The Cannibalism of Nursing

[ShelbyLPN1992]

I've been an LPN in New Orleans now for about a year and a half. I started out just OK with my career choice. Since I'm an LPN, the choices of work that I have are basically nursing home, clinic, doctors office, or if I get lucky, a hospital once I get some experience.

I ended up in a nursing home. I'm not going to lie, I've NEVER wanted to work in a nursing home. I almost quit nursing school in the middle of clinical because I had to go to a nursing home. That setting is just not for me. Well, after I graduated nursing school, hardly any place decent was hiring a new LPN with no experience. So, what did I do? I sucked up my pride, and applied at the closest nursing home that I could find. It was that, or make $14 an hour at a clinic. Besides, working at this particular nursing home saved me a lot of gas money. The pay was actually a lot better than what my other classmates were being paid. Most of my classmates did go to clinics, not for the money, but for the great hours.

Anyways, to get to my rant, the nursing home wasn't so bad. I actually was OK with it. The problems came with the employees. I worked with nothing but ratchet nurses that talk behind your back and CNAs that did half *** work due to their c/o "we gettin paid minimum wage so this place gunna get minimum wage work". The attitudes were horrible.

The CNA turn around rate was also horrible. Always working under staffed and under paid. My relief even started making a habit of calling in at the last minute, leaving me there till a new relief could come. Nobody has any body's back in nursing. I became friends with a CNA and we became kind of close. We were close until she stole something from me and lied about it. I get stolen from a lot on my unit. I guess that's normal, right? On top of that aggravation, The family of the residents are always complaining because their loved ones ADLs are hardly ever completed due to the staff's attitude and under staffment. It's just so much stress being a nurse.

After a year and a half, I feel like it's not necessarily the work load that makes me hate my job, it's the stress of managing my unit and accepting the things that I can't control. I've changed as a person; I think I've even lost hope for the human race like it's gotten that bad. I've never met so many rude, catty, backstabbing, selfish people in my life. I don't know if it's because nurses are all stressed out or if it's me. I don't even know how some of the nurses that I work with even passed high school, much less have a nursing license. One nurse that I work with had to write an incident about a resident that fell on the floor. She literally documented "res found on flow."

I just can't deal. I don't know whether to forward my career and become an RN, or work in a cemetery where there's no complaining. Did I mention that one of my older nursing co workers tried getting me to over dose my hospice patient. Oh his respirators are 9? Give him morphine he's going to die anyway. The saying that "nurses eat their young" is so accurate. Do you know what that makes nurses? Cannibals. Oh you passed your NCLEX? Congrats. Next step? Try not to cry too loud while your co workers eat you alive for their own amusement.

[sevensonnets]

So you have a few bad coworkers and you indict us all as cannibals? That's very narrow minded.

[quazar]

If EVERYONE and EVERYTHING around me is a problem, the common denominator may, just may be, ME.

SO true. I went through a phase in my life where I was just a flat out miserable, cranky person. I complained all the time. I insisted I was surrounded by horrible people and drama. Hindsight being 20/20, and of course having the benefit of the distance that 25+ years' worth of life experience and learning can grant you, I now know without a doubt that the problem wasn't everyone else, it was ME. It wasn't until I changed MY attitude and changed MYSELF that my life turned around. Food for thought and all that.

Best of luck to you in whatever you decide.

[LessValuableNinja]

I too would like to see this removed from the front page - it's not an article, it's a rant. Not trying to sound harsh, but 26K is expensive for an LPN program and it was your choice to take that debt on. I'm sure you're joking about thinking drug dealers have it better. You can pay that debt off if you get serious about it. I have no idea what your situation is, but if that's contributing to the stress, do what you need to and make a dent in it. I also think your welfare comments are inappropriate.

There's an interesting Freakonomics bit on drug dealers. In short, they don't have it better.

[la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN]

"Did I mention that one of my older nursing co workers tried getting me to over dose my hospice patient. Oh his respirators are 9? Give him morphine he's going to die anyway."

A respiration count of 9 is nothing to be worrying about overdosing an adult patient on. Though it could have been stated more compassionately, the nurse was basically telling you to go with God and not to fear the "last dose phenomenon." The morphine should not have been w/held as it helps not only w/ pain but w/ air hunger and agitation as well.

