Are We Running Out of Nurses?

[@steveconlon8936]

Seems like a number of issues are not mentioned: Nurses regularly get verbally, emotionally, or even physically abused by patients as well as patients' support people. THEN (as wife of lurch alludes below) they also get abused by hospital management. My wife is a 5-time cancer survivor (read: immuno-compormised) and has severe asthma / COPD, but her hospital during covid unilaterally re-wrote their contract to force her to take care of COVID patients if that's where they had the need (read: death sentence). Abuse on all sides, understaffed, and working for a hospital that cares more about the money than it does for the patients or the staff. NO THANKS.

[@pbsvitals]

The pandemic brought a lot of things to a head... we hear some wild stories.

[@bigrollin]

Yeah lots of stuff that could've been mentioned that would bring to light issues.

[@Watch-0w1]

How do we fix it? Privatize hospitals or government control ? Unlike other business, hospital are the most essential . maybe they need a better union for nurses. All real essential worker are very undervalued except cops

[@megg2826]

@@Watch-0w1 one way to fix it is to unionize and change laws so that healthcare staff are protected in righ to work states. In states like Az which is a right to work nurses can be fired for not taking x amount of patients. So a nurse could be assigned to care for 7 patients in a hospital and be fired because the nirse felt that was too unsafe

[@secondworldproblem]

@@Watch-0w1 How to fix this? Right to work states hobble union organizing to degree that these can't help. Nurses are mostly women, so these workers have a tougher time voting with their feet (quitting to work somewhere else). Right now the market is helping nurses. Let nurse travel companies pay big bucks. This encourages hospitals to take better care of their staff nurses so they will stay. That's a small start. National health care is not coming anytime soon. So small improvements are important.

[@emmanuellopez521]

Hospitals are willing to pay 3 to 4 times more for travel nurses than increase pay for their own nurses.

[@kloatlanta]

100%

[@cu99460]

Why don't you become a travel nurse then?

[@secondworldproblem]

@@cu99460 yes, we could all do that... Except most nurses are women with school aged children... So they cannot move to get those travel jobs. The staff are stuck in low paying jobs. Read the other comments in the threads to get a more complete picture, cu99460.

[@NeonHelix20]

@@secondworldproblem you can actually still find a local agency contract and get paid agency money. Travel nursing can encompass jobs that dont actually require travel.

[@zuiiee]

Facilities in general, not just hospitals

[@duanecarr6712]

As an RN I would definitely support mandatory ratios

[@kathleencolwell8947]

😂You’re so funny! This is America. What are we supposed to do with the patients who come to the E.D. who get admitted?

[@mph5896]

24 patients back in rooms with 16 empty er rooms. 6 nurses taking care of patients, a charge without an assignment and a triage nurse. 29 patients waiting for a day or so. That’s what the union gets you in my area.

[@bettysmith4527]

Then they just take away your CNAs!!

[@alphaomega1351]

I got it! Robots 🤖! Robot nurses!!! 😶

[@TorturedPeace]

Until it’s a pandemic: ratios for out the window. At least here in Cali

[@jenanjuice2003]

I had to quit my last job working in trauma. After working 30 days (and nights) straight, I had a family member die. The day before his funeral, they mandated me to work a second shift (meaning I’ll be written up if I don’t). That night we had multiple stabbings and a patient who was murdered meaning that I had to do extra legal paperwork with the police. I left to the funeral that morning for an 8 hour drive to Southern California. I came back the next day and was told that I’d be mandated to work again. I put my foot down as I’m not a super human. The idea that they did not care about my well being or my brothers death, and threatened me with a write up after I just worked 30 days, made me realize my worth. I found a better job close by that is also demanding but has standards. There is so much more to the story I can write a book

[@pbsvitals]

That sounds like a no-win situation - we're hearing too many stories like that.

[@secondworldproblem]

I'm so sorry for how you were treated. That is terrible.

[@lunalou3489]

I watched the beginning where she complained about her 3rd twelve and my first thought was, "I wish I could work just 3 twelves." 15 for me in OB and I thought that was bad.

[@lifeisthebestteacher]

Write the book. I will too.

[@maryw4069]

I’d love to read this book you speak of!! Blog it maybe?

[@prettypic444]

nurses seem to have the same problem that teachers have had for a while- society relies on their altruistic nature to act as compensation rather than actually ensuring that they have decent pay and working conditions. burnout is pretty much guaranteed, and the nurse/teacher ends up in a negative feedback loop because our culture penalizes any negative feelings they might have.

[@Asharra12]

Yeah totally! They're both overburdened with patients/students as well as paperwork. It's just amazing to me that people complain about the education and hospital systems and focus on so many facets of the problem but ignore the huge glaring one; which is thay we don't take care of the main professionals in those systems. We really shouldn't wonder why they are failing if we are failing those who work in those fields.

[@MNP208]

I worked in a school and yes, teachers have a tough job too. The difference is that we had the holidays and long breaks to look forward to. Hospitals are open 24/7 and only one or two people can have off on Christmas, Thanksgiving, July 4th, etc. In education, we also had meetings and in-services at the beginning of the school year. Management will NOT block off any part of the clinic schedule so staff can meet and discuss concerns. Patients keep coming no matter what!

[@prettypic444]

@@MNP208 my family is half teachers (including my mother) so I'm very familiar with the field

[@MNP208]

@@prettypic444 Some of my former coworkers years ago said "I wish I could go to nursing school". When I see them today I tell them "be glad you didn't!" A much better work-life balance in teaching.

[@a.a7648]

But you can not fire a teacher

[@drrd4127]

I am 33 years and been a nurse 10 years, just graduated with a different degree, I am leaving nursing. During my Nursing time I developed anxiety, panic disorder, depression, Back pain, feet issues, bursitis in my shoulder. My body and mental health has failed me, I NEED TO LEAVE!

[@elfredawright]

Welcome to the club of anxiety, PTSD, and depression club for nurses.

[@bannisteryort5330]

Ooh wee my first two years feel like 10 years

[@pbsvitals]

What are you doing next?

[@sarahtoler5878]

What’s your next step?

[@marlenenoubet4927]

That anxiety 😥

[@barbaramullins4233]

I left nursing in 2019 before the impact of covid on the healthcare industry. After 20 years of watching a broken healthcare system deliver substandard care in dangerously understaffed facilities, I had finally collapsed under the weight of it. I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD. Most nurses are empaths which make us particularly vulnerable to the narcissistic abuse of an industry that cares more about money than people.

