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Re: Don't Settle for Second Best! (Reply to this comment)
by shambli
Thank you for writing this. I agree that although the profession might be extremely difficult, EACH NURSE has a responsibility to HIM/HERSELF for how she will allow herself to treat and be treated. It's all about attitude and maintaining your own standard of professionalism and care. At the end of the day, you answer to you (and to God!)
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Dec 27 '04
10:49 am PST
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Re: Hit the nail on the head (Reply to this comment)
by shambli
Thanks for writing this - its nice to see that although the job is tough, the people who choose it - people like you, know that they are there for a reason. Nothing good comes easy.
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Dec 27 '04
10:40 am PST
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RE: Nursing (Reply to this comment)
by alyson33
Great advice to be a nursing aide first. I have been able to travel with my nursing career which I wouldn't give up but now I'm just plain burnt out and have been only nursing for 6 years. I wouldn't recommend this profession for many of the reasons said in the article. It's just too much, enough said.
Alyson
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Nov 04 '04
10:07 pm PST
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wellrounded view (Reply to this comment)
by bethhumphrey
Good coverage of all aspects of floor nursing. Many pros and cons covered. Does not talk about other jobs in nursing, i.e. surgical centers, doctors offices or home health care.Helpfull advice to anyone considering hospital nursing.
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May 06 '04
3:35 pm PDT
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The bare truth (Reply to this comment)
by jschalck
Although hard to swallow, you have pointed out only obvious truths in nursing. This article is very well written and I agree with most of your points.
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Apr 15 '04
5:12 pm PDT
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Hit the nail on the head (Reply to this comment)
by nursesusie
This article really hits the nail on the head about the dark side of nursing. As nurses, we are the "whipping boy" of patients, providers and family members. Everyone who is frustrated fusses as the nurse. We have the option as taking that as an insult and being frustrated, or as a compliment, they really do think we have a big "S" tattooed on our chest. In reality, we are in the middle, we have to provide loving, healing care to those who sometimes don't want it, we have to teach the patient and the family what is going on and listen to their concerns, we have to oversee a huge amount of technical interventions and make sure all the pieces come together as well as managing complex activities to ensure cost containment. Maybe "nurse" isn't the appropriate name for our profession-- "Superhuman" might be something closer.
I agree that prospective nurses should spend time as a tech before entering the field-- this is a tough, unforgiving field. On the other hand, I absolutely love the challenges, both intellectual and emotional, and wouldn't be anything else. In every decision in life, there is good and bad. In our case, it takes a little better focus to find the good after sludging through the bad.
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May 07 '03
6:52 am PDT
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I 2nd that Motion! (Reply to this comment)
by kdcan
I simply 2nd that motion!! How refreshing it is to see the truth written about Nursing.
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Mar 29 '03
11:47 am PST
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Nursing, Not For Everyone, Not For Most People (Reply to this comment)
by rdavisrn
I read this article, and found it to be "right- on". Since I was 6yrs. old, all I wanted to be was a nurse. Back then they wore starched whites and caps. I had the utmost respect for the white uniform. Heck, they scared me to death! I was married and had children before I finally decided to go to nursing school and have worked in multiple fields of nursing since then. I am so disappointed in the registered nurses are held accountable for the decisions and actions of others. You literally have to be in multiple places at once. There are plenty of nurses out there, but like me; I am sure they are all overwhelmed and burned out. I love being a nurse but that is just it, I want to be a nurse, not a slave to healthcare!
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Mar 07 '03
1:57 pm PST
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Excellent assessment of the Nursing Professions Today (Reply to this comment)
by wolfmessenger
This article points out all the reasons why the U.S. is experiencing the nursing shortage today. There are plenty of nurses out there, but they have just left the professions because of the terrible conditions present in the hospitals today.
Until the country addresses these very problems the author has listed, the nursing professions will not be a field that is desirable to enter into.
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Feb 23 '03
8:48 am PST
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Nursing, not for everyone... (Reply to this comment)
by hhlwry
True? Yes. However, all the negativity will certainly discourage any potential new nurses. While I agree with the statements, and also know my stress level has been higher in the past fourteen years than in my whole life, I can't imagine doing anything else. Nursing has been my whole life and I encourage others to steer their paths the same way if they have what it takes. If other nurses are so burnt out they don't have one nice thing to say about this profession they should transfer to a different department or to another venue of healthcare because we'll never build our ranks by turning new recruits off before they step foot into that first nursing class.
