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I absolutely hate nursing most of the time solely because of the other nurses. It's hard working with a group of women. I like the patients, usually have a fantastic repoire with them and have never had a patient lodge a complaint against me in the six years that I've been a nurse. I've also never had a serious problem with a doctor. Nurses themselves have a way of eating their young though. I have been training in Labor and Delivery nursing for the past four months and never, ever have I been around such a gripy, immature (though brilliant), non-positive group of people! They talk about each other and everyone else with absolutely no semblance of respect and there is no forgiveness for someone trying to learn this specialty field of nursing, even though everyone will tell you (superficially, I guess) that nobody feels any level of comfort for at least a year. I go home after at least 50% of my shifts and cry, not because of the patients but because the other nurses are extremely clique-ish. You either fit in completely or you don't fit in at all -- there's no happy medium. I have friends outside of work so it's not that I need to develop close friendships with co-workers but to feel respected as a human being is basic to my needs. Last week, I was driven to wash Lortab (prescribed for me d/t an abcessed tooth) down with wine after crying my eyes out. I just don't think nursing is worth it anymore. If you allow yourself to be vulnerable and admit that you feel afraid (which is normal in an area as litigious as L&D is), many will kick you while you're down instead of being genuine mentors. I rue the day I ever became a nurse but because my family is now used to the larger income I make, I am trapped. I'm sad because I pride myself on being a nice person but I can't figure out a way to develop the thick skin it's going to take to work with such aggressive people. I've worked in several other nursing positions and never has it been this bad. Is there any way that we, as nurses, can learn to support each other instead of tearing each other down? We could accomplish so much more as a group to better our image of professionalism. I work in Austin, Texas and I think I want to get out of nursing but this will require going back to school -- not an easy feat with a husband and three children. Anyone have any ideas?

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I feel for you sister! I'm in the same boat. I actually like the hands on patient care aspect, but the short staffing, no breaks, and paperwork are killing me! I feel so depressed everyday when I go into work, because I never have a good day anymore, never get off work on time, never get any praise for all the hard work and sacrifice. The public has no idea of what we nurses really do, and what we are really responsible for! You took the words right out of my mouth.I'm struggling with whether or not I can afford (mentally) to stay in this profession.

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I am the husband of an RN and the stress, hours and general all out inconsiderate nature of the nursing profession is tearing our family apart.<br />
They absolutley work her to death, when she's off work she sleeps all day and refuses to leave the house and when I ask her to go somwhere with me she refuses and usually comes back with something like "well when you start making the money I make you tell me how you feel". She was never like this before she got that damn degree. she has to work all midnights and all holidays, I work my tail off and it just isn't enough. I resent the profession for what it does to it's people. Sorry if I offended anyone, this letter wasn't meant to do that.<br />
I just had to vent.

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It is important to me to find out the disadvantages of being a nurse. <br />
I am a Phlebotomist, and of course I get to hear alot of the comments from the nurses. They look so bitter and rarely smile at the hospital I work at.<br />
I have currently been accepted into the Radiology Tech program, and the RN program. I was having a hard decision trying to figure out which to choose until I came across this site.<br />
I will be honest; just trying to get into the program was stressful enough. The instructors give us hell, and over 51 people out of 100 dropped out. I heard so many complaints and I haven't even started classes.<br />
I think I will be choosing Radiology.<br />
I also have alot of compassion, but I don't need that type of stress,and I definitely don't want to bring my frustrations home to my husband.<br />
I hope it all works out for those of you who are unhappy.<br />
<br />
Vampire

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Oh, if I only knew what I was getting myself into when I went into nursing school back in 1990. This line of work has all but killed me. I hate it and I could never recommend it to anyone. Believe what everyone here says about it, all the bad stuff, it's all true. The shortage will continue because health care just doesn't get it and they are far from it.

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I am not in healthcare but I am exhausted and stressed just listening to your stories. The Healthcare profession is in a mess. Nurses ARE overworked and underpaid. What do you think about a National Healthcare system? Would that lighten the workload? It would be great for the 44 million Americans who don't have health coverage. You should all do a walk-out and protest the bad hours, bad treatment, and abuse you have to take. Hope things get better.