[@anitaknight3915]

As a therapist, many of my clients from helping professions all have PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Empaths absorb this toxicity and stress.

[@barbaramullins4233]

@@anitaknight3915 what is your specialty? I am appalled that the mental health community is still grappling with narcissistic personality disorder. There are still no real diagnoses or treatments. The victims are left feeling robbed and crazy.

[@BobRooney290]

i agree. nurses are empaths, which blinds them to the fact that they are working for a corporation. and as such, you have a right to put in a complaint with the deportment of labor to investigate the hospital, its do-nothing executives and and managers for abusing staff, which i have zero tolerance for. nurses need to use the media to expose them.

[@cecivnsa]

I dropped out of nursing school and it was (sadly) the best decision of my life.

[@lynnreeves7748]

You dodged a bullet 💯

[@trinicadeem]

@@lynnreeves7748 i was going to comment the same thing.

[@Giggles50]

Same here. I had one of the worst instructors, she was a nightmare. Started targeting me in class, had her favorites...I refused to continue in that toxic environment. When I tried to complain, they dismissed me. I never looked back. I agree, best decision to walk away.

[@trinicadeem]

@@Giggles50 That’s nursing for you.

[@Giggles50]

@@trinicadeem Exactly!

[@NecieytheGREAT]

As a FORMER nurse I am here to tell you. It’s ALL about money.. there is NO longer CARE in healthcare… it’s sickening the way things are being done right now

[@anitaknight3915]

Yessss they took the care out of healthcare longggggg ago. It's all driven by profit and greed. Disgusting!

[@yesitsme1642]

I’ve been a nurse for 15 years. And this is definitely true. It’s a huge business not care

[@MrAdwoa2003]

If it's all about money then why do facilities pay them so little. some RNs with BSN are paid $25 in Georgia and they have been at the facility for 30 years. So am not sure who is making the money. Is it the facility or the nurse?

[@lilliwilson]

Would you still recommend going into nursing?

[@yesitsme1642]

@@lilliwilson it all depends what your true passion is. I am a nurse with two daughters. Personally, I did not recommend nursing to them and am glad they’re doing something else. It’s a beautiful thing to do but you get worked very hard for not enough pay to compete with everything that you’ll actually be doing. It’s really not just about the money. But some places work you so hard that what we get doesn’t amount justly. My last job we worked 12-16 hours a day most of the time with no lunch or breaks. If you did sit for a min it was always interrupted. So I feel you’re not only giving a lot of yourself, but your health takes a toll too. Again it all depends on your passion. You can do try nursing education or other areas of nursing that doesn’t always include harsh bedside work, however some of the time it’s needed to get anywhere else. Great question to get insight from other nurses.

[@SherriAshton]

It’s not just nurses, it’s all healthcare. It trickles down to every department. Lab techs are the same , I’m currently on sick leave because my job ,sounds funny to say it, traumatized me. In the end I was overdosing on sleeping medication and started drinking to get through my days. I had no life. I kept saying things would get better but it didn’t . I see the same problems in my coworkers, IT department, respiratory therapists, stores, etc. We are all burnt out and suffering mental health issues as the consequences.

[@pbsvitals]

That is distressing - hope you get to healing and feeling better soon!

[@palmereldritch_6669]

I was a nursing aide for a number of years. Management loved to save money by keeping us under staffed. I developed crippling plantar fascitis. They didn't care. We were treated as expendable. And why? Healthcare is difficult no matter what. But when it's run by evil corporations who have little interest in anything but profit, it is untenable long term.

[@SherriAshton]

@@palmereldritch_6669 yes this is exactly it! The job wouldn’t be as bad if it wasn’t for that. Hope you are doing better now.

[@supertenor561]

thank you for being bold and brave about coming out with your truth. Get rest and exercise

[@MystiqueRoz]

I’ve also seen where a 1:1 sitter is actually watching 2 patients which defeats the whole purpose of having a patient sitter.

[@jennifermiller6302]

Please do not forget about the nursing home nurses. I have 36 residents every day to pass meds, vital signs, treatments, charting, take off orders.

[@bannisteryort5330]

Come on speak on it 🗣🗣🗣💯💯

[@pbsvitals]

That is an especially tough job, no doubt about it.

[@jennifergarza7766]

The businesses that run some of these nursing homes are awful.

[@robertsmith1865]

Don't for Trach care, respiratory treatments, IV therapy, IV antibiotic therapy, start IVs and maintain them for agency nurse if any on duty. Check behind nursing assistants

[@amandadube3981]

Yes I agree I work in a Nursing Home and not appreciated too many patients

[@Dludolph90]

Worked in EMS for 7 years. Going on 2 years nursing. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of how I can afford to get out of this profession. The verbal abuse, the expectations, the unthankful people. I could go on for hours. I’m done.

[@anitaknight3915]

I feel this way as a mental health counselor too. It's awful. I have the utmost respect for EMS workers who have never gotten the compensation & appreciation they deserve.

[@secondworldproblem]

Nurses have gotten paid poorly and been gaslighted... By being told we're heroes, we're appreciated for going above and beyond, instead of appropriately compensated and having adequate staffing. So if we say NO, I don't want your love messages, I want fair pay and safe staffing... We are told we are gouging the HOSPITAL! What? CEOs of hospitals have been making insane amounts of money on the backs of patients forever. They have NOT been called out on it. But nurses are supposed to be good girls and boys and shut up... Just do it. And don't tell patients how this impacts their safety.

[@Burritosarebetterthantacos]

Nurses are making $5-7k a week for 36 hr weeks. Give me a break.

[@secondworldproblem]

@@Burritosarebetterthantacos yes, the travelers are. That's the market finally operating. Capitalism working. But that is happening because finally nurses are refusing to work in traditional positions near home for poor pay and with poor staffing. Hospitals are forced to hire travelers. Now we have high paid traveling nurses working alongside poorly paid locals. hospitals complained to Congress to stop travel companies from charging so much INSTEAD of just treating their regular staff better. There are hospitals with no staffing problems because they have fair practices. The nurses do not make the super high pay, but they are content to stay at home, near their kids school and make a decent wage with benefits and safe staffing.

[@timmjackson]

@@Burritosarebetterthantacos Most nurses don't make anywhere near that.

[@bettysmith4527]

@@Burritosarebetterthantacos pffft.. try 35 / hour in my state, and that's with 16 YEARS of experience, I got so fed up I left nursing full time a year in and haven't looked back since.

[@aoi9874]

@@Burritosarebetterthantacos where? If not a traveling nurse then where?

