So you hate your job....?

lupin · Sep 26, 2007

My advice to you would be to look at a local agency job. Local agencies will get you into surrounding hospitals usually just for a shift or two. You get to take care of people but you don't have to deal with policies, plus you get an overall idea of what options are out there for hospitals. I lived in a semi-rural area and was sent to facilities within an hour or so's drive from where I lived. I was also a new grad at the time and learned a ton about prioritizing and delegation at that time.

My only other advice would be to send out a resume online and see what pops up. If you have to move maybe a change of scenery would be a good idea.

lupin · Sep 26, 2007

Sorry I meant you don't have to deal with politics not policies.

RN1989 · Sep 26, 2007

Agency is definitely one way to go. You can leave most of the politics behind. If you only do agency at a couple of places though, you can still end up being sucked into the politics because after a while they can start forgetting that you aren't a permanent fixture there. Of course do not expect that you will get treated any better. Frequently you get treated worse because the staff is jealous of you and they figure that since you probably won't be back the next day, they will give you some of the worst assignments. Also, when you are an agency/travel nurse you WILL be going into an understaffed place or they wouldn't need you in the first place. And frequently (unfortunately), those places are understaffed because the working environment is not pleasant either because of the company, the staff, or both. Being an agency nurse did allow me to work in nursing for a little while without as many frustrations as a regular job. But after a while, even that did not help.

What you have described is everywhere. You cannot escape it. You can try a different job and see if their kind of politics, policies, and overall crap is something that you can tolerate. But the grass is not greener, it is just a different type of grass.

The reason so many nurses are the way that you have described is because they just can't fight the system anymore. It is easier to stop acting like you care, to stop fighting for what is right, than it is to have the constant stress of always caring and fighting the system. I don't think that most of these nurses start out as seeming to be uncaring, but after a while the stress is too great. Since they must work to live, their coping mechanism turns them into the unhappy persons that you have seen. Self-preservation can make people turn into unhappy people and some of these people don't even realize how rude and hateful they have become.

I am sorry to tell you this but I have only seen this get worse over the years, not better. In a few places here and there some great nurses have been able to effect positive change. But overall on a large scale, the toxic, seemingly uncaring environments are the norm. You will have to find a way to cope or get out of nursing.

I understand the frustration that this is supposed to be a caring profession where we treat everyone like the President. It really hurts when you find out that it isn't possible. Only the President with all the country's money gets consistently fabulous care from people with smiling faces. And now days, the majority of patients are not going to be thrilled that you are there nurse and be smiling, patient, thankful and nice. They are tired and cranky because they get our technologically advanced society has increased the work load on people. We are working more, sleeping less, always on the go. So when people get into the healthcare environment they become unwilling to take responsibility for themselves. They do not want to get up to the BSC because it makes them tired. And they don't realize that their insurance company is going to boot them out on their ear in a weakened state and that their refusal to get OOB has just made them weaker. They don't want to do their IS because it hurts. After all, we should be able to get rid of all pain at all times because we have so much technology. And how in the world can you get pneumonia and die just because you won't breathe into a tube? And don't even suggest to that diabetic that if they would quit eating crap out of the vending machine that their blood sugars would get better. There is nowhere in a highly developed country where you will find even 75% of your patients will do what they should and be nice to you even half the time. If you want that - go to a poorly developed country where medical care is scarce - then your patients will be happy with just the fact that you have a concerned look on your face. Can't even begin to count the number of times a patient has told me "I pay your salary and you have to do what I say!"

You have to make the choice what to do. You might have to give up something you love to take a job that you can merely tolerate. Welcome to real world nursing.

