Who understands?

[scalm2]

It hard to help people understand the frustrations of our job. People just don't understand. When I say, its hard to take breaks, have time to go to the bathroom, eat, or whatever, people just say stuff like, why don't you take your break? Its the law. It so frustrating trying to help my husband understand that we have the kind of job where we CANT just say, oh, ok well, I'm leaving to take my break right now. I feel like he's arguing with me trying to tell me how I should be at work? Since he's not in the medical field, he can't understand. I just wish I had someone to talk to about this, because, Im already stressed out with work. It doesn't make it better that the people I talk to also don't understand and say things to me that aren't even possible. People seriously just don't understand how hardworking nurses are!!

[BeenThere2012, ASN, RN]

Agree with you. Most people do not

understand. That is why I like this site. It has been very helpful for me to read so many posts from nurses who have the same problems and frustrations as I do. I don't feel like it's only me!

Im sure other professions have the same issue...We have no idea what it's like to be a Police Officer, even if we know one. Unless you actually walk in another's shoes, you cant

know what it is really like.

Keep coming here. Most of the time you find excellent support...even if you are only reading other posts.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I worked the floor in a variety of settings for 10 years...the majority of the time I worked horribly understaffed, yet I almost always made the time to use the restroom. I made the time to take my breaks and meal periods.

To a certain extent, the responsibility falls on us to take care of ourselves because no one else will. This may sound selfish of me, but I only have one life; therefore, I prioritize my needs above other peoples' requests.

No one gives a rat's ass that the Mary Martyr Nurse held her full bladder for 8 hours while running from patient room to patient room, thereby placing other peoples' needs above her own urge to eliminate. No one cares that she was hungry all shift.

However, she needs to have enough self-respect to meet her basic needs for nutrition, hydration and elimination. Nobody cares about you as much as you. We need to show some self-love by addressing our basic needs at work. Much of the time, patients' needs can wait.

[honeyforasalteyfish]

Not a nurse CNA, but I feel you.

I just started a new job. Of course I cannot use my phone ever.

Its more than just common professional courtesy.

Its things like fall risks.

I just got back together with an ex girlfriend.

We broke up because we both felt each other were distant. We where planning to go out after my shift as I had the next day off.

Well she texted me at work, and of course I didn't respond.

She assumed I was ignoring her, and went out before I got off.

When I got ahold of her I had to make it clear why I didn't respond.

We worked it out, but I had to stress sometimes I just can't talk to you for hours.

Because there is a reason a cell phone would be frowned upon and a good one.