[@wifeoflurch3572]

I resigned from a hospital system WHO WROTE ME UP FOR GETTING THE FLU. And you wonder why nurses are burned out and leaving the profession they love.

[@pbsvitals]

Ugh - glad you were in position to stand up for yourself.

[@Effectiveelect]

WOW!

[@a.a7648]

There are 4 stages in nursing 1. O I love this profession I love helping people 2. Work smarter not harder 3. What a f.. no matter what I do it's always something else 4. F.. all this

[@muahful]

@@a.a7648 I'v been at 1-2 for a while, now I 'm headed straight to 4 😭😭

[@a.a7648]

@@muahful How long have you been in nursing

[@lesliew87]

As an RN exactly this. My last hospital job before the pandemic they told me 6 patients per nurse. I never got 6, I got 8. I left bedside nursing last year and have no plans to go back if I can help it. Nurse to patient ratios were an issue long before the pandemic (I started in healthcare in 2009) and it’s just gotten extremely worse. It’s not safe or fair to anyone. We are not heroes, we are healthcare workers with rights. You are not a medical insurance claim you are a human being with a right to safe care.

[@WillyWonkaEater217]

I left the field, was only an RN for 5 years, but I could see it going downhill quickly. Sadly the people who don’t work in healthcare aren’t seeing the system collapse from the greed of these hospitals and clinics.

[@RoyalHam]

“I could see it going downhill quickly.”This captured my exact sentiments. I’ve been a nurse coming up 7 years now, the last 5 of which have been in ICU, and the burnout has unfortunately trickled into my personal life now. I’m disengaged and unfulfilled at work. I’m constantly anxious and irritable and flat out unhappy. I dread the thought of going in for a 12 hr shift. Managers are so out out touch with the existing burden nurses are having to deal with, yet keep on piling on their expectations on us. What are you doing now if I may ask? I’m at my wit’s end over here.

[@WillyWonkaEater217]

@@RoyalHam I work for my school district as a nurse. I get summers off, and a majority of my care is focused on the special Ed. Department. I’m off at 3pm, M-F, and it’s perfect for my kid who is now going into grade school. Plus if it’s a holiday or my kid is out of school for conferences… SO AM I!

[@churchofpos2279]

Walked away last month after 30 years. I am retiring , will let my license expire, and will not return. The past month has been the happiest time of my life.

[@BobRooney290]

mental health is more important than any job. these corporations destroy people.

[@ChristysChannelYall]

I’ve been a RN for 22 years. I walked away from hospital nursing 6 years ago and went to home health. I took a pretty big pay cut, but there is no amount of money that could bring me back to hospital nursing. My body could not take 12 hour night shifts any more. My blood pressure was about to kill me. Now it’s normal again without any medication. I was constantly super sleep deprived and anxious. I used to fall asleep on the way home while sitting at stop lights. It was awful.

[@anitaknight3915]

I am so glad you put your health first and are doing better!!! No job is worth your health and wellbeing.

[@GrannyGrump2006]

Been in nursing 40 years this July 5th. Retirement July 26th. This is the worst I’ve ever seen it be with nursing / staff shortages, hateful ungrateful patients and families who think you aren’t doing enough. Not to mention administration. Makes me crazy! I’ve always loved nursing until the last 3-4 years and especially since the pandemic started. I’m out!!!

[@monicabaker5456]

I'm an LPN with 22 years under my belt. I am walking away because of burnout. No time for myself, my husband or my family. I worked 12 hour shifts throughout the pandemic, plus extras due to staff shortages. I can't take anymore!

[@a.a7648]

get a break, I had a break for 2 months from nursing, was driving uber

[@Littleathquakes]

I interviewed for a CCU position. The Dir asked why I wanted to leave the ER. I said i wanted safe staffing, the ICUS get 2:1 while in the ER we don’t have a cap, I’ve had as much as 8 patients. She then said well sometimes the CCU is short too and nurses can get more than 2 patients. I replied that’s simply unsafe - these are CRITICAL patients. She then asked well how could I fix that. What she wanted to hear was a sucker who would say Yes I can be flexible and take 4 critical patients. What she got was me who said she needed more staff. I didn’t get the job.

[@mariekano9730]

I've been a nurse for only 5 years and every single day when I go to work I get anxiety. LOTS of anxiety

[@themormonblacksheep]

Same reason flights have been canceled, many of us in the airline industry were so abused during the pandemic and overworked we developed mental illness symptoms. Your own health comes first, nurses. ❤

[@tdotjazzberryram61]

Thanks for all you do in you profession ✈. I sympathize with what you all have to put up with too !!

[@christinaprn]

Abuse of nurses by pts, doc’s, families and especially by mgmt has been going on for decades. When I see videos of customers abusing flight staff, I think nurses have been treated like this for decades. Our abuse is never recorded and put on the net, though. Because HIPAA.

[@christinaprn]

I hate when autocorrect throws random apostrophes into words! Lol.

[@ammj6202]

Thank you for sharing your story Blacksheep.

[@sophiagonzalez1746]

The hospital administrators do not care how they are overworking nurses. It’s actually dangerous. I’m done with hospitals, no more. I’m tired working for years without a break. They take lunchtime away but administration knows you can’t get a break. Good bye hospitals, it’s not worth to be a healthcare hero. Let the administration put in scrubs. Who wants to constantly work in a fast paced no breaks environment to risk their license. So not worth it. I would never choose to be a nurse again if I could turn the time. Nursing board doesn’t care about nurses and their health either. They rather put nurses on a black list. Is that worth it? I say no!

[@1babygirlg]

I feel the same. What areas would you work that are anti hospital?

[@katyavig9223]

Same with hospital sonographers, management doesn’t care.

[@margaretmukasa5152]

@@1babygirlg prisons , public health , home care , hospice., psych nursing, schools, work on cruise line, clinics, travel nursing , group homes, nursing homes less tense than hospitals.

[@amandabohman8178]

I’m an ER nurse for two rural hospitals. We have lost half our staff and nurse managers. It is disturbing, and frankly, quite scary. I feel like I’m on a super unstable suspension bridge 24/7.

[@alimarie67]

I got so burned out, I quit. I never renewed my license and NEVER looked back. It was the best decision ever.👍👍

[@prettygirl_1626]

What you do now?

[@angelastewart9497]

You should work for agency one patient only get paid more and do less

[@alimarie67]

@@prettygirl_1626 … Retired, I travel, sleep whenever I want, and enjoy family time more.