KenCCRN · Sep 26, 2007

OK, imagine if you will....
You are a happy person with a good sense of humor but...
You're surrounded by unhappy people, in an unhappy environment.
There are just enough lazy people and jackass physicians to add to the problem, and when you ask anyone that matters about the way you've been treated, the answers are: "Well, I know [whomever] can be a bear sometimes but they ARE the physician" , etc, and so on, as you wonder if this pseudo-caste system will ever go away...
or "Well, I know it's difficult, but you only have 7 more months to go and that's something to look forward to..." or other canned corporate answer.
Then you find that due to hospital policy, you cannot undo a department transfer [re: mistake; go back, go back!!] because you have to stay in said department for a year.
Then,
Having exhausted all resources, human resources, employment services, my manager, begging at other managers doors, and any other viable option to undo what's been done.... you finally realize your only option to end the unhappiness.
So my question is:
As a [year old] ICU nurse with some experience in a really rough, disorganized ER, where would you go? Volunteer or paid, doesn't matter... [well, I'll need food and shelter at least]... it's about doing good and being around team players that truly WANT to help others, and where the patient actually WANTS your help...
Does that exist in the US anymore? Has our white secular eurocentric corporate culture eaten the heads of every thinking or caring person?
I know travel is an option, as is just getting another job, but let's play devil's advocate and assume my luck nets a travel job in an understaffed, under appreciated place, and for the other job approach, I live in the sticks with no real choice.
I'd love to hear your ideas!
thanks
rb

Hey....only 7 months....I would stick it out and get the experience you need in ICU. Agency nursing...I did that fulltime for 2 years and its not all gravy. I was constantly farming every week for new shifts. You can be cancelled up to 2 hours before the start with out pay. My agency was a 1099 so no benefits. You get the crappiest assignment because regular nursing staff resent the fact that you are making top dollar to come in for the shift. If you can deal with that...then you will still be unhappy and feel that you dont belong on top of that.

Good Luck!

Ken

ShayRN · Sep 26, 2007

Our policy is that you have to wait 6 monthes for a transfer. However, I went throught orientation years ago with an RN who started on one floor, then ended up a month later on mine. I asked her how she got here so quickly, she replied, EASY, I told them they either let me transfer or I quit. I hated that other floor. I guess it costs something like 20 grand to orient a new RN, so rather than lose that, they let her transfer. Good Luck, It must be awful going to a job you hate every day.

RNperdiem, RN · Sep 26, 2007

My devil's advocate says to find an even worse job and realize that the old one wasn't so bad. My devil's advocate has a strange sense of humor.

If I were in your shoes, I would count down the days until I reached the one year mark and resign. Maybe you need a change outside of nursing for a while. Go per diem to keep your licence current and to keep money coming in.

In my experience, patients don't want to be there either, don't expect too much thanks.

RN Randy · Sep 26, 2007

Agency is definitely one way to go. You can leave most of the politics behind. If you only do agency at a couple of places though, you can still end up being sucked into the politics because after a while they can start forgetting that you aren't a permanent fixture there. Of course do not expect that you will get treated any better. Frequently you get treated worse because the staff is jealous of you and they figure that since you probably won't be back the next day, they will give you some of the worst assignments. Also, when you are an agency/travel nurse you WILL be going into an understaffed place or they wouldn't need you in the first place. And frequently (unfortunately), those places are understaffed because the working environment is not pleasant either because of the company, the staff, or both. Being an agency nurse did allow me to work in nursing for a little while without as many frustrations as a regular job. But after a while, even that did not help.
What you have described is everywhere. You cannot escape it. You can try a different job and see if their kind of politics, policies, and overall crap is something that you can tolerate. But the grass is not greener, it is just a different type of grass.
The reason so many nurses are the way that you have described is because they just can't fight the system anymore. It is easier to stop acting like you care, to stop fighting for what is right, than it is to have the constant stress of always caring and fighting the system. I don't think that most of these nurses start out as seeming to be uncaring, but after a while the stress is too great. Since they must work to live, their coping mechanism turns them into the unhappy persons that you have seen. Self-preservation can make people turn into unhappy people and some of these people don't even realize how rude and hateful they have become.
I am sorry to tell you this but I have only seen this get worse over the years, not better. In a few places here and there some great nurses have been able to effect positive change. But overall on a large scale, the toxic, seemingly uncaring environments are the norm. You will have to find a way to cope or get out of nursing.
I understand the frustration that this is supposed to be a caring profession where we treat everyone like the President. It really hurts when you find out that it isn't possible. Only the President with all the country's money gets consistently fabulous care from people with smiling faces. And now days, the majority of patients are not going to be thrilled that you are there nurse and be smiling, patient, thankful and nice. They are tired and cranky because they get our technologically advanced society has increased the work load on people. We are working more, sleeping less, always on the go. So when people get into the healthcare environment they become unwilling to take responsibility for themselves. They do not want to get up to the BSC because it makes them tired. And they don't realize that their insurance company is going to boot them out on their ear in a weakened state and that their refusal to get OOB has just made them weaker. They don't want to do their IS because it hurts. After all, we should be able to get rid of all pain at all times because we have so much technology. And how in the world can you get pneumonia and die just because you won't breathe into a tube? And don't even suggest to that diabetic that if they would quit eating crap out of the vending machine that their blood sugars would get better. There is nowhere in a highly developed country where you will find even 75% of your patients will do what they should and be nice to you even half the time. If you want that - go to a poorly developed country where medical care is scarce - then your patients will be happy with just the fact that you have a concerned look on your face. Can't even begin to count the number of times a patient has told me "I pay your salary and you have to do what I say!"
You have to make the choice what to do. You might have to give up something you love to take a job that you can merely tolerate. Welcome to real world nursing.

