Hi everyone! I am new to the site and need some advice or a pep talk.
Have any of you have ever wished you had never gone into nursing or wished you'd gotten out? I am trying to decide if I should stay in nursing or get out now before I'm too old.
I'm 42 and have been an LPN for 21 years. I worked the first 9 years, decided the stress was too much and the pay way too low and I quit to stay home and homeschool for 12 years but I have recently gone back into nursing (long term care at this time). All the same problems are still there- low pay, too many patients, disrepect from superiors, family members and patients. But mostly i hate the amount of work we have and the complexity of decisions we are forced to make about our patients care. I feel soooo incompetant most of the time, even though my DON says I am one of the best nurses she has ever worked with and my staff, CNAs, CMA etc say the same.
Is being an RN any better as far as stress goes? It seems to me it would be worse. I keep telling myself there are many less-stressful nursing jobs out there and having my RN will open more doors for me. Am I just fooling myself?
I have finished all my prereqs for an ADN program and can't seem to get motivated about finishing the program.
Am I the only person who loves nursing and hates it at the same time?
Too often I think, "if I could only do it all over I'd have done something else". I feel bad for saying it but, there, I've said it. I don't know what to do!!!!
I understand what you are saying, I have been an RN for 21 years now and sometimes I wonder what in the world was I thinking, but then I think back to all the good things that have come from my career as a nurse. True, sometimes it is frustrating and the work can be very demanding. Nursing is a great profession. We as nurses can make it better. We just have to learn to quit eating our young and take care of ourselves. It seems to be a lesson we haven't learned very well. Whether we are LPN's, RN's, BSNs, etc. we should take care of each other and try to get new nurses in the field and make working conditions better for all.
Terry, you are correct. The way we treat each other is part of my frustration.
It is comforting to know I'm not the only nurse who has questioned their career choice. I was starting to wonder if it meant I wasn't "cut out" for nursing. I guess I just need to focus on the positive.
Stay in nursing, go on for your RN. I have asked myself the same question. If I could do it all over again, I would not get into nursing, but I'm too old to start over, you've already got two feet in "Keep going"
I also wonder whether or not I should stay in Nursing but the problem is that I have yet to start!
I am a Junior Nursing Student at North Carolina Central University and I am waiting to be accepted into the upper division of our nursing department. When I came in as a Freshman (like many 18 yr olds ) I was not focused. Therefore, I find that I am 4 classes behind! The nursing department at our school only reviews applications in the spring and ALL requirements must be met.
Anyway, this is my problem: I do not want to give up on my dream because of the mistakes of my past!(But an education is very expensive!)I do not want to go through all 4 years and realize that this is not the career for me!I say this because I hear about Doctors and patients cursing the nurses out, nurse relations and other topics of discussion for myself and my colleagues. I must also be realistic: "Yes, I am a caring and compassionate person!"; should I choose to stay in the program I think that I will be one of the best of the best, but I have a fear that I might hurt someone. Meaning I do not like to see others in pain that I have inflicted. Be that I have given a needle, assessed pain level, etc...
My friends say that it would better suit me to pursue a more analytical career in nursing or perhaps even teaching nursing concepts, but should I give up on the Practice
(hands-on) because I fear a few needles and cries of pain?
What's your opinion folks? I would greatly appreciate your correspondance!
don't give up. You can't give up now anyway, it's against the law-you're past the point of no return.
And hey, I was scared to death of needles and all that stuff too, but after practicing IV sticks, and doing the phlebotomy class, and especially after my week long OR rotation, I got over that.
Hey, when I was a freshman I made a 1.45 and a 1.21. I don't even remember my first 3 years of college.
You'll be fine, and besides, its' not near as bad as people will make it out to be.
Thank you for the encouragement! I really appreciate it! I guess sometimes it is easy to become discouraged when you are so close to your blessing!
On a lighter note: I picked up two volumes of "Memory Notebook of Nursing" and I really enjoyed looking over the pages. I gained a little confidence when I began to see that I knew a lot of the information. I think I would recommend these books to any student because #1- They are not very expensive and #2 the information is presented in a interesting way!
Again, I thank you for the encouragement "shortbus"! I think I'm going to hold on!
To pattym: Go for the RN. You might as well get an RN salary for what you've already been doing. When you get tired of direct patient care, your RN will allow you to go into other areas of nursing that are less stressful.
Jessica: In another year, the thought of inflicting pain with a needle will no longer be an issue. Remember why you chose to go into nursing in the first place, and stick with it. (oops! Freudian slip?)The rewarding parts, as few and far between as they may seem, will always outweigh the bad.
I have a few questions about our nursing program:
What is the drop out rate?_______________%
What percentage of our students pass the NCLEX?____________________%
What percentage of our students get jobs after graduation?
______________%
What is the median GPA? ________.___
Would you recomend a internship or "Candystripping" or to working as a
CNA
during the program?____
When will I be assigned an advisor?_______________,____, 200_
What curriculum should I be following? ( The one I came in with, or the
curriculum of the year: that changes constantly!)_____________________
What is the average completion time?______________
Are there some students that I can talk to about the
program?___________,___________,_________
"Do these look like adequate questions to be posed to my advisor? "
I have been a nurse for 22 years in many different areas but nursing has changed over the years.It used to be hands on compassionate bedside care, but it has turned into a stressful, frustrating, lack of time care. Hospitals are understaffing their nurses to try to save money in the health care world, but what they don't realize we are the foundation that supplies them their business. Until health care facilities realize this, there will always be a nurse shortage and frustration in this profession. The health care facility where I work at used to have 93% of the market share out of 3 hospitals in the our city, but with budget cuts, lack of staffing, no employee support, this has caused the decrease of quality care and thus the market share drop to 70% in the city.Until this changes, my desire to enter another field will always be there.So many nurses my age also feel this same way. I wish nursing would go back to the old ways! Don't know what else to do at my age. 43 and frustrated.
It appears to me that your are an excellent nurse and should not leave nursing. However, you should begin to search for a place where you will be happier. No need to hunt for perfection, it does not exist. Why not just look for something that suits you better than what you are doing now.
I am student at Drexel University and the first week of school I cried everyday, i mean every single day that week wondering what I got myself into. I began to second guess myself and thinking maybe nursing was not for me. It is very difficult but for all in just think of the impact you will have on people that you meet. Someone told me "if there is nothing else you could see yourself doing then you are right where you want to be." Yes I still feel stress and lost and want to quit but I am trying to roll with the punches.
The thought crosses my mind every day...what am I doing in this profession? But, for certain, there are endless avenues...from administration to education to the specialty of your choice. And if you get there and it's not what you think it is what you want, try something else. The only dead end in nursing is BURN OUT. If you're there, take a rest, forgive yourself, and make a new plan. Home care? LTC? Back to school? You are a good person, even when you feel self doubt.
Oh nursing, the job you learn to love or else the job you learn to hate. It depends on where you work, and what the environment is where you work. If you have a supportive staff that you work with, then you love it. If you have a staff of nurses who are supposed to be your co-workers, but choose to eat their young, then you quickly learn to despise your job. Unfortunately, there are various egos in this profession, preventing the nurses from bonding into a loyal group. Why do you think they can be pushed around by those administrators? They are to busy fighting among themselves. I have been in both situations, and it is much more enjoyable to work with a supportive staff. So you will have to decide what the environment of the place you work in is like. You may want to consider changing facilities.
But hang in there and do not quite on a spur of the moment, give it lots of thought.
Here is my own little philosophy on IV's, drawing blood, giving shots, other invasive procedures, etc...
The patient is going to be getting the shot whether you give it or someone else does. If you do it then you can be assured that it was given with the utmost respect for the patient's feeling of pain and anxiety. You can also be sure of the fact that, because your first priority is patient comfort, you have studied the "art" of phlebotomy as well as you could in order to inflict the least amount of discomfort as well as to alleviate the suffering caused by the afflicted's illness. Anyone else might not have the same compassion and concern. Therefore you are the best person for the job. That is reason enough to put aside your personal feelings and unselfishly treat the patient as they deserve.
