I worked on Med Surg for few years, and started in ER half a year ago. I just don't get how anyone can love this profession. I just don't see it. No matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, it's never enough. Nobody is ever happy. The patients see you as "just running back and forth not doing your job" because you're treating more sick patients first so it looks like you're ignoring them. But you don't mean to...you're just trying to make sure the patient who was just intubated doesn't crash again. Million, million, million things to do at the same time. Trying to multitask and prioritize, often ending up with doing several things at the same time. Haven't peed or had lunch and it's almost the end of your 12 hour shift, and yet you hear a patient behind a curtain say angrily "these people need to do their jobs!" Are you kidding me?? They don't care that you're trying to keep them alive, but god forbid you don't bring them a blanket or a lunch tray, they'll eat you alive. They think they're in a hotel and demand to have food that tastes good (I had lunch trays thrown at me more than once because "they wouldn't even feed that to their dog"). I work in the ER, it's stressful, but it was even worse on Med Surg. I can't even begin to count how many times I got yelled at by patients over things that were not my fault. Lab results not back yet? My fault. Doctor hasn't seen the patient yet? Again, my fault. Pharmacy is taking too long to mix the antibiotic, guess whose fault that is? Yep, my fault. Patients are never ever happy. I'm not even gonna go into pain meds, that's a separate story. I just don't get how anyone can love this profession. We're supposed to be compassionate, caring, and empathetic while all we get in return is **** and depreciation. No manner how hard you try, it's never good enough and you never stop getting yelled at by patients over things that are not your fault. I guess I just needed to vent.