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I am bust'n my hump to try and get into a good nursing program and am fully aware of what I am getting myself into. I am so tired of hearing about the nursing shortage (not from the nurses but from the powers that be). I have seen first hand the sortage and feel for those working in the trenches but...I like many of my peers are working their tails off just to get on a waiting list to get into a nursing program. I have to wait for those who have a much lower GPA than I, at those colleges that accept via lottery (personally I feel there is a huge diffrence between a 2.5 average and a 3.76) and then there are those colleges that make you jump through a hoop of paper work just to apply and then not only go by ones GPA but letters of rec. and an interview and essays and so on ( this college also by the way goes by your zip code as well) I have put my life on hold to be a nurse I have 4 kids and my neice in the home and althogh I have a husband to help out he has things he has to take care of as well (like providing for our family while I am in school). So if you all want to get angry, get angry at the educational system, get angry at those who grow the nursing population,with a 50+% drop out rate I think that we may need twice as many programs to make up the gap. I am happy to say that I have applied to two programs and now possibly a third but who knows I may not get into one until 2004, which is quite discouraging for a woman that is now 30 and getting into it late. I too may look into the radiologist programs, or at this pace possibly go into some thing easy to get into politics.

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Wow, after reading all of the horrific nursing stories on this website, I've decided to forgo nursing altogether. I'm enrolled in the pre-requisites for nursing at my local community college and I am depressed even studying these. I'd figured I'd give nursing a shot becuase I loathe my current situation as an administrative assistant. I thought sitting on my ass was bad enough for 8 hours, but I think I prefer that than working over 13 hours a day. I also wanted to try nursing for more of a salary. I want to thank everyone for your honest stories about nursing and helping me not arrive at my decision.

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I am a Rn and have been so for 20 years and hate it now........I am SO stressed as I cannot give the care my patients so desperately need. I am overworked and I do my best and sick of my self saying " I will do that in a minute" and turns out to be 1/2 hour later! I do get treated badly a lot of times mainly by work colleagues.There is a lack of support and definteley no camaraderie. No one wants to know your problems they are too engrossed in their own.Management brush you aside as though you are insignificant. Patients I feel have no respect for you and have no understanding how overworked you are.They complain and they get listened too but when you have a complaint about a patient it is ignored They now have all the power and I feel we have none.I feel worthless and have low self esteeem and confidence is waning. I have more responsibility and no support from senior management.I have very little to say about my profession ~if you can call it that~ all I have to say it is not good. If they want more nurses attitudes will have to change and we must get treated with respect. Also our management will have to be there for us and value us and most of all bring back friendship support and to be there for one another. I find Nurses are so downright bitchy and some make your life hell. That is why I am getting out as sick and tired of all the bitchiness and ward politics. There is no compassion amongst the ranks no more. We are our own worst enemey. Things have to change and the longer mangement and governments ignore the problems by the time I am 60 there may be very few nurses left as all would have got wise and got a job where they are valued and respected. When I leave I will be the happiest person in the world and I will say good riddance

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I am a staff nurse working at a 50 bed hospital and 5 bed LDRP unit in Hawaii. In my 30 years of nursing I spent apprx. 20 years in middle management - the stress became too much and I went back to the bedside as a LDRP nurse, I have never been more content with a career choice. Yes, on this small unit we are sometimes stretched very thin and experience total exhaustion at the end of the shift, but that is the exception.<br />
I am honored to work with a group of nurses who truly put the patient and family first; we respect the differences in our nursing practice and share a desire to be aware of new trends and directions in our field.<br />
We have an administration that just doesn't get it at times, but they have the wisdom not to interfer with a department that works effectively.<br />
How do we survive this insane world of hospitals and their bottom line? We just do the best we can and not let the retoric get to us; we mutually support each other by readily accepting carry-over tasks and overlooking that which was not done to perfection. Plus, we stick together and give a unified "no" when we are asked to do more than is possible.<br />
I could probably find something to complain about, but would find that counter productive. Based on past experience, this is as good as it is going to get and I will spend each shift being grateful rather than complaining about the little stuff.<br />
In 5 years I thought I would retire, but my retirement monies have gone the way of the stock market, so will purchase a walker with an IV pole and hope they let me stay here for a while.<br />
Advice for anyone who might ask: know what you are capable of doing safely, let you boss know what that is and prioritize your activities based on safety for you and your patient - then let the rest of it slide off your back and enjoy the very dear people you meet each day. What are they going to do?, fire you? I don't think so. Remember, you are an asset to that organization and you must have pride in what you are doing, they have no right to take that away from you!