It has been many years since I started my first IV but I have not forgotten the terror associated with inserting that small steel shaft into someone's vein for the first time. It can be justified.
So rare is the opportunity for people to exercise/practice compassion on a daily basis within your chosen profession. Sure, there are literally thousands of other jobs/careers out there that are rewarding and that pay very well, but do they actually positively impact the lives of so many people as does the nursing profession? I think not.
And furthermore, the nursing profession offers so many career options, should you decide that your current role no longer fits you.
How many other professions are available where One preparation could lead to literally thousands of doors? I have been nursing for 15 years. Recently I switched over to a new unit for a "convenient" position. I did not feel burned out, however, the change in clinical focus and working with new faces and personalities has rejuvinated me! I have found a renewed passion which has inspired me to pursue certification and take on more responsibility. The possibilities in Nursing are endless. Never stop caring!
2 things...1)no matter how well prepared you are to graduate from nursing school, and no matter how well your professors attempted to tell you about what "real nursing" entails, hundreds graduate every year without a clue. And a lot of them don't make it in the work world. Nursing is marvelous but it is also mostly thankless and dirty with too much paperwork, and too little hands-on care. I graduated with my BSN 5 years ago and was scared to death, but jumped in with both feet.Days go by without questioning my choices, and then weeks go by when I constantly question my choices. Nursing is NOT glamorous. Nursing is NOT about finding a doctor for a spouse. And most certainly nursing is NOT financially rewarding when compared to the level of decision-making that many of us do on a minute-to-minute basis.
Nursing is " caring". Nursing is " making the best with what you have to work with" Nursing is coming up with ways to make what seem to be mundane tasks more interesting and efficient. Nursing is teaching. But most of all Nursing is what we make it!!!! And I've decided that in spite of the powers that be, the negative attitudes, the lack of retention and the limitless government paperwork, that I can still be the kind of nurse I want to be. Granted, with less hands-on than I had intended, but enough that I can make my residents smile and make them feel as though the facility is their home. And most of all one "Thank You" from a patient or family member can make all the other bad things go away.
The 2nd thing: " Nurses eat their young." Don't understand the concept at all but damnit, teach these new students and grad nurses, don't blow them off. I don't know about you, but I would rather impart my knowlege to them gently and know that somehow I have gotten through to them and that I would be pleased that they be the ones to care for me when the time comes. Think about it!!!
I was an LPN for seven years, and was put through the ringer by nursing. I thought things would be better as an RN. Well, I've been an RN for three years now, and things are even rougher. Much more responsibility.
The working conditions and pt loads are just overwhelming in today's nursing environment.
I'm looking for a way to cut my losses and leave nursing, too.
I think it would be ludicrous for anyone in the health care field to say that they haven't questioned their career choice one time or another. It's a career that taxes you mentally and physically.
I came to that conclusion six years ago when my son was found to have colo-rectal tumors. I was being forced to choose between staying home with my son or continue working my position at the hospital. It didn't take much thought as my son won precedence. The hospital he was staying at was also the hospital that I was employed with. They informed me that I should return to my position in order to keep my status. I apparently had exhausted all the time off that they were willing to allow.
I didn't know it at the time, but I was becoming burnt out on nursing anyway. It's mentally and physically stressing. To make matters worse, I am a single mother of five. Now that's stress!
The Peyton Place atmosphere at the facility was also another stressing factor. It's so easy to get caught up in others' lives when working so close together. It's utterly impossible to avoid, albeit an important factor to keep in mind. (hence the success of the show ER)
I did take that well deserved break and stayed home with my son.
My first anxiety attack and initial thoughts of panic stemmed from the financial aspect of my decision. I had been so overwhelmed at the thought of not being there for my son, that I hadn't thought that far ahead. I have never been one to take a position for the money. NEVER. (My philosophy is, and I learned this in nursing school, that if you're only there for the money, you shouldn't be there) There have been many times that I had no idea how much the position was paying until after I was hired and even then, it didn't matter. Now it mattered, or so I thought. It was a big adjustment for the entire family. Life wasn't without stress at this point either as there were forms to fill out for his disability. (and you want to talk about overwhelming, deal with Social Security!) I had to. It was our only source of income as I do not receive support for my children (dead beat dads, whole other topic). I contemplated other positions within the field, but the end result was, I didn't want to go back into nursing. Period. I didn't want the grueling schedule demands. I didn't want to be on an emotional rollercoaster, whereas, you enter one room and are overcome by someone's dx of a terminal illness, then walk down the hall a bit further and suddenly have to be elated for a patient that just found out they're going to be a father for the first time. I didn't want to have to think about taking care of anyone but my family and myself. It sounded selfish at the time, but believe me, in the long run it made me an even better nurse than before.
I finally found another way of making ends meet and supplementing our now fixed income. I began to paint. I did a lot of soul searching during the times when I went to my studio and created. It not only help me find my peace of mind, it helped to boost the family's income as I began to sell some of my work.
My time off allowed me to peel off the tarnished layers and waned enthusiasm that had developed over the course of my career. I came to the conclusion that I had to have peace within myself if I were ever going to work in the capacity of a health care professional again. It allowed me to seek out other ways of handling stress and bottom line, that's all I needed. Nursing is a career that doesn't always offer you that "pat on the back", sometimes you have to do that yourself. That's part of the profession. You have to step back and ask yourself, "Would you want someone taking care of you or your loved one, that didn't really want to be there?"
So take the time to pat yourself on the back and if nursing is in your heart, it's truly something that you are compelled to do, you'll go back.
I enjoy my career again with a newfound sense of rejuvenation and energy. It's reminescent of how I felt when I became a nurse almost twenty years ago, only now I bring my experience along with it. Hang in there all of you that are in nursing school! You made this decision for a reason and believe me, the rewards are tremendous. I made this decision because I knew nursing would always be in my life, I wasn't sure about my son.
Renee Brinkley, LPN
Geordan is now a happy and healthy, cancer-free child of six. The proceeds from the paintings that I sell from my gallery, now are donated to the American Cancer Society and other charitable organizations.
Geordan skipping rocks
One of my recent paintings...yes it's for sale!
(Email me to find out the interesting "facts" about this painting...it's all about recycling and making a difference)
There are days I absolutely love my job; then there are the days I feel like running out the door screaming. I was an LPN for 23 years & went back for my RN (I've been an RN for 7 years now).
As far as stress goes, it can be worse at times but somehow I manage to distance myself from the worst of it & that helps.
Hi. I am about to graduate with my BSN in Dec. I have always wanted to be a nurse. I was a small business owner for the last15 years. I hate being an employer with all those special headaches that go along with that.
I think you could go back to school and get a BSN. The reason I think this is better is because you can do more than an LVN. You could work for an insurance company, or work in public health. That really can be fun. Being stuck at the hospital has to be frustrating all the time. In school, you will get exposed to many areas and you get a good feel for the opportunities. In California, the state will help you pay for school, and so do some hospitals.
One more thought. If you are getting burned out at the big hospitals, maybe you would be happier at a small rural hospital. My training has brought me to both huge and timy hosp. and there is a big difference in the atmospheres. The rural hospital pays less, but the people are very friendly and it feel like family.
email me if you want to chat at nurse_narda@msn.com
[ QUOTE ]
The thought crosses my mind every day...what am I doing in this profession? But, for certain, there are endless avenues...from administration to education to the specialty of your choice. And if you get there and it's not what you think it is what you want, try something else. The only dead end in nursing is BURN OUT. If you're there, take a rest, forgive yourself, and make a new plan. Home care? LTC? Back to school? You are a good person, even when you feel self doubt.