That said, get your experience and leave the SNF environment behind as fast as you can. But don't think that this experience will translate into an acute setting (or, that it won't, for that matter). It can be better if you want it to be.

Also, this is not an article.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

First, I am really impressed that OP has come up with a new name for nurses eating their young! Fantastic!

And I do believe nurses do eat not only their young but their old and decrepit as well. And their middle age

and adolescents and so on.

OP is not, IMO, wrong to be very disturbed by the environment in which he is working. However, he needs to

come of age. He needs to realize that, like it or not, he needs to report unsafe conditions to the regulators. He

should also give complaint forms/phone numbers to unhappy family members. This place sounds like a hell hole

and it needs to be seriously cleaned up or shut down.

Next, he must come to realize that he is the licensed nurse and he is the boss of those CNA's. If they are doing sub-par

and unacceptable work, if they are neglecting/abusing/maltreating residents, they must be corrected, reported,

written up, fired, whatever it takes to get them to give correct and proper care. It is absolutely terrifying to think

what the patients must be enduring at their hands.

OP, you are the leader. You are expected to lead. You must rein in those aides, you must teach them how to give

decent care to the helpless LIVING BEINGS who are at their mercy. Start reading up on how to manage people. I know we

should not have to thank people for coming to work and doing their work, but it might help if you let your staff know that

you do know how hard they work and that you appreciate them.

The next time someone mouths off about the low pay and says he or she is going to do only so much work, ask her

how she would think and feel if she were the one in that bed? Or if it were her loved one - her parent, her child, her

grandmother.

Ask her what work she is leaving undone because you are responsible for that work getting done. Let her know that, while

you can appreciate how she feels, she did know she would be paid a certain rate and she did know that she is supposed

to be caring for helpless HUMAN BEINGS and that the work does have to get done. Say it nicely and calmly, but you must

say it, you must start getting through to her that she is not allowed to be cruel to patients or neglectful. Remind her that

she is breaking the law by her current behavior.

Better yet, don't wait for someone to complain. Take the initiative and have a talk with each offending aide. Let her know

that you have heard her say whatever and that it hits you the wrong way. Let her know your expectations, remind her

that she is caring for PEOPLE, HELPLESS PEOPLE and that her remarks and behavior can get her in serious trouble with

the state, with Medicare, with Federal regulators. Let her know you want to help her be the best CNA she can be, etc.

It might be even better to get your Nurse Manager to talk with the aides and deliver the above message. It sounds like there is

terrible leadership at your facility. But that is what the bosses get paid to do. But you need to let them know when there

is an issue. Yes, it is scary to do so, but you are letting this terrible behavior, this illegal behavior, persist. That is not

acceptable.

What is your Nurse Manager or DON or CNO like? Is there an Educator? These people should be helping you manage

personnel attitudes and issues. They should be educating the aides about laws.

And the other nurses? You need to start rounding them up and getting them to speak up as well. Yes, that's easier said than

done. Most nurses are very passive, scared to assert themselves with aides, always wanting someone else to take the

lead. But do try.

Do a police report about anything that is stolen. Do not leave your personal things lying about to be stolen. Use your locked

locker, leave your things in your car, keep your valuables on your person, your lunch in a locked cooler where you can see it.

Do not talk about your personal life at work. Ever.

Stop agreeing to work past the end of your shift if your relief doesn't come in. Unless you want the extra hours/pay.

Inform your staffing person/boss that this is happening way too often and you can no longer do it - unless you want to.

If they threaten that you are abandoning your patients, show them the nurse practice act for your state where it discusses the issue

and let them know that it is not your job, it is THEIR job, to supply staff. Give a written report to the Supervisor at the end of

your shift, and hand over the keys after someone counts with you, and make your exit. Really think this through before

you actually do it. Maybe this is not a problem for you but I'd bet it causes you great fatigue, on top of already being unhappy and

stressed.

Yes, do further your education if you want to stay in Nursing. But you will likely always have to deal with aides or others

who have terrible attitudes.

I wish you all the best.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Well unless they're breaking out the fava beans and Chianti.... I'm not seeing evidence of cannibalism.

