Which Nurses Are Unhappy & Why (all levels)

[Icooka4u]

"Medscape Nurse Career Satisfaction Report 2016"

Susan B. Yox, RN, EdD; Laura A. Stokowski, RN, MS; Mary McBride; Emily Berry | January 25, 2017

Knowing a nurse in every category except CRNA, I'd have to say their poll was spot on. Was it accurate for you?: LPN, RN, NM (nurse mgr), CNS, NP, CRNA

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[klone, MSN, RN]

Can't access article; don't have membership.

[Icooka4u]

Sorry about that, and thanks for letting me know. I have a free membership that was very easy to sign up for. They have a wealth of informational resources.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I found it strikingly curious that, when dissatisfied nurses were asked what they were going to do in response to their dissatisfaction with nursing, about one-third of the respondents answered that they planned to do absolutely nothing.

It makes no sense to complain about dissatisfaction when you intend to do nothing about your presently undesirable circumstances. People who complain should at least attempt to devise solutions.

[Extra Pickles]

I found it strikingly curious that, when dissatisfied nurses were asked what they were going to do in response to their dissatisfaction with nursing, about one-third of the respondents answered that they planned to do absolutely nothing.

It makes no sense to complain about dissatisfaction when you intend to do nothing about your presently undesirable circumstances. People who complain should at least attempt to devise solutions.

I think that's the norm for people in general. People like to complain but don't like to offer solutions. People often say they don't like something or how something is done but then don't offer to take on the task themselves so it can turn out differently. Human nature I suppose.

I come across a lot of people who will say XX is wrong, I don't like doing that, and when asked if they'd contacted SO-and-So about changing it, they will then say they don't have time, it isn't worth the effort, wouldn't matter anyway. So easy to complain but actively doing something about it? Not the norm.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I found it strikingly curious that, when dissatisfied nurses were asked what they were going to do in response to their dissatisfaction with nursing, about one-third of the respondents answered that they planned to do absolutely nothing.

It makes no sense to complain about dissatisfaction when you intend to do nothing about your presently undesirable circumstances. People who complain should at least attempt to devise solutions.

People seem to love to complain, but most aren't problem solvers.

[BedsideNurse]

I think people don't make changes for a lot of reasons, even when they aren't happy. It could be that in certain ways nursing is nursing is nursing, meaning some things about nursing don't change that much despite what field you work in, so if it was something along those lines, changing what you do wouldn't do a whole lot. Also, sometimes "the familiar corner of hell" seems better than navigating the unfamiliar (potential hell)....And sometimes, even though you might be dissatisfied with the IMC unit, or whatever, you don't go anywhere because the "paperwork in home care sucks" or the "pay in doctor's offices is terrible," or the "OR has to take call," or you just don't feel up going through being new somewhere again, so it doesn't seem worth it, etc...

[Jules A, MSN]

I found it strikingly curious that, when dissatisfied nurses were asked what they were going to do in response to their dissatisfaction with nursing, about one-third of the respondents answered that they planned to do absolutely nothing.

It makes no sense to complain about dissatisfaction when you intend to do nothing about your presently undesirable circumstances. People who complain should at least attempt to devise solutions.

Lol I started a thread with a similar comment in the advanced practice section.

[Jules A, MSN]

I think people don't make changes for a lot of reasons, even when they aren't happy. It could be that in certain ways nursing is nursing is nursing, meaning some things about nursing don't change that much despite what field you work in, so if it was something along those lines, changing what you do wouldn't do a whole lot. Also, sometimes "the familiar corner of hell" seems better than navigating the unfamiliar (potential hell)....And sometimes, even though you might be dissatisfied with the IMC unit, or whatever, you don't go anywhere because the "paperwork in home care sucks" or the "pay in doctor's offices is terrible," or the "OR has to take call," or you just don't feel up going through being new somewhere again, so it doesn't seem worth it, etc...

I agree 100% but think its a cowardly way to approach life and in the end seems to justify someone being miserable and likely making the rest of us miserable also.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I agree 100% but think its a cowardly way to approach life and in the end seems to justify someone being miserable and likely making the rest of us miserable also.

Bingo. You hit the nail on the head with this post, as well as the thread you started last month.

We have all heard the old saying: "Misery loves company." It rings devastatingly true in the workplace.

[AliNajaCat]

I found it strikingly curious that, when dissatisfied nurses were asked what they were going to do in response to their dissatisfaction with nursing, about one-third of the respondents answered that they planned to do absolutely nothing.

It makes no sense to complain about dissatisfaction when you intend to do nothing about your presently undesirable circumstances. People who complain should at least attempt to devise solutions.

I think part of the lesson from this is that a lot of complaining isn't really serious enough for the complainer to do more than whine. In the maritime field they call that the sailor's prerogative, to whine about the food, the brass, the ship, whatever. Nobody takes it too seriously, because, as I used to tell my maritimer-in-training, when you say, "OK, what are you gonna do about that?" the answer is usually a shrug and a, "I dunno, probably live with it, it's not that big a deal."

Same here, except on AN the Whiner usually wants somebody else to pat them on the back and validate their whine, or solve the problem for them. Perhaps we could promote more personal growth if we put it back on them, where it belongs. Then we find out whether it's really necessary to do anything at all besides advise watchful waiting. As with prostate cancer, sometimes time takes care of things before something really develops into a problem.

Sometimes the best response to repetitive sailor whining is, "Mmmm, hmmmm. What do you want for dinner, pot roast or fried chicken?" Maybe I'll try that here on AN. Sort of a companion to, "Popcorn?" :) Ideas?

[StrwbryblndRN]

I try to take complaints with a grain of salt. Some nurses are just venting and need to get it off their chest. I know I do. But nursing, for me, is not the problem. It is the system. The outdated/non user friendly charting system, and the silly expectations from upper management. I love taking care of my patients.