Why is it nurses put up with such poor conditions?

allnurses Guide · Mar 28, 2009

scared I understand where you are coming from, it's tough working in the NHS at the moment and I think that there are so many nurses who have worked years with good will to try and get the best patient care possible, this good will is drying up. Many of us are burnt out and exhausted.

Not sure what else to say, sending you big hugs.

Chisca, RN · Mar 28, 2009

At least once a week there is either a patient or family member that reminds me why I keep doing this. Sometimes you just have to survive to fight another day.

interleukin · Mar 28, 2009

You are working in a dysfunctional facility led by those who manage by fear and intimidation.

It's ugly out there when you think you have to justify your behavior at every corner.

1. Prioritize your work and don't let anyone tell you what you need to do...you know what you need to do...stick to it!

2. Don't feel like you need to make excuses or feel guilty for, say, being sick. Never indulge such line of questioning.

"Excuse me...I was sick." Period.

3. Don't work when you're not scheduled to work...unless you really want to. No one but yourself can make you do anything you don't want to do, so stop doing it.

Simply, our own behavior often perpetuates the bad behavior of others.

DEMAND RESPECT...YOU'LL GET RESPECT...STOP WORKING SCARED!

Good luck

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 28, 2009

Not all hospitals are like that, but the ones that are gather nurses that will put up with them. Move on until you find a place with acceptable conditions.

meluhn · Mar 28, 2009

I have always wondered this myself. I guess it is the same situation in the UK as it is in the US--bad for nurses. Until we get mandated staffing ratios nothing is going to change. We are always going to be lowest on the totem pole of professionals even though we are the most numerous and most indispensable. I think it has something to do with the fact that it is a female dominated profession. It is a downright abusive situation and I would leave in a heart beat if I could make the same money doing something else. I think anything outside of hospital nursing has to better than this. In a way it is our own fault because we put up with it. I am always thinking of that quote by Florence Nightengale, the one about the martyr making the lazy lazier and the selfish more selfish and the greedy greedier. It is so true. Sorry to be such a downer but this is how I feel.

Music in My Heart · Mar 28, 2009

Why do nurses put up with crappy working conditions?

The same reason that millions of other people in other vocations do...

It's called being an "At-Will Employee" which means that you can be terminated for no reason at all... just because they don't want you anymore.

Unless you're in an area with plentiful jobs so that you can move to a new employer then you're essentially faced with a choice: Put up with their crap or be denied pay and - perhaps - medical insurance.

I've been stuck in dysfunctional organizations before and it's horrible. I'm pleased that there are a number of hospitals around here that seem to have decent people leading them... too bad none of them are hiring new grads :-(

JB2007, ASN, RN · Mar 28, 2009

I put up with crappy conditions for the simple fact that you can be the only person in a room full of people screaming about something and all it will get you is kicked out. In other words if I want to keep my job I had better shut my mouth and play nice. Until all of us band together and refuse to accept poor working conditions nothing will get done. I am just one person and I have a family to feed, so I am forced to keep my big trouble making mouth shut.

truern · Mar 28, 2009

That's not typical of every facility, thank goodness....or even different departments within certain facilities.

Look around, OP...surely there's someplace else more conducive to your well-being.

scared'o'needles! · Mar 28, 2009

you are working in a dysfunctional facility led by those who manage by fear and intimidation.
it's ugly out there when you think you have to justify your behavior at every corner.

1. prioritize your work and don't let anyone tell you what you need to do...you know what you need to do...stick to it!

i have and things got more hostile!

2. don't feel like you need to make excuses or feel guilty for, say, being sick. never indulge such line of questioning.

"excuse me...i was sick." period.

i don't...guess my employers don't appreciate that fact!

3. don't work when you're not scheduled to work...unless you really want to. no one but yourself can make you do anything you don't want to do, so stop doing it.

i would rather swallow razorblades whole than be there anymore than i have too:-(

simply, our own behavior often perpetuates the bad behavior of others.

demand respect...you'll get respect...stop working scared!

this i don't think i will acheive...and i think i need to move on to a job with regular hours so that i cannot be 'punished' with poor offduty anymore when i protest about something.

good luck

thanx for all responses, i have worked in good areas too, and because of that i niavely thought that most nhs staff were levelheaded and professional:-( i have to leave for my sanitys sake.

allnurses Guide · Mar 28, 2009

You are working in a dysfunctional facility led by those who manage by fear and intimidation.
It's ugly out there when you think you have to justify your behavior at every corner.
1. Prioritize your work and don't let anyone tell you what you need to do...you know what you need to do...stick to it!
2. Don't feel like you need to make excuses or feel guilty for, say, being sick. Never indulge such line of questioning.
"Excuse me...I was sick." Period.
3. Don't work when you're not scheduled to work...unless you really want to. No one but yourself can make you do anything you don't want to do, so stop doing it.
Simply, our own behavior often perpetuates the bad behavior of others.
DEMAND RESPECT...YOU'LL GET RESPECT...STOP WORKING SCARED!
Good luck

Because Scared works in the UK there are some differences and things that affect your advice.

Sickness, all NHS hospitals follow strict guidelines when it comes to managment of sickness, any episode you have to have a return to work interview and then there are various stages within the policies that you will be dealt with officially, for example within a year period if you have 3 episodes you have an informal discussion, a further 2 episodes after that you will have a formal interview with HR, your boss and your union representative, 2 more then 2nd formal interview, then if there are 2 more you get 3rd and final, this is your last chance you risk termination from employment. We are not able to say "I am just sick", within the policies ther are triggers to refer to occupational health and staff support services, so your manager and HR have the right to know why your sick. SOme managers use this policy to help support struggling staff, some as a punishment for being sick. It just depends who manages you.

Scared I've been having a think about some of your posts and your obviously having a rough time, does your trust have an employee counselling / support / wellbeing service it may be worth contacting them for some support. I know our service has been really well used in the last few months with the increasing pressure and stress of working in the NHS

BradleyRN · Mar 28, 2009

Why do nurses put up with crappy working conditions?
The same reason that millions of other people in other vocations do...

Nursing is very different than other vocations. We accept assignments we cant handle daily, and put people's lives at risk as a result.

I think any nurse who throws in the towel is a nurse that is thinking clearly. Things will just keep getting worse til one day, i will be ashamed to call myself a nurse. Our lack of unity and excess of excuses are deplorable. :)