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.
Yeah, there is a big difference between a CNA and an LPN. And I've known many LPNs that were GREAT nurses, that I would trust over plenty of RNs. In my state now, the big thing is to not just be an RN, but to have the BSN too....and It doesn't mean a damn thing. I work with an RN who is about one month away from finishing her BSN. She is lazy, and I hate to sound harsh, but kind of stupid. She is one of those nurses that signs off on stuff that she doesn't do, which I find to be fairly immoral - not to mention dangerous. But, she'll now have that coveted "BSN" attached to her name....meaning she'll be hired over and paid more than other RNs. It's a joke. Not meaning that higher education isn't a good thing - just saying it doesn't automatically make you a better nurse
I work with an RN who is about one month away from finishing her BSN. She is lazy, and I hate to sound harsh, but kind of stupid. She is one of those nurses that signs off on stuff that she doesn't do, which I find to be fairly immoral - not to mention dangerous. But, she'll now have that coveted "BSN" attached to her name....meaning she'll be hired over and paid more than other RNs. It's a joke. Not meaning that higher education isn't a good thing - just saying it doesn't automatically make you a better nurse
That's because the stupid PTB think we can snow the general public into thinking they are getting such great care because " oh , we have 90 percent of our staff having bsn's " Come to our great hospital at St Mattress we are the best!!!!"
Ugh some of the Bsn preceptees I have had are dangerous like you describe!
Hospitals need more staff- not more BSN's
ps,I have nothing against BSN's in general- I am one class away from finishing mine. Just stating that sometimes that degree does not necessarily make you a better nurse.
I didn't say they weren't nurses....my point was a RN will frequently say I am an RN whereas, in my experience a LPN or CNA will introduce themselves as a nurse, blurring the distinction for the public. Media does it too when reporting they think "a nurse is a nurse" whether RN or LPN. I'm sorry it offends you but there is a difference.
I didn't say they weren't nurses....my point was a RN will frequently say I am an RN whereas, in my experience a LPN or CNA will introduce themselves as a nurse, blurring the distinction for the public. Media does it too when reporting they think "a nurse is a nurse" whether RN or LPN. I'm sorry it offends you but there is a difference.
A CNA cannot introduce herself/himself as a nurse, but an LPN can.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
I didn't say they weren't nurses....my point was a RN will frequently say I am an RN whereas, in my experience a LPN or CNA will introduce themselves as a nurse, blurring the distinction for the public. Media does it too when reporting they think "a nurse is a nurse" whether RN or LPN. I'm sorry it offends you but there is a difference.
What, pray tell, do you think the N in LPN/LVN stands for? They are a nurse. There is no distinction being blurred as it's a title they have every right to use. Had they introduced themselves as registered nurses without holding such license, then there is an issue.
In my experience as a new grad, only our best and brightest are getting jobs in OB/NICU, ER, etc. Most are only getting called for med-surg units, and depending on the unit that can be a very high potential for burnout due to high patient loads and resulting job dissatisfaction.
That is not why new nurses are in med surg. You are there because you need to learn and the med surg unit will give you a variety of experience. There was a time no new nurses were allowed in critical care areas. Now they allow it. I have seen too many new nurses make mistakes in these units.
Nurses are burning out because the demands on their time are greater and greater. I have been a critical care nurse for 30+ years and now am looking to leave the bedside because of too many demands. Demands to take sicker and sicker patients in higher numbers. Demands by government to meet certain arbitrary and ever-changing goals or they won't pay. Demands by the hospital because money is lost on repeat admissions who have no desire to take responsibility for their health. Demands by patients and especially families because everyone feels "entitled" to have certain care or certain special privileges. No one gives a hoot if the nurse misses their meals or can't even go to the bathroom. I used to love nursing. I no longer can say that.
I can't speak for everyone, but I HATE my job at this current moment. I was a new grad and was hired straight into an ICU. The hospital that I work at is unionized and upper management sucks. My schedule sucks, I get calls to try to make me come in almost every day that I have off, we are very short staffed, I'm working 4-5 days a week. My insurance sucks - I can only go to certain places and even then get sent bills and have to fight to not have to pay them, we have paper charting, etc.
I agreed to take the job because they offered it to me as a new grad. I'm going to stay there a year I guess. Only 4 more months, but I have been miserable. No one is happy and over half of our staff are travelers.
You have to learn to just say no to overtime if you don't want it. Better yet, don't answer the phone! I agree hospitals have crappy health insurance and you have to fight to get them to actually pay what is covered. It sucks, but don't let them off the hook. Fight and make them pay every cent they are supposed to as they are counting on people giving up, paying the bills themselves and then the workers that denied coverage get a bonus for saving the hospital money! Don't let them have a bonus at your expense! Stand firm, file a complaint with your state insurance commissioner if need be and they will pay the bills asap!
