Nurses General Nursing Nursing Q/A
Updated: Mar 6 Published Jan 12
Am curious - if you had to pick one thing related to the nursing practice that is the toughest, what would it be?
winniewoman9060ret
77 Posts
Personalities are the toughest to work with
toomuchbaloney
12,887 Posts
The hardest part of nursing is dealing with health systems that are not about health but are about generating profit.
FAB_RN, BSN
11 Posts
Not being able to be in 4 places at once.
Wuzzie
5,124 Posts
Bearing all the responsibility but not having the power or authority to affect change.
Been there,done that, ASN, RN
7,229 Posts
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.
MoLo
55 Posts
We need an education campaign for patients to realize what we are trying to do, and what we need from them (respect). And then a course for nurses on how to respond to it professionally patients just aren't able or willing
londonflo
2,921 Posts
This sounds like a good campaign for the ANA. Well, it would be the if organization that says they speak for us....The American Nurses Association would DO for US. Where are they? (processing Magnet programs and Certification programs that earn them $$$$$)
we need leadership!! and we need it NOW
Tenebrae, BSN, RN
1,955 Posts
I work in older persons mental health.
I have a scenario of a patient who had had multiple admissions post substance misuse. Currently on the ward and very vocal about the situation they are in and how much they hate it despite the fact its very much of the patients own making
I find any patients lack of insight and inability to take responsibility for their actions a challenge. If I am able to gently challenge their perspective and world view and they decide to make changes in their life I feel very privileged to be a apart of the process.
When its patients like the one above, I still do the best I can. I remind myself that the patient has to be the one to make the change and to quote the cliche 'you can lead a horse to water but you cant make it. I ensure I also have good stress relief strategies in place.
JKL33
6,791 Posts
DavidFR said: [...]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.
[...]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.
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).
JBMmom, MSN, NP
4 Articles; 2,537 Posts
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.
MarkMyWords
1 Article; 208 Posts
Rudeness can be subjectively perceived. A tone of voice, wrong choice of words, anger at something or other or reluctance may seem disrespectful. Sometimes these things are misinterpreted and taken personal. I'm not talking about name calling or rude hand gestures. I know of patients who are misunderstood because of their negative tone of voice, or angry for being sick, and just for not stating her birthdate fast enough to a receptionist. (she thought that was rude, called security.)
A real sign in a doctor's office: BE NICE or GO AWAY.
canoehead, BSN, RN
6,890 Posts
Two faced administration saying "we're behind you" "we support you" but theres no evidence of that except a new checksheet we have to fill out every year. It's very discouraging to bust your butt, and then reprimanded for not going above and beyond. I don't have fecking wings.