Published Jul 18, 2016
rearviewmirror, BSN, RN
231 Posts
As someone who no longer belongs to the bedside, I write about the injustice of healthcare.
I am not a bleeder at heart. I took care of many people across different acuities and ages on the floor and in ER, and the ones who truly needed to be there due to sickness, I did not mind at all. But growing up in a very disciplined, strict household, my standards and the patheticness of people, and also the complete injustice of healthcare industry wore me down inside and out.
In this industry, there is no accountability, no responsibility, no justice, no discipline. Hospital is dinged for readmission within 30 days for "not providing enough education", when the individual is hell-bent on feeding on non-compliance. Pain is now 6th vital sign because no one values overcoming pain or suffering anymore, they just want that instantaneous high, instead actually fixing the problem through diet, exercise, lifestyle change. Cons made up some cheeky devices to cheat out hospitals called satisfaction scores, HCAPS, and the hospitals are sworn by them. Instead of valuing the integrity and safety of the their employees, hospitals care more about providing better sandwich, warmer blanket, better resolution TVs, fancier rooms, while the heart and backbones of the care suffer with sub-par insurance, low compensation, dangerous staffing, ignoring the voices of the most important part of the business: their employees.
The hospital staff is reduced to nothing more than a glorified, educated garcon whose primary purpose is to keep people comfortable, happy, satisfied in order to receive "EVERY TIME" in EVERYTHING to scramble as much reimbursement as possible, while in actuality, we are to serve and protect the public from the harm, preventable death, and in every event, do no harm but uplift dignity and preserve humanity.
There is no humanity in narcotic addiction and drug-seeking behavior for the high, in continued alcoholism while on transplant list, in non-compliance to diabetic or CHF regimen, in deliberate laziness to resolve problems, cessation of bad behaviors or street drugs, in continued ugly and rude behaviors that harbor anger, hatred, violence and deceit. Where is dignity in that? I dare say, to me they can go die on their own accord either through OD or chronic illness that they brought on themselves, I will not be demanded to be compassionate and understanding to them to get a check mark on some score sheet. My dignity and standards will not allow that! Part of the blame, belongs to the "patients." Yes, contrary to puplar belief, patients are humans and they have duty to be accountable and responsible like every other humanbeing.
Injustice. I will use that word to describe healthcare. The administrators and policy makers are the biggest reason that brew anger and hatred toward my profession. "I don't care, that doesn't affect me" attitude really sickens me. Let the lowly pleb nurses take the excraments, we will get the bonus for selling the staff short and enjoy weekends and holidays. Well, I am out. I am happy in my cubicle.
whichone'spink, BSN, RN
1,473 Posts
Why isn't this post more popular?
bagladyrn, RN
2,286 Posts
Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 5 would be why it wouldn't be "popular" with me.
Jensmom7, BSN, RN
1,907 Posts
The tone of self-righteous indignation would be what did it for me.
chare
4,324 Posts
And let's not forget paragraphs 3, 4, and 6.
macawake, MSN
2,141 Posts
95 Theses of Healthcare Injustice
OP, I'm struggling to understand how your opinion of modern healthcare pertains to the 16th-century German theologian Martin Luther? What am I missing?
I took care of many people across different acuities and ages on the floor and in ER, and the ones who truly needed to be there due to sickness, I did not mind at all. But growing up in a very disciplined, strict household, my standards and the patheticness of people, and also the complete injustice of healthcare industry wore me down inside and out.
The part I bolded doesn't paint a very flattering picture of you. Is this really how you view other people? If people don't live up to your standards, they're reduced to "patheticness"?
Pain is now 6th vital sign because no one values overcoming pain or suffering anymore, they just want that instantaneous high, instead actually fixing the problem through diet, exercise, lifestyle change.
If you do a little reading I think that you'll find that patients have historically been severely undertreated when it comes to pain and that many people suffered in agony while under medical, including palliative, care. I think that it's a good thing that pain management has gotten a more clearly defined focus in today's healthcare.
