I entered nursing because of my love and respect for the elderly. Pay was not a major concern , but it was always pretty good and comfortable living. What turns me off the very ,very most is the nurse to patient ratio. I am one who wanted to do LTC and am comfortable and feel I can provide quality and improvement if I have no more than 20 patients. But it is common to have a 30-40 patient to nurse ratio. That is the boat I am in now and I have become so overwhelmed to the point that it causes me to, cut corners, and honestly do a lack luster job, that is way below my work ethic.
I unfortunately am not independently wealthy so I have to put up with what is happening at my job and it hurts me because I feel like my patients are not getting the best care. I am actively seeking employment that allows for a smaller ratio. I don't want to become a bad nurse because I am not the energizer bunny. I am human and have to take care of my mental status too.
Specializes in MICU/CCU, SD, home health, neo, travel.
I am looking to get a nursing job, so, at this time, I can not really sympathize with those who managed to get one, let alone those who have the "x" amount of experience to MOVE to better nursing positions.
Get back to us when you've had that full cup of soda thrown at you for some petty reason. Or been screamed at when you didn't come with somebody's ice cream right away because you were in a code.
Posts like these make me want to be a nurse even more. Anyone who's had to care for aging/elderly parents or family with chronic illness for extended periods would love a paycheck and degree for it! Why not?
Life is full of thankless "jobs" and being underpaid is better than not being paid? Or am just a masochist? That's a rhetorical question.
Actually being a nurse is a dedication, a passion and commitment. Yes there are people who are born nurses and some have studied nursing but it is not in their hearts, so they get burn out easily. We must remember the reason why we are doing what are we doing. We have a purpose which others cannot do, and it is on our hands to be the best healthcare that can be.
Here is the link that talks about the RN wages
[h=3]Answers to Your Questions About RN Income Across the US[/h]
I am tired of nursing being portrayed as a calling and being expected to feel guilt if I want better working conditions and a reasonable wage.
As a patient I want nurses who are efficient, knowledgeable, and willing to advocate on my behalf - not someone who thinks nursing is just "helping people."
Just curious, are you a nurse or a nursing student? Your profile (as seen on the app) is confusing.
Different people have different experiences with different jobs. Even those with great positions will likely have moments of frustration.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Actually being a nurse is a dedication, a passion and commitment. Yes there are people who are born nurses and some have studied nursing but it is not in their hearts, so they get burn out easily. We must remember the reason why we are doing what are we doing. We have a purpose which others cannot do, and it is on our hands to be the best healthcare that can be.
Here is the link that talks about the RN wages
Answers to Your Questions About RN Income Across the US
I sincerely hope you're not posting under your own name and using your selfie as an avatar. Or your girlfriend's selfie. Or whatever. That's an incredibly bad idea for reasons described fully in other threads. (Search for them and you will find them.)
Sooner or later you're going to say something incredibly offensive to other posters . . . In fact, I think you have already done so.
Being a nurse is not, actually, "a dedication, a passion and commitment." Nor are their people who are "born nurses", especially given the requirements of education and licensure to entire the field. In fact, I would go so far as to say that those who have studied nursing "but it is not in their hearts" burn out less quickly than those who are convinced that they are born nurses or that they have a calling. There are plenty of threads on that, too.
Your entire post is full of empty platitudes, except for the link about RN wages, which any one of us who wanted to read about RN wages could have googled on our own. The whole thing comes across as condescending. Assuming that was not your intention, and that you didn't mean to insult several thousand AN members, I'd encourage you to change your user name and your avatar. Before you insult, annoy or irritate several thousand more posters, one of which may be your boss, your preceptor or your instructor.
I don't "hate" my job. If I did I would (and have) find another job or change careers. However, there are days when I drive home feeling exhausted and defeated. Those are the days when I feel like my patients didn't get everything I feel that they should have, when we were short staff or equipment and had to make do. That is the worst feeling in the world.
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.
I'm surprised you even need an MBA...networking & leaving behind a strong "legacy" has taken me more places than any education I've had thus far.
I also run my own business for a few years now. I knew nothing about business. But here I am. [emoji23]
I've never really been worried about pay because I've never relied on one source of income even as a high schooler.
I don't "hate nursing" - I hate that I can't always give my pts the time I would like because of short-staffing.
I "hate" that sometimes I believe I see my hospital only seeing the pts as money and therefore opt for riskier treatments because of the fact that more money is possible (I know...I don't want to think about it.)
I "hate" that I often go home and can't get my pts families out of my head because of sad situations.
I "hate" that I care too much some days and risk my job LOL
Actually being a nurse is a dedication, a passion and commitment. Yes there are people who are born nurses and some have studied nursing but it is not in their hearts, so they get burn out easily. We must remember the reason why we are doing what are we doing. We have a purpose which others cannot do, and it is on our hands to be the best healthcare that can be.
Here is the link that talks about the RN wages
Answers to Your Questions About RN Income Across the US
Are you saying that it is OK for a nurse who is called to Nursing, perhaps by God, temperament, or whatever to be abused, overloaded, overworked, unable to take breaks?
While I agree that some are called and some are not, no one deserves maltreatment, no one should be subjected by bosses to the awful way some managers and suits treat staff.
I loved my job at one time. Unfortunately, things have changed so very much over the last 10-15 years, it's no longer enjoyable. I don't like seeing my residents go without even the simplest things, so that I can watch home office people receive their large bonuses for "cutting costs". I am tired of taking away people's meds who truly suffer from psych issues, so that we can have another "star". I am tired of working 110 hours a payperiod only to be told I need to pick up more. I am tired of being told LPN's are worthless. It is time to move on, for me. I am currently searching for something non- medical related. Tough change later in life. But enough is enough.
littlelimabean01, LPN
69 Posts
I entered nursing because of my love and respect for the elderly. Pay was not a major concern , but it was always pretty good and comfortable living. What turns me off the very ,very most is the nurse to patient ratio. I am one who wanted to do LTC and am comfortable and feel I can provide quality and improvement if I have no more than 20 patients. But it is common to have a 30-40 patient to nurse ratio. That is the boat I am in now and I have become so overwhelmed to the point that it causes me to, cut corners, and honestly do a lack luster job, that is way below my work ethic.
I unfortunately am not independently wealthy so I have to put up with what is happening at my job and it hurts me because I feel like my patients are not getting the best care. I am actively seeking employment that allows for a smaller ratio. I don't want to become a bad nurse because I am not the energizer bunny. I am human and have to take care of my mental status too.