[@alimarie67]

@@angelastewart9497 … why? I am burned out with taking care of anyone but myself 🤣🤣

[@BREEZEMAYES]

I quit, 7 of my friends quit. We had over 300 years of ICU experience.

[@detoxlady6777]

LOL 😂 and true

[@gnaj6123]

I graduated as a nurse few years ago. Had issues with my school transcript and wasn’t able to get approval to take nclex by BON for 3 years. Those years, I worked as a unit clerk. Saw how nurses were treated (by pts, management, even I got treated poorly by some patients). I decided not to pursue nursing. I feel good about my choice. Nurses are strong! I admire all of you!

[@yesitsme1642]

It’s definitely not for everyone.

[@d.lawrence5670]

Gnaj, too bad you wasted all that time and $$$ pursing a nursing degree you'd never use. They should let potential candidates in every field spend a week by the side of a professional in that field. Will have a lot of people reconsidering/changing their fields of study.

[@lisaspikes4291]

I quit nursing in December of 2020. After 28 years. It is ridiculous! Nurses are being used and abused. My whole life changed after I became a nurse. I used to be very active, and had a busy social life. Now, when I get off work, all I want to do is go home, eat something, and hide in my house. I don’t want to talk to anyone, or go out anywhere. Every time my phone rings, my heart sinks down into my stomach, because of the endless phone calls I would get every day asking me to come in for an extra shift. Even though I haven’t worked in nursing for a year and a half, I still feel dread every time my phone rings! Even on my last day at my former job, my boss tried to make me stay for another shift, even though they had another RN to take my place. Medical Facilities are POORLY RUN, in order to make more money. Well, now they are seeing what happens when you abuse your employees!

[@pickles9440]

The CEO’s come through, one after the other, piling up money, then leaving, never to be seen or heard from again. Meanwhile, like a dumb Schluck, im still there 30 years later, its always been on a downward slide, but the last two years the slide has gotten steeper, and the last 3 months have been like a fire sale. IDK what im gonna do, 8 more years till i can collect pension and get the heck out.

[@msheehandub]

Hospitals are so toxic. The health system in America is absolutely trash. Respiratory therapist here and can sympathize with nurses as we are right next to you guys day to day dealing with much of the same patients and trauma.

[@a.a7648]

25 $ in hr in Florida, RN with 3 years experience I can make same money driving post office truck, or uber F nursing

[@1babygirlg]

Yeah that's funny cause I'm a new grad looking for work in Orlando and I'm surprised most jobs are not even 30hr!

[@1babygirlg]

@@a.a7648 Wow! I'm sorry but that's not what I expected for a travel nurse. Now I'm really worried 😟

[@pbsvitals]

Are you considering a switch?

[@a.a7648]

@@pbsvitals Will never come back to bed side nursing, the only worth from it if you are traveling, even if you are traveling, they can cancel your contract for a reason like; your shoe untie, however you can not cancel contract from your side Bed side nurse is a toilet paper which can be waisted at any time, it's like serving in army you only got responsibility and NO rights

[@supertenor561]

@@a.a7648 you are exactly right!!!

[@kelsblair5963]

So I’m a new nurse and I feel so overwhelmed. Not by the amount of work but by patients and their families making my job so difficult. I love my job but the families being there dictating your every move and questions every single thing even after you explained it to them is ridiculous. Management makes them a priority. On top of that the pay is ridiculous compared to those doing contracts. It’s a slap in the face I must say. Nursing schools in Texas have eased up on requirements because they know people aren’t wanting to go.

[@maggierunchel4720]

Retired nurse 8 years ,here,started 51 years ago worked ICU and CCU ,and then with cardiologist group . While working in hospital 51 years ago shortage of nurses ,when questioned administration was told we are trying to find more nurses to help. Sent qualified nurses with great experience. They were told "Sorry,we aren't hiring ". ,43 years I have seen that happen ,in hospitals and also cardiologist office where I worked for 23 years. As soon as hospital bought our group ,it started. When nurses left ,not replaced. When phone operators left,schedulers left ,nurses given those jobs. Then the 4 medical records ladies let go, nurses pick that up too. At the same time nursing staff down from 8 to 3 . Doing their job as triage nurses, phone operators, schedulers and finally scanning medical records into computer. While working as lipid clinic and Coumadin clinic for 6 doctors. Of course all to be done in 8 hours . When I went to our office manager and told her of my concerns for our patients and staff ,was told I needed to stop caring so much . Left and never looked back

[@jmann8182]

So much stress involved in the last 10 years of working as an LVN. I developed numerous health issues, have PTSD - nightmares - and retired early. Hospitals need MAJOR revamping! Nurses must unionize nationally. Maybe have all hospitals be non-profit? For areas with RN only staff, bring back aids and LPN's. Proud of nurses who are speaking out !!!

[@mistysouthall3602]

I am not a nurse but I am a Healthcare worker.. And the toll it's taken on myself I just couldn't imagine what Nurses are going through.. First things first..TAKE CARE OF YOU! My heart goes out to all of you every where..💕💕

[@avintagedollintime9134]

5 years in the medical field and looking into putting it behind me. Thanks to the stress and work load, I developed heart problems, ptsd, severe anxiety and depression.

[@claudelol]

There has been a nursing shortage for YEARS - it's pretty alarming that news organizations are just now catching onto that.

[@pickles9440]

Alarming to say the least. Just like bidens lap top, our concerns are being buried, down deep.

[@cprivera1]

I'm glad listened to all the nurses who told me not to go into nursing. I was a CNA and now I'm going to radiology!!

[@greenbeans575]

I hate to burst your bubble, but they use and abuse staff all over the hospital. Much revenue is generated by radiology procedures and they understaff those areas as well. I was an x-ray tech and became ill because of the abuse. Haven't worked in the field in nearly twenty years because of this.

[@anitaknight3915]

@@greenbeans575 you're right! Many assume it's just nursing. You're abused and overworked in all of healthcare.

[@care-a-lot1051]

Same I’m a medical assistant. I rather go into radiology, sonography, radiation therapist, anything besides nursing atp

[@bpt249]

I didn’t leave nursing but I left the beside and went back to nurse anesthesia school..I just got out and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. Only have to focus on one patient at a time and I actually feel respected by everyone, including patients. The writing has been on the walls for years since I started, and now everything is coming to light on how nurses are treated in this country.

