Think Twice Before Becoming a "NURSE"

Nurses Activism

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No offense to the old-timers

Face reality- Nurses are change resistors, not game changers. Working in the worst conditions surrounded by medical money. Making ends meet and supporting their significant others. Thinking they help others. Sorry Johnson & Johnson, we don't make the difference you think we do.

New Graduates struggling to gain experience and settle a career- they might as well give up before they even start. Because every nurse who has been around awhile knows that only they know it all. And these new rookies, they can eat it.

I am far from alone on this one. I'm not an LPN making 15 bucks an hour either. I just see through this nursing crap.

After interacting with enough nurses, its become pretty clear. RUN away before you think you may want to enter the nursing world. It only gets worse.

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

The older I get, the more I see that there is a not-so-fine line between achievement goals and unrealistic grandiose expectations. You can, as a nurse, have quite an impact on another human being. But I have too much respect for others' autonomy to think that I will significantly alter every person I take care of. They were managing before I met them ... I encountered them at a specific moment when they were not doing so well ... but most of them will carry on one way or another after our brief time together.

Autonomy. Boundaries. These are, IMO, very important concepts. I am not diminished as a human being just because the addict I pulled back from the edge of death with Narcan does not accept my suggestion that maybe it's time to stop using the dope. I've intervened to keep him alive ... what he does with that opportunity is up to him. The diabetic COPD/CHF-er will choose whether or not to make some changes that may keep her more comfortable, and lessen the stress on her family. I will educate the whole group ... but I have no right to impose my vision of what's best.

I am also not diminished as a human being by the flawed health care system. Perhaps it is an inevitable construct of flawed human beings, perhaps it can be made better. I figure out the best way to operate within the structure, and use my economic and political voting clout to work for gradual long-term change.

I hope you feel better soon, OP, I really do.

Sometimes I read these kinds of posts and rather than get annoyed, I just get so exhausted.

It's not enough that we have to put up with all the crap we put up with in this profession, with families and patients and doctors and co-workers and managers, the physical and emotional wear and tear. It's not enough that we have to constantly find new ways to not bring this job home with us because it will eat away at our personal bubbles of safety.

And it's not enough that when we are at work we are a walking target for every single person who has a gripe or who wants something fixed or fluffed or found or folded.

Now, in addition to all of that we have to pull ourselves together and figure out how to change the entire medical industry, and then we have to unite our collective heads to actually do it.

How is this solely the responsibility of nurses? And why can't I just go into work and do the best job I can and then come home and wind down?

I'm all for working for change and I'll be glad to do it for the sake of the profession. But if we hit a wall, if we want to just take a step back and focus on ourselves, can't we just make it be not only OK but also necessary for someone else to help out with the heavy lifting?

And can we at least support each other without a whole bunch of attitude about how we all have a bad attitude?

Specializes in none.
Everyone has the right to their own opinion, I guess.

Glad you got that out of your system. Move on now, please.

I wish we could move on, but some of us can't

Specializes in LTC, HH, and Case Mangement.

I really enjoy my job! Sure some days are pure hell and I have had some familes I wanna scream at, but I am happy with my career choice. I am always ready to go back to work. I am pursing my RN right now. All I wanna do is help people no matter how nasty they can be. I have no other desire to do any other job. I think maybe the OP needs to rethink where they are at right now. I would never tell people it's the most horrible job out there because it's not. Sure, we dont always get the thank you we want and healthcare is a lot different, but it's not as horrible as people paint it to be.

I don't understand why a few of the posters are being so mean to the OP. Perhaps this is the resistance she is speaking about. This is her experience. Fact: Right now, nursing is a very difficult job market. It is an expensive struggle to get through and make the best pre-req grades. Then it is a competitive struggle just to get into a nursing program. Then try to get a job. I can see why at the end of the road, she might be disappointed. And it is not fair where all the money is going. Just like teaching. Those that do the work get a pittance. Those at the top get all the dough and the respect.

I had eagerly started down the BSN path because I was so sick of practicing law,and it feels so -- well -- unfilling. Boooring. Man's World. No respect for women. But I do have a job at least. After reading these boards, I understand that I was probably being unrealistic about how much I was going to be able to help mankind in contrast to what a tough life it would be. I appreciate being able to read both sides, and I will say as an "outsider," the replies come across to me as mean spirited and resistant which kind of supports her initial argument.

Specializes in PCCN.

I guess like everything else its perspective also.

If thats the only setting that the op has been in, maybe that's how they see how things are.

I personally get frustrated because I am constantly told " you have other options- other areas to go into. In my area with 5 hospitals and 2x as many schools pumping out nurses, pretty much the only jobs are in hospitals for a 2 yr RN. The new grad with the BSN will get the highly coveted Insurance office job just based on degree. There is nothing else available. And as an over 40 , not so easy just to be told- well, maybe you have to move to get a better job. Not worth the risk.

Nurses dont get paid enough for the BS that hospital nursing is, and Im not even sure if it paid a million dollars if it still would be worth it.

Just goes to show money does not buy happiness.

Specializes in New graduate.

I wasn't trying to be nasty, however, when someone says "new grads you can eat it". Really. I have no tolerance for people who bully others just because it makes them feel better. No one is born a nurse and you too were also a new graduate learning the ropes and trying to do the best you can.

Why is it that anyone should feel the need to purposely make someone else feel bad for what they have chosen to do or just because they don't know as much as you at the moment.

Also the statement of "I am not just an LPN either, making 15 an hr". So what if you were, does that mean that your opinion would mean any less?! This is why I responded so harshly. You can't expect to throw out meaningless and hateful comments without expecting a backlash.

I truly hope OP can find the right path, but in the meantime have some more compassion for others.

Goodness, it's obvious the person needed to vent. Can't we suspend our judge hats for a moment to let the OP do that?

Specializes in Psych/Substance Abuse, Ambulatory Care.

OP- what do you mean by your LPN at $15 bucks an hour comment?

I'm an LPN at $25.50 working right along side some great and not-so-great nurses all with varied levels of education. Think before you type.

We should have a national "approach your manager with a list of 10 simple things you've noticed that could make this place a better, more efficient, more cost effective, safer and more healing place and a follow up with 'let me know which ones you want to tackle first and how I can help you do that" Be the change, people.

Go work in another institution in another setting. Sounds like your coworkers don't like you or don't like new nurses in general and you are having a hard time with it. Become a male nurse if you're not already....

I had to laugh at this. Not seeing it as a viable option for most! And I'd have to say my marriage might take a greater hit than my resume with this one.... LOL

Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
We should have a national "approach your manager with a list of 10 simple things you've noticed that could make this place a better, more efficient, more cost effective, safer and more healing place and a follow up with 'let me know which ones you want to tackle first and how I can help you do that" Be the change, people.

OMG....clearly you want the managers to consider suicide! lol

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