What is nursing really about?

[Starkrav]

Hi all,

I'm a new RN grad and I'm looking for advice. Right now, I hate nursing. I'm thinking I picked the wrong career, but I'm hoping you guys might have some words of encouragement or advice to someone just entering the field. FYI - I've been working at a nursing home (as an LPN, still waiting to take my RN boards), and I cannot stand it.

What I like about nursing: critical thinking about disease processes, teaching patients, being present for the patient in a crisis situation (emotional or physical), learning about complex and interesting cases, offering respect and compassion

What I dislike about nursing: rushing, having a strict time schedule, keeping a mental/written list of 20 things I need to do like NOW, pushing pills, not having time for the patient, awful scheduling, getting dumped on by management

Am I wrong, or is my second list essentially what nursing is all about?

I don't handle stress. I can't balance a billion things at once and be okay. And yet, my residents love me, and I know I'm smart enough for the job (like I scored in the top .5% of the nation on my exit exam smart). What do I do? I feel so sad and discouraged.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Medical need > nonessential request. Yes, sometimes you have to say no. There are need to do and nice to do tasks and while it's hard to feel like you are letting your patient down, consider that the other resident who has a medical NEED also has rights, and the right to have medical needs taken care of trumps the right to have requests met.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Example: One resident badly needs to be toileted, and requires narcotics for pain. Another resident is in a hypoglycemic crisis at the same time. I'm one RN. I delegate the toileting to someone else, and have them explain that pain meds will come AFTER my hypoglycemic crisis is over. Medical needs and those which could be potentially life threatening should always take priority. Every patient has needs, but nursing is about monitoring and averting urgent situations first. The person who wants their pillow fluffed and a drink of water might need to wait. Too bad. We aren't running a hotel.