What do you hate most about your job?

MilliePieRN · May 28, 2016

Hi MilliePieRN,
So I must confess something here.
When I asked you what poor communication and inaccessible management looked like, I had no idea it would be this bad.
Your handy dandy CNO appears to be in hiding. Jack Bauer couldn't pull it off any better than her!
Shoot.
What kind of emotional impact does this have on you? (if that makes sense)
Like, do you find yourself feeling resigned, helpless, energized, invigorated, depressed, angry, anxious, etc.....

Thanks for sharing the example. I appreciate the vivid picture you painted.

You're all about getting to the feelings, lol. Therapeutic communication skillz, you got... :)

I feel anxious and insecure much of the time at work and when I think about it at home. Every time I hear of another good nurse leaving, it worsens. We are down to less than a handful. I struggle with staying optimistic and content, because that is what I really want. The negative attitude that is becoming more common among even the best nurses I work with is hard to overcome, people don't thrive when they aren't valued, and we definitely aren't valued.

PancakeSaturdays · May 28, 2016

How about you explain exactly what you're informally researching about the needs of nurses?
We've given you a lot of info, so quid pro quo Clarice.

Thanks for asking emtb2rn!

I'm a therapist who has provided counseling to a lot of nurses. What I've seen in the counseling office how nurses have huge hearts, are such intelligent, compassionate, capable people who have a really hard job.

So many stressors on the job: have to be able to deal with EVERY personality possible. Have to be able to work in a hierarchical organization. Have to be able to be great with people and great with facts, and work with little support.

On top of all that, the people conflict stuff. And so many nurses tend to be "givers." Which brings certain challenges.

So, I've helped a lot of nurses in the one-to-one setting to develop communication skills that help them deal with unappreciative people, takers, rude folks, demanding folks, mean folks, etc.

I'm now creating an online video training to help more nurses develop those same communication skills to help with the challenges of nursing (at least the challenges that developing more interpersonal tools can address).

So, the research I'm doing now will help me broaden the scope and make sure I'm understanding as many of the nursing challenges as possible.

Two of my favorite topics I'm working on are:

How to Stop Saying Yes When You Want (or Need) to Say No

and

Two Proven Methods for Handling Difficult People

That's the brief nutshell!

P.S. You can also check out the article I wrote here at allnurses -- Amber on the Therapy Couch -- to read something I've written.

PancakeSaturdays · May 28, 2016

If you aren't a nurse., why the interest in our work? I'm curious.

Hi again, canoehead,

I'm going to paste here what I wrote to someone else who was curious:

I'm a therapist who has provided counseling to a lot of nurses. What I've seen in the counseling office how nurses have huge hearts, are such intelligent, compassionate, capable people who have a really hard job.

So many stressors on the job: have to be able to deal with EVERY personality possible. Have to be able to work in a hierarchical organization. Have to be able to be great with people and great with facts, and work with little support.

On top of all that, the people conflict stuff. And so many nurses tend to be "givers." Which brings certain challenges.

So, I've helped a lot of nurses in the one-to-one setting to develop communication skills that help them deal with unappreciative people, takers, rude folks, demanding folks, mean folks, etc.

I'm now creating an online video training to help more nurses develop those same communication skills to help with the challenges of nursing (at least the challenges that developing more interpersonal tools can address).

So, the research I'm doing now will help me broaden the scope and make sure I'm understanding as many of the nursing challenges as possible.

Two of my favorite topics I'm working on are:

How to Stop Saying Yes When You Want (or Need) to Say No

and

Two Proven Methods for Handling Difficult People

That's the brief nutshell!

P.S. You can also check out the article I wrote here at allnurses -- Amber on the Therapy Couch -- to read something I've written.

Farawyn · May 28, 2016

How about you explain exactly what you're informally researching about the needs of nurses?
We've given you a lot of info, so quid pro quo Clarice.

I love you. :woot:

Maevish, ASN, RN · May 28, 2016

This week, it's people :rolleyes:

Maevish, ASN, RN · May 28, 2016

You're all about getting to the feelings, lol. Therapeutic communication skillz, you got... :)
I feel anxious and insecure much of the time at work and when I think about it at home. Every time I hear of another good nurse leaving, it worsens. We are down to less than a handful. I struggle with staying optimistic and content, because that is what I really want. The negative attitude that is becoming more common among even the best nurses I work with is hard to overcome, people don't thrive when they aren't valued, and we definitely aren't valued.

...and they wonder why people don't want to work at places like that:inlove: I feel your pain because, as a traveler, it also sucks coming into places like that. However, most of the staff is grateful for the help so on behalf of us travelers, thank you

Double Dunker · May 28, 2016

Hey Double Dunker,
What do you find yourself thinking about the manager (or organization) when he or she doesn't make an effort to accommodate the night shift?

After a year and a half, I'm trying to stop caring anymore. I'll do things when it is convenient for *me* otherwise, forget it.

allnurses Guide · May 29, 2016

I have subscribed to this website, kevinmd, for a long time. Came across this article that talks about EHR and the frustrations.

Maybe it's time to go back to index cards for medical records

canigraduate · May 29, 2016

Lack of communication.

Systemwide lip service to being patient-centered, when all the actions are cents-centered.

Lack of respect for the person and the position of nurse at my hospital.

Having to rush-rush-rush and pray that I'm not going so fast that I'm overlooking something critical.

Egregious lack of planning and foresight on the part of my unit manager and director. They are some dumb ****es. I mean, when you annex a unit, you should have some sort of plan for training the employees you inherit.

Having the system I work for treating nurses, aides, and ancillary staff with a "you can be replaced" attitude.

Having to get a BSN when I already have a BA and a diploma, just to keep my crappy, low-paying job.

Since you're going to ask, I cope with chocolate. :)

As far as how I feel... mostly demoralized, diminished, disrespected. And then some days I feel vindicated when the karma comes back and bites my superiors on their butts. Our turnover rate is ridiculous and administration finally noticed.

TrishaMatthews · May 29, 2016

1) Lack of respect from family members from family members.

2) Poor management treating us like slaves.

Cruella de ville · May 29, 2016

Hi Cruella (which I'm sure you are not!) :)
How often would you say you think about or feel the impact of these aspects of your job?
And, pardon my ignorance but, what's a mandatory assignment? I looked it up online and nothing fits this context.
Thanks for your thoughts!

Mandatory assignment.

When I go to work for a regularly scheduled 8 hr shift and am told I have to stay for an additional 8 hr shift.

This happens every pay period.

Staff with children are told that daycare is not a reason to refuse a mandate, staff going to school are told their schooling is secondary to their job so if they have class in the morning they can still get mandated to the night shift.

Every day we have staff on mandatory assignments who are working tired and exhausted, giving up time with their families so this impacts all of us every day.

Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN · May 30, 2016

The customer service model. I read somewhere that the reason the industry changed to this model was so that patients could be consumers and have w choice about their care. Meanwhile most patients are completely ignorant about science, health, their own bodies and just everything in general. Can we suspend the customer service model until the general public becomes better informed or shows an interest in learning anything? At all? About anything?