Well... if you're female, I suggest we marry...

and if male, maybe we can catch a game or something...

either way,

I agree wholeheartedly, sadly and unfortunately.

Thanks to everyone else as well, I may just give the agency a call!

[that is if there is one around here...]

thanks!

rb

RN Randy · Sep 26, 2007

Our policy is that you have to wait 6 monthes for a transfer. However, I went throught orientation years ago with an RN who started on one floor, then ended up a month later on mine. I asked her how she got here so quickly, she replied, EASY, I told them they either let me transfer or I quit. I hated that other floor. I guess it costs something like 20 grand to orient a new RN, so rather than lose that, they let her transfer. Good Luck, It must be awful going to a job you hate every day.

Funny thing, I tried that too and the answer was "Wow, I hate to see you go, and I appreciate you telling me, but you'll need to submit it in writing."

Better yet, when moving up into the suit and tie section of the hospital, we hear: "You want a transfer or you plan to quit? Well, I hear [local facility] is hiring."

The bad thing about being in nowhere... everyone already knows your options.

rb

RN Randy · Sep 26, 2007

Hey....only 7 months....I would stick it out and get the experience you need in ICU. Agency nursing...I did that fulltime for 2 years and its not all gravy. I was constantly farming every week for new shifts. You can be cancelled up to 2 hours before the start with out pay. My agency was a 1099 so no benefits. You get the crappiest assignment because regular nursing staff resent the fact that you are making top dollar to come in for the shift. If you can deal with that...then you will still be unhappy and feel that you dont belong on top of that.
Good Luck!
Ken

That's just it... I'm trying to get BACK to the ICU... I miss it greatly, and skills die quickly.

rb

RN Randy · Sep 26, 2007

My devil's advocate says to find an even worse job and realize that the old one wasn't so bad. My devil's advocate has a strange sense of humor.
If I were in your shoes, I would count down the days until I reached the one year mark and resign. Maybe you need a change outside of nursing for a while. Go per diem to keep your licence current and to keep money coming in.
In my experience, patients don't want to be there either, don't expect too much thanks.

Sorry, no perdiem, not in the budget, because the interim manager between the interim managers let 75% of the staff go perdiem already, hence our staffing issues, hence me busting hump whilst tripping over sleeping people that make twice my salary. I asked for part time, or casual, doing fewer hours in order to find a 'happy job' to help offset it, no dice... can't afford to lose you. However; a resignation is no problem?? Make sense of that... ?

QUIT nursing??? That would put a real dent in acquiring my advanced practice certification! LOL..

A change of scenery?? ALWAYS helps, whomever said that one...

thanks for all the input!

rb

Ms Kylee · Sep 26, 2007

Love my job, just hate the nurses that make it impossible for me to do my job because they're so busy sticking their noses into what I'm doing that they forget that they have a job.... or they have to go running and tattling to the unit director when I'm not available for them... forget the needs of the patient... they don't want to hear that.... :angryfire