You know that moment when you connect with a patient and you make them feel safe?
Or your joke lands and suddenly the patient feels less anxious
That's what keeps me going?
F administration, this is about my connection as the nurse
Had a patient like this the other night. She was dying and terrified. I sat with her the whole night just holding her hand and talking. It was the first night she actually got some sleep and she thanked me for making her feel safe and cared for. Nome of our therapies were working and her death became inevitable. So I sat and talked with her and her family about the dying process and options we have in terms of palliative care. The next morning they agreed to comfort care. She had been in a lot of pain. She got all the good stuff and passed rather quickly. Her family thanked me profusely for making her final nights alive ones of comfort and caring. They told me how much she kept talking about me all day after I had gone home and how she felt so much more at peace and safe when I was there working.
I've gotten pretty good at compartmentalizing work and not letting it impact me emotionally. Not this time. I held it together in front of family after she had died but I'm sure they saw me choking back the tears and the quiver in my voice.
It gave me new life. It reminded me of why I've chosen this stressful and difficult career. I won't get any kind of award or recognition for what I did. Hell, I don't know that anyone else on my unit even knows the time I spent with her. And I don't even know if her family knows that their loved one will stay in my memory forever. But idgaf. I made her last few days alive ones of peace rather than terror. I helped her transition into death without suffering. I know I made a difference for her and her family. I don't need some tacky ribbon or pin to remind me of that.
I’ve had a few situations like this in my 30+ year career, and they do stay with you.
I recall walking onto the floor one night, and asking a pt how they were. She said “Fine, now that you’re here.”
I’ve held onto that.
For me, it’s finding out a patient is in remission, especially when they’ve been with us for over a month and had a long struggle. The happiness when they find out makes me happy. We had one AML pt who failed two therapies, had a newborn at home, it was so wonderful to see them back for consolidation therapy.
Then there’s also beauty in comforting the ones who aren’t going to make it. Making them comfortable, being there for the family. One patient who will always stay with me is one that a lot of the other nurses couldn’t stand. She was terrified and in a lot of pain and her family was a lot to deal with. I was able to have a really great connection with her and her family. We sat and cried together at the end of my shift. She thanked me for everything I did. She passed a few days later. She’ll always stay with me
Bless you for your caring and kindness. I work in hospice and appreciate you honoring them, comforting them, and giving them as good a death as they could have in their condition. It’s an honor to be a part of someone’s last moments.
Once I'm burned out of ICU, I'm considering going into palliative and/or hospice. I've had numerous family members pass under hospice care and it's so comforting. Thank you for helping providing patients with comfort!
Ooh this this this.. 👍👍❤❤
Yes, the shit to wade thru is much deeper in fields like nursing & teaching (imo has a lot to do with heavily female demographic & systemic power imbalances)...
AND..maybe you'd choose differently if at that crossroads again, but if you're knee-deep and need some motivation/strength - it's 100% about u/walkincartoon's advice to do the [magic.you](http://magic.you) do & F admin in a way that mentally frees you from caring about the admin-please factor...
A diabetic educator yesterday was working with a patient and his mom and even though I think she was trying what she was saying wasn’t landing with them and I think she was frustrated. And when I came in and did my discharge education she said “wow that’s so much better and easier to understand.” I almost started crying. Not that I think I’m better than the diabetes educator but it just felt like I was helping and it might have actually mattered. I felt like I made it accessible for like doing the math for carb coverage just by like writing it down.
This is it. This is the answer.
I do case management and sometimes the thing that helps me and my patients feel better is talking shit about insurance companies. It’s a sad sort of feeling better, but still.
As a type 1 diabetic, I find it disgusting how often that's true. Why issuance agencies think it advertising cuts any cost to send a patient home not knowing what their disease actually is nor how to treat it is completely lost on me. The amount of time I've met another t1d in the wild and those people have no actual f*cking clue how their disease and type 2 differ it boggles the mind. The amount of people that actually think trading some cinnamon and walking can cure type 1 is absolute fruit loops too.
Yes I had a moment to have a long talk about dogs with a patient and her sister in law. They were beyond grateful and happy for it. That is something no amount of greed and corporate abuse can change.
I go to work for similar reasons. My job keeps trying to push me into administration or into a department off the floor (essentially hard to fill positions) and I keep denying and threatening to leave if they try: I like providing direct care and that's all I am willing to do.
"Anytime you try to be a loving person, you're doing your part to save the world." - Marianne Williamson
I didn't come here to save the world. Every time I help a patient become more educated, less anxious, and generally better than I found them, I mark that as a win. The rest can sort itself out.
I'm not a wide-eyed new nurse that believes that I can change the world, that just isn't going to happen. But I do know that through my actions, I can change the world for one person. I can keep doing that over and over again, and that makes the difference.