[@kidneycarecoaching3766]

Plus ur patients are sedated no back talk…😆😆😆

[@pickles9440]

Haha and abusive family not allowed in there, its a brilliant set up@@kidneycarecoaching3766

[@terriedaniels3534]

I am so happy and relaxed since I retired from nursing.The stress in Nursing these days is tremendous.Patients are abusive at times and so much backbiting among staff.I was chewed out by nurses aides for minor issues while I was doing their job that they didn't want to do management.is always on the side of the Patient even if they are lying

[@cinderblockstudios]

As a former (non-clinical) healthcare worker what shocked me over the years was how nurses were expected to work a 12 hour shift and be expected to be back on the next day less than 8 hours later for another one. Pretty sure in every other industry that is illegal! Not to mention how underpaid nurses are in the US!

[@ammj6202]

I come from a family of nurses and I always heard absolute "horror stories" and I told myself I would never get into healthcare. But I did. I actually ended up treating a lot of nurses and their bodies were broken. The hospital prides itself on "health" and pushes their claims onto patients but they could care less for their workers. Sure they will say, all day long that they care... but it absolute garbage. They will hand out pizza parties and their sympathies but they never ever make the real changes needed to support their staff as a whole. It was like our directors and administrators were emotional support puppets until their heads were put on the chopping block to be scape goats for the administrators above them.

[@Unknownchannel722]

I was a nurse for 6 years an the stories could make your skin crawl! Old folks homes need help being exposed too! Care about all ages of helpless! I don't regret quitting!

[@Abidjan-weekly]

I have been a nurse for 2 years and walked away last week because I was just over it!!!!! Honestly I can only handle 3 patients at a time that come in the hospital on a med-surg floor because today’s patients have a plenty of illnesses at once plus not many techs to handle simple things….They were giving us 5 at a time. You have to handle meds, clean them, provide customer’s services to families, collab with doctors and all other departments that is too good to handle patients, give and take countless report, documents documents documents and much more. I would come home and not be able to walk….I want to sleep all the time and weight was pilling up…..I dreaded going to work every single day. Nursing in the hospital isn’t a life I want. I am out of there advancing my degree and looking forward to the futur. BTW the nurses asked for raise and they only gave $2-3 dollars more per hour….that’s it.

[@pbsvitals]

That is a thankless situation to be in.. .

[@j.manuelp.vicens3888]

Imagine the same situation in Spain where if you're lucky you handle between 10-12 patients on a normal med-surg unit.

[@badassWendyx]

New nurses in Chicago are expected to get 6 patients in med surg floor in a hospital!

[@Abidjan-weekly]

@@pbsvitals it really is, plus imagine being a black woman with an African accent in the middle of America’s traditional racist system, unappreciative culture and workplace drama. It really wasn’t an environment for me.

[@Abidjan-weekly]

@@badassWendyx crazy!

[@denissemartinez654]

Finished my pre reqs to enter a nursing program last year. Then I started seeing a lot if nurses leave the profession. So before committing to it I went and got my CNA. On my second day I got 25 residents at a nursing facility with 1 day training (no clinicals because of covid). I left after the 3rd day. I am now pursuing a different career.

[@pbsvitals]

baptism by fire! That is a tough experience and a loss to the profession. What are you pursuing now?

[@denissemartinez654]

@@pbsvitals oh it was ROUGH. I'm looking into information technology or accounting.

[@pickles9440]

Oh you so smart. I was so so so dumb, never set foot in a hospital till i graduated. Big mistake.

[@BriarandSpindle]

A year into nursing....and I immediately left to work in triage. I was living under the constant fear of making a mistake due to poor staffing and poor sleep (due to crazy schedules). I work in a top hospital and while the CEO got a 30% raise this year, we only got 4% (didn't even match the cost of living increase this year). In an attempt to try and make up for the nursing shortage the hospital has done a ton of shady things: bonus' that are only applicable if you don't call in for a specific period of time (people came in during family emergencies because of this); floating nurses to other units that they arne't familiar with despite their own unit being short staffed; getting rid of part time nursing jobs (all the 0.6FTEs that used to exist on our unit no longer exist). What's crummy is that the hospital can def fix things, they just don't want to spend the money.

[@marshachesbro5969]

Nurse for 49 years and retired in 2018. I got out at a good time. Lucky me. Nursing has really changed since 1968. I loved being a nurse but as the years rolled on management interfered and not in a good way. It's all about money 💰.

[@yesitsme1642]

Patients and sTaff do not really matter to large corporations that are driven by revenue

[@donnaharris8722]

I retired in February of 2020. Several people told me I got out just in time

[@kimmichaud7741]

I'm a medical assistant and used to be a CNA and people ask why I don't become an RN this is why ,and this isn't just hurting the nurses , it's hurting the patients and support staff as well

[@nadiacoffey2609]

As soon as I find something else, I’m done with nursing. I’m actually excited, I can’t wait.

[@elfredawright]

RN for 36. I planned on working another 5 years, but, I had to say no more.

[@jaylove2322]

I’ve been a critical care RN for nearly 28 years and I’m burned out. The older nurses are retiring and the younger nurses aren’t staying at bedside due to burnout. Help for us is not on the way, nursing schools cannot pump new nurses out fast enough or the nurses coming out of school are not prepared for the battle that they face. Now hospitals are hiring travel nurses that are being paid 3 times what I am paid to do the same job. This creates tension between the workers and often leaves the core staff short again once their contracts are completed. It’s putting an expensive bandaid on a chronic issue. It’s madness. This is not sustainable.

[@candicethacker9766]

They try to cram a lot of patients in one unit and expect 5 cna’s or licensed nurses to take care of like 48 people. It’s ridiculous, some nights we’ll be two cna’s and 1 nurse and we get 25 patients each and are expected to chart as well by the end of the shift. My priority it’s getting the patients clean and safe. Charting can come later. My heart breaks for these patients 😭

[@ModelingTabi]

we had 2 cna for 31 patients sometimes just one

[@donnaharris8722]

After loving my job as an RN for 45 years I was delighted to retire.

[@laraeb2514]

Almost 20 years in the game, still love what I do but the "doing more with less" mentality of institutions has gotten worse. We were expected to do the most with little and do it all with a smile long before covid. It breaks my heart that nurses are tapping out in less than 5 years time. I will also say the "customer is always right" being applied to healthcare has made things miserable in some aspects, I am a huge patient advocate and encourage families to be engaged and involved in care but there comes a point where this line gets blurred and "customers " feel like they can behave anyway they want not respect rules or boundaries and drive care in a direction that is not beneficial to their or their loved ones outcomes.

[@tessa1158]

I've been a nurse for 11 years in a skilled nursing unit. Few months ago I transition into homecare where I only take care of 1 patient in their home. It's the best decision that I ever did.

