I feel like everywhere I go people are expressing their hate for nursing rather than their love. I want to go into nursing, and I want to love it. WHY does everyone (almost) hate it so much? Is it really that bad? Can someone express their love for it? I would really enjoy hearing why you love your nursing job.
Personally I could never work in a nursing home, but my goal is to work in the OB/NICU or the ER.
There's nothing wrong with having goals. What is wrong is when new graduates feel themselves to be "too good for" the basics such as Med/Surg, LTC, General Medicine or General Surgery.
What is also wrong is when someone takes a job in one of those specialties, hired by a manager who wants to give new grads a chance. They then get 6 weeks to 6 months of orientation, during which they are costing the unit money and quit a few months after (or in some cases before) finishing orientation. Experts say that orienting a new nurse costs tens of thousands of dollars and that the facility does not begin to recoup that investment until around the two year mark. A new grad who quits or transfers within two years does both herself and her unit a disservice.
The manager who was willing to take a chance on hiring a new grad and training her/him to be the kind of nurse she wanted on her unit becomes disillusioned and less eager to take a chance on the next new grad. Why waste all that money training someone only to have them badmouth the unit and quit when she could hire an experienced nurse at 1.5 times the salary with .5 times the orientation and a greater likelihood that the nurse will stay?
Hiring new grads is bad for the bottom line because they tend to job hop.
It is bad for the new grad to quit 8 months into a job on Med/Surg or some other "unglamorous specialty" because they cheat themselves of the opportunity to become competent at the basics before they move on to a specialty. They have also made an enemy of the manager who hired them expecting them to stay the two years (whether or not that manager actually says something to them at the time, she will be less likely to recommend them for a position in the future, less likely to rehire them, and less likely to take a chance on another new grad.) If they quit a second job within a few months, they have earned themselves the label of "job hopper" and ensured that HR sends their resume to the bottom of the pile upon reading or even into the "circular file." If by chance they get a third job and do the same thing, they'd better know someone or they've trashed their career.
Having goals is great, identifying steps along the way to achieving those goals is great. Tromping on others on your way to achieving the goals is bad.
Totally. I mean, that is just basic job knowledge that anyone in any field is supposed to know. Job hopping is bad no matter whether you're a new nurse or a new graphic designer. Anyone who goes to college and comes out a new grad looking for jobs does and should understand that you start at the bottom or wherever you can to get experience. I don't think nursing is different in this respect. Maybe it's something that could be taught in school.
I'm so glad to read this positive, level-headed response. There is so much discouragement and negativity on this site, I was beginning to wonder if it's as pervasive in the nursing world reality as it seems on this site............
I didn't read the rest of the replies, and you'll see why here in a second, but... Being a nurse is what you make it. I still love my job after 6 years. I went straight into the O.R. out of nursing school (4-year degree) when everyone said I wouldn't be able to or "shouldn't" for whatever reason. I've known plenty of people who got into the ER right out of nursing school (usually did externships while in school, etc.) I never worked nurse externships or as a tech during college or ever before that - I kept my $20/hr call center job part time. If you aspire to go to ICU they'll try to sell you nurse residency programs that you're stuck in for two years, or, you can enter at some other job and work your OWN path to the ICU (for example). ---- The point is, there ARE nurses out there who love their jobs. There are times people will complain about their jobs... And I have definitely heard nurses in the real world that I live in every day complain about nursing. Don't let anyone else's attitude steer you wrong. There are actually a lot of things to hate about being "employed" as a nurse, but I can't think of any other job I'd rather do, I love my career, and I actually like what I do because I maintain a decent attitude and focusing on my patients keeps me positive. When you maintain a good attitude, it's a little contagious - people will want to work with you, help you, have you on their team, etc. and it doesn't matter if you are the "most" skilled or experienced nurse who has everything memorized and has been doing it for 20 years, etc. And being positive in your work day will carry over into your patient care, too. Anyway.... if you love nursing, that's all that matters. You are allowed to love it, and it is possible to love it.
And when you get some experience under your belt, you can get out of a nasty job and find another one. Because your confidence will get you through interviews, your attitude will be more important than you think, etc.
(p.s. I stopped reading this message board on a regular basis a few years ago, LOL... there's a lot of negativity here.... There's a real world out there where people's advice on here doesn't apply, most of the time.)
I'm so glad to read this positive, level-headed response. There is so much discouragement and negativity on this site, I was beginning to wonder if it's as pervasive in the nursing world reality as it seems on this site............
I feel like everywhere I go people are expressing their hate for nursing rather than their love. I want to go into nursing, and I want to love it. WHY does everyone (almost) hate it so much? Is it really that bad? Can someone express their love for it? I would really enjoy hearing why you love your nursing job.
Personally I could never work in a nursing home, but my goal is to work in the OB/NICU or the ER.
