurse and my cartoon character told me so:
"Kleidung macht den mann"!
Yes it does, and you "dress up" in your art however you wish. I'd know that mustache anywhere! Now, don't go and shave ?
I'm jealous, in a good way, of all of the retirees. I'd love to retire, but can't at this time. The day that I do, watch out! Farm store sounds absolutely devine
I'm jealous, in a good way, of all of the retirees. I'd love to retire, but can't at this time. The day that I do, watch out! Farm store sounds absolutely devine
Indeed! Farm store for me too or delivering mail, working at a plant nursery, stocking shelves or driving a school bus (last resort)-not kidding. Sadly, although I've put in 30 years as an RN and am battle worn, I'm only 55yo and can't possibly retire anytime soon-I might make it physically, but mentally-no way! Thinking of going part time though in the near future to preserve my mental health and keep my sanity!
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
2 hours ago, morelostthanfound said:
Farm store for me too or delivering mail, working at a plant nursery, stocking shelves or driving a school bus (last resort)-not kidding
Agreed! I love volunteering at the food bank. Physically taxing and fast paced, but I like the packing, sorting, etc. If I make a mistake I won't kill anyone. I know warehouse work is not a dream job, especially at places where they have unrealistic quotas and can't take bathroom breaks, but if volunteering at the food bank paid the bills I'd quit nursing today. Cool people, good music, good workout, lower responsibility. It's perfect!
Ridiculous accreditation efforts by ignorant regulators and management
Mind numbing charting
Neglect and disregard of wellbeing of frontline workers
Escalation of above since Covid
FYI, I have died and gone to job Heaven and will be starting my new job at the farm store in October. I have been promised no stress, and will not be required to wear a mask! Not only that, I'll get an employee discount!
I’m out too. Emergent’s list sums it up. I’m starting my dream job in the mountains, getting paid to do what I love. Can’t give more details than that but suffice it to say I’m very excited. My new employer has a rep for prioritizing employee satisfaction & what I’ve seen so far confirms that. I’ll miss (most of) my colleagues & some aspects of bedside er nursing but it was time.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Call Center RN.
I am finishing up my BSN, I plan to at least work for a year, so that I am in the clear for not having to pay back the tuition reimbursement. I want to travel when I retire. Maybe a travel agent would be fun!
I’m very grateful that I retired 2-1/2+ years ago and missed all the Covid horrors. I really enjoyed my job for many years, despite the stress; but it got much more difficult the last 10 years or so, the job satisfaction gone. It was a good career overall for me. I made the difficult choice to let my license lapse this Summer. It was the right choice for me, but it was hard to let it go.
Specializes in Surgical Specialty Clinic - Ambulatory Care.
Congratulations! So happy for you!! I have a plan too! 5 - 7 years to secure my kid and then I'm out too. I have to many other interests to put more time in to develop my nursing skill. I'm done.?
2BS Nurse, BSN
703 Posts
@Davey Do: Nursing instructors are also teaching idealism to these young students (Florence Nightingale and all that jazz). They need to be more honest and teach toward realities of the job. How to cut corners effectively (let's quit calling it "prioritization"), how to deal with snarky coworkers, what to do when your supervisor ignores you, how to charm your patient so you can raise satisfaction scores. I think bartending school would be a great supplement to nursing school!
@Davey Do: Nursing instructors are also teaching idealism to these young students (Florence Nightingale and all that jazz). They need to be more honest and teach toward realities of the job. How to cut corners effectively (let's quit calling it "prioritization"), how to deal with snarky coworkers, what to do when your supervisor ignores you, how to charm your patient so you can raise satisfaction scores. I think bartending school would be a great supplement to nursing school!