IS the hard truth for most nurses definitely new grads is that poop cleaning and urine collection RN jobs are all that is open?
Pretty much bedside care, running around like a chicken with your head cutoff.
I don't think ICU solves the issue either.
Definitely thinking about different degree, since experience is the only way to open up other nursing positions, but I am not about to work bedside for 10 years. I would rather go back to school.
I have a couple of months of bedside experience so is there anything else I can do besides bedside care? If not I have no choice to move on.
There is no way I can pursue marriage a family by bringing home income this way. Just not going to happen.
Please, don't consider school nursing. We're often the only medical professionals on site. We deal with all things smelly, gooey, chunky, pooey.
I want to like this a million times.
But as I have said many times to the teachers I work with when they ask me how can I deal with what they consider gross, "if stuff like this bothered me, I'd be in the wrong profession, right?"
Specializes in OR, CVOR, Clinical Education, Informatic.
OP: "Definitely thinking about different degree, since experience is the only way to open up other nursing positions, but I am not about to work bedside for 10 years. I would rather go back to school."
Oh yes, absolutely! What we really need are more Master's and Doctorate prepared nurses who can't stand the thought of actually touching a patient, much less *gasp* their pee or poop. I am really tired of seeing entry level MSNs who make it painfully clear that hands-on patient care is not what they got their master's for and they are only suffering through bedside care until they can land a management/teaching/informatics/sales position. But I guess I am the delusional one, because the job postings I see nowdays make it clear that initials behind your name are valued over experience.
After reading through the rest of the responses, I've come to realize my comment "you should stay put until you are worth more" (or something like that, paraphrased) is wrong.
He should not stay put. He should get out, get out now, and leave an opening for a nurse who WANTS that job!
Wow. I don't think it's a terrible thing to find that nursing isn't for you. Some of the reasons listed here and the replies leave me scratching my head, though.
I'm going into nursing as a second career, largely because my last wasn't family friendly. I can think of few careers that are as family friendly as nursing, other than, you know, not working at all. Plenty of nurses are married with families?
Then he comes back to say those with a more positive perception of nursing are wrong. Um, this is a forum of nurses, you know that, right?
I wonder what the previous career was and what on earth made OP think that nursing would be so much better, given their hate of giving cares.
I wonder what the previous career was and what on earth made OP think that nursing would be so much better, given their hate of giving cares.
Something just occured to me: I have known people, mostly think of former school classmates, who were going into nursing to "save the day". You know the ones: they think they will be saving lives every day of the week in dramatic, exciting ways, and people will fall over themselves to offer respect, admiration, praise for their skills. PLEASE no one slam me for this, but this attitude has mostly been coming from men, in my own experience. Women, I have no doubt must also be represented in that group, it's just in my OWN experience, it's been men.
Something so "manly" about jumping in and "being all medical"? I don't know, honestly. The ones who only want ED/Trauma/ICU because they see that as more important somehow than "just" med-surg? Again, only guessing. Can't know, never asked one of those idiots who came across AS idiots just why
But maybe that's where the OP is coming from: he anticipated being more "important" than he actually was, he wasn't saving anyone, he was "only" doing ADLs. Even if that wasn't the truth, if that's how he saw himself...."wasting his time" by wiping butts when he could be out there solving medical mysteries if only someone would ask him to consult?
I don't get the general response to the OP. She doesn't like it, thinks this is all there is to it. So what? We've got hundreds (thousands?) of nurses trying to break into the job market and we have to convince this one that she's wrong? Or be offended that she can't stand it? Why? Are we not content enough in our own lot to just shrug and think well that has to be disappointing?
For me, it was because the OP is, supposedly, currently a licensed nurse that is still taking care of patients.
I couldn't possibly care any less if the OP quits and decides to leave nursing, I'm very satisfied with my career and the trajectory of it. But if someone is still performing the duties of a nurse and feels/acts that way, then I think some constructive feedback is reasonable.
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
Body's have functions, one of which is excreting waste.
It doesn't bother me in the least to have to clean up the results of a bodily function.
That's why it's a good thing that it takes all kinds to make the world go round..
