What do you hate most about your job?

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Hey lovely (or studly) nurses,

Upcoming strong word advisory.

What do you *hate* the most about your job? Like over the past week or so --

what have you been most stressed, angry, hurt, or annoyed about?

I'm doing some informal research to help me understand the needs of nurses….and would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks!

Specializes in ER.

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

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This week I struggled to stay positive while training a new person, while dealing with increased patient load due to short staffing. Management just goes home at 6 PM, no help; it's called "figure it out". I made it though, stayed positive for the new nurse's sake.

Hi helen09,

Bravo, bravo, bravo -- that you strive to be positive when training newbies!

What helped you to stay positive, despite more patients and less staffing?

Thanks for what you do!

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I hate that night shift is treated like the redheaded stepchild. Shared governance harps that we are never there, but they hold meetings at 11:00 on Wednesdays. I've suggested a couple different options, ie 8:00 or 17:00, but those just "aren't convenient." I suggested alternating meeting times every month, but that wasn't acceptable either. The manager does "associate rounding" but heaven forbid she be there at a time that I can stop in.

And like others have said, the whole customer service thing is out of control. I'm sorry you don't like it when your IV pump beeps every 45 minutes because the physician has ordered a different antibiotic to be hung every 2 hours, but I'm a little too busy to hang out outside your room and watch the clock to catch it before it is finsished.

Hey Double Dunker,

Thanks for giving such a descriptive response! You make it easy to picture the scene...

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?

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That I need it. It's like an ugly boyfriend with bad breath that pays your bills.

Oh man, Conqueror+. I just might have to swipe your analogy. So, so, so funny.

Thanks for summarizing so much in one sentence!

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I work rapid response and our form wasn't even ready to practice. It was finally done for go live. I had to figure it out on my own. Although I still really like computer charting. Definitely frustrating.

Thanks, nrsang97!

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Having to work every other weekend.

Not being able to sit down & eat a meal.

Hey emtb2rn,

Thanks for sharing!

How does it affect your personal / family life, having to work every other weekend?

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This is the crux of the issue right here. :sniff:

Hi again, Spidey's mom!

What's your theory? Why do you think customer service is out of control?

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I saw your other comments...yes computer charting. Because......the company did not properly set up training for us Supervisors and there is no IT assistance after hours. My biggest complaint... is the lack of training and the lack of support from Admin. ....that is why I'm opening up my own business. 42 years of nursing...whew....I've seen a lot. The nursing homes...need a lot of help in a lot of areas. I'm really surprised I haven't heard anything from any political candidate on the subject of our elderly and the nursing home.

Hi pwetmore,

Thanks for sharing!

If you had to identify what feelings(s) propelled you to start your own biz, what would you say they were? (for example, hopeless, overwhelmed, exhausted, afraid, annoyed (at nursing stuff).... hopeful, excited, intrigued, (with new biz ideas) etc.?)

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Family members who refuse to consider hospice for their 90 year old septic, completely obtunded, tube fed, bed bound mother and insist on their dying mom being a full code and pursuing "aggressive" medical treatment. Oh and when said mom codes, they refuse to take mom off the ventilator.

Hi Irish_Mist,

Oh boy. That *does* sound hard.

What kinds of things have you tried when you're in that situation, you know, to not go telling the family what to do? (Like, do you do something to calm yourself? Go vent to another staff? Something else?)

Thanks so much for you input!

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Not enough support

Thanks for sharing, Chrissygraduatenurse!

What would it look like if you did have enough support?

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Specializes in ED.

I hate the insistence that I actually have to stay a whole 12 hours after clocking in, hey I showed up on time. Why isn't that good enough?

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Specializes in Emergency.
Hey emtb2rn,

Thanks for sharing!

How does it affect your personal / family life, having to work every other weekend?

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.

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