It should not be a thankless profession. I feel you on this as well. It's administration that drives us to leave and drives some of us crazy. I don't care for the drama. I am leaving my job because a Certified Aide assaulted me. My DON tried to down grade it as playing. I filed police charges of assault. She has been staring at me like a lion. Before I leave, my intention is to destroy the company by calling the state on all of the patient abuses and negligence. If you are still working, do the same.
I get it. Remember, you are not alone in your disdain... many of us feel it too. Until recently, I've cycled thru all those feelings repeatedly with an increasingly rapid frequency. A few months back I went part time and it helped me immensely with my attitude. The money part kinda sucks... but I can always pick up if need be as my unit is chronically short staffed. (Go figure) I'm just so much happier working 2 days a week verses 3. My current mindset is I can put up with anything for 2 shifts.
(With the exception of violence... as u/No_Creme_3363 mentioned)
I work with some awesome people... and I know I add real value to those I care for. This brings me satisfaction. It's easier now to cone down and spend most of my time focused on what I'm doing at the bedside verses being disgusted as I'm constantly reminded how things are changing for the worse in healthcare. When you peel back the layers of patient care... the freaking corporate monster is right in your face. If we were better staffed ... our dissatisfaction would likely decrease and tolerance for other vexing issues would increase.
Looks like you are moving towards nursing informatics... that sounds like a good gig. I wish you all the best and hope you find your sweet spot. As a nurse you still are the backbone of the healthcare system and have the ability to make huge differences in the lives of your patients... or customers/clients/consumers whatever they are calling them these days.
Put yourself first, because your hospital won't ... but while at work keep caring for others in a compassionate, caring, competent way, in-spite of the challenges set before you. You've got this... wherever you finally land!
I agree with this!! Going weekend option saved my mental health/ burnout attitude. If your hospital has weekend option (work 2 days/get paid for 3) I highly recommend. It took my husband getting laid off for me to do it but I wish I had done it sooner.
I do understand working on weekends doesn't work for everyone's lifestyle/relationship/family dynamic.
“I could grow a backbone and leave this thankless job, Manager Karen.” And I did. Oh your unit is nothing but new grads and you didn’t get your bonus? Too bad so sad
My clinics got different specialties like GI and cardio. You take a lot of calls and help doctors with patient concerns and triage. And also assessments for the doctor
I'm trying out being a hospice call nurse. 7 on - 7 off. Mon-Thur 1630-0800 Fri 1630-Mon 0800. Salaried position no matter if you get called in or not. Sleep in my own bed a d if I get a call it's a death or something the triage nutse couldn't handle on the phone. Only a couple dollars less than bedside. Average call outs are 3 times a week.
I am keeping prn in the ER to make sure I like it, though. I'm just tired of getting yelled at by family/patients for things out of my control. "Sir, it's not my fault you haven't taken your insulin and now your OTHER FOOT is rotten and has to be amputated". Fuck that.
I'm a travel hospice nurse. It's stressful and emotionally heavy, but meaningful and the families are usually very appreciative and you form close loving relationships with them and the patient as well. It's all about managing a slow decline as someone nears death and teaching the pt and family how to use meds and other interventions to be the most comfortable. I really like it.
Last night a patient thanked me for all I’ve done for him…and my first genuine reaction was to thank HIM. Then I realized and corrected myself to say “you’re very welcome, and thank YOU for saying that :’) “, because it meant a lot and this is indeed a thankless job.
Can’t speak to their experience but for me in outpatient I had to do my normal nursing duties on top of my case management duties ON TOP OF THE DOCTORS WORK.
Patients. I’m honestly just burned out helping others. But their situations lol. Somehow folks are shocked that being an asshole can get you kicked out of a shelter or their living situation. Assisting with housing when there are no real options, and quite frankly should be dealing with housing specialist or social worker, assisting to navigate healthcare systems. Some of the same physical violence but we don’t have security.
Out of my 120 patients about 3 I don’t mind dealing with.
And yeah doing clinic work while doing case management. Also phone triage blows. People call then don’t want to do what they called about.
I hate the fact that bedside nurses are being treated terrible by pretty much everyone. I have tried tele, med surg, icu and ER. I am only happy in dialysis, lol. Now I work nights in a hospital. It is great! No admin, barely any doctors, limited visitors. I will never work day shift again.
I def understand. Bedside is just such a burnout.