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Jan 03 '03
3:12 pm PST
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Re: Nurses wanted (Reply to this comment)
by nursefriendly
Hello, sorry if my comments come off as negative, they seem pretty factual to me.
I'd much rather have a potential nursing student have their eyes opened before they enroll in school and realize they've made a major mistake. We have enough licensed nurses who have given up working in the field.
Better to give them an idea of what to expect and help them prepare. There are around 280 million people in the US and only 4 million or so nurses. I think that alone supports my title. "nursing not for everyone, not for most people."
By all means, if you feel I'm being negative, write a positive review for nursing. I'd really like to see more people that feel comfortable encouraging it.
Sincerely,
Andrew Lopez, BS RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
867 Dante Court, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137, AOL “andypulse2”
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618
Need health or medical advice? Ask A Nurse:
1-800-ASK-KEEN, 0178615.
http://www.nursefriendly.com/ask/
100,000 Nurse-Reviewed & Approved Nursing Links
http://www.nursinghumor.com
http://www.nursefriendly.com
http://www.nursingentrepreneurs.com
http://www.nursingexperts.com
http://www.prescriptionforviagra.com
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Dec 19 '02
5:11 pm PST
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Re: sandi says... (Reply to this comment)
by spacewoman
Get a grip Sandi, what he said was very realistic, and your comments were very narcissistic!(however you spell it.) You must work either in a hospital that has a super great staff to patient ratio, and/or now are a nursing instructor, or do one of the other non nursing, nursing jobs.
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Dec 14 '02
8:32 am PST
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Nursing, A Special Breed (Reply to this comment)
by spacewoman
Unfortunately what you said in the article was 100% correct. It encompasses all the negative correctly and reasons why eventually so many R.N.'s leave the profession. In your article, you did not focus on any positive reasons to pursue nursing as a career; but, since you are so correct in your description I would have to give you a 3.5 rating. The article fails to project any positive aspects of the job, such as, the self gratifying, warm fuzzies, that you get from doing your job well; through, your acquired experience and empathy, and from making a difference in the outcome of each person's lives you touch.
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Dec 14 '02
8:25 am PST
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Nursing Not For Everyone - So True (Reply to this comment)
by ljacosta
This article hits the proverbial nail on the head and "tells it like it is".
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Dec 04 '02
5:54 am PST
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You got it right! (Reply to this comment)
by rntigress
I am still considered a fledgling in nursing. I have been a RN for three years. During this time I have worked in OB to Hospice, and areas in between. I guess I have been trying to find the job that lets me do what I became a nurse for. Reality has finally set in, and I realize that my ideals are misty fairy tales that will never come to pass.
The article hit the problem of nursing on the head. The sad thing is that there are still citizens out there that believe in nurses and the stereotype that we are angels. What they don't know is that they are being cared for by nurses who have possibly 12 other patients to care for also. The hospitals cut the staffing to save money, and yet the wages remain below acceptable levels. The responsibility is enormous, the stress unbearable, the care lacking, and the nurse is in fear of being sued or losing her license. When will it all end? Will it get better?
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Jul 18 '02
11:22 am PDT
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Nurse tech Opinion (Reply to this comment)
by samarialamb
This is soooooo true. I've been a nursing Technician for 30 years. Within these years I;ve seen many sides of nursing and have acquired much knowledge and many skills. I am currently in school for nursing. Sometimes I feel as though I so not want to continue because of all the Bad treatment and lack of respect that I as a tech recieves but, as I go on each day I pray to God that things will change and all nursing personel will have respect for one another first than they will automatically begin to work together to solve this terrible Nursing shortage/ Nursing is a rewarding Profession and can make everyone involved please that they had part in saving a life or even as much as giving someone a glass of water. What is so sad is that When one becomes an RN the forget about where they came from and think that they are ultimately above all nursing care, especially the quote unquote dirty but natural part of nursing. I only pray that one day all nurses will come to understand that one day sooner or later they may need a helping hand. In the nurses field now its all about the money incentives and leaving the work on the lowest man, which often is the LPN or The Nurses Tech. I've had many years of experience and if I have't learned anything else I have learned what type of nurse that I DO NOT want to be. Some of us forget so in turn it makes the patient suffer. It's a very saddddddd situation when a nurse cannot give a patient a Bed Pan or change a diaper because they are the nurse and they tell the patient they have to wait for a tech. The first rule of thumb in nursing is that these patients need all of us and without our team effort the dream of caring and helping people goes down the drain.We all know that there are people in this profession as little as it seem, are in it for the money and not for the concern for the patient until it hits home. I love nursing but due to my caring and for my children, father and brother I am unable to go thru school fast. I will eventually finish and become an RN But my prayer everyday is for God to keep me humble and let me be the Nurse that He will have me to be. I pray not to succumb to life's little shortcuts in caring for anyone that is ill or anyone who needs my help.
