Truly sad- please read and consider

Nurses General Nursing

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I feel so sad and scared to read that yet another person who was leaning towards the field of nursing has chosen to leave (see post under medical school by iwant2Banurse). I mean, here's a person who is actually seeking out firsthand information from nurses in the field. When she finds a board such as this, she is bombarded with negative messages about nursing. I don't know..I'm so frustrated right now. I'm finishing school myself and excited to be joining the field. But I wonder how many people are going to be ran out of the field by all of this? Are we somehow making it worse? I totally support the notion of venting. I believe that it is helpful, and for a lot of people they don't have other places they can safely vent. But I just really worry about our profession and what impact we may be having on it. Most nurses are over 40,50 presently and, as most of us know, there aren't enough of us to fill in for those who will leave the field. I guess I worry about keeping those with nursing in their hearts interested in the career, in light of the present situations. Certainly veteran nurses should be encouraged to stay, but we have to have some forward thinking on this and realize the impact on all of our loved ones, truly on society itself if there are not enough nurses to go around in the near future. I've asked on many different boards at this very site "What, as a new nurse, can I do to make a difference?" I get basically no replies. I don't understand this.

I sincerely appreciate those of you who choose to share positive stories. They are invaluable and remind me of why I chose this profession in the first place. But I feel like lately I'm just drowning in others negativity towards nursing and don't know what to do with regard to this situation.

I implore you seasoned nurses to search your hearts and minds and think: what can you do to keep new nurses and students interested in the profession? What can they do to help the overall picture as well? I know that there are many intelligent individuals who frequent this board. I invite you to really share any thoughtful input on these issues.

Thank you,

Shannon

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"The highest reward for man's toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it."-Johan Ruskin

earle58...you got it, no snippy comment today.Gotta leave the combat boots on though, sounds like you need me to kick someone in the ***?? enough of that ....Pollyanna go rest and dream of our ideal place where we all give the care we want-EVERYDAY...

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Specializes in CVOR,CNOR,NEURO,TRAUMA,TRANSPLANTS.

I HAVE READ THE POSTINGS AND IT MAKES ME MISS ALL MY BUDDIES I HAVE SEEN COME AND GO IN NURSING

YES ALL THE WORDS AND THE ***** SESSIONS IN THIS DISCUSSION ARE VALID AND ALL TRUE EVEN ON ALL SIDES BUT YET WE SMILE AND PUT OUR SCRUBS ON EVERYDAY AND DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN

YES I AGREE THE NURSING LAYOUT HAS CHANGED WITH THE SHORTAGE AND THE NEW POLITICS OF EACH AREA HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY AND I AM SADDEND TO SAY NOT FOR THE BETTER , BUT THE QUOTE IS TRUE IT IS DARKEST BEFORE DAWN

I AM FROM THE STATES AND I WORK INTERNATIONALY AND THANK GOD BACK IN THE STATES OFTEN IM CURRENTLY IN A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY AND IM HORRIFIED BUT WHAT I SEE AS AN AMERICAN NURSE TRAINED INT HE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD I AM SO THANKFUL FOR WHAT EACH AND EVERY NURSE AND PATIENT HAS TAUGHT ME IN MY LIFETIME AS A NURSE

I HAVE BEEN HUGGED, KISSED, HELD AND COMFORTED ALSO I HAVE BEEN BEATEN, STABBED, ABUSED, CUSSED OUT AND MY UNIFORMS RIPPED OFF AND YET EACH DAY I CONTIUE TO DO THE JOB IN WHICH I FEEL IS THE BEST I CAN DO TO ASSIST IN A SOCIETY WHICH IS IN DIRE NEED OF HELP

I DO NOT REGRET NOT ONE THING I HAVE EVER DONE AS A NURSE , I DO WISH SOMETIMES I HAD MADE A DIFFERENT DECISION

YOU WILL NEVER COME UPON A DAY WHERE ALL IS PERFECT IF YOU DO YOU HAVE DIED AND NO ONE HAS INFORMED YOU

YOU WILL TAKE BEING A NURSE A WONDERFUL COMPASSIONATE BLESSING AND WITH ALL BLESSINGS IT WILL HAVE ITS GOOD DAYS AND BAD BUT OVERALL IT WILL BE MOSTLY GOOD

IF YOU DO HEAR A NEGATIVE ABOUT NURSING TAKE THE TIME TO FIND OUT WHY THE OTHER PERSON IS NEGATIVE , MAYBE JUST MAYBE THEY WILL ALLOW YOU TO LISTEN TO THEM

THAT ALONE MAY HELP THEM VENT THIER PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS AND ASSIST THEM WITH TURNING THE NEGATIVE INTO SOMETHING MORE POSITIVE

WE ALL START OUT SO HYPER AND EXCITED AND WITH TIME WE HAVE TARNISHED BUT YET IF SOMEONE WERE TO JUST LISTEN IT SEEMS TO TAKE SOME OF THE TARNISH OFF