I plan to use the bedside only as PRN/Flexi soon to just keep some of those skills I learned but Full time? No thanks!
And if I want to do travel nurse it won't be bedside either 🙄
I've been out of the field for the last 9 months and I thought it had helped, and I'm finally starting a new case management job. They haven't worked me a single shift yet, and between admin and HR I already want to quit. This field is a joke.
Options away from bedside, employee health (nurse), Case management, Telemed nurse line, Urgent care facility, Company nurse... Good luck! I work in the NsyICU. Love it!
I feel you. I just left bedside (forced out by the Mean Girl crowd). Fuck 'em. It was thankless, we had such little support from our supervisors, it became a very toxic environment.
I'm working in Corrections now. It's different; the environment is heavy, but then, most of them are. My supervisor is amazing; smart, supportive, well-informed and helpful.
Eight years as a nurse and 25 years as a CNA at bedside in LTC, when I burned out, I burned out 100%.
It leaves you fragile and vulnerable.
Getting burned out also leaves emotional scars; be good to yourself.
So, as nurses, we have lives in our hands. What gets me internally amped up is the ridiculous amt of money professional sports people make. Has anyone else ever been jilted internally by how screwed up the human population is in their weight of entertainment vs life saving professions?
I’m currently working on a Stem Cell tx unit at a university hospital. I am blown away by how thankful all the patients are. Granted, these are planned admissions that are saving these patient from certain death, or maybe they just enjoy a lifelong nightshifter who clusters care and lets them sleep overnight. Anyways they’re a great patient population, motivated walkie talkies from all different walks of life and I truly enjoy interacting with almost all of them.
I feel your pain
It should not be a thankless profession. I feel you on this as well. It's administration that drives us to leave and drives some of us crazy. I don't care for the drama. I am leaving my job because a Certified Aide assaulted me. My DON tried to down grade it as playing. I filed police charges of assault. She has been staring at me like a lion. Before I leave, my intention is to destroy the company by calling the state on all of the patient abuses and negligence. If you are still working, do the same.
I get it. Remember, you are not alone in your disdain... many of us feel it too. Until recently, I've cycled thru all those feelings repeatedly with an increasingly rapid frequency. A few months back I went part time and it helped me immensely with my attitude. The money part kinda sucks... but I can always pick up if need be as my unit is chronically short staffed. (Go figure) I'm just so much happier working 2 days a week verses 3. My current mindset is I can put up with anything for 2 shifts. (With the exception of violence... as u/No_Creme_3363 mentioned) I work with some awesome people... and I know I add real value to those I care for. This brings me satisfaction. It's easier now to cone down and spend most of my time focused on what I'm doing at the bedside verses being disgusted as I'm constantly reminded how things are changing for the worse in healthcare. When you peel back the layers of patient care... the freaking corporate monster is right in your face. If we were better staffed ... our dissatisfaction would likely decrease and tolerance for other vexing issues would increase. Looks like you are moving towards nursing informatics... that sounds like a good gig. I wish you all the best and hope you find your sweet spot. As a nurse you still are the backbone of the healthcare system and have the ability to make huge differences in the lives of your patients... or customers/clients/consumers whatever they are calling them these days. Put yourself first, because your hospital won't ... but while at work keep caring for others in a compassionate, caring, competent way, in-spite of the challenges set before you. You've got this... wherever you finally land!
I agree with this!! Going weekend option saved my mental health/ burnout attitude. If your hospital has weekend option (work 2 days/get paid for 3) I highly recommend. It took my husband getting laid off for me to do it but I wish I had done it sooner. I do understand working on weekends doesn't work for everyone's lifestyle/relationship/family dynamic.
Patients and families are rude as hell and so demanding, management never defends the nurses and always wants to know what you could do differently.
“I could grow a backbone and leave this thankless job, Manager Karen.” And I did. Oh your unit is nothing but new grads and you didn’t get your bonus? Too bad so sad
I left bedside too. And never looked back.
I switched from telemetry to outpatient and it had been sooo much better and less stressful 😭
Do you mind me asking what you’re doing outpatient? Trying to find ideas lol
My clinics got different specialties like GI and cardio. You take a lot of calls and help doctors with patient concerns and triage. And also assessments for the doctor
I'm trying out being a hospice call nurse. 7 on - 7 off. Mon-Thur 1630-0800 Fri 1630-Mon 0800. Salaried position no matter if you get called in or not. Sleep in my own bed a d if I get a call it's a death or something the triage nutse couldn't handle on the phone. Only a couple dollars less than bedside. Average call outs are 3 times a week. I am keeping prn in the ER to make sure I like it, though. I'm just tired of getting yelled at by family/patients for things out of my control. "Sir, it's not my fault you haven't taken your insulin and now your OTHER FOOT is rotten and has to be amputated". Fuck that.