[ QUOTE ]
I was an LPN for seven years, and was put through the ringer by nursing. I thought things would be better as an RN. Well, I've been an RN for three years now, and things are even rougher. Much more responsibility.
The working conditions and pt loads are just overwhelming in today's nursing environment.
I'm looking for a way to cut my losses and leave nursing, too.
[/ QUOTE ]
I hope you reconsider leaving the profession, Val Salva... responsibility is a part of living, growing and learning. You can find your niche without leaving the profession.
Being an RN DOES NOT reduce stress! The same problems exist. The only way to avoid the problems you mentioned is to by changing your place of employment or your speciality....same day surgery, doctors office, pain management are all options and I'm sure there are others. But RN vs LPN does not make the difference.
I am an RN and charge nurse for a small rural hospital. I work 7A-7P. Our hospital staffs 1 RN, 2 or 3 LVN's, and 1 nursing assistant pershift depending on the number of patients in our facility. If the patient load is small an LVN or assistant is called off and sometimes both. We have 1 LVN who is assigned med nurse, and 1 assigned patient care on the floor.
The RN does assessments, makes rounds with Docs, notes all orders, orders all lab and radiology, puts all ordered meds on MARS, covers ER and is responsible for the floor as well.
On a slow day I feel like I do a really good job of taking care of all of my responsibilities. But on a busy day I get out late and feel like I have flown by the seat of my pants all day long. I don't feel good about the care my patients got because I rarely see them except for assessments and if there is a problem. I don't have time to address their emotional and spiritual concerns and probably feel as helpless as they do. Needless to say my shift change report isn't what I would like it to be either. And my patients continued care depends alot on the information relayed to the oncoming nurses in report.
Yesterday was one of those days.In addition to the 9 patients we had on the floor, we saw 8-10 in the ER, had 5 transfers (4 ground and 1 air transport), and admitted 4. I got slammed as you can see. Then in the middle of noting orders, transposing meds to the MARs, ordering lab and xray, assessing ER patients, doing transfers and admissions, one of my patients is going bad on the floor. We eventually had to transfer him out. So that was 6 transfers in all.
While waiting for the Doc on call to secure a physician to accept the patient, we were already into the 7P shift and I rounded up the oncoming nurses for report. During report, the on call Doc sent someone in and told them to tell me to get back out there and finish the transfer so she could go home. So I headed back out to the floor, now that she had secured an accepting physician, and wrapped up the transfer.
Me, and my 2 LVN's spent about another hour and half finishing our documentation, and making sure everything was in order from our shift. I found meds that were not given as the med nurse was tied up with patient care while my other LVN was assisting with patients in ER so that I could take on the more serious patients we were preparing for transfer. One was especially of concern having been involved in a one car roll-over. My med nurse was in tears because she felt so helpless and overwhelmed. I felt like crying a number of times throughout the shift but I didn't have time.
It was a nightmare. I thank the Lord that it is behind me but I pray that I never have another day like that.
I was wondering how many of you work in a small hospital like ours and have days like this. Sometimes I wonder if working in a larger hospital would be better if they have more staff, or at least a ward clerk to take on the task of ordering lab and radiolgy, etc.
I'd say stay in at least with one toe, but definetly get other skills. Nursing is like a blind fold to our lives/selves. The best thing I have done is to have gone out of nursing learned new skills and met different people. It is as if the career made you co-dependent on itself. Then you find that all the years have passed and you stand there looking into the mirror and saying, "should I stay or should I go"?
Oh yeah! I've sid it also; "if I had to do it over..." I would have picked engineering. I also am a LVN (CA) and it would not benefit me to be an RN. More money they would take from me, but I am looking to get into, patient services/admission etc. I see LVN's filling those types of slots.
I have been a nurse for only 1 1/2 years but have already said the very same thing more times than I can count! Most of my complaints are due to constant policy changes, problems with stafing, pharmacy and the computer system. I do have to say I am lucky to have an excellent unit clerk on my floor who knows how to order anything I need and is very efficient. I was a dental assistant for 14 years before becoming a nurse. During my "nightmare" days I have found myself saying "I can always go back to dentistry" which nothing more than blowing off steam because I love nursing! That's why I'm continuing my education, to increase my options. Nursing can offer so many opportunities that I wouldn't give up on it completely. Hang in there!
There are other advantages to nursing....we have lateral transfers....I have had a total of 8 state licenses in my 27 years..we can work where ever we go! I usually interview for a job and they ask if I brought a uniform...what other job can do that?
We also have the advantage of various shifts for our needs. I worked nights for 15 years while my son grew up and he was never home alone...no latch key kids for me.
We can work 3 days/we and it's full time. That way we have plenty of time off for the other things in our lives.
So there are plenty of positives to offset the negatives.
Hang in there.Being a nurse is one of the most rewarding experience's I know of.I am retired but I miss it very much. Yes nursing has changed over the years. for the worse but I still loved taking care of my patients.Seeing them recover ,go home feeling much better.I think my most rewarding experience was careing for the dying.If you ever have a dying pt. tell the family to talk to them.I do not know how many times I have had family's tell me "Thank you so much for telling me to talk to Mother and to tell her I love her but I will be ok .It is ok.Their dying relative,a many time closed their eyes w/ an appearence of a grin and go on.I can name 1000;s of people who have been blessed by talking to MOM ,Dad,Sister, daughter or what ever relation to thank me over the years. Even today when they meet me still say thanks.I have never saw or heard a nurse tell a family this before.Even with me tellling them they should.The world needs good nurses .Do not quit now.
A very good example was a fellow employee 's mother was in her dying stage.There were 10 adult children there with her in the Hospital.Well , no they were in the waiting room.I and one family member was with the pt. She had ask me to stay with her.Knowing I needed to go check all the pt's as I was charge nurse, I could not leave so ask a fellow nurse to ck. on all pt's and I stayed.She was about gone .I went to the waiting room.Told all 9 kids ther ,i they wanted to see her one more time they better go now.All 9 went in some w/ spouses and made more than 9.They stood and looked at her for about 10 min.I could not stand that.I said in a whisper to them each of you need to talk to her tell her you will be fine it is OK. Tell her you love her.Anything you want to say.They ,two at a time went up to her huged and kissed her talked to her then each followed until they had all said their goodbys.This mother who had not said a word the whole time we were there.Smiled and very low voice said, I love you all. and closed her eyes.and passed away.They all were in smiles said she was waiting on us to talk to her to see if we would be ok and then she went on home to be with dad.They still thank me today.Their time with mother still is deep in theit hearts.This is my calling to help the dying and sick.I will never regret it.I only wish I had two lives to redo it again.
JaneBSRN I think I moonlighted at that small rural hospital you work at a few years ago. If not your hospital it had to be its clone! Actually, they staffed yours better than the one I experienced come to think of it.
This place had a 40 bed floor & 5 room ER. It would mostly get elderly patients- some from the area's nursing homes, some from the community- many cardiac cases, too many dementia, medical issues, post surgery patients, and because it was in a dry county located on the border of a wet state too many alcohol related MVA's into the ER along with chest pain - and attrocious staffing!
12 hour shifts, 1 RN on PM shifts to handle the entire floor, the ER, and also be the pharmacist. 1 LPN - and if lucky we'd have 1 CNA. 1 shift supervisor as well but she doubled as assistant DON and literally spent her working hours hiding in the DON's office and only coming out to the floor just before morning shift change so the actual DON would see her "working in the hospital" when she arrived for work. Ha!
Sorry, but there isn't enough pay in the world for me to want to do that as an extra job again- and never as a full time job! Talk about putting patients at risk and yourt license on the line eh?
1 RN can not safely (or even marginally safely) deliver good care to 40 patients, adequately even assess all patients, do neuro checks on time, monitor changes in patient condition well enough, etc - especially while also being stuck in a trauma room with an acute ER patient, and have to be the hospital's pharmacist as well all at the same time.