If I had to work an administrative job I would be a raving lunatic.
When the time comes for you to have to avail yourself of MY services, rest assured, I do not find it repulsive. In fact I'm pretty damn good at it AND I try to make you not feel embarrassed by needing the assistance. I have a glad heart that I can ease you through the uncomfortable reality:
Hey wait a minute! I work clinic---who said it was "cushy"?
Do you have a BSN, MSN or NP.
your looking for or likely years away and they are not all that they are cracked up to be. For the last 6 years I was a home care nurse for Intellectually disabled adults. I had tremendous autonomy during the day, and good pay but I was on call 7 days a week 24 hours a day. Also when Department of Health came out to survey it was just me against them not management staff to support you.
I have cleaned my share of butts (big ones, Little ones, Fat ones, skinny ones, young ones, old ones.) It's just part of the job. I have met many people who became nurses because they thought it was good money and the CNA's did most of the hard work. In my experience so far (and I love nursing) is that the money is rarely worth the blood sweat and tears we put into it.
If you don't like bedside nursing I suggest you look into psych - No diaper changes there - but a whole different set of problems.
Oh and remember to treat those CNA's like a valued member of the team. They actually do most of the butt wiping for far less money than you take home. They can be your best friend.
Another area you might look into is pharmaceutical research - but you do generally need 2 years experience so you can spot potential side effects and problems.
All the really cushy clinical jobs I've looked into require a Master's degree and unless you are independently wealthy you'll be working while you are going to school.
Finally - there's no shame in admitting that nursing is not for you - But I would give it some time and the education was not wasted because you have learned something about yourself.
Behind every nurse who is questioning their career choice there is some ignorant non-healthcare person discouraging them with the same old "nursing is so admirable/secure/well-paying" or "nurses have great schedules" and all that rot. Little do they know, they are probably hurting you 10x more than they are helping you. Let me tell you right now, once and for all: there is no shame in throwing in the towel and starting fresh in a new career. If that's too big of a change so early on in your employment as a nurse, consider reducing your hours and looking for alternate employment/saving some money/searching for new degree programs. You only have one short life to live here on this Earth and you should not waste it doing something that makes you feel as miserable and empty as you seem to be feeling in your original post.
Too many people broadcast nursing as an affordable degree with good pay, job security, and plenty of jobs without taking into consideration what the job actually is or how different individuals would perceive/handle such a job. While this is all true, I don't believe the amount of marketing for the various programs that have popped up is justified by the number of graduates they send out into the workforce for a limited number of positions. Furthermore, the corporate influence over healthcare has reduced the nursing profession from what it once was. Profit-driven regulations and business models that throw employee satisfaction and quality care to the wayside are what run major hospital systems now. It is as if they feed off of the kindhearted, beneficent personalities that are drawn to nursing (you know, the type that is able to put up with certain sacrifices and mistreatment in order to do what is right). "Go ahead and leave, there are ten more lined up to take your job scrub." Yup the hospital administrators have us right where they want us.
ive had lil old ladies get brought in by ems who fell, spent two days on the floor covered in urine/stool. Usually the excrement is pack on head to toe.
The same lil old lady is crying and uber greatful of everyone helping her get "cleaned up".
No such thing as a perfect job. There's the good and the bad. To me, nursing is definately worth it. Frustrating, stressed, and hectic but I love it.
The Er is my love. I respect floor nurses and everything they do but it wouldn't be a good fit for me. After completing my acute care NP, I'll still be in the ER.
Sounds like you are starting at the bottom. By doing this now, you are liable to know what people really need in life, when they need it, and how they can get it in the best possible way. You will understand what both clients and staff have to go through. It will make you a knowledgeable and helpful resource instead of just a talking head - it is good to have both experience and book learning/paper pushing/etc. This is not forever. It is, in my opinion, a good thing and necessary. Keep looking for that right job for yourself and this experience, unless it makes you bitter, will be beneficial.
JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN
3,035 Posts
I want to like this a million times.
But as I have said many times to the teachers I work with when they ask me how can I deal with what they consider gross, "if stuff like this bothered me, I'd be in the wrong profession, right?"