[@naciamaj]

How many do you have to see in a day?

[@tessa1158]

@@naciamaj One patient only! Go and search online home care nurse. I applied online. They called me and interviewed on the phone and got the job. I'm making the same money as hospital nurses do. Literally only 1 patient everyday. Same assignment everyday. Easiest job thst I did as a nurse!

[@naciamaj]

@@tessa1158 Thanks, sounds less stressful for sure.

[@a.a7648]

sound good however It's 18 $ per hr in Florida

[@fransinigiraldo4695]

I love you guys said “without nurses a hospital can’t function”. I’ll never forget one time at the beginning of COVID one of our nurse managers told us that doctors couldn’t go in the rooms bc we had only so many doctors and more nurses and how would we run the Hospital w/out doctors? I told her, “well, just like we always do, nurses running the show”. I thought I was gonna get fired that day and became one of the reasons why I left bedside nursing.

[@pbsvitals]

It really is the underappreciated profession

[@gloriawoodley4350]

Amen. We do everything for the doctors. We do their vital signs, we transcribe their orders, we relay messages, we start IV. The doctors do nothing. Most patients in a nursing home don’t see the doctor.

[@HLipscomb2000]

I have been in Healthcare for my entire adult life. I started as a CNA in 1995. Obtained my LPN in 1999. Obtained my RN in 2011. I have been assaulted physically and verbally many times over the years. Let's not forget the sexual comments that run rampant. I'm physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. I feel for our young nurses that already feel this way. But, make sure those HCAP scores are high, regardless of what it takes.

[@elizabethcombs9724]

Oh, another thing! I had another nurse laugh when she said to me “oh, you’re coming to the ER to be a real nurse! Welcome.” While, in her mind she was being nice, the idea of “I’m a real nurse and you are not” between departments is ridiculous!

[@AA-yc9dq]

Im in OB and I floated to the ER to help and be a sitter and was told the same pretty much

[@secondworldproblem]

Competition keeps us from joining together and focusing on safety and best patient care. We need to get our goals aligned. What's good for nurses does improve patient care. Safe staffing and no mandatory overtime. Healthy nurses = safe patients, right?

[@bhanson28]

@@secondworldproblem Sadly, I don’t think it will ever happen. The competitive and backbiting nature starts before we’re even accepted into nursing school. Nursing instructors and advisors implant the behavior and to an extent, encourage it. Nursing education needs a complete overhaul, in order to remedy the competitiveness in the field.

[@ammj6202]

@@bhanson28 I agree! The programs and instructors were never people I could respect. I got through my program but I saw the manipulation and psychological bs they were priming us for. Fresh people from high school didn't know any better, they were extremely easy to manipulate and sway. My real education came from my clinicals and real time with real patients and people who worked in the trenches. The instructors were so full of themselves and it was so blatantly obvious. It was garbage education.

[@mysticzyoga]

Maybe it is time for nurses to bill insurance companies rather than work as hourly property of hospitals. I've long thought this might be a solution. Give nurse's billing capabilities, (granted this is another whole issue but, still.)

[@goanddo2020]

This is NOT Burnout. It's MORAL INJURY. We are literally in an abusive relationship with our employers. We are asked to do the impossible everyday. You are not alone, in the past 3 months I have been diagnosed with PTSD as well. I've been in healthcare 32 years and I'm so done. Unfortunately, a five more years before I can retire. I'm so thankful to the young people 🙏💜

[@capiztirzo2724]

The 2 only major reasons why I’m staying in this “bullied”, “not appreciated”, “taken advantage” profession is because my son is still in college and helping him to pay his education and I have 9 more years to pay for the home mortgage. If not because of this, I should have quitted absolutely. Been a nurse for 32 years, worked in 3 different nursing specialties (med surg is the worst especially when the pandemic started in 2020).

[@poodledaddles1091]

Feeling bullied is the right word.

[@jhariette]

So true!

[@wandahaines7143]

The only reason I'm still on Earth is because I'm too old to switch to another profession. Financial it's been good to me, emotionally and physically it's destroyed me. I have another 3 years before I can retire with my pension. I can actually tell you how many days.

[@Loveroffood41]

One group of people that are not mentioned in this video are CNAs and how we are constantly getting abused by our residents. Especially those who have Alzheimers. I can't tell you how many times I've had to leave a room when dealing with a patient with Alzheimer's cuz I was being abused.

[@Rachel-ul8et]

I feel that. Good for you taking a step out. Pressing ahead during abuse is not an option

[@bronzeprince5279]

CNA are treated so bad it's almost like they don't exist. I did that for 4yrs and said F this and left. Zero respect, constant abuse and to top it off,shiity pay.

[@Loveroffood41]

@@bronzeprince5279 I know I completely and utterly understand. And don't even get me started on when they bring an agency in because agency is get paid twice the amount a CNA in the facility gets paid.

[@NeonHelix20]

@@Loveroffood41 you can always work local agency and make the good money too.

[@jadeemme3697]

was a CNA, now a nurse.... i felt this to my core. :C patients with dementia always get a free pass -- which is, okay, i get it, they're SICK. but, so, then what would be fair to those that care for them? extra compensation, of course! hazard pay because they abuse and are violent!

[@caroler4297]

To all the CNAs or PCTs post. I'm sorry, working in LTCs is hard, patients are nasty mean, and can be abusive. Families expect you to 1 on 1, but don't know you could have over 20 patients, or the just done care. I'm an RN, I seen places make a big deal for nurses week and not include our staff. You are important to me. Thank you I get it, your doing the hands on, and I for one appreciate you.

[@LovePrettySunsets]

As an RN, I appreciate them too!

[@vickiegroome3220]

Retired nurse here. Start educating patient and family members to ask " what is your ratio this shift" . If it is greater than 1: 5 on a regular floor or greater than 1 : 2 on icu. the outcome is not going to be favorable

[@joelgarcia9368]

I currently work as an oncology nurse, and our floor is considered a clean floor but we also were exposed to covid patients. We never received hazard pay of any kind. I've noticed that nurses are leaving the field due to the pressure and even health problems. We as nurses went through a lot to get our licences, but I think of leaving the field every day even dough I love my job.

[@sandybeck9192]

Hospital admin is getting exactly what they deserve. It’s a SHAME that they are not required to put on their nurse shoes and get in there and run double triple shifts on those floors. They have NO IDEA. When there is a lul the first thing they do is throw nurses out the back door. Patients are no better. They treat nurses like low class hired servants. I was a nurse in a big city hospital, small country hospitals, a nursing home, clinic and home care. When I retired, I let that license drop…I’d rather starve than work that job again.

