I've been a nurse for awhile and have always contemplated what makes nurses leave the profession (or bedside for that manner). As a matter of fact, I have thought about it from time to time in the 13 years I've been a nurse. From my experience I have found that aspects such as short-staffing, too many tasks, lack of upward mobility, poor management and underpayment contribute to a nurses' unhappiness in their career.
I just wanted to ask the general nursing population regardless of how long you've been a nurse what your thoughts were. Do you think leaving the profession comes from one of the aspects listed above? Or is it something else entirely?
Not true Art... you just need to know where to look and how to market yourself.
Nurses are prized within many business venues. I have a lowly associate degree, make the big bucks working from home.
Actually what I said is true because looking around, marketing yourself, and finding other opportunities definitely counts as advancing a career. Heck, send me your address and I will send you a truckload of whining do-nothing burnout cases who can help you "make big bucks working from home."
The first post said it all for me ! I have been a nurse for 37 years, 36 yrs have been spent at the bedside. I honestly thought that I was going to die some of the shifts that I worked. One person can only do so much at one time. I could feel my blood pressure going up as I drove to work. I enjoyed pt care for the most part. It really was these past few yrs when we, as nurses were told what to say and how to parrot responses. I can think for my self and didn't need someone to tell my how to care for patients. In my job now, I work as a nurse, but it is in a much looser form. I get to talk to the older people, the best part. In some ways I am my own boss. I work as a nurse for 2 churches. I don't make much money, took about a 50% cut in pay. But my life and my sanity was worth it. I no longer feel like I am going to drop over dead!
Nurses leave the profession for a myriad of reasons, including:
1. Overworked
2. Underpaid
3. Treated badly by patients
4. Treated badly by families
5. Treated badly by managers
6. Treated badly by other nurses
7. Treated badly by other members of the interdisciplinary team (physicians, PT, OT, ST, social workers, case managers, dieticians)
8. Too much responsibility
9. Not enough authority
10. Administration treats us like we are as replaceable as the roll of toilet paper in the restroom
11. Mentality that the patient is always right
12. Increased focus on patient satisfaction scores
13. Decreased focus on proper patient care
14. Dangerous nurse/patient ratios
15. Feeling trapped in a lose/lose situation
All of the above. I especially like #10. The trend towards managers that are not qualified for the role/position they have has been a major factor is my desire to get away from traditional nursing. I have also noted that the older nurses seem to be something the new management doesn't want. Where I worked, all the older nurses were "cleaned" out, and replace with new nurses out of school. The newer nurses cost less and would not argue if our manager wanted to do something that was to stupid for words. The evolving nature of for profit health care is changing the nursing field as corporate principles are being applied to the hospital floors, and long term facilities. I have also observed that jobs are not as stable because hospital/long term facilities change their ideas so much.
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
Just rec'd a letter from corporate about how much they agonized over the upcoming pay cut, and how they would, as soon as they deemed it possible, raise our pay-rate. If they ever do, it will be the first "raise" we've seen in YEARS! Pppffffttttt!
The nursing workforce will be the next union boom, I believe...
Many people leave, but many MORE stay, and there are many that are having the seat of the table and have a voice, many MORE need to find it and make the necessary changes.
I completely agree - I'm in the middle of union negotiations now and overwhelming the nurses wanted safe staffing ratios, not necessary a pay raise. And our CNA have a 10-patient load - can't even imagine!
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
Yes and a 10 pt workload ( or more, if someone calls out) is very normal for CNA's at an LTC! They have to treat the patients like they are on an assembly line; not that they aren't nice to them, but they literally have NO time between rounds because as soon as they end one they have to start the next. And doing that day after day after day.....AUGH! Some aides team a few of the harder patients, but mostly they are on their own.
When I was passing meds I had some at every single hour of a 12 hour day, with the heaviest passes at 8, 10, 12 and 4; also the finger-sticks and INH's, plus the treatments,PRN's, the phone and fax-machine(no clerks), doctor's orders, plus the pharmacy delivery,and had to get supplies and O2 tanks out of the supply room because "only nurses' were allowed to go in there. I spent more time on interruptions than on my main task of meds! I was on my feet the entire shift until I charted.....and THAT took several HOURS to accomplish.
Thank God I am doing PD now. LTC work-load is ridiculous, and that's putting it mildly. It constantly puts your ethics and license in jeopardy; nobody can tap-dance that fast without tripping up somewhere along the line.
I appreciate the honest insight that you and others have shared. I am also really happy to hear that your work/life has changed since being an NP-it's very encouraging. I do hope that the health care system can change so that nurses are able to provide that ideal patient care. Hearing the experience shared actually helps me now while I'm in school. Thanks so much for posting this!!
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ArtClassRN, ADN, RN
630 Posts
Actually what I said is true because looking around, marketing yourself, and finding other opportunities definitely counts as advancing a career. Heck, send me your address and I will send you a truckload of whining do-nothing burnout cases who can help you "make big bucks working from home."
You'd run from your own house screaming.