Thanks!
- Super desperate pre-nursing student venting
I can't speak for any other nurse, but the main reason I hate it (I've been an LPN since '08) is because of the dramatic, catty atmosphere... Also the attitude from many nurses that, "I am a better nurse than you, "I should be team lead nurse or manager nurse" of many nurses I've worked with. I have seen very little true "team work" among many nurses. I hate "office-drama," plus I am a stay at home mom now. Most nursing schedules don't work with my schedule as a mother, as my hubby & I have little childcare help. I've actually decided to become a medical coder, and am currently working on my medical coding certificate. I will be done this May, & hope to take CPC-A soon after. The thought of having a desk job, instead of 25 years until I retire as a floor LPN, is a dream come true. I really wish I hadn't went in to nursing... it just wasn't for me I think. My mother in law was an RN, BSN for years and worked at it from age 27 until she was 55. She was able to retire early fortunately. She loved it though... I think nursing is definitely a calling for some, others not so much. Just know that it is really what you want to do before investing tons of time & money in to it. Good luck & best wishes though :)
As a new grad RN who's been a nurse for about 6 weeks, I completely agree with this post.
I'm a little more than halfway through a 13-week orientation on a med-surg tele floor (we also care for post-heart cath and post-CABG patients). Most of my nursing school clinical experience happened on adult med-surg, so coming into this job I at least had a frame of reference for what it would entail.
Even if you're lucky like me and get 13 full weeks with a preceptor mixed in with nurse residency classes, I would encourage new grads to step outside of their comfort zones and start DOING stuff ASAP. That doesn't mean not asking questions or independently doing procedures when you're unsure of the steps--it means calling the doctor or talking to that challenging family member YOURSELF while your preceptor is there for support. The first time on orientation that I cared for a patient with a critical lab value, my preceptor said, "Do you want to call the doctor about this, or do you want me to do it?"
Of course I WANTED my preceptor to do it! But I also knew the only way to break through the mental barrier was to do it myself. So I pulled my mobile hospital phone out of my pocket, dialed the number for the pager service, waited for the return call, and spoke to the doctor (despite a racing heart and feeling like a general idiot the whole time).
Every shift I have to decide between "just" letting my preceptor do something or doing it myself. In the short term, it would probably be easier to let her hang that bag of fluids or deal with that already-sleeping patient whose family doesn't understand why he can't have an Ambien while I work on my charting. But in a few short weeks, I won't have that safety net. I'll have my coworkers in a pinch, of course, but with a 6:1 patient-nurse ratio on nights, I need to take advantage of orientation to learn how to be as self-sufficient as possible because we're ALL busy.
So my approach on orientation is to do as much as possible while I have the luxury of that 1:1 support person. Hopefully I'll be better prepared to work on my own once orientation ends.
For the record, I interviewed for an L&D GN position just before graduation. My classmates were so impressed! But something didn't feel right about a specialty orientation period barely longer than my current M-S orientation with a LOT of classroom stuff to boot (so far my time working on the floor has been far more useful/relevant that my nurse residency didactic classes). I honestly wasn't comfortable enough with the basics, such as IV starts and doing really good, thorough head-to-toe assessments, to think that specializing right out of school was a bright idea. At least for me.
So far, it's worked out great. I have learned more in the past seven weeks than in all of nursing school clinical combined. Plenty of nurses on my floor see M-S as a springboard to a specialty, which is absolutely their prerogative. But I feel like it's a specialty in itself and I'm happy to care for these patients/have this job!
Great post. So glad to know that you're taking the proverbial "bull by the horns". You'll be much better off in the long run. I happen to think that med-surf is the most difficult specialty out there. There is nothing like med surg that teaches a nurse how to organize, prioritize, manage tasks & get a lot of experience in the process. I happen to think that all nurses should do one year of med surg out of school, but that's just me & a lot of nurses differ with my opinion.
Great post. However, having been a nurse for 25+ years, I have seen the entire healthcare system get flushed down the toilet----and that has to do with Medicare and the insurance companies "rationing" money based on their own ridiculous criteria. I did like nursing once----back when I worked in units where the staff was cohesive even in the worst situations; when we all made our own schedules & never had any conflicts (well, almost never); worked flex time & was able to have 11 days off in a row without taking any vacation; when I was asked if I wanted to----not commanded to---do overtime; when nursing wasn't nitpicked over whether you had a BSN or MSN or not, or if you had certifications or not, only to be treated like waitresses/waitors either way. I liked it when I actually felt like I was doing something to help my patients instead of spending the majority of time on documentation so the hospital can get reimbursed appropriately. The change in the environment of healthcare from one which used to be about helping a person heal & go on to live a decent quality of life to a totally for-profit service industry is what has caused my feelings to take a 180. Going from QUALITY to QUANTITY changed my opinion a lot. Gone are the days of Florence Nightingale.