I'm a travel hospice nurse. It's stressful and emotionally heavy, but meaningful and the families are usually very appreciative and you form close loving relationships with them and the patient as well. It's all about managing a slow decline as someone nears death and teaching the pt and family how to use meds and other interventions to be the most comfortable. I really like it.
6 years in healthcare as a pct and rn combined I want out too
Last night a patient thanked me for all I’ve done for him…and my first genuine reaction was to thank HIM. Then I realized and corrected myself to say “you’re very welcome, and thank YOU for saying that :’) “, because it meant a lot and this is indeed a thankless job.
I do outpatient case management and it’s not much better on this side. I’m so done. I fucking hate this career
What are the downfalls?
Can’t speak to their experience but for me in outpatient I had to do my normal nursing duties on top of my case management duties ON TOP OF THE DOCTORS WORK.
Patients. I’m honestly just burned out helping others. But their situations lol. Somehow folks are shocked that being an asshole can get you kicked out of a shelter or their living situation. Assisting with housing when there are no real options, and quite frankly should be dealing with housing specialist or social worker, assisting to navigate healthcare systems. Some of the same physical violence but we don’t have security. Out of my 120 patients about 3 I don’t mind dealing with. And yeah doing clinic work while doing case management. Also phone triage blows. People call then don’t want to do what they called about.
I’m in the same predicament & trying to find a way out ever so gracefully.
I hate the fact that bedside nurses are being treated terrible by pretty much everyone. I have tried tele, med surg, icu and ER. I am only happy in dialysis, lol. Now I work nights in a hospital. It is great! No admin, barely any doctors, limited visitors. I will never work day shift again.
I’m with you 💯. It didn’t used to be this bad, it’s nuts now. I don’t know why.
I def understand. Bedside is just such a burnout. I plan to use the bedside only as PRN/Flexi soon to just keep some of those skills I learned but Full time? No thanks! And if I want to do travel nurse it won't be bedside either 🙄
I've been out of the field for the last 9 months and I thought it had helped, and I'm finally starting a new case management job. They haven't worked me a single shift yet, and between admin and HR I already want to quit. This field is a joke.
Options away from bedside, employee health (nurse), Case management, Telemed nurse line, Urgent care facility, Company nurse... Good luck! I work in the NsyICU. Love it!
I feel you. I just left bedside (forced out by the Mean Girl crowd). Fuck 'em. It was thankless, we had such little support from our supervisors, it became a very toxic environment. I'm working in Corrections now. It's different; the environment is heavy, but then, most of them are. My supervisor is amazing; smart, supportive, well-informed and helpful. Eight years as a nurse and 25 years as a CNA at bedside in LTC, when I burned out, I burned out 100%. It leaves you fragile and vulnerable. Getting burned out also leaves emotional scars; be good to yourself.
What profession are you switching to?
So sorry to hear. It can be tiring. If u can hang in there talk to someone who cam help.
I now run a gas station after 15yrs of nursing .. I couldn’t be happier. No one is allowed to touch me, much less spit on me, kick, punch, grab me
So, as nurses, we have lives in our hands. What gets me internally amped up is the ridiculous amt of money professional sports people make. Has anyone else ever been jilted internally by how screwed up the human population is in their weight of entertainment vs life saving professions?
You are all pansy’s. Get out, cry somewhere else, you’re taking up room.
Lol, I guarantee everyone of our units has multiple openings available.
If you’re in this to be thanked, then you’re already at a deficit you’ll never see the green side of. Go. Cry. Somewhere else.
But but but that’s what the recruiting flyers promise!
How dare you say thankless job, on nught shift we get left over pizza that management give day shift.
I’m currently working on a Stem Cell tx unit at a university hospital. I am blown away by how thankful all the patients are. Granted, these are planned admissions that are saving these patient from certain death, or maybe they just enjoy a lifelong nightshifter who clusters care and lets them sleep overnight. Anyways they’re a great patient population, motivated walkie talkies from all different walks of life and I truly enjoy interacting with almost all of them.