The things you absolutely cant stand about nursing.

cardiacmadeline, RN · Sep 30, 2009

There are a lot of little things that bother me at work, but I think the biggest thing is the fact that healthcare is now a customer service industry and that hospitals are so focused on their patient satisfaction scores. The patient and family are always right even if they are dead wrong. Drives me nuts!!!!!

Hadassah · Sep 30, 2009

Hey Guys,
I've worked as a CNA/GNA years ago and really enjoyed working with the patients, but after the birth of my child I managed to get away. Today I work at a University in the billing department; sitting on my butt, bored, answering phones and clicking the mouse all day.:crash_com Anyways I've decidied to return to school and I'm hoping to enter the nursing program next fall. I'm wondering if there are things that you can't stand about your job, well besides all the charting. :angryfire I know nowadays it seems to be more about the paperwork and less abou the patient.:heartbeatSo I'd like to know what specialty you work in, what shift, and the various things that really tick you off at work?

If you browse this site you will find pages and pages of answers to this question. 90% of this site is us complaining about our jobs and the things that drive us nuts. When I first started browsing this site I used to think that nurses are the unhappiest workers ever. But then I understand that we come here to vent and that we mostly hear of the bad days we've had more than the good days (I hope that is what it is anyway). I still have my doubts. I have been a nurse for almost 2 years now and I work on a med surg floor and they all seem to be pretty miserable.

Now with that being said, if you really want to be motivated to do well in school and be excited about the wonderful world of nursing you might want to hear from those that are really happy about their jobs and what makes it all worth it. Sorry, I dont mean to change your subject but I think a little positivity goes a long way and more so because you are just starting. There are days when you will ask yourself "what were you thinking?' but remembering the 'good things about nursing will keep you going. Thanks and I hope that everything works well for you

Lacie, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2009

There are a lot of little things that bother me at work, but I think the biggest thing is the fact that healthcare is now a customer service industry and that hospitals are so focused on their patient satisfaction scores. The patient and family are always right even if they are dead wrong. Drives me nuts!!!!!

Boy did you nail that one on the head!! I just left working Chronic Dialysis and never never again!!! Maid, waitress and punching bag I am not!! Nursing has changed alot in this regard no matter where you go nowadays. I've been in nursing along time and miss they days when we were actually regarded and respected as the "Nurse" and not the jack of all trades by not only patients but administration (administrators used to be Nurses rather than who can bring in the biggest bang for the buck now and never been near the floor).

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2009

its the whole customer service thing for me, too. i don't mind a little venting from family when it's an actual crisis. i understand that some people react to extreme stress that way, but i am truly sick and tired of, as a previous poster said, being maid, waitress and punching bag for family and patients alike. TRULY sick of it.

nyteshade, BSN · Sep 30, 2009

Like everyone else, customer service crap policies written by MBA administrators who know nothing about nursing. Oh yea, and family members that are "honorary MDs" for the day...

Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2009

Like everyone else, customer service crap policies written by MBA administrators who know nothing about nursing. Oh yea, and family members that are "honorary MDs" for the day...

Don't forget the self-appointed health guru familiy members that graduated from the university of WebMD:banghead:

or the ones who's family member is in the medical field and since they are a nurse they know everything there is to know about everything, and then come to find out they're a home health aid. :banghead:

And the list goes on. and on. and on!

mustlovepoodles, RN · Oct 1, 2009

don't forget the self-appointed health guru familiy members that graduated from the university of webmd:banghead:
oh, you mean my sister the elementary music teacher? her husband has severe asthma, sleep apnea, and heart disease and her daughter has anxiety and add, so of course that qualifies her to throw her (considerable) weight around. she bullies doctors, nurses, therapists, you name it.
or the ones who's family member is in the medical field and since they are a nurse they know everything there is to know about everything, and then come to find out they're a home health aid. \
oh, now your talking 'bout my mama! she's a retired rn. when she comes to visit you in the hospital she always wears a tshirt that reads "i am a real nurse." oy...and when i go to the doctor with her, she announces to everyone that my daughter is a nurse in atlanta...like that's a big deal. gad! i always try to lay low in the doctor's office. i figure that i'm probably not nearly as knowledgable as they are. peds is my specialty, not adult med/surg.
and the list goes on. and on. and on!