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I have been a registered nurse for 8 years and I took have done staff nursing, home health, public health, long-term, and school nursing. I also became a nurse because I love people. But being overwhelmed, treated like crap from other nurses and awful hours has taken its toll on me. I would like to get out of the nursing profession, but I am unsure what is available to me without having to go back to school.

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I am in a BSN accelerated program now. I will graduate in May 2004. I feel that every competent person who wants to be a nurse should try it. I think it is good that schools are competitive, we dont need just ANYONE at the bedside. Yes, it is a tough job. I havent even done a full 8 hour clinical and I am aching all over by the time I leave. I may change my mind in a few years, but I also plan to go get my NP. There are so many options available to nurses now. There is money available so you can continue your education or pay for education. Yes, it is hard to find, but its there. Dont sell yourselves short, we are living longer lives altogether, make yours worth living. 2 more years for a NP, or any specialized training. You can be more autonomous and get better money.

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I have been seriously considering the nursing profession since I was laid off 4 months ago from my Human Resources job hiring airport security people. Having read all the posts on this site, I am now rethinking my choices. I got a B.A. in Theater (what was I thinking?) and gave up on acting after I had to start paying real bills. I am desparate to go back to school for something that is grounded and real and that I can count on having a career in. I am intersted in medicine and science and thew human body and I want to give myself to something which helps and cares for people. Unfortunately it sounds like this kind of idealism is plain naivete. I am sick oif being unemployed, have no desire to go back to office slavery and really want to help people, specialize, and learn. What the hell should I do when the unemployment checks stop coming?!?!? I'm going to take some science classes and go from there. I wish there were some positive comments regarding nursing to inspire me. Being a straight male also seems to be a drawback. I don't think I could get over the constant questions and looks. From this site, it sounds like nursing is hell. Ah well, I guess there's plenty morfe options in this life! Thanks for all your honest points, its helped me. But I would like to hear from a straight male nurse who is totally confident and happy in his chosen profession. Anyone?

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I too have become greatly dissatisfied with my nursing career. We have to deal with unlimited liability, unsafe patient loads with endless short staffing,noncaring management,working long hours without breaks, spending a great deal of time doing nonnursing tasks, and that's not even the beginning. The unlimited liability alone is not worth it. I've been in the profession for 20 years and am almost finished with another Bachelor's degree, which will be used to pursue another career. I was also warned against entering the nursing field, and obviously didn't listen.

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Hi EVERY1. Been an RN for 3 yrs LTC, geriatric dementia. Love my pts and staff even da boss. problem? YEP. If you go to another floor to HELP, support from other RNs is dog eat dog, whad he do now.... sometimes other RNs are real positive. never know.. cause: OVERWORK and STRESS. I can say I was a teacher before this. It was just as hard, the early hours, no breaks to even defecate.

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The job system is not there to get work done; it's there to make sure that everyone below a fairly high level of wealth is in some sort of hierarchy, has some sort of boss. This is one of the reasons "we" hate welfare so much: there is the suspicion that thesewomen have neither husband (domestic boss) nor boss (daytime boss), and so are getting away with something while the rest of us eat just a little sh- uh, "humiliation" every day.

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sibahn wrote:
>I am the husband of an RN and the stress, hours and general all out
>inconsiderate nature of the nursing profession is tearing our family
>apart.

>They absolutley work her to death, when she's off work she sleeps all
>day and refuses to leave the house and when I ask her to go somwhere
>with me she refuses and usually comes back with something like "well
>when you start making the money I make you tell me how you feel". She
>was never like this before she got that damn degree. she has to work
>all midnights and all holidays, I work my tail off and it just isn't
>enough. I resent the profession for what it does to it's people.
>Sorry if I offended anyone, this letter wasn't meant to do
>that.

>I just had to vent.