[@nmoore8994]

I’m glad COVID interrupted my nursing program. I was two semesters from graduation but now I see so many people complaining and leaving the field.

[@SunsetGlowASMR]

I clicked on this video just to write “yes… yes we are.” - Sincerely, an overworked nurse.

[@FireElement7]

I was a veterinary nurse. We have the exact same problem. I burned out and ended up with PTSD. I hope people will continue to speak out so we can change things.

[@drrd4127]

I am casual and I accidentally showed up to work on a shift I did not book, the hospital was rejoicing, they were like "Open up the beds! Open up the beds!" I opened up 4 beds and there was still many beds closed, the patients were really sick and needed those beds, it was a eye opener for me, for sure! Then the Night staff pulled a tantrum because they didn't have enough staff to look after all the patients then I felt guilty for showing up for a shift I never booked, I blamed myself but I offered to go home but the hospital jumped at the chance to open the beds. It's such a mess! I really saw the problem in full light that day.

[@lydiahuey6901]

I quit med-surg after 4.5 years. It was the patient attitudes/abuses and the high stress that got to me. And this has been an issue before Covid, and covid just exacerbated it and brought a ton of attention to it! Now working as a remote bookkeeper. Less pay and less stress 👍

[@lori5946]

27 yrs in nursing. I went to travel nursing three years ago. I am back to my home hospital in Florida. I left prior to covid because the staff turn over was crazy. We never got breaks, low pay, mandatory call shifts or poor ratios. I need more money to retire and went to traveling in California. In California they have mandatory breaks and good ratios. They treat you better in California. So back in Florida working per diem and it is horrible. I am sick of pizza, candy and food to make it's okay we can't get breaks.

[@TheMabes69]

I'm out...good luck out there. You are all going to need it.

[@logictd567]

Hospital CEOs should be help responsible for adverse outcomes due to staffing shortages

[@beverlyrhines8300]

This is so true, I have only been a nurse for 1 year and I can tell u this problem is out of hand, where I work im dealing with 6 maybe 7 patients a night and we are always so understaffed, I have really been contemplating finding a different career because I just can't take it anymore, and the people in the office don't care its all about how much the patients insurance will pay not the safety and well being of the nursing staff, who are over worked and under apreciated.

[@maybebaby1112]

I am a nurse and I have been for 18 years I should technically still have many years ahead of me to work but I am quitting I just can’t take the administration and the lack of support and the understaffing is insane

[@mstoyafranklin]

As much as we need competent & compassionate nurses, I no longer encourage anyone to become a nurse. I don’t discourage it, I just don’t cheerlead for this profession anymore and this is coming from an experienced nurse. Working on fumes is not ok and that’s one of the reasons I left my previous employer while taking a cut in pay. It’s self-preservation and peace of mind for me at this point, things no amount of money can buy.

[@anitaknight3915]

Yes!! Your peace of mind and health is priceless!!!

[@ZG59g]

Dialysis nurse here 🤚. I just quit my job as an RN, after being mentally drained since patients are unappreciated, demanding, verbally abusive. Managers use this reverse psychology and manipulation technique that you end up believing that "I'M " the problem and not them. What a horrible feeling. If nurses continue to support this type of behavior and allowing the higher ups to abuse us, we are not going to see any changes in the health industry.

[@Honeypot833]

I'm not a nurse, but I've been in & out of hospitals from the age of 5 weeks. Since I was a teen, I feel the most important employees in healthcare are the nurses, including from student nurse to nurse practioner. From the view of a patient, setting federal standards for the ratio of nurses to patient, but the nurse/patient ratio should be adjusted for each ward/floor & how much care an average patient needs on that floor. Federal standards should define the various kind of nursing care in hospitals, rehab facilities, & nursing home.

[@jackiegalvin5503]

I was a nurse for 20 years. I left the field and it was the best decision I could have made! Understaffed. Overworked. No raises. Just walking on eggshells everyday. No thanks. Good luck to all who have been able to stay in the profession.

[@joycewright5386]

I’m so happy that I am retired after 44 years in nursing. When I started in 1975 it was such a better work environment.

[@yeleneloi942]

why no one interview the head of the hospitals or the administrations?

[@trishr.3986]

Thank you for raising awareness! My mom passed in 2012, and back then I saw the shortage. For years I was there in the hospitals with her. The nurses? My hero’s. They helped me keep it together while my mom was in their care. I spent many hours everyday with her and her nurses were amazing. For those who pour their body and soul into your patients THANK You! I know a nurse is worth ten time their weight in gold!

[@yesitsme1642]

Yea exactly our body and soul. And it gets tiring to be expected to always do that for everyone. I’m glad nurses are becoming more open to the way we’re treated and underpaid and overworked. We shouldn’t be expected to risk our own physical and mental health. Working over 12 hour shifts most of the time without eating or drinking anything. At times we were done with our shift and we’re barely going to start chArting after report. Wow

[@Mimi-6798]

All medical field jobs are tough! But I applaud you all RNs’ for standing up together‼️‼️

[@shaynad41]

Thank you to all the great nurses and nurses aid's out there that do really care about their patience well-being and doing the best for them. I have personally seen both ends of it. First and most important category are those that really do have that compassion for others and want to give them the best of care. With that being said there is also a flip side of nurses and nursing AIDS that are only in it for a paycheck. I have also seen that side. My husband was terminally ill for 8 and 1/2 years before he finally succumb to his service connected disability. I've seen where he's been left and a soiled bed and diaper all night without him being turned every 2 hours as required by his condition. But I've also seen the nurses and AIDS that made sure that he was repositioned every two hours as well as cleaned and changed. I did get to bring him home out of a nursing home where he was being neglected and tonight his nutrition through the feeding tube for 4 hours night. I was able to find a rental that was totally accessible to all his medical equipment he needed and get in and bring him home for the last 3 weeks of his life. It was definitely an eye-opener on how quickly someone could get caregiver burnout. His insurance would pay for his medical as long as I left them in a nursing home but when I brought him back home for the last 3 weeks of his life his insurance from the state would not cover any of his care including home health so I was left to do all of his care the last 3 weeks by myself 24/7. Had to do his meds, his feeding tube including checking residuals and making sure he was turned every 2 hours as well as changed. I slept an hour and a half shifts at night because to do his care of the proper way would take a half an hour if it was done right and to keep him as comfortable as possible as well as clean so he didn't end up with the skin breakdown. He was a total quadriplegic by that time and could not assist with any turning but it was well worth it to make sure he got to spend at least the last 3 weeks at home. So I can see how understaffed hospitals and facilities could experience a high rate of burnout from the nursing staff and the ads. With all that being said and my personal experience of having to do all the work of an entire facility for just one patient my husband for 3 weeks I wanted to say thank you and hang in there for all the nurses and AIDS that are going above and beyond the call of duty to make sure their patients are safe, well cared for and made as comfortable as possible. Thank you so much for having the passion for what you do

[@ericalissette2078]

I wanted to pursue nursing but when I started college I really struggled with my classes and now two kids later and trying to get off of academic probation I chose another career field to pursue.