The ICU where I work too is known for short staffing, lots of mandation and consequently high turnover and use of travelers. I don't know if this is common for ICU in general, but I think it may be more common than not due to the high stress and acuity of ICU I think most nurses have a limited life span due to burnout. I work a step down, that is stressful enough, never had the desire to do ICU. I think many places are taking new grads due to a shortage of experienced ICU nurses. You don't have to stay there and you don't have to stay in ICU. You can change jobs easily now that you have some bedside experience so take advantage and find the best job you can with the best pay and benefits. The VA system has the best benefits hands down including student loan repayment and tuition reimbursement. Check them out if you have a VA near you!
I don't think nurses MUST love their job to be a good nurse, it was just general curiosity on why or what they didn't like about it. Thank you for wishing me luck and your honest response (:
Sorry I know my reply sounded harsh and it wasn't you personally rather it is the widespread belief many have that nurses are supposed to be happy and loving and want to help others like Florence Nightingale and shouldn't be unhappy. There is this pollyana stereotype of nurses as giving and helping where no negative emotions are allowed. This isn't the real life experience of most nurses as the vents on all nurses show. I don't love my job, but like many I wanted to do something where I could make a difference and use my brain. I used to want to be a Dr but realize they have their own problems with burnout and micromanagement just like we do.
Coming to allnurses has comforted me and let me realize I'm not alone in my frustrations and that we are all struggling together. I have a good supervisor and my director is ok, but I'm frustrated about the working conditions the lack of safe lift equipment such as ceiling lifts, coupled with the foley free environment which is an accident waiting to happen when we have morbidly obese patients. I think it will take an Act of Congress like safe needle legislation for hospitals to provide a safe no lift environment with ceiling lifts etc.
I'm looking forward to retirement, but to the younger ones I suggest you consider bedside nursing a temporary paid residency and go back to school for NP for better pay and working conditions and to protect your back and body so you don't have to live your life in chronic pain. I've seen so many coworkers struggle with chronic pain and a few become completely disabled. Bedside nursing is not safe! I feel for the poor nurses that got Ebola who were put in harm's way because of lack of preparation and safe equipment such as hazmat suits to care for him. Management doesn't take our safety into account let alone our lives, backs or careers. All I can say is be warned and be careful and protect yourself as best you can!
I think our frustrations can best be summed up in the book "Ending Nurse to Nurse Hostility" by Bartholomew. See if you can get your hands on a copy. I dont think it'll scare you off - it puts things in perspective. I found it helpful.
Like others have said - people often come to this site to "vent." If they're happy and doing well, they're probably not on here.
It's also quite shocking, even 20 years later, to constantly be faced with this:
Nursing school = Do ABC like this _____
Real life as a Nurse = You know how to do ABC like like this_____ but have no time, so have to do XYZ like this ____ and still try to feel good about it.
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
I love nursing. I truly do. I was an LPN/LVN. Now am in RN school.
I can definitely say that I love nursing. I loved my work as an LPN/LVN.
I was basically paid to be kind, give meds and be attentive to vulnerable people.
And you know what? My aides and pts appreciated me. As Commuter recently reminded us, pts are more impressed with how you care than with what you know.
I did experience some bumps on the road as an LPN/LVN.
But no person could make me ever believe that I was not a good nurse.
As an RN student, there are aspects of nursing that are majorly super stressful. My instructors seem to believe that by setting nearly impossible standards, we'll be better nurses.
Sure, this is discouraging. I've been on AN complaining about this quite a bit.
But, occasionally, I have the opportunity to experience "real" nursing. And I LOVE IT!
this is what keeps me going.
As an RN, I'll have to take the good with the bad at work.
But we all have our reasons and motivations for continuing to work in this field.
You are right, I should never say never. I guess I could say I have a goal set, a dream job in mind. It's not that I would hate working with older people, it is just not something I ever have dreamed of doing.I want to do something I love for the rest of my life.
I totally understand the venting side of this website, I just wish I witnessed more "I like" posts (about nursing itself not events) rather than "I hate" or "I would never do nursing over again". I feel like I run across more of the negativity side or nursing rather than the positive side. I know nursing is anything but easy, but I feel like if you are truly passionate about it, it should at least be enjoyable. Nursing isn't for everyone, I am just in the slumps about deciding what I want to do for 30+ years of my life. Thank you for your replies though :) it is appreciated.
I understand exactly where you are. I figured ICU would be the place for me, but I fell in love with hospice and palliative. You'll find your place, and it may be where you least expect. Maybe go for your LVN and try it out. If you find you don't like nursing, there is always other options in healthcare. (Physical therapy assistant and occupational therapy assistant are big alternatives to nursing in my area.) Good luck to you! You'll find your way.
Geslina, BSN, RN
79 Posts
Yeah, there is a big difference between a CNA and an LPN. And I've known many LPNs that were GREAT nurses, that I would trust over plenty of RNs. In my state now, the big thing is to not just be an RN, but to have the BSN too....and It doesn't mean a damn thing. I work with an RN who is about one month away from finishing her BSN. She is lazy, and I hate to sound harsh, but kind of stupid. She is one of those nurses that signs off on stuff that she doesn't do, which I find to be fairly immoral - not to mention dangerous. But, she'll now have that coveted "BSN" attached to her name....meaning she'll be hired over and paid more than other RNs. It's a joke. Not meaning that higher education isn't a good thing - just saying it doesn't automatically make you a better nurse