Stressed out and Getting Out

laughing weasel · Sep 2, 2004

Hey, I am a lazy but security guard. It is a good job for going to school on but it will bore you to tears after a while there are some people who have been security forever and ever (30+ years). The pay is not real great but thems the breaks. If you are not happy with your conditions unionize it is the only way to win management is working as a cohesive team nurses should too.

MandyInMS · Sep 2, 2004

CseMgr....I think every one of us has felt as you do from time to time...I know I have for sure...wishing you the best in whatever you decide to do (((hugzzz)))

lynn27 · Sep 2, 2004

Hello Csemgr1...I got out in February and now I feel ready to begin looking in nursing again. Just wanted to say that the vacation has been great! You don't realize just how bad the stress has been until you get away from it for awhile. For the first time in four years, I feel good again! I hope you will be feeling better soon and I hope that things work out for the best for you.

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Sep 12, 2004

I haven't heard back from the retailers I applied with, but did hear back from a national company who is looking for independent contractors to do nursing assessments for geriatric patients. The pay is per visit, negotiable...and there's NO pressure to meet metrics and I can accept or refuse an assignment...without fear of retaliation or being fired. I mailed them all the required paperwork yesterday.

********************************************************

Just this past Friday, my supervisor called a meeting to inform us that the Higher-Ups have initiated a hiring freeze because our department went way over budget in July....after they transferred thousands and thousands of new members from another office to ours...without first checking to see how their massive cattle drive was going to impact their bottom line, customers...or us. Not only that, but our corporate office is sending hoardes of auditors out, to look up our you-know-what's, to "ensure that the nurses are following guidelines". :nono: WHO??

We are already short-staffed as hell, with nurses leaving in droves, because the constant pressure to produce quality work, yet maintain our metrics is becoming intolerable...and now they are trying to use us as their scapegoats, instead of looking at the problems which they created, to begin with. Duh! :confused:

I am waiting for "THE call", as they say. Tired of this s---. :angryfire

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Sep 12, 2004

Hi,
Just wanted to send my support and well wishes your way. I've decided I'm not going back to nursing after my FML is up. I've actually got an interview tomorrow at petsmart in the grooming salon. I don't care about the money anymore, my job is making me sick.
Again, good luck.

Thanks. I went to PetSmart, too, and talked to one of their managers. He told me that they were also looking for groomers. :)

One of my co-workers, who had just returned from FMLA only a month ago, is out again. The job is killing her....and all of us.

Good luck to you, too!

Paleobug · Sep 13, 2004

I really don't understand how people who are used to making good money as nurses, can go work in retail for peanuts and be able to pay their bills. I've worked in retail and other service related jobs and there is alot of stress there as well. Just my 2 cents.

realmean1 · Sep 13, 2004

Good luck in looking for a new career. Heck, I just keep playing the lottery. Actually, working as a nurse is not what it used to be. the only thing holding me to my current job is the pay, but, finished up my resume today and I am seriously looking for something else. Have applied for a prn position, just to get my foot in the door at a local hospital. Reason: I made the admin.'s daughter mad when I told her to go to her office. She was making a situation worse that was already handled. She went straight to momma,crying etc. Was called on the carpet and told that this young lady was on my level as a professional and I had better start acting like it. Now walking around with a target on my back. But, have vacation in a week :) and if push comes to shove can always do something else.

jaimealmostRN · Sep 13, 2004

Hi,
Just wanted to send my support and well wishes your way. I've decided I'm not going back to nursing after my FML is up. I've actually got an interview tomorrow at petsmart in the grooming salon. I don't care about the money anymore, my job is making me sick.
Again, good luck.

My neighbors just got a new puppy about a month ago. They have a person who comes and walks (and plays!) with the puppy while they are at work. It turns out that this person is also an RN who recently quit her job and is,"never going back."

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Sep 14, 2004

My neighbors just got a new puppy about a month ago. They have a person who comes and walks (and plays!) with the puppy while they are at work. It turns out that this person is also an RN who recently quit her job and is,"never going back."

The sound of them crickets are getting louder...and louder....and louder...!

mattsmom81 · Sep 14, 2004

In larger cities, I hear people make a decent living as dog walkers...seeing to the dogs while busy executives work and commute 12 hr plus days. If one likes animals this would be a good option...doing something enjoyable. also...starting a home grooming business and go to the clients' homes...or have a little grooming station on wheels...I see them around and think that would be fun. :)

I find that no matter how much $$ I make it never seems to be enough anyway. Sometimes that Walmart greeter job looks real good to me too.

For now I do agency perdiem work as little as I can possibly get away with...and probably make more doing one shift than I would all week at Walmart...so I'm hanging in there best I can for now. Although my mental health still suffers...not unusual to come home so frustrated and angry I can't sleep after that one horrendous shift, or I have nightmares. I know you all can relate. Sadly this is the reality too many nurses live with today.

I work with nurses who 'handle' things better...seem to anyway...and I've decided they have learned to adjust their expectations of themselves ...many are experts at dumping workload on others, doing the bare minimum on the job, and working the system to their advantage by schmoozing with higherups.

I am about to the point I cannot adapt much more to the horrendous working conditions I encounter and still feel good about myself and my job. I come home feeling totally dumped on most shifts; angry and resentful. Not a fun way to live.

Best wishes to those of you who are looking elsewhere for careers...and keep us updated on how you are doing, OK? :)

TexasPoodleMix · Sep 18, 2004

I considered doing the dog grooming thing. It looks fun and relaxing !

Midwest4me · Sep 18, 2004

I don't need this s---. I even applied for positions at Wal-Mart and at another retailer yesterday. I have had enough , and am getting out, while I still have the sanity to do so.

I SO understand your stress level. After being with a company for 4.5 yrs, I resigned in June '03 following a change in management (9 others did too, although 2 of the 9 were fired by the new management--most of us had been there 5+ years!). I then changed nursing jobs three more times until finding a state position in group homes which house 3-5 clients a piece. I love the change! I work varied hours but I love the clients (and staff-pt ratios are terrific; i.e., one nurse and 2-3 staff for 3-5 clients--a far cry from the ratios in my LTC experience!!!) I would recommend something like this job! Or...how about working as a state surveyor of nursing homes? Looks like great pay--still some stress but you're in and out of various LTCs in a short period of time--just some suggestions.....I, too, wish you all the best and look forward to more updates on your plans!:)