[@thesnailtale8490]

I really don't blame people for leaving the profession,especially in recent years

[@rachelk1316]

I'm a careaide, for the last 16 years. I do love my job but have been burnt out on/ off for years...working overtime etc. Last week I made a bad judgment call that almost cost my resident her life. What I witnessed was horrible. I am mortified. My employer placed me on a paid leave. I'm not sure if I will have a job to go back to. I am seriously considering changing my career :(

[@drrd4127]

I love nursing, If I could just Nurse patients I would be happy but it isn't just about nursing patients, it is abusive patients, understaffing, terrible rosters, poor management, lack of resources and equipment. Most nurses love the art of nursing but they don't like how the healthcare industry treats nurses.

[@Adventuresinger]

I actually had a CEO tell us that we can't solve a problem by throwing staff it. The problem was we were short staffed leading to patients and staff getting injured by violent patients. This was 10 years ago. They have been purposefully short staffing to save money for years. I worked at a jail that contracted out their medical services and the company paid the fines for low staff instead of meeting the contract staff requirements because it was cheaper. We all got tired of it and the entire staff, including the Doctors, quit. together. It was magic and they lost their contract. Our BONs are not fighting for us. I swear they are just there to collect our fees and go after our licenses because most of them fight against laws for proper staffing. I've been a nurse for 13 years and I'm thinking of getting out and it has nothing to do with the patients.

[@tdotjazzberryram61]

BON's are ran by "politician" nurses ( who haven't worked in a facility in 25 years) at the beck and call of politicians, hospital corporations on their boards as well.

[@TazzyZee14]

@Steevee Keys Board of Nursing. There is one for every state.

[@lucianambula1820]

I support that we continue raising awareness on the matters affecting nursing , together we can💪💪

[@poodledaddles1091]

I live in rural Missouri and work in long-term care, currently on our 5th DON in less than 18months....yea nurse's are quitting.

[@Book-Gnome]

Been doing this for 30 years and been wanting out for at least 20. 2 years in home health, 2 years hospice, many years on floors, IV teams and most years in ER. Have worked at 40-50 hospitals as a traveler. Sooo much to say, soo many problems it's just too much to type. 2 things I will say, 1) If you need therapy it was never the right career for you from day 1. 2) I REALLY wish nurses would stop falling back on pt safety when talking about ratios and dare to say "yea it's about my own friggin sanity and I'm not doing it anymore."

[@anitaknight3915]

As a therapist, I see many nurses and teachers. All of our caring professions have destroyed our mental health and well being.

[@AfterHoursBartender]

So glad I left. Kept having nightmares that people were dying and I couldn't get to them. Constantly understaffed.

[@ceebgabe3603]

Nursing over 30 years and left in 2015. Back then it was 6-7 to 1 but at the end of the day could easily turn into 10. Numbers didn't matter. I left the hospital and didn't look back.

[@michael__ni]

Hospitals should hire more nurses and raise their payment. More nurses = less work per nurse. And the managers who created this mess should be held responsible. I would guess once the first manager ends a few years in jail for what they do to both patients (indirectly) and nurses this would fix itself. Probably not going to happen of course but i have the feeling that might work if it did

[@marysalmon2367]

there are no nurses to hire.

[@supertenor561]

@@marysalmon2367 lol! I'm chilling right now. I have a prn position that gives me extreme flexibility that would not cause any schedule conflicts. Working conditions are horrible and pay is not high enough unless you are a traveler. ER/medsurg/tele experience over a decade of experience. I'm young & healthy enough to work 2 full time jobs for 4 months to 6 months straight,if need be. No kids, no other obligations.

[@secondworldproblem]

More important...more nurses means better patient outcomes. See Aikin, 2002, on safe staffing.

[@tdotjazzberryram61]

Better staffing means less money for CEO's and stock holders $$$$$.

[@mrbubblebuns3994]

it's not the managers fault, it's the ceo's and all the higher up suits making these decisions. see, they get huge bonuses to save money. keeping every department short makes them look good, and that's all that matters.

[@elisabethmichalko284]

I’m retired, but remember patient family members videoing me caring for their relative/patient. Just waiting for me to make a false move. Fortunately, due to my care and compassion, I don’t make false moves. Always showed love, care and compassion even to abusive patients. It’s funny how after you clean up someone while they’re lying in their own excrement because they can’t clean themselves, their attitude toward you changes. Except for that one patient who flung his excrement filled colostomy bags at us. When I showed people I truly CARED about them, I found the charge RN often gave me the most difficult ones to deal with psychologically. Patients can discern between RNs who truly care and those who are in it just for the paycheck.

[@serenesouthernbellevlogs6490]

Can we discuss nursing school burnout! I’ve worked in hospice / home health and have degrees in gerontology but the complexity of going to nursing school during the pandemic has been real.

[@pbsvitals]

tell us about it!

[@bhanson28]

I walked away, 10 weeks in. Hearing, seeing, and experiencing what was going on in the field and then the toxicity of nursing school, I no longer wanted part of it. I was accepted into a program in fall of 2020. Our clinicals were replaced with insane amounts of busy work. Hands on learning was replaced with make believe scenarios through Zoom. Throw in the typical nasty “nurses eat their young” toxic culture and the bootstrap mentality from the nursing educators (we are going to school to treat the sick and injured, not prepare for war), I had to walk away. I never felt so much relief in my life, afterwards. I’m beyond thankful that I did, seeing that these problems are only growing worse. I will never understand why this country would rather continue doing the same things over and over and expect different results, rather than restructure and implement change. It’s by very definition, insanity.

[@meagancarmichael3892]

I am crying for you nurses. Thank you for all you healthcare heroes.

[@rnmike10]

God bless the traveller's and younger nurses, brave enough to not be doormats anymore, voting with your feet and banks accounts, the suits will be forced to make changes🤗💙

[@Mia-tt4hv]

After 10 years I walked away from bedside nursing and I will not return.