God Bless You
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May 09 '02
9:30 am PDT
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Reflection (Reply to this comment)
by prncsrus
I graduated from a college school of nursing in 1962. I have a BSN and MSCI in the field of nursing education. I've worked in the USA and territories, and in Canada. Mr. Lopez identifies the issue I worried about years ago: incredible responsibility without authority.
In the last fifteen years, I've watched the profession of nursing develop into a technological phenomena as science raced into the 21 century. With the introduction of insurance promoted managed care, the games employers play with nurses and patients have escalated--as the accountants gleefully crunch the numbers. Managed care? Let's call it what Mr. Lopez knows it is: mismanaged care. Wake up and smell the coffee people! It's all about numbers--not patient care. Mr. Lopez succinctly points out that nurses are overworked and patient care suffers. He has seen the "big picture" of the modern medical business, and knows where the RN fits into it. Way on the bottom of the heap, folks! Longer hours, more patients, more tasks, less nurses to cover shifts--liability, liability, liability.
His suggestions are right on target. Anyone considering the profession should learn about the power struggles between nurses and administration, between nurses and physicians, between nurses and nurses. We need to discuss the issues Mr. Lopez identifies in his article, and look for solutions.
Professional unions, anyone?
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Apr 10 '02
8:43 pm PDT
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wow (Reply to this comment)
by puleston59537
Wow that all seemed pretty negative, you and I have had different experiences as nurses.
I have only 3 points to make regarding your article:
1. The comparison to plumbing was great!
2. The recommendation to work as a nurse assistant is excellent advice.
3. You generalized way too much. Not all doctors feel that way, some hospitals are not so short staffed. Yes, nursing is a difficult profession, but often it takes looking until you find a place that is congruent with your beliefs.
Nursing has been a fabulous career for me, and no I'm not a high paid administrator. I work 2 part-time jobs. I teach nursing in a BS program at a local university and I also work as a home health nurse. I have been a nurse for 18 years! Thanks
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Mar 22 '02
9:15 pm PST
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An accurate review of the nursing profession (Reply to this comment)
by pfleige
I could not agree more,the pros and cons are like, I mean right to the point,
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Feb 05 '02
5:04 pm PST
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Don't Settle for Second Best! (Reply to this comment)
by schoolnursea
I am a registered nurse with a BSN. For the past three years I have worked for an independent elementary school. Upon graduation, several years ago, I spent a few years as a hospital floor nurse. It is true that nurse are notoriously under appreciated. However, we (nurses and patients) must not settle for second best. I demand respect with my professionalism, my consistency in practicing the standards of care, and by valuing each patient and family with respect. I take one day at a time, and I am rewarded and enriched by each experience and interaction.
There is always hope. I have hope for the nursing profession. I am one person, and I know that I have made a difference to many.
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Jul 07 '01
8:55 pm PDT
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Re: Don't forget the Nursing Process (Reply to this comment)
by nursefriendly
Hello Grace,
thank you for your comments, however we cannot "leave insurance and patient care" concerns to the insurance industry and administration.
They're quite happy having things stay as is at our expense.
When's the last time a nurse won a battle against an insurance company to keep a patient in a hospital because they were too sick to go home?
It simply doesn't happen because the hospital loses money when insurance benefits run out.
So you get resistance from both the insurance companies and your employer forcing your to go against your professional judgement or risk losing your job.
It happens every day Grace and it's alarming as hell.
Andrew Lopez, BS RN
epinions@nursefriendly.com
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Nov 11 '00
7:00 pm PST
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Don't forget the Nursing Process (Reply to this comment)
by Nurse-Process
I have been a nurse for over 16 years,and have had the opportunity to work in Medical/Surgical, Intensive Care and Emergency departments. And all too many times, I have worked (along side my fellow nurses) in terribly under staffed and mismanaged conditions. Two things that we all must remember is there is strength in numbers and we are all responsible for administering the nursing process towards our patients. We cannot concern ourselves with the priorities of HMO's and Hospital/Medical politics. Those issues will be taken care of by those involved or employed in those departments. As nurses we are responsible for acting as advocates for our patients, whether they are hospitalized or in the community. As hospital nurses we have the power and obligation to not discharge a patient that is too sick, we have an obligation to stand up for our patients when the medical decision making is inappropriate. We are under no obligation to follow medical orders/Insurance requirements if it is to our patient's detriment.