If I were you, I'd seriously consider changing where I worked before something happens where you're at. If it's like the place I worked a while at that one summer it's probably the only hospital around & does what it does because they think all of you nurses don't want to drive a ways to work someplace else. Well- I strongly suggest you all band together & demand better staffing or else really do drive someplace else & quit that hospital.
Would I be a nurse again if I had it all to do over again? No- I'd become a PA instead. Same number of years education but more autonomy, more pay, more professional practice ability instantly. I am a nurse however and I LOVE running a trauma case. Bring me your gun shot wounds, your stabbings, the multiple patient MVA's, the OD's all day long... the more serious the presentation the more I love it...
But gawd I admire the floor nurses because I sure couldn't handle what they do. The patient overload, inadequate staffing, higher patient acuity levels, and overwelming paperwork....
You've made a step and you should be proud.
You've lifted yourself out from the crowd.
You've set a goal that few can do:
Some drift along...they're not like you.
It matters not from where you came.
It matters, your worthy aim:
To become a nurse: You've received the nod:
What inspired you? Was it God?
You'll parallel the Great Healer in some tiny ways,
and blessings will follow you all of your days.
Nothing is easy that's really worthwhile:
and many times there will be no smile.
Your field will be basic: Dealing in life and in death.
You'll view the new-born and the final of breath.
Your days will be hard and you'll want to quit!
But you'll think for a moment: WHAT can match "IT"?
You'll be tired and grouchy and your strength really sapped:
But the day will dawn when you will be "capped."
It's a mighty long way or at least it all seems;
To the day when your grad pin, in the sun, gleams.
The duty's so hard it will seem like a curse:
But it's a mighty big statement when you say:
"I'm a nurse."
By Frank Gillespie
1964
Dear Aspiring Nurses,
As you probably have perceived, Mr. Gillespie spent some time in the hospital as a patient. He was no doubt an observant people watcher. His poem tells it like it is.
I want to add to his words my own best wishes and my own sincere prayer for your career. I hope something written here will give you encouragement to hang in there & reach that goal. If I can help you, I will be glad to. God knows we need your help.
As you have read in all the current magazines, there is trouble; yes, there is corruption; the burn out rate is high. I would be a statistic myself if I'd not gone to work at St. Rita's Medical Center and read the Mission Statement: Among other beautiful words were these, "...to carry on the healing ministry of Christ..." I was inspired at Saint Rita's; I hope this prayer will inspire you.
A Nurse’s Prayer
Oh, Great Physician,
As we attempt to deliver care,
We know our limitations,
Please make us fully aware.
Send your angels to guard
Over those who have come for healing.
Make us alert, give us wisdom,
Your will, never stop revealing.
We trust in You for guidance.
This job is too big for mortals.
We must depend on your mercy and grace,
Please open Heaven’s portals!
Let Your Love rain down,
Help us to do our best,
Give us strength and protection,
Help us to pass each test.
Only You know how to cause healing.
We can only do our part.
Only You can give the increase.
Only You can we trust with our heart.
So, be our Great Physician.
Reign in our hearts and minds.
Help us always give You the praise,
Please remove the blinds!
By Eva Linda Hays
June 10, 2002
Best Wishes In Your Studies,
Sincerely,
Eva Linda Hays
PS: If you wish to write to Mr. Gillespie:
Frank M. Gillespie
806 Bolling Avenue
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
Thanks for your reply to my post. I am in contract with this rural hospital until February. I just bought twenty acres back home and plan to move there as soon as I can. Hopefully I will land a better job in a larger hospital with better staffing. I hope I am not dreaming too big.
I did get slammed again last weekend but I picked up the phone and sent out a mayday to the DON and she tried everything, including telling me to call other nurses to come in, and I told her staffing was not my job and I would leave it up to her to round up the help. You won't believe it but she came in and helped out.
I'm glad to hear you stood up for adequate staffing and the DON actually came in (that time) Jane. Are you on a travel nurse assignment to that hospital?
Jessica, I HATE needles. My point of view. I have excellent IV skills, and always do my best to inform the person why they are getting a shot, and the benifits of it (adults of course.)
The way I see it, they are going to be stuck, that is not the issue. Who sticks them is. If I can start their IV in 1 stick, and make it a little easier on them, I feel like I have made a difference. I talk to them give them ways of coping, (my favorites have been...wiggle your toes real fast.... or its a race, count to 20 lets see who wins.... or just.....yell all you want, as loud as you want, but just dont move your arm) These seem to take some of the tension out of the situation for the patient and myself.
Just remember why you are doing something. That will make all the difference. Good luck.
It seems that burnout is all around. I left the field of Behavioral Psychology to go into network marketing. Not only can I make all the money I want to make, I am my only employee. Stress=0 cherokee@zzip.cc
I'm leaving. I spend almost all my free time engineering an escape.
I've been an R.N. for 14 years: ICU 10 yrs, 2 years on the registries and home health, and the last 2 years in general med surg at a large county hospital.
I cried all the way home tonight from a 3-11 pm shift. I handled 6 ortho patients, very demanding, one a 22 year old peds patient (with mommy at the bedside) who decided to tantrum for 8 solid hours.
Did this do it? Nah. It was the unbelievably mean spirited charge nurse who called the nursing supervisor to write me up for not reporting constipation in a patient she was getting on night shift--a condition, by the way, which was three hours old. I was asked what I did for my patients for the last 8 hours. Excuse me? You gotta be kidding. I mean, you really gotta be kidding.
I've had it. I'm tired of incredibly nasty night nurses who waltz in and proceed to rake you over because--heaven forbid, they might actually have to WORK. Why didn't I work their shift for them? I don't know, it must be because I was busy working my own, doing complete primary care for 6 patients screaming constantly for pain meds and assistance.
You may not like to hear this, but I am tired of taking care of drunks and drug addicts. I'm tired of being called a bitch by someone I just met because he didn't get whatever he wanted out of the last nurse he ran off. I'm tired of being called "lazy" because I didn't instantly produce something for someone because I had to wait for an actual ORDER for it.
I'm tired of the incredible abuse heaped on me by both the patients and my so called colleagues. I feel like I am going into combat every time I work. The new rule is that per diems have to float before staff--so I haven't seen my home unit in weeks. I show up there to get my float assignment. I am no longer part of that unit. Everywhere I go I am an outsider. I float four hours here, four hours there, and then get raked for not having had the foresight of working 8 hours with a patient.
I don't know if I am going to have a job tomorrow. I need this job, so I am torn up and living in h-ll. I triaged my patients the best I could. I worked without a break. I ran here, I ran there, but it wasn't enough, never enough. No one should have to work like this. I would never counsel anyone to enter this profession. For those already stuck, I would say, plan what other job you're going to go into now, up front. My problem is, I never planned to do anything but nursing, and believe it or not, they won't hire me even in a factory. Too qualified.
Qualified to be kicked, I guess. By everyone. So, I am finding a way out. Before you say good riddance...I was once like you, proud of my skills, determined to fix that problem, whatever it was, loyal, true, and caring. I am a kind person. But I can't express that now, and it's killing me. It's not worth it.
Hallrunner....
Believe it or not I understand where you're coming from & how you feel pretty well. I think being forced to float from unit to unit has a lot of impact on how you feel emotionally and how you get treated by the units you get stuck in here & there too. Floating is a real morale killer!
Before throwing in the towel on your career though have you given any thought to a change of scenery instead? One of the best facets of our profession is the versility involved.
If floor nursing's got you drained how about a switch into something different like ICU, NICU, Nursery, or ER? With that many years experience to stand on I'll bet there's a unit director of a different hospital out there who would gladly see to it that you got into the critical care courses to get ACLS, PALS etc and would be glad to hire you in one of the specialty areas. Would you like to try a different aspect of nursing rather than give up on the profession altogether?
