I feel like I've had enough. I'm done trying to pretend that I "don't mind" the unbelievable stress I feel every day from being an RN. I work in ICU and although I can truly say I am interested and challenged at work daily, I can't handle the level of stress I'm going through.
First of all, IT'S TOO MUCH. Period. It is unbelievable to me how people can last 20+ years in this profession. At any given moment, there are tons of things you either need to do now, soon, or you're already behind on. Honestly, if I ever lose my 'cheat sheet' at work, I would be lost...
I can't take the demanding families. I can't take how they plop down on the recliner chair (some of them RECLINED) in the way of your pump that you're titrating pressors for their family member and act ANNOYED when you ask them to move... nicely.. for the 10th time. We are supposed to be promoting family interaction but yet we have to work AROUND them??? It seems the more you give, the more they TAKE!
And what the hell is with some of these doctors? They walk in and stand there, in the middle of the unit, and say, "I'm looking for bed 5's chart." With this empty stare on their face. And my stomach turns when other 'older' nurses JUMP UP and go searching for that chart like they're in some treasure hunt with a $1,000 prize! This sickens me!
How about when I'm using a computer, trying to get my 0700 assessment in (at 1400) ... there are 2 other computers AVAILABLE right next to the one I'm using----- I look up to see my pt with her feet over the siderails ... for the 100th time... I get up to make sure she doesn't kill herself and PLOP.... there goes that darn doctor, and there he goes CLOSING out my unsaved assessment like he is teaching me a lesson. Makes me want to either scream or go cry my eyes out.
And what happened to the word PLEASE? Like the intensivist who all day walks over to you and says "YOU NEED to do x, y, z..." It starts to get old.
I was transferring my 400 lb pt for the SECOND time into a bariatric bed (the first one was the wrong one I guess... thats my luck).... and we were trying to pull him over and the intensivist walks in. I go "Oh Dr. So and So, good you're just in time to help us pull" and she looks at me and LAUGHS in my face and proceeds to stand there and WATCH us all break our backs. Starts to get to you.
I honestly can't take the whole "shift change attack" or guilt trip, or judgment time or whatever you want to call it. I try MY HARDEST at work and may I say, I am pretty darn good at my job. I consistenly get more work done than other people would with my same assignments because I truly feel I am very efficient. That is why when people come in and NITPICK about stupid S**T I didn't do... or things I didn't do to their 'standards,' It GETS OLD and I'm starting to not be able to handle it anymore. These RNs just dont care. They want patients handed to them on a silver platter, I guess. The whole "nursing is a 24 hour job" is nice to talk about on allnurses.com and in conversation, but when it comes down to it, there are some nurses who act like, "HOW DARE YOU" if you didn't get something done, REGARDLESS of how combative your pt was in their horrible DTs and how you were chasing their blood pressure ALL DAY LONG without food or water for yourself. I TRY to 'not let it bother me' but I CANT! IT HURTS MY FEELINGS. I dont know what to do anymore. I'm sick of feeling like crying when I give report to some people because they feel they can do that to me. I have tried to tell them to stop, I've tried redirecting it but it doesn't work.
On top of this, I'm overwhelmed with the constant phone calls, the constant NOISE, the constant need to urinate, eat or drink and being unable to...
People coughing in my face... pts who suddenly think we should do everything for them just because they're in the hospital (the ones who really CAN do things for themself),
Not having enough PCTs even though the hospital can give out stupid gifts that no one can even use.... PUT SOME OF THAT MONEY TO A COUPLE EXTRA PCTs for gosh sakes! UGH!
Oh!! And I'm starting to freak out that I'm throwing PVCs all day long! Anxiety anyone?!?!!?
**SIGH**
Ok... honestly in a wierd way, I feel better. I know that my post is all over the place. It simply reflects my state of mind right now. I hope someone can understand.