I have been a bedside hospital nurse for over 3 decades. Nursing used to be fun, rewarding and highly satisfying. I regularly received compliments from patients, family and management,
Unfortunately, society, in general, has become an immediate gratification expectation collection of often times impatient, rude, angry mass of people. Nurses meet these people when they are not at their best, which fosters negative reactions. Thus, as we try to meet needs, we now find that we cannot do so quick enough, well enough in the patient or family's opinion. This makes nurses feel unappreciated no matter how hard we try to meet needs.
Additionally, and more importantly, health care has become very political and micromanaged. While we are told that patient satisfaction scores must rise, we are also told we must adapt to and follow ever changing requirements in order for hospitals to receive justly due compensation. So, now although we yearn to deliver high quality care, emphasis by management is to follow rules upon rules. The threat of termination follows us as managers micromanage ALL aspects of care delivery.
So, while I have developed massive experience and confidence, I find my ability to exercise any autonomy is quickly squelched by management because they prefer puppets that obey their every directive. This crushes job satisfaction, professional growth and development, critical thinking, and overall morale.
Thus, the result is very few happy nurses, high turnover rates and ultimately poor patient satisfaction scores, which drive compensation down as well.
Like I said, nursing used to be fun...
Policies & procedures = "evidence based" = "quality measures" = reimbursement. That's what it's all about. When all, or at least almost all, of the people are in pursuit of the almighty dollar & will do whatever it takes to get it, that usually lowers the satisfaction of the employees.
I read every single post on here and can relate to all of them in some manner or another . I have been a nurse for 31 years. I graduated from a 3 year ( all year..no summers off) hospital based program what seems like 100 years ago. We were prepared well....we did 3 months in each rotation working 3 eight hour shifts per week, including all shifts and weekends...them finished up with a 5 month stint as a team leader on a unit ( back when team nursing was all the rage ). I went straight into the ICU out of school..that was my " dream job " . Orientation lasted barely 4 weeks , I was rotating night charge nurse by 12 weeks, and on the code team by 20 weeks. Sink or swim.... Did I make some mistakes ..Yep ! We all do. We are human. But I learned hard and fast. We didn't get extended orientations or internships . Over the years I have worked ED, PACU, trauma , home health, hospice, was an ADON ( shudder ) ...and have since returned to hospice . It's my niche. Do I love what I do? Yes..or I wouldn't do it. Do I love the politics of nursing ? Nope. Do I love the fact that I am now back in school at 52 years old because that ADN that had served me well is no longer " a valid degree " . Nope..actually it pisses me off. I'm tired of the need for alphabet soup after our names that, according to some, make us " better nurses " . Did I like working 40 + hours a week and being mandated to work overtime when I had plans on my time off? Nope...but I cancelled my plans and showed up anyway. We all vent about the realities of nursing life. It may not mean we hate it....but we are human and would like a little respect for what many of us do that our managers are often not skilled enough to do. Appreciation goes a long way..and we see little of that on a day to day basis. All that being said..can I imagine doing anything else ? Nope....I'm a nurse through and through. However, working at the local bakery making cupcakes is looking pretty good recently. Best of luck to you .
Right on. I like that you can vent on here. You cannot do this many places because everyone wants to sugar coat everything. There is textbook nursing, and then there is the real world.
I don't think most nurses HATE nursing. I just think most are frustrated. You go into nursing wanting to help people, and do a good job. However, reality can be really tough. I love the job that I have now, but it does not pay well, so I have to work a second job, that I hate, but pays like crazy. UGG.
Is it bad for people to have a desire to work in one specialty over another? That's called "goals." What am I missing here??
Apparently it is.
Your first job is a hit or miss. Some people are lucky to get the job they want right out the gate. Others like myself have to take what it is offered and work towards a goal they want. Not everyone is going to want to spend years and years at a job that doesn't treat them well just to appease some archaic rule.
As far as job hopping? It is a new day. Not too many people stay at the same spot for years. The idea of loyalty went out the window when companies started treating their employees like garbage.
My old manager is keeping me on as PRN. I know for a fact that I could be hired on full-time again as that unit hemorrhages nurses like crazy. No burned bridges here.
Too true. These days if you stay at a job too long, you become too expensive for the company. They do not care how much experience you have. They can hire a new or newer employee much cheaper.
sandiegotrish
23 Posts
Totally. I mean, that is just basic job knowledge that anyone in any field is supposed to know. Job hopping is bad no matter whether you're a new nurse or a new graphic designer. Anyone who goes to college and comes out a new grad looking for jobs does and should understand that you start at the bottom or wherever you can to get experience. I don't think nursing is different in this respect. Maybe it's something that could be taught in school.