No, a change will not fix the problems. I left ICU and have no intentions of returning. I tried the alternative practice settings already. I am NOT a primadonna. Believe me, I am willing to go the extra mile. Problem is, they then want two miles. I can't do that for administrative heads anywhere anymore, even for a million bucks (and they are not offering even $1). I have an overwhelming feeling that if I died on shift they would put my body on a gurney in a dark room and start dialing for my replacement. I am nothing but a body filling a slot for them.
I tried to gain my satisfaction from my patients, doing my best and being professional, but, because they're patients, they think I am a hotel maid and that they're doing me a favor by being sick. They don't understand that I have 4 or 5 other sick puppies that also need my attention, and 10 others downstairs waiting for their bed. When I can't give them what they want (usually something easily accomplished by a CNA who isn't there because they are now utilized as sitters to do away with restraints), they are abusive to an extreme. I have often thought that someone should create a brochure explaining to patients how to be sick in a hospital setting.
I'm tired of receiving patients from ER in a med-surg environment who should have been sent to ICU--but came to me because there was no bed. No, I don't know what should have been done with the patient. But running a code on the med-surg floor is a poor idea. And who has time to monitor the patient the way you know he should be monitored? What am I supposed to do?
One of the ICU nurses worked 22 hours straight because no one came to relieve her. What was she supposed to do?
I tell myself that my primary duty is to administer the drugs ordered by the MDs. After all, that is really what is accomplished in the hospital, that and surgery. An RN can at least give the drugs, something an LVN and CNA are not privileged to do. That is my bottom line function, seeing as how I no longer have time to do any nurturing. But I am terrified of making a fatal mistake due to overwork.
I am reducing my hours in an effort to reduce my stress. I am phasing this career out. I don't think it is fixable.
My favorite story: The patient s/p mva with a halo screwed into his head, who went AMA because he didn't think he was getting the SERVICE to which he was entitled. Walked right out and presented to a sister hospital, who shipped him right back to hospital of origin.
Recent happenings: Floated for 4 hours to another floor midshift to discover that one of my assigned patients had gone AMA hours earlier. No one even noticed he was gone. Well, I guess that's better than discovering that he had been dead for hours...dodged another one...
That's the way it is. Thank you for your concern. I have returned to school for some brand new job skills not related to nursing. After all, they drill it into your head in nursing school--if you don't like it, get out. So, I'm getting out. I won't be missed. They will not even notice I am gone. They will hire someone fresh out of nursing school at a lower rate and abuse them until they're finished, and then they will get another.
So, make sure that you get a second, non nursing related job skill to fall back on. You will discover that this is sound advice. Save your nursing salary to start the business that you will surely need later.
Stay in nursing. It is a great career. I have been a nurse for awhile now... and although it can be difficult at times, it is possible to find a job that you enjoy.
I work at a large university hospital with a great union and an Amazing DON. Nurses on the floor get 4-5 patients. I work in one of the many ICUs and I get two patients, one if they are really unstable. The doctors I work with are respectful. The patients and famillies make it rewarding. The first year is tough... you will not get alot of down time - bring a lunch that is easily eaten while charting! But after awhile, gradually you will get more comfortable and find yourself getting things done quicker. There are so many nurses out there who hate nursing. And to that I say, it is what you make it. I am tired of those who always think they get the worst assignment. If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem. Change is made from the ground up. There is a shortage... we are in high demand. Go on as many interviews as you possibly can. And ask the interviewer at least as many questions as they ask you! Ask to "shadow" a nurse for a half day. It does not take long to see if they respect nurses! If the place wants to give you 16 patients and no lunch-- DON'T ACCEPT THE JOB! Find a place where you can grow and learn. I had wonderful mentors during my first few years. And STICK UP FOR YOURSELF.
I once had to listen to a nurse complain about having a horrible assignment, and having to be Charge nurse, but when I offered to take one of her patients or the Charge duty -- she refused with a sigh "no I will do it" DON"T BE A MARTYER. It does not make for a good nurse. Be a team player.
I love nursing. I get paid well (Do I make a million dollars?, no, but I make a good living and I have great benefits and job security). I have a very flexible schedule, with 12 hour shifts, off shifts and weekends. I do not have to work 8-7 five days a week like so many of my "9-5" working friends. I do not have to hunt for a good job like my engineer cousin. I can work nights and evenings and part time so I use less child care. And when I go home at the end of the day.. my work is done. I do not have papers to grade, paperwork to do, calls to make. And I do not have a stack of work on my desk when I come back from vacation. And above all else: I have the satisfaction of knowing that what I do every day is VITAL and IMPORTANT. I do not care how good your surgeon is, if your post-op nurse sucks, you will not have a good outcome. My new laryngectomy patient can only learn from me how to protect his airway. My post operative craniotomy needs my help to control pain and nausea. And the surgeons rely on me to assess the patient every hour to make sure they are not coming into complication.
NURSING IS GREAT.. and do not let anyone tell you different. the grass is not always greener on the other side, and life is what you make it.
Thanks, and good luck!
Stay in nursing. The grass IS NOT greener on the other side!
I've been 13 years, in 3 different professions and ALL 3 have more cons than pros.
I began driving a truck, fin, saw the country, Oh God did I ever want to be home for more than 2 days at a time!
I took courses and became a certified webmaster. Talk about more players than teams! More unemployment than employment.
Ok, I can take a hint, I took more courses and became proficient in Microsoft office products, took a few more courses in office procedures and what have you... long and short of it, again, there are more players than there are teams to play on! Unemployment AGAIN!
I am returning to nursing and for the life of me, even tho I can recite the reason I left, can't figure out why I thought it was a good reason.
It's amazing what an LPN can do. When I left nursing, I was what we politely called the "desk" nurse. I had a new grad RN on the floor to fulfill state regulations, but I was the charge nurse and was paid as such (the term was changed to desk duty.) It was a small hospital and the pharmacy was not open all night. I mixed my own patients hyper al, thier chemo, everything. My RN and her aide handled the medical side of the floor and I handled the chemo/telemery side with my aide. I understood and had the knowledge to do it and my hospital felt comfortable with me in that position.
It was a great job.
Patty,
Being on the other side (I've been an RN for 27 years) is NOT greener! Don't get me wrong...I love nursing! Always have and truely can't imagine doing anything else....but that is IN SPITE of all the faults!
The same problems have always made a cycle and I beleive will continue to do so.
You have to decide if you can live with nursing's "faults" or not.
Good luck...we need all of the nurses and experience we can get...but you have to do what's right for you.
Hallrunner,
I did read your entire post, and I understand that you're already going to school again to get some non-nursing related skill, and that's not a bad idea...it can always come in handy.. but.. we all go through periods when we feel burned out from the stress and overload. You might start a different career and then find you miss being a nurse and using those thought processes and skills and want to return to the career field.
You wrote, "I tried to gain my satisfaction from my patients, doing my best and being professional, but, because they're patients, they think I am a hotel maid and that they're doing me a favor by being sick. They don't understand that I have 4 or 5 other sick puppies that also need my attention, and 10 others downstairs waiting for their bed. When I can't give them what they want (usually something easily accomplished by a CNA who isn't there because they are now utilized as sitters to do away with restraints), they are abusive to an extreme. I have often thought that someone should create a brochure explaining to patients how to be sick in a hospital setting."
Well.. I still suggest a change of practice setting as a potential fix! Escape the overload and the whiney patients!
Get into a practice area where you can go to work with a smile and love what you do!
Do you like children?? Ever thought about being a nursery nurse? I'm not talking NICU-- because you need a break from high stress for a while.. I think, right? I'm suggesting regular newborn nursery or level 2 nursery at the most.
Think about it! No heavy lifting- your patients don't weight much at all! *grin* You get your patients deliverd from L&D, get to clean them up, assess them, and present them to happy parents and family members! You see smiling faces for the most part!