I won't deny that the problem of over-prescribing narcotic medications exists, but as I've written in other posts on the topic I'd rather medicate ten so called "seekers" than let one patient suffer severe pain and have me standing idly by. Yes, addicition is a real problem but it won't be solved in the acute care hospital setting, like the ER I believe you used to work in, OP. And as has also been mentioned many times before, an addict can experience pain that needs to be treated.
I dare say, to me they can go die on their own accord either through OD or chronic illness that they brought on themselves, I will not be demanded to be compassionate and understanding to them to get a check mark on some score sheet. My dignity and standards will not allow that!
I am not a bleeder at heart.
I seriously question your standards if they prevent you from giving medical care to people because your standards have led you to pass judgment on their behavior and as a consequence deem them unworthy of medical attention.
Don't be a bleeding heart if you don't want to or can't be, but medical attention shouldn't be given or withheld based on the nurse's individual preferences or notions regarding a patient's personal accountability.
My personal opinion is that the inclination/desire to just let people go and die of the diseases "they brought on themselves" is inhumane. But even if you can't summon up any compassion for drug addicts (and obese individuals, smokers, alcoholics?), you should still want them to get healthcare purely based on rational reasons. People with untreated diseases dying left, right and center out in public will become a problem and a safety/health hazard for the society you live in. I think that when people feel ostracized or abandoned by society it increases the risk that they will lash out at that society and decreases their motivation to strive to be a productive member of it. Not providing care for the lowest socio-economic classes comes with a cost.
It already does and will continue to affect you.
Well, I am out. I am happy in my cubicle.
That's probably a good thing. I believe that you took the behavior of others far too personally and when you start to view the behavior of your patients as a personal affront to your standards and dignity, the only possible outcome is burnout and bitterness. When you reach that point it's better to make a career change and find a niche that gives you job satisfaction instead of draining you of energy and happiness.
Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN
5,047 Posts
Nothing. You're missing nothing.
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
I think it's good you are not at the beside and caring for people.
Good for YOU and good for THEM. Win-win.
ItsThatJenGirl, CNA
1,978 Posts
Posts like these make me sad. I have a condition called Chiari Malformation. It means I pretty much always have a headache and neck pain. I've never gone to the ED for pain control, but I have asked various neurologists for a stash of narcotics to keep on hand when my headaches become unbearable throughout my lifetime. 30 Vicodin will last me at least a year.
Some have treated me like a drug seeker. When you're in constant pain, and you generally deal with it like a champ, and then assume your health care provider is part of your team only to find out that he/she isn't, and thinks your pain isn't real/strong enough it's really disheartening and it makes you feel like a really terrible person. I shouldn't have to get nervous or feel ashamed about asking for pain management when a portion of my brain stem is sticking out of the back of my skull - but I do. Because some people think pain control isn't a priority. It is when you're always in pain.
I hope my personal knowledge of chronic pain will help me be an empathetic nurse, and to not dismiss the pain (real or imagined) of my patients.
Okay peoples, I understand that you are probably compassionate, good people in heart. But I am also certain that you all are not dumb either, obligating me to point you to this question: If my points about injustice in this healthcare does not bother you, are you blind and deluded, decided to ignore it? If so, why?
I am trying to gauge things from your perspective, as it seems that no one wants to voice this part out, out of fear and oppression or what not. Do you not acknowledge it, or learned to overcome it, or conditioned be blind to it?
Extra Pickles
1,403 Posts
i can totally understand someone burning out and losing the ability to deal with nursing on a daily basis or even weekly basis anymore. sometimes I am so tired out and worn out I can barely function at home after a shift and I'm only part time! the answer isn't in tearing apart the patients though I think the answer is knowing your own limitations and knowing you shouldn't be doing the job anymore that's all. in other words OP maybe people haven't changed but you have? whatever the reason it looks like a good thing that you are now out. not healthy for you or for the patients if you have these feelings about nursing now.
NotAllWhoWandeRN, ASN, RN
791 Posts
I pretty much gave up hope at "my standards and the patheticness of people"