Think Twice Before Becoming a "NURSE"

Nurses Activism

Published

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.

Of course I have to put my :twocents: in here.

I understand the need to vent about a workday, a type of patient we see, physicians we work with, etc. I am offended by the more personal assumptions in the original post. My husband owns a successful business of 15 years. Thanks to his success, we own a home outright-no mortgage, paid in cash. HE was my nursing school cheerleader, my rock, not a hinderance or a leech.

Nursing is not for everyone, but it is for me. I am crazy enough to love the chaos, thrive in it, and even sometimes make a difference here and there. I am an LPN, but I make 20$ an hour, not 15. I also live in a lower to moderate COL area, which makes my salary a 'good' salary.

I work in LTC, and my team values our input and suggestions. IDK, I guess I have it good.

i am the first time poster: here is my response.

i read everyone's responses to my post. i was not having a bad day, i am not an angry bitter person, i make great money as a provider, i have been more than a wonderful nurse to patients. i just don't bs!

i don't sit and think about how horrible my life is. or nursing. i was putting the truth out there, for those who can handle it. ok so not all nurses know it all. but be honest with yourself. the nursing environment sucks.

additionally, i believe in good things happen to good people. and my life is amazing- so for those who believe ill ever leave nursing--i have no reason to. my efforts have proven i deserve the best. hence the resentment of the ridiculousness involved with nursing. i enjoy so many aspects of life, of people, of working. but the one profession that just tries and tries...

just gets worse.

i love change. something nurses think they do as well. but after working in a hospital, you know that is rarely the truth. typically, nurses are employees, glorified waitresses, and a step-in nanny. resistant to change. hesitant to allow others to succeed.

for the new graduates, the sooner you realize that you will be burned out, the sooner you will find a better job in the nursing field. leave the floor nursing to those who have a hard time transitioning. for those who are ok with stagnation.

nurse is in quotations because everyone happens to be a nurse if they want to. they may be registered or not.

medical assistants, cnas, techs, rns, lpns, nps, dnps, etc.

you take your pick.

my friend who takes care of her mother is a "nurse".

I can answer where I think you should start- Move on! Moving on is good for the soul. Change jobs, progress to a place with the least flaws. You can't change certain things. You can see that most people are disagreeable to admitting the severely flawed system and the ridiculous working conditions under which nurses are currently endeavoring.

No, nursing in and of itself is not meant to change. It is meant to serve. So you may serve and help one person at a time. But you are not changing the system.

It is nursing as a whole I am talking about.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I don't believe that loving bedside nursing is stagnation. Everyone has their niche and working in one specialty area doesn't make one nurse better than the other.....there are different need and procedures but one is not better than the other.

I am sorry your experience a the bedside was unfullfilling and stagnating. I see that you now consider yourself a "provider" but it does not make you better than anyone else just different in your focus.

Violet,

I think that is wonderful your husband supported you. Not just in nursing, but within the general population, you are among the blessed few, as am I.

Of course I have to put my :twocents: in here.

I understand the need to vent about a workday, a type of patient we see, physicians we work with, etc. I am offended by the more personal assumptions in the original post. My husband owns a successful business of 15 years. Thanks to his success, we own a home outright-no mortgage, paid in cash. HE was my nursing school cheerleader, my rock, not a hinderance or a leech.

Nursing is not for everyone, but it is for me. I am crazy enough to love the chaos, thrive in it, and even sometimes make a difference here and there. I am an LPN, but I make 20$ an hour, not 15. I also live in a lower to moderate COL area, which makes my salary a 'good' salary.

I work in LTC, and my team values our input and suggestions. IDK, I guess I have it good.

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
i am the first time poster: here is my response.

i read everyone's responses to my post. i was not having a bad day, i am not an angry bitter person, i make great money as a provider, i have been more than a wonderful nurse to patients. i just don't bs!

i don't sit and think about how horrible my life is. or nursing. i was putting the truth out there, for those who can handle it. ok so not all nurses know it all. but be honest with yourself. the nursing environment sucks.

additionally, i believe in good things happen to good people. and my life is amazing- so for those who believe ill ever leave nursing--i have no reason to. my efforts have proven i deserve the best. hence the resentment of the ridiculousness involved with nursing. i enjoy so many aspects of life, of people, of working. but the one profession that just tries and tries...

just gets worse.

i love change. something nurses think they do as well. but after working in a hospital, you know that is rarely the truth. typically, nurses are employees, glorified waitresses, and a step-in nanny. resistant to change. hesitant to allow others to succeed.

for the new graduates, the sooner you realize that you will be burned out, the sooner you will find a better job in the nursing field. leave the floor nursing to those who have a hard time transitioning. for those who are ok with stagnation.

so as a nurse, which are you:

glorified waitress

step-in nanny

resistant to change

hesitant to allow others to succeed

ok with stagnation

and i'm curious how you have managed to be the "more than wonderful" nurse to your patients in the "stagnant" hospital environment. what special powers you must have ... ;)

Specializes in ..

There is not a line of work in the world that doesn't become stagnant after time. No matter how exciting a job may be, there are aspects that become repetitious. Nursing is no different.

Most people switch careers several times in their working lifetime. Some move into nursing, others move out of it. That's OK, and to be expected. Yes, there are some aspects of nursing that are frustrating, but there can be that many that are rewarding.

Nursing is a job, like every other job--with its advantages and disadvantages. It can't be painted as 'all good' / 'all bad' any more than a person or race can be so labeled.

We each need to find out niche in nursing. Jobs in nursing that some people love are the same jobs others detest.

Specializes in none.
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?

Now come on wooh, you should know Freedom of Speech does not extend to Nursing. You've been thinking again haven't you? (LOVE THE PIC OF THE DOG)

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I can answer where I think you should start- Move on! Moving on is good for the soul. Change jobs, progress to a place with the least flaws. You can't change certain things. You can see that most people are disagreeable to admitting the severely flawed system and the ridiculous working conditions under which nurses are currently endeavoring.

Why do you assume that the reactions and personality of other nurses are a clone of yours? Many of us agree with your cataloguing of the issues. It's a mistake to assume their ways of coping with it are so dysfunctional their only option is to leave altogether. Have you done very much reading of this website? There are actually quite a few veteran nurses who are still idealistic. Why shoot that down?

.

Agree Agree Agree. I tell everyone person I come in contact with : Avoid Nursing like the Plague!!

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