When the babies aren't being breast fed you get to sit and hold them, bottle feed them and enjoy wonderful time with your tiny little charges.
On occassion you help stabalize those who need a little supplemental 02, or bili lights or other fairly simple cases, but any serious problems wouldn't be in your nursery but rather in the NICU.
You would have the ability to do patient teaching- to help new mothers learn how to feed and care for their new baby, do to infant CPR etc.. and to feel really good about what you do each day. Wouldn't it feel good to go to work if you could do that? What do you think about that idea?
This is my first post, and i am sorry that it has to be on this topic.
Every department I have worked in, I loved it and hated it at the same time. Some times it was due to the abuse of patients and families, some times the stress of the job that makes me hate it. The biggest shame is no mater where you are there are nurses that eat other nurses. That can make a nurse hate a unit more than anything else. We complain about nursing shortage, then nurses treat other nurses like crap. Now you tell me, why is your unit short. I feel like I am lucky at this time. I work in an environment that is very supportive. Support comes from each other and the supervisors. Some times when we support each other it makes it easier to get past the abuse of patients and families. My unit has no nursing shortage. I am very blessed to be part of this group.
I have carefully read all of the posts on this topic. The degree of hurt and anger and sadness and disillusionment expressed is almost overwhelming. Compare these feelings to the innocence that we initially brought to our profession - so sad. I want to hold all the hurting nurses in my arms until you feel better.
I recall how many times I drove home in tears after strugging against impossible odds to care for my patients. And, as a man, I never felt free to express these feelings so I held them in.
As a nurse, I find myself morphing. It occurs to me that being a nurse is a way of seeing the world - much more than hurrying through hospital hallways. It is who I am and not a label that I owe to someone else. I've left clinical practice and am returning to school to add more layers to my nursing abilities and from there I'll rely on my own sense of inspiration to lead me.
As nurses, I think we should remember that the values of caring and nurturing others have been devalued throughout our society. We experience one aspect of that. Many people experience this as a sense of loneliness and isolation. We can't remedy this on our own but perhaps we could take our frustrations less personally and give ourselves credit for caring and always doing our best. Nursing isn't what it is because we are inadequate providers.
For those who remain in the profession, the job is yours to unite as nurses and find your own solutions.
"As nurses, I think we should remember that the values of caring and nurturing others have been devalued throughout our society" BY GOD man where did you get that from.
When a patient comes up to me and hugs me and says "You saved my life" I don't care one flying fig what society thinks of my "caring and nurturing"
Who is hurt and angry here?????
WR,,, three commas for Becca
A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and sings it back to you when you have forgotten how it goes.
I am currently in pre-nursing at a University in Indiana. I will soon be applying for the nursing program. My mother was an RN for over 32 yrs., and even though she was a great nurturing and loving nurse, as well as intelligent, she always told me to never get into that field because of all of the stress, and "problems". "Problems" meaning, shortage of nurses, downstaffing, too much nurse to patient ratio because of the shortage of nurses, being sent to different areas to work in the hospital, because they might have been short staffed in that area, etc. I guess, I wish I knew what kind of person you really need to be to go into nursing. I wish I knew if the pay was going to be enough for me for what I will have to put up with. If the reward of working with and helping people will be enough satisfaction to put up with the bull*&%$! Can you tell me these things, from your experiences?? Can you tell me what a typical week is like?? Is it hell, and people stay only because of the pay, or because they are helping people? Are the Dr.'s that bad? Do they really treat nurses like crap? All in all, with all the shortage of nurses that I always heard about from my mom, and even today, I truly do not understand why the nursing program is SOOOOOOOO hard and SOOOOOOO competitive. It seems like everyone wants to be a nurse, so WHY the shortage for so, so long, and still running? I have never been able to understand that. Hospital's complain of this, but so many nursing students graduate every year and apply, but what?? They don't hire that many??? It doesn't make sense?? I know I have a lot of questions, but I appreciate all the help you can give!! You never know, I may change my major?!
my opinion:
Is nursing that bad...NO
is the pay bad ...NO
are the docs bad...not to me. But you have to stand up for yourself too if you are a doormat they will wipe their feet on you. If you take care of the patients and know what you are doing they respect that...there's only been one doc really bad and he was bad to everyone now he's not practicing and has several suits pending.
Why the shortage??? aging population, more critical care, women go into other fields and the men are just coming to nursing, lack of nursing instructors. People go into nursing thinking easy money but you do have to work. Bill rates down for medicare/caid patients up for insurance or don't collect from "private" pay so hospitals don't want to pay.
There are pros and cons in everyjob you have to decide what you want to do. I like my job. Even the bad days are better then the good days in the factory where production employees were treated like they were stupid. One thing I can't stand is someone acting like I'm stupid and it doesn't happen where I've been in my nursing career even days when I might feel like it.
I have struggled with this decision for over a year now. I am 8 weeks away from graduating with a BS in Nursing. This is a second degree for me...I already had another bachelors degree. I am about to start a 7 week senior practicum rotation in the OR. Obviously I am too close to the end to quit now but 6 mos to a year ago I seriously considered it. It was my husband that basically made me stay in...I had left a full time job and we both made sacrifices and he thought that I should at least have something to show for it. I was very depressed about my decision to return to school as I thought I had ruined our lives. Money is tight and we put off having a family. But, I met with my preceptor yesterday and she got me excited about OR nursing again. I guess we will just have to wait and see. Even if I don't do the traditional bedside nursing job, I guess there are plenty of other things I can do. I'm just looking forward to getting a paycheck again!
[ QUOTE ] LeahNTexas said:
Dear Nurses,
October 16, 2004
Greetings! My name is Leah L. Logan. I am a CNA in the Dallas, Texas area. I am writing you, because today after watching thousands of people walk for the Susan B. Coleman Breast Cancer fund, I cried!
I first cried because back in 1996, my mother, Linda L. Logan, at the age of 41 died from breast cancer.
Then I cried because of all of the people walking that wanted to help.
Then from shame, I cried because since my mother died, I have done nothing to honor her or give to the Susan B. Coleman Breast Cancer Foundation.
After 8 years since mom died, I have decided to do what ever I can to raise money for this program.
My goal is to raise $10,000 over next 12 months for the Susan B. Coleman Breast Cancer Foundation.
I have a plan in place, but I can’t do it alone. If any of you are willing to help me, please write to me with your name and phone number, and I will contact you soon. Please don’t be afraid to reach out. And please remember to do your own self-exams and get your mammograms!
This is the second time I've seen you not care about issues that other nurses care about! Don't you care about people who are sick? Or are you just in it for the paycheck?
You are the top poster on this site, and most of your nice poems help people lauph. But maybe you should read some of them yourself because you seem a little up-tight!
Leah L. Logan
If anyone cares about people who are dieing from breast cancer, You have been a caregiver of someone dieing or you know someone who has breast cancer, please contact me at
I really don't think it is asking too much for you to not post your notes indiscriminately without regard to the topic being discussed.
It really is rude to blast your message all over the forums. There aren't too many people around that have not been affected by breast cancer either personally or through a close family member or friend. Of course I care.
However, I take exception to you spamming your message where it doesn't belong.
I agree with shortbus, stay in....it is a really neat profession. It really is. All that IV stuff will come when you graduate and your skills will get real good. I, in 24 years, have never been sorry I became a nurse, as is my wife. Go for it!
The IV's are easy, it just take practice. I promise, I still can't watch needles on TV...I tried watching "Trauma: Life in the ER" I thought I was gonna puke but I'm a Phlebotomist. I do it all day, every day and each time things get easier and now I don't even think about the needles, I've passed that. I talk to the patients and tell them jokes, or little stories, and I'm done before they know I started.