ITS A SHAME AS A NURSE WE HAVE FALLEN UPON DEAF EARS AND I BLAME THE HIGH AND MIGHTY POWERFUL PEOPLE THAT DONT NURSE ANYMORE BUT YET CALL THE SHOTS

BEING A NURSE WAS THE BEST DECISION I EVER MADE AND HONESTLY THE ONLY NITCH I EVER FIT IN I HAVE WORKED WITH SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND ALSO HAVE WORKED WITH SOME THAT I HAVE QUESTIONED BUT NOT ONCE HAVE I EVER QUESTIONED DO I TRUELY WANT TO BE A NURSE OTHER THAN NURSING SCHOOL

ONCE YOU HAVE GRADUATED YOU TOO SHALL SEE THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY BUT IT WILL BE YOU AS A NURSE TO CHOOSE WHICH LANE OF THE GOOD THE BAD IN THE UGLY YOU DECIDE TO DRIVE YOUR CAREER INTO

GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND TO YOUR CAREER MAY IT BE FILLED WITH WHAT YOU WISH IT TO BE

THANKS

ZOE

CURRENTLY IN SOUTH AFRICA

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Shannon,

Since I seemed to be the one to spark this topic, I thought I would respond. I guess in my way too I was venting with the frustration that I felt. I also definitely understand the need to be able to vent especially when you feel like you are drowning. I'm also not a high school student going straight to college. I've been working in the medical field, albeit more secretarial position rather than practical, although I do have to deal with patients and medical professionals too.

There are a number of you, Shannon, KatieD, Earle58 and prmenrs, just to name a few that I've really appreciated your feedback.

I know that nursing is hard, I'm not living in a fantasy world...I personally would rather work in a medical area where although the pay rate may be low, there is a team approach. Working with your colleages at 8, 12, even 16 hours at a stretch,you are spending most of your waking hours with these people...more than even your loved ones. I would think that above all would one everyone to try to get along. Until we start working together, nursing will not be able to move forward.

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to all my colleagues who have expressed themselves on this subject, i offer thanks for for passion and, yes, your anger. didn't much enjoy the personal sniping and venom a few revealed, but even that shows how deeply

nursing effects us as people. i just resigned

my position as charge nurse in a 16-bed icu

because i couldn't in conscience accept responsibility for what was becoming an increasingly dangerous situation for patients

and nurses alike...three to four patients to

a nurse, all very sick. and management's

response to my very pointed letter of resignation? you guessed it...zip. so, for me, five years was enough frustration. now, as a staff nurse, i go to work as i have for

20+ years and just do the best i can for those patients that are "mine". and before each shift, i recite the words of lama zopa that sum up the reason i stay in this crazy

work: "the purpose of human life, why we survive, why we live, is to pacify others'

suffering and disease and to give happiness to them. even if we cannot do everything now, just to stop one problem of another person is worthwhile." one step at a time, for six more years until i retire, this is my guide and inspiration. and, really,

whatever problems and concerns that plague me, they are nothing compared to the suffering of those in my care. don't mean to sound sanctimonious...just wanted to express my feeling that nursing is, indeed, a higher calling, one that demands a spiritual presence as well as technical wonders.

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Specializes in CV-ICU.

This is a great topic now that we've quit spewing at each other. I think we each know that sometimes we work in combat zones-- did you know that research has shown that more nurses exhibit post traumatic stress syndrome than any other group-- including VietNam vets or Gulf war vets? Maybe that's why we get so hostile at times; it gets to us. Love your comments, Zoe, and those of the last several postings. Maybe if we could give real hugs to each other in the workplace it would cut the stress considerably. I have a co-worker who nearly died due to medical mismanagement after a fairly simple accident, and on her 1st day back at the end of her shift as I was coming on, I gave her a hug and she burst into tears; she said she needed that hug so bad and no one had done that before me. Please take care of your co-workers and fellow nurses, it will come back to you when you need it too. Welcome back, Iwant2banurse! (Sorry for rambling so much, everyone).

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I just wanted to thank everyone for sharing these awesome posts. I think I get an idea of where you are coming from. True, I don't really understand firsthand yet, but I am hopeful that situations will improve. I'm going to keep my optimism aflame for as long as possible and give all that I can right along with you.

For the record, Soundslikesirens, I respect your plight and would like to offer a truce if possible. smile.gif

Have a great night everyone!

Shannon

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"The highest reward for man's toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it."-Johan Ruskin

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Jenny P.--We DO give hugs where I work!! Maybe it really does help us cope! I think because we work with babies and young, new families we are allowed a little more leeway with hugs and things like that; we hug moms, dads, each other, docs, med students, we'll hug anyone. After you've taken care of someone's baby for 2-3 months, you can't d/c them without a hug, at least I can't. Even a soft touch for a colleague having a hard day might make it better. There ARE people who don't like to be touched, just try to be aware, and if you think it might help, give it a try.

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