Why do some nurses "hate their jobs"?

[iculvr]

The question being asked is:

Why do nurses say that they hate their job?

Let's reflect :)

I've been a R.N. for three years and I always end up meeting nurses who aren't happy with their role as a R.N. both younger and older.

• Not everyone aspires to purse a degree in nursing, "when they grow up" and are looking for a way to make quick money.
  

• How do bedside nurses with 20 years plus experience do what they do? Is it because they are content with how things are?
  

• I feel as though some nurses are emotionally, mentally and physically built to be a nurse. Do you think so?
  

• If nurses were paid significantly more, would pay increase lead to improved nurse satisfaction?
  

I want to hear your comments, thoughts, ideas

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Why do some nurses "hate their jobs?" The same reasons why some teachers, some accountants, some pilots, some [insert any profession in the world] hate their jobs. Some jobs suck, some have poor working conditions, some have terrible bosses or poor benefits, etc.

[Purple_roses]

Disclaimer: Not a nurse yet.

You asked if higher pay would lead to higher job satisfaction. I don't think I have to be a nurse to know that no, this is not true. Nurses make enough to live comfortably and to support families. More money would equate to more fun off the clock, but not to more satisfaction while working.

The biggest reason grad school looks appealing to me is not because of the increased pay that would come along with it. It looks appealing to me because I see how stressed nurses are, I hear my friends complaining about being understaffed, I hear nurses stating that they don't have time for lunch or bathroom breaks, I see nurses and aids getting treated like **** from patients and family members. Nursing takes a lot out of a person and money doesn't replenish what was taken.

[RNperdiem, RN]

A lot depends on who you are and how you deal with work.

Some people are going to hate their job no matter what it is. Chronic complainers somehow never seem to put in the work to get themselves into a better position. Hating the job is easier, I guess.

[GGirll22]

I think the key to find an hobby or something other than Nursing to have in your life than will give you an outlet. Nurses can get Burnt out.

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

I hate my job because it consumes my life. The expectations are unreal. If I don't take my work home, it won't get done. I do have hobbies and a family, that I feel like I neglect way too much because of my job.

[TriciaJ, RN]

It's not homework if you enjoy it

So that's a "yes"?

[Ellekat2]

As it is now at my job, nursing consumes my life. When I started nursing, I could expect a standard two-week work rotation that included at least one three-day weekend and the scheduling nurse would check with me to make sure I had no plans before changing my schedule. I worked an 8 to 10-hour shift, got two 15-minute breaks and a half-hour lunch. I was expected to handle anything personal at that time. I knew what holidays I was getting off well ahead of time and could make plans.

From that, we moved to, "you can't take a weekend off, even for vacation". I've been caught up in that twice, been told I couldn't take off for family rites of passage (wedding/funeral) twice. And changed jobs both times. One nurse was able to get off for her wedding, but not for her honeymoon. To hospital administrators, OUR work (not theirs) should come before religion and family. Hospital administrators disappear on noon on Friday and aren't seen again until Monday, regardless of what emergencies may arise.

Now I haven't a clue when I'm going to work and when I'm going to be off. I have to "request off" to go to the doctor, the dentist, etc--as if it's the hospital's business why I want off. If a coworker calls in, tough .... He/she isn't replaced, we just have to stretch ourselves further. I don't get breaks, and while I'm able to eat, it's rare to get more than ten minutes to do it. They do take half an hour out of my paycheck each day. If I clock out no lunch I have to "justify" it. (Like, hmmm....that admission you gave me?)

My pay is adequate, not great. Ten years in, I got a raise because a male nurse with the exact same education and ten years less experience was hired and my pay was raised to meet his. My benefits are terrible--medical costs me $960/month, PTO that is used when census is low so they can consider me full-time. A few weeks ago the scheduler changed my weekends off and didn't even bother to tell me. My pension is matched to 3%. I'm not treated like an adult, or even like a well-behaved child. I don't work harder, or less hard, depending on my rate of pay. I work for the care of the patient and for self-respect. The paycheck is just how I manage to feed and clothe myself.

So yes, I hate my job. I hate being treated as if I have no worth, no life, no family. I hate being put in a position of not being able to give even adequate care to someone who is ill. I hate that I've given up weekends and holidays with family for ...nothing. I hate that I know that this is how the world is going, and it's going to be worse for my children.

[SleeepyRN]

Hating your job and hating being a nurse are 2 separate things. I love nursing. I hate being abused by patients and my employer being on the side of "the customer."

[elijahvegas, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

I enjoy my job because it's like Rome and I'm a gladiator. Crazy patient ratios, acute patients nonstop, routinely understaffed but it's because we serve a highly populated area, not because of a penny pinching facility. Level 1 trauma center. Every day I go in I aim to be one of the few that hasn't drowned in the workload and managed to still do a good job. They say to work there you have to have a competitive, confident ego about you and it fits me to a tee.

The motto new grads are told is "if you can do your 2 years here, you can literally work anywhere"

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I enjoy nursing; I have been able to think critically and out of the box, be mentored by amazing nurses that have helped shaped my practice, be an agent of change, create polices, educate and empower; in those positions I have enjoyed and stayed in longevity.

The positions where I've had to wear three hats while being paid to do one, lack of staffing, threats of layoffs or termination, or lack of support or disrespect, I have left.

[milesims]

I came into it from high school just to have a safe backup career. I hated it at first, grew to tolerate it, and realized direct patient care isn't what I want to do my whole life.

I'm in second year nursing now. I'm starting my own business at the age of 20 (in a month), and nursing is what motivated me to do this. I realized I didn't want to ever work as a nurse on the hospital floor, but wanted the safe degree with an MBA in order to get into executive managerial positions in the hospital. I realized my passion is in business, but knew the business degree would get me nowhere.

Kudos to everyone who loves nursing. You have the patience and hearts of angels.

[heron, ASN, RN]

Hello! @ heron

How is that statement fallacious? Nursing is a way to make quick money in comparison to other routes. I obtained my A.D.N. in two years while working full time as a tech and graduated at the age of 22. Friends my age were still in college working towards becoming a Pharmacist, Lawyer and other professional degrees. So, In my eyes, nursing is a quick way to make money. What is your stance?

I only listed statements for viewers to reflect upon that is all.

Maybe it's the title of the thread. You seem to conflate hating one's job with not wanting an advanced degree and with being in nursing for the "quick money". Why I should assume that either of those things equals hating one's job escapes me.

My stance is that your initial post makes no sense.