op, as a nurse with 32 years experience i will have to say, nursing has changed dramatically since i got out of school. i used to love being able to spend some time with patients, doing some teaching, giving a back massage at the end of the day(remember those, ladies?) i always loved 3-11 shifts because everything was winding down and i could help people get ready for bed, get them comfortable. i loved that aspect of nursing.

what we have now is financially driven hospitals who only see nursing as an expensive, replaceable employ. administration often has no respect for the job we do and they always want more. charting is more extensive and the patients are far sicker. but staffing doesn't improve. what do i hate? shift work, lifting gigantic patients, stupid supervisors, paper pushers, working 2 hours longer than my shift to catch up, getting pulled to units that i know nothing about(*i'm a peds nurse--if you're over 21 i can't help you.) i have loved nursing for along time, but this year there has been a sea change. i'm up against a wall and i don't think there is any going back. i think i'm going to have to change careers. because nursing is no longer fun, no longer enjoyable, no longer exciting to me. i'd rather be working at publix, where the lettuce never curses you out, where the coke vendors put there own supplies out, ane the fish sticks don't threaten to sue because you put them next to the frozen biscuits.

angel4gramma · Oct 1, 2009

I was a volunteer in high school at the county hospital, a CNA for 7 yrs and now an RN for 14 yrs. I absolutely would pay anyone to do VS and FS. Hate doing them. Now we have to do our own. What ticks me off is to have a manager go into a room where my pt is perfectly happy and bother them enough so they FINALLY have a complaint.

Lacie, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2009

OP, as a nurse with 32 years experience I will have to say, nursing has changed dramatically since I got out of school. I used to love being able to spend some time with patients, doing some teaching, giving a back massage at the end of the day(remember those, ladies?) I always loved 3-11 shifts because everything was winding down and I could help people get ready for bed, get them comfortable. I loved that aspect of nursing.
What we have now is financially driven hospitals who only see nursing as an expensive, replaceable employ. Administration often has no respect for the job we do and they always want more. Charting is more extensive and the patients are far sicker. But staffing doesn't improve. What do i hate? shift work, lifting gigantic patients, stupid supervisors, paper pushers, working 2 hours longer than my shift to catch up, getting pulled to units that I know nothing about(*I'm a peds nurse--if you're over 21 I can't help you.) I have loved nursing for along time, but this year there has been a sea change. I'm up against a wall and I don't think there is any going back. I think I'm going to have to change careers. BEcause nursing is no longer fun, no longer enjoyable, no longer exciting to me. I'd rather be working at Publix, where the lettuce never curses you out, where the Coke vendors put there own supplies out, ane the fish sticks don't threaten to sue because you put them next to the frozen biscuits.

Oh my!! I remember giving back rubs on 3-11! You are so right. You got 2 years in it on me but that's alot of change for us old schoolers :eek: I'm also thinking of throwing in the towel! My son works for Publix and makes darn good money. Worse of all he has a heck of alot better health insurance, retirement benefits, and time off then I get!

showbizrn · Oct 1, 2009

:banghead:

complaining about

the things i absolutley can't stand about nursing...

and not doing anything about it.

Hoozdo, ADN · Oct 1, 2009

1. Doctors who don't have the b*lls to discuss making a terminally ill pt a DNR.

2. Selfish family members who change a pt who wished to be a DNR back to full code.

3. Super morbidly obese pts (500 lbs or more) who are a 5 person assist and not having the staff I need to properly care for them.

4. The fact that there are no OSHA regulations, or any regulations, stating how much weight a nurse has to lift. Employers test for 50 lbs, but I need to move much more than 50 lbs of dead weight that is hard to grab quite frequently.

5. Scripted conversations.