I guarentee that there is a job out there that you will love! This field has endless opportunities, and if you have the strength to get though school then your tough enough.
I have been an RN for 25 yrs. and a NA for 5 yrs before that. I have seen a shift from corporate owners "allowing" us to be nurses (patient advocates) (in the 70's and 80's) ........... to now.........when... a nurse can be fired if she says the new $60 million computer hinders pts. receiving meds, treatments, etc.
NURSES HERE ARE FIRED FOR NOT BEING A CORPORATE PLAYER and refusing to tell the lies they want the public to believe........yet these are great nurses!
ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE IS NURSE ILLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE. I have recently contracted hep c from a pt. and the hosp. manager refused to check the pt. who later died from liver ca. I am undergoing the chemos for hep c........I have bone marrow suppression and take shots for that.......
My "not for profit/non profit christian hospital" has taken no responsibility for keeping it's workers safe and quickly abandon the nurses when they are injured on the job....NO NURSE GETS WORKERS COMP! For example, the 2 largest hospitals here (they own about 20 different facilities!) ..... switched to cheap vinyl gloves ........ (they said it was for the latex allergy which the majority of people do not have and we have special equiptment boxes just for those with allergies)......
Vinyl gloves like vinyl condoms do not protect against viruses and when the vinyl micro-cracks or tears...AND IT DOES, vinyl is not protection for anything. Doctors know this!!!!! But even they can't change back to latex or better yet, nitrile. We have many sick nurses but our employer, the workers comp program they have gutted with the government's approval and the insurance program they "got for us" won't help us when we get sick from their inferior protective gear. And then we pass it on to the patients ond our families.
I AM NOT PLANNING TO GO BACK TO A HOSPITAL....THEY WON'T ALLOW ME TO CARE FOR MY PATIENTS AND THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT ME......I AM ONE TINY VOICE AGAINST A MONSTER.
Final thought..........Nurses, Protect Yourself.......... Corporate Healthcare is an oxymoron.
Without a doubt the best thing to do is to immediately leave the profession. There is no variety. There is no room for growth.
I hear there are bunches of software jobs in India. Some of the new start Chinese factories are hiring and the pay is even better.
Our work environment is horrible. At times the thermostat gets stuck or the other nurses dial it to extremes. The things I have to put up with. I think fondly back to my industrial laundry days with the tingly feel of those beads of sweat rolling down my forehead onto my 65/35 exec wear shirt and wish I could roll back the hands of time.
Now I'm in such an awful predicament. I go to work in scrubs that feel like pajamas, surrounded by beautiful women, and get paid by the hour.
I must admit, nursing has its days but like the old saying goes. A bad day in nursing beats a good day in industry. It's all about perspective. Sometimes a change is good. My bottom line is that each career I've had, the romance wore off after a couple of years. Nursing gives me a great income at some cost but all in all its the best show in town.
Personally, I've been considering living on the beach and selling conch shells for a living.
I have been a nurse for about twenty-two years. It is natural to burn out on it. I sold knives for a couple of years to get out of it and I was a stay at home mom for about a year.
But nursing kind of grows on you -- like barnacles. I have been at it steadily now for about fifteen years -- after selling knives and birthing.
I cannot imagine doing anything else. My sister has urged me to work at her bank. But I can't imagine just giving someone money without checking his pulse or blood pressure.
Seems so empty.
"Yes, Ms. Warbucks. Five hundred dollars. Let me check your pulse. You seem a little short of breath. What medications are you taking? Let me check your blood pressure."
It is natural and expected to burn out after a few years. Do something else. You may come back or you may not. Could be that you are not suited to nursing. Nursing is tough and thankless. Some people go into it because they are pressured into it.
If you are happy doing something else, do it.
Nursing is something that precludes anything else. It can sap the life out of you but you continue. You endure many slaps in the face and continue. The function of a nurse is to endure everything and to persevere in spite of or because of everything.
You keep at it and you develop this armour, for better or for worse. It may not serve you but it will serve your patients.
The development of the nursing shell is something that happens over time and with a lot of experience -- wanted or not.
Once the shell grows in, you're kind of stuck. Burn out is not an issue.
It's funny, this original post is 2 years old yet it's still getting replies.
I think the question of continuing to work as a Nurse (Employee) or being home full time is one we all face at some point.
Before I had a family and kids, I didn't mind living (literally) at my hospital. But LIFE CHANGES cause PRIORITY CHANGES.
I have a business from home now so I can be WITH my kids... two teenage boys. Life is TOO SHORT not to spend that quality time I missed so much of when I was a Charge Nurse and they were little.. MAN, IF ONLY I could go back!!!!
I definitely sympathize with those who have written here of burn out. Who would not feel burned out? The conditions described are atrotious. People outside of nursing have no idea. I especially feel sorry for med-surg floor nurses.
People look at nursing as a well paid profession and that's it. They have no idea of what it actually entails.
I am a LPN and I have also been a bookseller, a welder, a soldier, a knife seller and other things.
I have burned out on nursing many, many times in twenty-five years. Wow -- it is twenty five years!
I sold knives for a couple of years after burning out. Went back for a couple of years and quit for a couple of years when my kids were born and, then, went back and I have been at it steady for about fifteen years straight.
I do think that, if you are extremely burned out, you should get out for a while. Take a breather. It can help.
Chances are that you will return to nursing as I did. In many ways, nursing does stink. If you are truly a good nurse, you will come to the realization that you are expendable; that no one cares really whether you do a good job or not. Nevertheless, you will do an excellent job because you are a good nurse. You won't even do it for your patients. You will do it as a point of pride.
You may realize -- as I have realized -- that I am running while many are standing still. That used to bother me -- why am I killing myself while these others are going at a much slower pace and they are considered more valuable than I am? You may find -- as I have found -- that the more I put myself out, the more likely I am to be written up for something petty while others are talking on the telephone or complaining to supervisors.
These things can be very frustrating. I have often questioned WHY things are the way they are.
There is no answer other than things do stink. I have taken it on the chin from supervisors and DONs for doing my job more times than I can count. I take it on the chin because, if I do otherwise -- voice my opinion, defend myself -- it is my experience that it does no good.
So, over the years, I have learned to simply suck it up. I put myself out one hundred percent for doctors and patients. I am a perfectionist. I don't expect recognition for what I do. I do what I do because I accept that I must.
I may be neurotic.
But that is the way I have come to see it. I put myself out one hundred percent at all times and I accept it when I am written up for petty things -- I forgot to check the crash cart or I did not sterilize enough two by two's -- stuff like that.
The idea of nursing is that I work my ba**s off with no thanks. I don't expect or want thanks. I used to not want to be written up for petty things when I put myself out but I have now come to accept that crap as part of the job.
I was on the telephone once with one of my patients and a bystander heard me speaking and, when I hung up, she said, "You really give your patients excellent service. You don't see that much anymore."
It is my job to provide excellent service. That is the way I see it. To provide anything less would be neglect. Pay or appreciation or good working conditions have nothing to do with it.
I am beyond burn out now. I would classify myself as over-burned, i.e., so burned out that I could not do any other job even if I tried. I cannot imagine working in a profession in which I did not check vital signs. If I became a realtor or something, I know that I would be asking about my client's cholesterol. I would feel guilty making money on the mere sale of a house. I would want to listen to their lungs or their bowel sounds or check their neuro status. I would be looking at their veins -- "That is one gorgeous vein!!"
People think you are crazy when you say that.
Sorry for being so long winded. I do think that, if you are burned out, you should do something else for a year or two. Longer, if you can.
But nursing is something that eventually permeates your being, gets in your blood, under your skin -- to the point that, crappy or not, it is your profession. You will sacrifice a lot for that human contact. To me, it is not so much nurturing as advocacy -- advocation of the human being.