Stealing is wrong, but not limited to CNAs. Laziness/poor work ethic is wrong too, but again not limited to CNAs.

You can't make the blanket statement that nobody has anyone's back in nursing. Come work with me for 5 minutes -- my team and I survive on each other's backs.

Now I see some stuff in this post we need to talk about. You felt the need to bring age into it...was this *experienced* nurse seeing evidence of pain or air hunger in the bradypneic hospice pt? Does she know that holding the MSO4 will result in uncontrollable pain by the time the next dose is due?

You express surprise that your colleagues are licensed nurses, or even high school grads. Not nice.

What really stood out to me however, is the way you phonetically quote the CNAs' speech/grammar patterns. Not nice. At all.

There are clearly some issues with the workplace culture. I have very little tolerance for subpar elder care. The CNAs should try their best, regardless of what they're being paid -- they knew their wage before accepting their jobs, and it's not the residents' fault CNAs are paid so low. Theft should not be tolerated.

But really? If we're talking NETY, honestly I see a lot of room for you to improve here.

Quoting speech and grammar, spelling errors - it's reality. He's just telling it like it is. I also marvel

at some of the spelling I encounter. It really grates on me. Pet peeves and all that.

[ms.shellie]

Sometimes life can be overwhelming as a nurse...oh yes it can! It then becomes difficult to see things clearly, emotions ride high. This is when encouragement, redirection can have far more beneficial results than hurling insults...and from looking briefly through the answers given to poster, he may have a point!

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

My SNF experience was similar, with an RN, and without the theft. I will sell my body on the street before I work in another SNF.

And things can exist even if you haven't personally experienced them.

[Emergent, RN]

I've mentioned several times that I think it would be better if this site withheld thread posting privileges until a member has a certain number of legitimate posts. This thread is a perfect example.

I have different theories about these people who post one post then go away.

1) They are internet Mischief Makers. There are some people who just like to rile up things. They are pot stirrers who enjoy sitting back and waiting for what really are a predictable responses.

2) They are posters who got kicked off the site previously then started a new identity to stir the pot again.

3) They actually work for the site and are trying to start a controversial subject that will increase traffic and clicks.

I personally think there should be a minimum required posts in order to start a thread. They do have that rule for sending private messages I've gathered.

I can understand rationale for not doing that though. Sometimes a person will just come here for information one time. But if it was my site that's the rule I would have.

[BSN16]

I've mentioned several times that I think it would be better if this site withheld thread posting privileges until a member has a certain number of legitimate posts. This thread is a perfect example.

I have different theories about these people who post one post then go away.

1) They are internet Mischief Makers. There are some people who just like to rile up things. They are pot stirrers who enjoy sitting back and waiting for what really are a predictable responses.

2) They are posters who got kicked off the site previously then started a new identity to stir the pot again.

3) They actually work for the site and are trying to start a controversial subject that will increase traffic and clicks.

I personally think there should be a minimum required posts in order to start a thread. They do have that rule for sending private messages I've gathered.

I can understand rationale for not doing that though. Sometimes a person will just come here for information one time. But if it was my site that's the rule I would have.

I actually rather enjoy the pot stirring posts...keeps it interesting

[nancyratched1]

Nursing leadership needs to step up to the plate:

On a local level (i.e. Director of Nursing)

On a regional level (State's Nursing Association)

On a national level (?)

It is TIME for CHANGE in nursing. Nursing has to recover it's pride and dignity.

These stories are heartbreaking, but unfortunately NOT uncommon.

I am sorry for OP's situation.

Things MUST and CAN get better, for workers, and ultimately for PATIENTS.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Nursing leadership needs to step up to the plate:

On a local level (i.e. Director of Nursing)

On a regional level (State's Nursing Association)

On a national level (?)

It is TIME for CHANGE in nursing. Nursing has to recover it's pride and dignity.

These stories are heartbreaking, but unfortunately NOT uncommon.

I am sorry for OP's situation.

Things MUST and CAN get better, for workers, and ultimately for PATIENTS.

It may be time for change; won't argue that. But the change needs to begin with "me". Or in this case, the OP. All the whining in the world won't effect real and lasting change. By the way, I see this is your first post. Welcome to the fray.