Published
"Nurses may constitute the most dissatisfied professions in the United States today. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, slightly more than two-thirds of registered nurses (69.5 percent) reported being even "moderately satisfied" with their jobs. By contrast, 85 percent of workers in other industries and 90 percent of professional workers are satisfied with their jobs."
http://www.afscme.org/una/sns06.htm
-HBS
*I had not seen this posted before. Very interesting.
We tell student nurses to run for their lives.
Actually that is a misstatement, the terrible treatment by the powers that be convinces them to run for their lives.
Am I to lie to get new nurses into the profession?
They are using those ever required "critical thinking" skills to figure that they may not wish to cope with the realities of Nursing. Would it be ethical to paint a rosy picture that does not exist.
They will stop running for their lives when Nursing as a career starts becoming a life worth living.
reply don't let it get you down and dampen your enthusiasm for nursing...that is what makes it bearable and even worthwhile. there is nothing like knowing you are one of the reasons that someone and their families had a "good" hospital experience because you were there. just like any profession, there are good days and bad. bad consists of the nurse manager giving you your 9th patient and leaving the new nurses to manage on their own. she also gives more patients to those who are overwhelmed. good days are when someone asks "what can i help you with? is there anything i can do to help you catch up?" and there are those who seem to step in and help just when you think you're going to scream! i work on a busy ortho/neuro/trauma floor and like the fast pace. i don't like being slammed with 3 admissions in a row when i've already been working for 10 hours. but i still wouldn't give it up...
Originally posted by caroladybelleWould it be ethical to paint a rosy picture that does not exist.
I would agree but I suppose I have a responsibility to be realistic and at the same time being careful not to stifle enthusiasm for those wishing to embrace the profession. It is such a delicate matter.
-HBS
I remember feeling very idealistic in nursing school - thinking that I was going to change the world. Over the years I have come to the realization that I can maybe impact the lives of a patient and/or their family - but that I certainly cannot change the world of nursing. Hospitals are big business - and as with every other business, the bottom line is $$$. It's become self preservation for me - trying not to be labeled a troublemaker because I disagree w/ administration - I just keep it to myself. And yes, that is sad - but it is a reality. For all of you nursing students - I hate to say it, but you will find out for yourselves before too long. Yes, it is dog eat dog in many industries - but how many can you name where you have a person's life/well being to look out for? It becomes very disheartening to try to provide the care you know you should and you just can't because you are so overwhelmed. Dissatisfied? - you betcha.
heres what I dont understand about all you dissatisfied nurses- why dont you change nursing jobs? Your skills are the most marketable in the world- you dont have to put up with that charge nurses BS- move.
okay, I know its not always that easy, but I think nurses have more power than they know.
I'm a student and I work at a hospital so I have some idea what I'm getting myself into( I'll stop short of saying I KNOW what I'm getting myself into) and I see alot of happy nurse where I am, it can happen. I certainly dont want to save the world. I just want to be a good nurse, add a moresel of good care to the lives of teh people I care for.
The nursing shortage is only getting worse, which means the choices for qualifed nurses should get better.
But you know one of the biggest reasons I want to do nursing is to work with other nurses- you heard me right. Y'all dont give yourself enough credit. Nurses deal with that point at which life is most intense, it makes them interesting, in general.
Anyway, just let me be naive for now.
CCU NRS
1,245 Posts
Oh fear not I think there will be more replies when some of the previous posters return and see where it has gone LOL.