:|

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When I read your article I cried. It is my story, too. All the people in charge just give lip service and no changes have been made in all these years. It is easier to blame the nurse and just drive us out and bring in the new nurses, but eventually they will catch on, also--then what will the coprorate people do. But it wasn't always like this. It was possible to give prudent care. I don't want to be a part of it anymore because it is so hopeless. Yes, we are compassionate that's why we're fed up with the system. I'm quite sure if the business people just left the bank account in the Nurses' hands we could run things more efficiently without them and maintain good public relations as well.

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Unregistered
When I read your article I cried. It is my story, too. All the people in charge just give lip service and no changes have been made in all these years. It is easier to blame the nurse and just drive us out and bring in the new nurses, but eventually they will catch on, also--then what will the coprorate people do. But it wasn't always like this. It was possible to give prudent care. I don't want to be a part of it anymore because it is so hopeless. Yes, we are compassionate that's why we're fed up with the system. I'm quite sure if the business people just left the bank account in the Nurses' hands we could run things more efficiently without them and maintain good public relations as well.

---

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Teresa dantree00@sbcglobal.net
I absolutely hate nursing most of the time solely because of the other nurses. It's hard working with a group of women. I like the patients, usually have a fantastic repoire with them and have never had a patient lodge a complaint against me in the six years that I've been a nurse. I've also never had a serious problem with a doctor. Nurses themselves have a way of eating their young though. I have been training in Labor and Delivery nursing for the past four months and never, ever have I been around such a gripy, immature (though brilliant), non-positive group of people! They talk about each other and everyone else with absolutely no semblance of respect and there is no forgiveness for someone trying to learn this specialty field of nursing, even though everyone will tell you (superficially, I guess) that nobody feels any level of comfort for at least a year. I go home after at least 50% of my shifts and cry, not because of the patients but because the other nurses are extremely clique-ish. You either fit in completely or you don't fit in at all -- there's no happy medium. I have friends outside of work so it's not that I need to develop close friendships with co-workers but to feel respected as a human being is basic to my needs. Last week, I was driven to wash Lortab (prescribed for me d/t an abcessed tooth) down with wine after crying my eyes out. I just don't think nursing is worth it anymore. If you allow yourself to be vulnerable and admit that you feel afraid (which is normal in an area as litigious as L&D is), many will kick you while you're down instead of being genuine mentors. I rue the day I ever became a nurse but because my family is now used to the larger income I make, I am trapped. I'm sad because I pride myself on being a nice person but I can't figure out a way to develop the thick skin it's going to take to work with such aggressive people. I've worked in several other nursing positions and never has it been this bad. Is there any way that we, as nurses, can learn to support each other instead of tearing each other down? We could accomplish so much more as a group to better our image of professionalism. I work in Austin, Texas and I think I want to get out of nursing but this will require going back to school -- not an easy feat with a husband and three children. Anyone have any ideas?

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I am also a health care worker, and in complete agreement with the frustrations of nursing. I am a full time physical therapist, and wake up each day hating my job. We work with productivity standards. Each time we stop to allow a patient to vomit, use the bedpan, or void, we lose precious productivity time, and it comes back to haunt us in staff meetings that we are not working hard or fast enough. We also must document, document, document, again losing precious patient billable time. Doctors write inappropriate orders, and often times nursing staff write inappropriate physical therapy orders on behalf of the physicians just so SOMEONE, ANYONE, will get their patients out of the beds. We are not transport service workers. The only thing I enjoy about my work is the friendliness of the nurses to my department, and other ancillary care workers. You nurses are great, for the most part! Most physical therapists are working with spinal pain, or have had spinal surgery for spinal problems directly related to patient care. I've been doing this for 18 years, and have had much difficulty getting out of the profession due to financial hardships. And no, physical therapists don't make a lot of money. We come home tired to the bone, and have to repeat it all again the next day. Many of us hold down extra weekend jobs, in order to try and get ahead. Unlike nursing, we have no "career ladders" of significance. We either work hard full time, or we find management jobs which require us to also juggle patient care AND do managerial work. It's all the same, we come home sore and tired. I've had a spinal fusion for a ruptured disc, and I live in pain every week of my entire life. And here I am, still stuck in this profession, knowing that retraining in something else will send me to the poor house in tuition fees. I'm middle aged, and am financially damned if I don't go back to school, and physically damned if I stay in this profession. And yes, I've tried outpatient settings, you do a lot of leaning over patients' body parts, which also aggrevates lumbar and neck pain. And yet, to preserve my marketability, I have to walk into work each and ever day, and pretend that I'm physically fine, so that I will not compromise losing my job for fear of looking weak or incapable of doing my job. This is not a life, it's an existence. When young people ask me if physical therapy is a good profession to enter, I discourage them. The money isn't there, the work is back breaking, the educational standards are extremely long and competitive. I'm sad, I feel like my profession let me down. This is the first website I've read that tells it like it is.

