What is the toughest part of nursing?

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

Dealing with disrespect.

If patients are polite and courteous I don't care how heavy the workload is or how complex their problems are. I will go all out 100% for these people.

However rude patients and families get my goat and I have difficulty caring for them.

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

Been there,done that said:

Patients are admitted to the hospital, only when they are very ill.  Patients that are very ill may be rude. It is still your  job to care for them.

Of course I make allowances for stress. I work in oncology, so hey, patients are anxious and I of course wouldn't want to be in their shoes and I make allowances for that. However some people overstep the line and there's a difference between being inappropriate because you're stressed and anxious and being just plain rude.

Sometimes we over-excuse what is just plain discourtesy. I've lost a mother, father and sister in hospital and been stressed. I've been lying there as a stroke victim stressed as hell. I have a husband with multiple chronic illnesses who is often hospitalised and that is a source of great anxiety to me. I have only once ever been rude to a member of staff. I ask questions galore, I say if I think something's not right, I voice my anxieties, but I am almost NEVER rude to hospital staff. ONCE only I got irate on the phone because I was stressed about my mother's care and I was a long distance away, speaking to a nurse who for obvious confidentiality reasons, wasn't very forthcoming on the phone. I called that nurse back and I apologised. I vowed I would never speak to hospital staff like that ever again. I recognise what's not acceptable. Some patients and families don't, and I don't accept being disrespected.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

We all seem to go through the same things, but what really bugs me, and it isn't even really is a big thing-the time I spend looking for crap!! The bladder scanner, the Doppler, meds that are stocked only in one of the 3 Omnicells. Stupid stuff that just aggravates because it adds extra steps, extra time. Had a person in upper management call it the hunting and gathering of nursing. 

[Ninaof8]

I find the disrespect from supervisors, management and staff from other departments harder to deal with than disrespect from patients/families. I worked in a specialized area and any questions about admissions etc was viewed as "not wanting to take difficult patients, not being team players etc.” We had a very cohesive staff and found that most of their questions were legitimate concerns. Yes there were staff members that complained too much over pretty much everything, but those staff members were called on their behavior and expectations for their practice. It got to the point that the staff was afraid to voice any concerns or questions. It made for a very tense work environment and poor morale among staff. 

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

I concur with David. Dealing with the consistently rude patient takes a toll. I can usually turn the situation around with excessive kindness but it's stilll wearing.

Hppy

[Royalq]

Thankfully at my hospital most patients are respectful. Most difficult part of my job is other disciplines pulling on nursing or needing to be prompted by nursing to do their job.  Its as if I am doing 10 different jobs because I almost have to press the power button on other disciplines to get them moving. If everyone proactively did their job ALL of our days would be much smoother. Feeling like I have to think for other staff in addition to what I already have to do is headache inducing. 

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

JKL33 said:

Agree. I have come to the conclusion that nursing is wrong in teaching that all is understandable (excused) due to illness/stress. My observation and experience is that when sick/very stressed, people are still generally some version of who they always are. With some exceptions (such as when the medical condition itself is directly causing a loss  or alteration of usual faculties) people with even the most basic manners don't suddenly start throwing urinals and hurling personal insults just because they are ill enough to be hospitalized. They just don't. The might be a little more short or a little more demanding than they would be on a good day or forget to say thank you when they usually would or even raise their voice/speak more bluntly or harshly than they normally would, but they aren't incorrigible and don't try to hurt people (physically or emotionally).

This I also concur with. Having been in the hospital more times than I care to remember I can say that no m atter how scared, anxious or sick I was I did not lose my ability to treat people decently. 

Hppy

 

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

The hardest part for me is when we're doing things to people because we CAN not necessarily because we SHOULD. Putting some patients through "treatment" towards end of life, sometimes with the knowledge that it's not what the patient would choose if they were able to state their wishes (be careful who you appoint as your surrogate decision maker), just makes me feeling crappy as a human being. 

[ponderingDNP]

The toughest part of nursing for me is showing up. I am just NOT a people person. But I do nurse oh so well....and I am NEVER late to work. Go figure...?

[Ann Fosque]

I have been a hospital employee for a very long time...my observation can be summed up in a few words 

Managed Care

Corporate Mentality 

Concierge 

Metrics 

Poor staffing with very complex cases, doesn't help Nurses or Patients 

[londonflo]

mmc51264 said:

the time I spend looking for crap!! The bladder scanner, the Doppler, meds that are stocked only in one of the 3 Omnicells. Stupid stuff that just aggravates because it adds extra steps, extra time.

You hit the nail on the head! I wish I had all the time back for looking for portable oxygen, large wheelchairs(s) (now they are all large), Pulse Ox, (in olden times)the keys to a cart that no one was working but contained that narc, (in modern times) the only  floor that has the pxycis that  has that drug, the Omnicells that are the only place to get syringes, the supply cabinet that does not have single Foley indwelling catheters...only kits with and with out foleys (you have to order that from Central Supply), odd sized gloves for the odd sized MD who comes on the floor and thinks we should stock them for his odd sized ego. (when you called the floor I asked YOU what size sterile gloves you needed!)

[delrionurse]

Doing the best for your patient, then getting critical labs called from the lab and a host of other issues then having to give report to mean 'Debbie' in the morning.  And she questions every little thing and rolls her eyes on why something wasn't done.