Remember that Nursing is a very noble profession. Some sacrifices will have to be made. In Law Enforcement I have met cops that drink and some that will later 'eat their gun'. You have to look at what specific area is bothering you, is it the employees you work with - then the problem is management, go to another hospital. If the problem is life and death you face, then maybe you picked the wrong field to work in. I try to keep a sense of positive cop humor (not to be shared amoung non-cops/health pros) and leave the death and dying in the locker when you punch out.
I am proud to be a life saver. I am willing to live the pain of suffering of many for a chance to save one life.
Could someone tell me what all abbreviations mean e.g. LPN, RN, CNAs, CMA ETC... and if there are any ohter could you point them out. I am about to go to uni in england and i want to know what the difference is.
Thanks.
Chris
I'm not sure what the abbreviations are in the UK, but here in the states they are as follows;
GN - Graduate Nurse (after graduation but before you take the boards)
LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse
LVN - Licensed Vocational Nurse (like an LPN)
RN - Registered Nurse (higher level of training than LPN/LVN)
ADN - Associates Degree in Nursing (an RN with a 2 year degree)
BSN - Bachelors of Science in Nursing (an RN with a 4 year degree)
ARNP - Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (Masters level RN)
CRNA - Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Masters level also)
PA - Physician's Assistant (ARNP wannabes )
CCRN - Critical Care Registered Nurse
CNA - Certified Nursing Assistant
CMA - Certified Medical Assistant
EMT - Emergency Medical Technician
EMT-P - Paramedic
OT - Occupational Therapist
RT - Respiratory Technician (Therapist?)
I can't think of any more off the top of my head. Maybe someone can add to this?
Many Roles - One Profession: A Thanks to Our Nurses
The detective who gathers information vital to your health
Regardless of your origin, your skin tone or your wealth;
The guardian who observes your movements, temperature and hue;
The teacher showing family how to help take care of you;
The administrator following orders and procedures as required,
But goes a few steps further to achieve what you desire;
The clerk documenting your care for others to refer;
The waitperson making sure your food is served as you prefer;
The valet who fluffs your pillow and helps you change your clothes;
The caring human to whom you trust thoughts and feelings you disclose:
These people are all involved in your total healthcare plan.
They are all essential to make you well as quickly as they can.
The many roles are tended to when you are at your worst;
And wrapped into one profession chosen by your nurse.
Wow thanks. Thats a lot of qualifications. But i guess it adds to the feeling of wanting to get to the top and be the best person that you can be that makes it as enjoyable.
I have posted a question on another thread called, being a male nurse; but had no reply. So i thought i could ask it here.
1. What are the important things you need to prepare yourself for before you go into university to become a nurse.
2. Also what would you say is the best course to do to get into male nursing; that might be a hard question to answer but i will appreciate any help i can get.
Thanks, Chris
I am considering nursing as a career, I have spent the last
3 years in the IT field and find it to be terribly mundane. I am considering becoming a nurse practitioner with a speciality in women's health. Is nursing really that bad?
What advice would you give someone who is considering the profession?
I find myself at a crossroads and considering getting out of the profession. I honestly will miss the money but the rampant co-dependent expectations are wearing me out. The feeling is that if you compentently do your job and are enjoying your job then you must need more to do. The continuous adding on of job responsibilities are very much over the top. I have tried and tried to keep up with it all. For the time being I am only walking away from long term care. I will not be back. I adore the residents but the job tasks and the hours are awful. I feel used and used up. I am just a commodity to be used until I am no longer a productive product. Burnout? That train left quite awhile ago.
management is taught to delegate and they are judged on their ability to delegate. trouble is no one checks to see if the delegation was apropriate. I worked in long term care for many years and now it has gotten to the point that nurses are judged not by their nursing skills but by how many charts that they can forge. One place I worked in took 2 hours to pass meds and there was 2 heavy med passes that takes care of 4 hours, at least an hour for a meal now there is 5 hrs taken care of. treatments can take up to an hour with some. there is 6 hours. an admission can take up to an hour there is 7 hrs accounted for. In that last hour you are expected to talk to family, assess pts., call doctors, labs, families and chart. Now if you get 2 admissions, or a pt falls, or a pt pulls out their catheter, or a pt. dies. you have to fit all that in because management states that it can be done. they don't want to pay over time. If you have a pt looking for the medicine that the pharmacy is to deliver and the pharmacy delivers the wrong medicine you must limit your time you spend trying to explain to an irrate pt. why this happened or that the pharmacy isn't going to bring it any time soon. If you get through all this hope that all your CNA's are responcible enough to do their jobs with out having to go behind them and checking every little thing they are suposed to do. after 20+ years of this maybe it is time to go into another aspect of nursing.
I am currently a second semester nursing student at Cal State Long Beach and I'm am a bit scared because I don't know what I got myself into. Granted, I am a very caring person, but cannot see myself as a bedside nurse...and feel guilty that I am feeling this way. Not that non-bedside nurses aren't real nurses...but the most important thing for me is to enjoy what I do. Money isn't everything and it sure doesn't bring you happiness. Also, I am getting a taste of how management is from my clinical rotations and having a difficult time coping with the fact that it is a thankless job. I am aware that whatever career path I choose, there will always be that person(s) that hold a higher position that will not treat you w/ respect...and abuse their power. I already know that I will continue to finish up my RN/BSN degree because frankly, I just want to get done with school and don't want to waste anymore time. My question to this forum is, What kinds of nursing jobs are out there for a nurse who does not want to be a bedside nurse? Some that I've researched so far are forensic nursing, Public Health Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, etc. I am quite interested in the Nurse Practitioner profession, any advice?
I was in IT too.... and i got burned out because it felt so lifeless. I am now going to nursing school and interested in some similiar goals as you are and i will tell you what, just being accepted to the school and knowing i finally have a real direction has changed my life completely for the better.
EDIT: wow.. i replied to a post that was in like page 4 or 5 haha. My advice to you NurseSimba... go for the nurse practitioner if you want to! If its a true goal of yours then dont let anything stop you. It will be intense schooling but i believe well worth it in the end. I have no experience with nursing but i have experience with goals and working in different places. What i have found in all walks of life yes there will be someone who will abuse their power but the best thing in the world to do is when your in that position DONT abuse the power and stop the cycle right there.
Case in point when i was the new guy in my Air Force maintenance unit some time ago i was treated like crap all the time along with my fellow new guys. Once we got to the point to where we had new guys to train i treated the new guys with respect and actually gave them motivation to learn whereas my colleagues treated the new guys like crap because it happened to them. I will never forget how thankful they were to learn from me and how they carried that on for when they would train others. If you dont like what you see then make changes in a positive way.
I have been an RN for almost 4 years and I am about to quit. I have tried changing jobs and specialties (twice in 5 months) and it's all the same. I am tired of the bedside care, the stress, the pt load. I like nursing and people are surprised when I quit because they think I am so "smart", a quick learner; that's just the way I am, however, I am hating it. The thing is I think I am a good nurse and I do a good job but I do not know why I hate it. I am looking for a no-pt care care job now, like laser hair removal, but I feel frustrated and so disappointed that I feel this way, I don't know what to do.
I can't imagine anyone in any profession does not have the same anxieties. I'm 43 years old and nursing will be my third career. After 14 years on the first job, I made the decision that it was not what I wanted to do with my life. Ten years on the second job and the company I am with will soon be exporting my job overseas, so I have already mentally checked out. Each of these jobs came with challenges and frustrations and I don't expect nursing to be any different. Why did I choose nursing? I look forward to the challenge and to some extent the stress, sometimes I even perform better under stress. I will change what I can change in increments to make the job/level of care better, work within the parameters I can't change, and when it gets to be to much, look for something different. I read something once on this forum that ultimately helped me make the decision - "Nursing is one of the few professions where you can change jobs without changing careers".
" 
This is the second time I've seen you not care about issues that other nurses care about! Don't you care about people who are sick? Or are you just in it for the paycheck?