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I have been a nurse for 19 years and I LOVE what I do. I have worked in the hospital, home health, UM/discharge planning and after 18 years of nursing decided to learn a new skill and went to work in a ICU. Nursing has many opportunities within its boundries and if a person is unhappy they should change what they are doing within or outside of nursing. The money is good and the positions are flexible. I have 3 children and have spent quality time with them due to my ability to change positions/shifts etc. Nursing is what you make it, if you don't like where you work, make a change. Keep you job skills up and keep learning to keep yourself marketable. I would recommend this job to anyone, but I would also ask all the bitter, unhappy people to get out of the profession that I truly care about because I feel you attitude give all of the nursing profession a bad name.

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I went into nursing at a late age...42. I have been at it for two and 1/2 years and daydream a lot about winning the lottery. The nightmare situations of nursing are real....short-staffing, politics, lack of appreciation by management and patients...all the things that have been posted on this forum. I do not know what it will be like for myself and others some years down the road. Honestly, from what I have seen, profession in health care is going to be a "cush" job...you will have stress like you never thought possible. Go into it with eyes open...it is going to get worse.

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I do not understand the "reasons" that are posted as to why you remain in the nursing profession if you are unhappy. Many of you say that you feel trapped or do not have any other opportunities. I feel that these are not reasons, but excuses. Nursing is what you make of it. Many of you state that you would only be happy with your career if you were treated with more respect or if management would only improve. If you tell yourself this, you'll never be happy, not only in nursing but in life as well. Maybe you should find the reasons why you love nursing and focus on those, instead of finding the reasons to hate nursing. You will always find what you look for!!
As a nursing assistant for several years within the healthcare system and a near BSN graduate, I too have been overworked and underpaid. I've been disrespected and degraded. I've seen first hand the horrors of the profession. But instead of treading water focusing on the negative, I've made the decision to rise above. Unfortunately, it is those few nurses that complain and make excuses that make nursing undesirable. If you hate nursing than why do you remain in the profession?

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If you read the posts you wouldn't be asking these questions. Anyway, I'll use myself as an example.

I was an LPN then an RN, had to repeat some courses so I stayed longer in school. I was lucky to support myself through school using welfare, a parttime job and my family helped with care of my children. The abuse in school by nurses, teachers and students was terrible. When I was done, it took me four years to pay back that student loan. I've been nursing for about 10 years now. I do not have my BSN but have taken specialty courses all along.

I would love to get out of nursing now. If your not sure of the reasons why people don't want to be in nursing, read the hundreds of posts! Many are very similar. But, this is the delemma that I think most people are facing:

1. Remember that most nurses are women.


2. To require the standards of nursing care you have to take courses every year. I constantly had to build up to the knowledge base that I have now. In order to be competent, you almost have to think like a doctor. Therefore, nursing is really all I know.

3. I injured my back in nursing school. Now I use good body mechanics but will always have a strain.

4. The devorce rate is 50%, therefore, many nurses are single parents like myself. Now I ask you this...who is going to support me, my children and pay the bills while I start all over with another career change?

I'm not going to respond to your accusations of many nurses only focusing on the negative and not positive. It's similar to a woman who wants to leave her husband over domestic disputes but feels that she can't; yes there were good times, just don't forget the bad times are the reason why you're leaving! And in nursing, the negatives far outweigh the positives.

And, if you keep trying to "overcome" nursing, eventually it will break you down! Hence, nursing burnout.

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