Why I had reconsidered being a nurse

[FutureRNCris]

I'm a housekeeping for a hospital. I've been a housekeeping for 7 months while finishing my prerequisites for nursing school. I enjoy my job sometimes,but sometimes I feel as if I settled. So I enrolled in a CNA class ( I have previous experience, I am just not certified). Our supervisors already make us feel unappreciated, because in the hospital setting hospital keepers are seen as the lowest of the low ( trash people, maids, ect). I work in the ICU unit and I clean rooms and nurses stations. I enjoy my area, because I want to be an ICU nurse, but I'm not treated at all like a human at my job. Nurses have constantly walked over, have not acknowledged me ( a simple good morning or hello), I've had doors shut in my face as I was going in the rooms to clean, they have thrown things on the ground and come find me to pick it up. There were times a nurse would take their frustration out of me, because I'm doing my job and not trying to be in their way, but I'm just annoying them. The nurses harass the housekeepers more than our supervisors and it's just not pleasant. I have just felt really bad in the position that I'm currently in and I look at the nurses, that I want to be and they just treat the people who helped them out like they don't exist. It made me not want to be a nurse, because I feel they think they are better than the position I have. I have spoken to some and they are shocked that I am a student and have been pursuing nursing for the past 3 years, but the treatment is never changed. I don't want to be in a position and overlook everyone who does their job in the hospital,because I have found out that housekeeping and other positions really do hold the hospital.

So I tried other careers and tried to apply to different colleges to step away from nursing, but I didn't get in.

I guess what I am saying is that, I almost stop being a nurse because I don't want overlook people in general or just treated other people like crap.

[FutureRNCris]

I did figure that. I know that the location that we are at, causes it to be very stressful for the nurses and doctors. We are located in a more urban area. So it's a lot of stabbings and gun shot wounds. I just try to stay friendly because we don't get the best out of the family members either. But you made a point, I'm probably taking their reactions too personal.

[RNtourist, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN, NP]

Nurses are always running the list of things they need to do in their minds, it's an endless list that we are constantly modifying. You are background noise to a lot of their activity because they are focused on doing their jobs and caring for patients. Providing you with the social niceties and recognition you crave is not on the list and frankly, not their problem. If you feel unappreciated now you will definitely feel unappreciated as a nurse.

Whereas I do believe that we could all be more successful by improving on our ability to not "get our feathers ruffled" over rude people, justifying the behavior like it's something that is normal or even inevitable is not the solution either. I've never found leaving out "social niceties" to make my job any easier, and no matter where you are or what the situation (or specialty), the way we treat other people is a reflection on our personal character.

[SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN]

Some people are just unhappy in their lives and need to find ways to take it on an innocent person. I used to be really sensitive to that kind of treatment because I try my best to treat everyone with respect. But now, I pay no attention to those who act like that because I am nice for me, I have a positive attitude because I found it makes me feel better. Once I came to that conclusion I moved past rude people much easier and quicker. Good luck!!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I sense an attitude.

I have worked in many facilities, on many units. I have never seen a housekeeper treated with anything but respect.

Whatever makes you think.. as a nurse, you would treat ancillary staff like that?

By the way, housekeeping and other positions really do not "hold " the hospital. Registered nurses can, and often do, perform housekeeping, phlebotomy, security, pharmacy, and other roles as needed.

[sevensonnets]

In regard to having doors shut in your face, you need to realize that nurses are giving sensitive care to patients that you can't witness. I've had to reach over with one foot many times to shut the door when housekeeping attempts to enter the room during codes, suctioning, a bath and pericare, and, quite frequently, when the physician is examining the patient or talking with family. That's not rudeness aimed at you. Patient care always comes first above cleaning the room.

[FutureRNCris]

I sense an attitude.

I have worked in many facilities, on many units. I have never seen a housekeeper treated with anything but respect.

Whatever makes you think.. as a nurse, you would treat ancillary staff like that?

By the way, housekeeping and other positions really do not "hold " the hospital. Registered nurses can, and often do, perform housekeeping, phlebotomy, security, pharmacy, and other roles as needed.

Im not sure where you are getting an attitude from my post. I just talked about what is going on at my hospital. I understand it's not like this everywhere. And I know no one owes me anything for doing my job. All I said, was the rudeness from the some of ICU nurses on the floor, made me rethink about becoming a nurse. A lot people are making me feel like I'm complaining or crying or having an attitude, when all I'm sharing is how I almost didn't want to be a nurse. Some of the comments showed me it's not everywhere and maybe the nurses are just always in a bad mood and that some people are just really rude and I don't have to be that.

[FutureRNCris]

In regard to having doors shut in your face, you need to realize that nurses are giving sensitive care to patients that you can't witness. I've had to reach over with one foot many times to shut the door when housekeeping attempts to enter the room during codes, suctioning, a bath and pericare, and, quite frequently, when the physician is examining the patient or talking with family. That's not rudeness aimed at you. Patient care always comes first above cleaning the room.

If I didnt think it was something sensitive care or a private matter, I would had never put it in my post. I'm very respectful when it comes to letting the nurses go in first before me and waiting until they are done with their care. I never try to be in their way at all. Even when they get in the room while I'm cleaning, I will step out and wait. But these doors shut in my face are not from anything you stated they are doing. Sometimes they are simply throwing something away, looking at the patient ( not touching them or checking anything) or just simply washing their hands and walking out. I'm not complaining at all in my post about nurses in general or the nurses at my job, I simply stated that their attitudes and how they have treated me while I was doing my, pushed me away from becoming a nurse. Because I understand it's a stressful job, but I don't understand why you would take it out on someone that isn't from your department.

[FutureRNCris]

Some people are just unhappy in their lives and need to find ways to take it on an innocent person. I used to be really sensitive to that kind of treatment because I try my best to treat everyone with respect. But now, I pay no attention to those who act like that because I am nice for me, I have a positive attitude because I found it makes me feel better. Once I came to that conclusion I moved past rude people much easier and quicker. Good luck!!

I do know that right now I'm sensitive to me,because it's a new environment. I'm used to being a nursing home setting. And for the past few days I haven't tried to take it personally. I will try to have a positive attitude and not let those affect me. Thank you for your response.

[FutureRNCris]

Whereas I do believe that we could all be more successful by improving on our ability to not "get our feathers ruffled" over rude people, justifying the behavior like it's something that is normal or even inevitable is not the solution either. I've never found leaving out "social niceties" to make my job any easier, and no matter where you are or what the situation (or specialty), the way we treat other people is a reflection on our personal character.

I agree. Thank you.

[FutureRNCris]

Wow. That sucks. I am a nurse at a university and we love our housekeepers. We all work as a team and respect and value each other.

Thats really good to hear. I do see that it not everywhere.

[RNrhythm, BSN, RN]

I work in a very busy LTAC and, honestly, everyone is nice. I am not exaggerating when I say that nursing, housekeeping, and security are all pals. Different facilities have different cultures. I did not realize my site was unusually friendly. Maybe because we are a small hospital and we see the same faces every day. I could not imagine disrespecting a housekeeper when 30 minutes later I am going to ask them to do something for me.

[ottersloveoysters]

I'm sorry you have had such a bad experience but I really don't think all hospitals/facilities are like this. We are friendly with everyone where I work and that includes housekeeping, phlebotomy, lab staff, security, whatever. If I were you, I would try for a CNA or other position at another hospital for a fresh start and see what happens.