Let's stop acting like victims in this health care profession and start throwing our weight around. Just by our shear numbers we will improve patient outcomes and reduce the incident of medical/nursing negligence.
The days have passed that we blindly follow the instructions of others. We are in a new era and must act as a profession with autonomy. And by doing this we must not be compromised or intimidated into providing substandard care to our patients.
And above all remember not to act negatively towards your peers, stick together when circumstances are bad. We are stronger united.
Grace McCallum, R.N., CCRN, CEN
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Nov 10 '00
4:03 pm PST
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Re: Great review! (Reply to this comment)
by nursefriendly
Hello Eva,
Thank you for the feedback (smile). Just trying to raise a little awareness among the public of what's going on behind the scenes.
If you have a moment, stop by http://www.nursefriendly.com
Will be highlighting everyone's Nursing Professions articles there.
Thanks,
Andrew Lopez, BS RN
epinions@nursefriendly.com
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Nov 07 '00
7:04 am PST
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Re: Why I left (Reply to this comment)
by nursefriendly
Thank you for the feedback Ann.
If it's is helpful to you, on the Nursefriendly you can find a National Nurse Entrepreneur directory.
http://www.nursefriendly.com/nursing/business.htm
In that directory we have nurses that have started their own businesses using their nursing skills/background.
You may find some inspiration there.
Best of luck.
Sincerely,
Andrew Lopez, BS RN
The Nursefriendly National Nursing & Consumer Healthcare Directories
http://www.nursefriendly.com, andrew@nursefriendly.com, ICQ #6116137, AOL “andypulse2”
867 Dante Court, Mantua New Jersey 08051
856-415-9617, (fax) 856-415-9618
Your Online Nursing Resource For Information & Business Opportunities You Can Put To Use Today
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Jul 27 '00
10:35 pm PDT
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Why I left (Reply to this comment)
by annintenn
I have not been working as an RN for 2 years now. I left for several of the reasons you spoke of: not being able to give patients the care I know they deserved and being worked to death. I would come home so physically and mentally drained that I knew I needed a break. It was affecting my family as well. It's a sad state of affairs. I'm currently looking at other avenues that are away from the bedside although that is my love.
Ann
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Jul 27 '00
10:19 am PDT
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Re: I agree with you one hundred percent (Reply to this comment)
by nursefriendly
Hello Sue,
What makes me nervous is that it is going to get a lot worse.
We are in a shortage and nurses are getting more vocal about how undesirable the profession can be.
As a result, this "shortage" will be longer and more severe than any we've had before.
Those of us "hanging in there" will not have it easy.
In the end, we do "the best we can" and if it's not enough, it's the patient that will ultimately suffer.
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Jul 11 '00
5:48 pm PDT
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Re: "Not For Most Ppeople" (Reply to this comment)
by nursefriendly
Thank you for the feedback Mark.
Nursing is one of the professions where if the public was aware of is really going on, there would be considerable outrage.
For fear of employer retaliation, and because nurses have few protections for "blowing the whistle" the public may never know just how dangerous it is to be a patient.
We see firsthand and are aware of the "near misses" that routinely happen every day.
At the least, those reading my opinion will know that there is a darker side to Nursing and the Healthcare profession that they will not learn about in Nursing school.
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Jul 11 '00
5:45 pm PDT
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"Not For Most Ppeople" (Reply to this comment)
by Hard_To_Please
Andrew-
This is the first review of its' kind I've ever read here.
As almost everyone here, I have a relative that's a nurse, have been treated by a nurse, and have the utmost respect for the noble, yet unprofitable, occupation.
As with any occupation or group of people, there are both good and bad within the population. I believe that the good <bfar outweigh</b> the bad in the profession you so eloquently described!...Mark
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Jul 10 '00
5:42 pm PDT
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I agree with you one hundred percent (Reply to this comment)
by Sue918
Nurses are overworked and underpaid. I am not a nurse but I have a cousin who is a nurse at Vanderbilt Hosp. in Nashville. They are having all kinds of nursing problems. Cutting back on the staff and overworking the ones who are left. Nursing is not for everyone, but I sure am glad that there are some people like you who chose this profession.
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Jun 29 '00
7:58 am PDT
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