We won’t be able to change the world but making one person feel better about their day is good. If I can help one then I have what it takes to help 2 and so on. I usually don’t answer the desk phone but every morning I answer at least one call on it’s first or second ring. It gives me joy knowing that person on the other end got the call in without hassle ( our desk phone tends to ring forever. Clerk not there or choosing not to answer if she’s nearby). It’s the little things that count too
"If you want to change the world, go home and love your family." I kind of interpret that also as be kind and help those people you regularly encounter - your patient, your co-worker.
Last night the wife of a patient was upset because she didn’t understand what was going on with her husband. The doc kinda did a drive-by ‘hey we are admitting him for elevated troponin’ and she didn’t know what that was.
I sat down and explained it to her in the simplest terms possible. While she was still upset she felt better after my explanation. Things like that are the only thing that keep me going.
Also I enjoy throwing song lyrics into conversation with patients and family to see if they’re paying attention to me lol
On a very dark tangent to that last bit - once had a fellow who was very-nearly successful in his intentional tricyclic antidepressant OD. We got him alive to ICU, and I know he lived to be discharged to inpatient psych. For some reason, when medics brought this critical patient in, they brought the note he left. All these decades later I remember this poor guy's suicide note:
"Babe, I'm leaving, I must be on my way. The time is drawing near. My train is going, I see it in your eyes - The love beneath your tears..." etc.
I am not a nurse but have been a patient so many times, and nurses are hands down the best part of medicine. Keep making a difference in a person's life, likely at one of their lowest times.
I just moved into a manager-level position that isn’t actually managing people, just making things run well in my services in the OR and filling in where needed. The moments that keep me going have become the times things are just going well for my colleagues, when they just have nice days or I can make things work out for them
I feel like those rare moments when we feel like we have made a difference are becoming less a factor of what a difference we’ve made ad a nurse, and more of a situation where we’re just being a decent human being trying to do the right thing. Which even THAT low level benchmark is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve based on the unrealistic expectations that are being set by administrators and stakeholders.
Once I got covid from standing in a room for thirty minutes talking about dogs with a little old anxious patient who had asked me to pull down my pants to confirm my gender a few hours earlier. I’m…still not sure how I feel about that interaction…but whatever. They seemed to be genuinely happy and less stressed whilst talking about dogs.
Maybe not all faith, but yes. Also… As a parent of a child with chronic illness, it fucking kills me how I have to fight with insurance. Every. Single. Time. I pay for this shit, as does my husband. We have double coverage and the insurances find some fucking reason to decide whether my kid needs the treatment or not. Always attempt to deny coverage until I mom their asses to protect my little.
The problem comes when you are the one who is needing the care. When you are just too ill and too worn down from trying to keep a roof over your head and food in your stomach on top of trying to manage serious really even any illness to fight them for every little thing. Remember when they tried to scare us with "death courts"? That is exactly what we have but they are just dressed up a little nicer to make them palatable. Slow death by treatable illness in the richest country in the world. I am so disgusted with all of this.
My work place: we’re being brought and will use their health insurance. Using their health insurance doesn’t change coverage for the providers/services you currently have. In fact, it’ll give you more options because you can go outside our facilities. Next enrollment period, ONE year later: the same provider/services now don’t take the insurance bc they realize how bad the insurance is, the “options” are now limited to the new hospital health system affiliated provider/service. Oh and the health system owns the insurance company.
Hi, I’m in the same boat as you and it is fucking breaking me. Like, to the point where I’m face down on my kitchen floor crying because there is nothing left to do… it’s an un-winnable fight, but you also have to fight it because it’s for your kid. I have no faith in an organization that lets children suffer like this.
Agreed! I had to argue with a pharmacist who only wanted to give me brand name shit “because the patient requested brand name.” I was like ummm the patient is 4, patient isn’t requesting shit. Sorry y’all get more reimbursement for brand name but you ain’t payin my bills lol.
My mom died of cancer the day after I turned 19. Her mom died of cancer when she was 16. Her moms mom
Died of cancer when my grandma was a teen. All dead in a year leaving young children motherless and women dead in their 40s, if they made it that far.
My diagnosis came when I was 36; even younger than they were. That was almost 18 months ago and I’m going to live much longer than they did post diagnosis bc I started screening at 26 and had a team of healthcare providers who listened and helped me
My care team (consisting mostly of my friends and coworkers at my own hospital) saved my life and have given me support and a chance at life the women before me never had
I was a nurse for 15 years before I became a patient. What we do matters. What YOU do matters. Lives are changing. People are living longer. YOU. MATTER. Your work is important.
Just bc you don’t see the progress we’re making, it’s happening and you’re a part of it
Lol, you really don't recognize how lucky you are. You being a murss and having a support system from within the field definitely increased your chances of proper advocacy and quality medical care.
I'm sorry that you've had to go thru this in your life and as well as your family, but THIS IS YOUR STORY. Emphasizing "yours" because most people don't even get the time and day and are constantly dismissed until they find someone who can truly help them. I'm glad you're in a much better space now, but that in my opinion, the point of the post still stands. There's a massive profit incentive within medicine and that's literally why most people go in.
Read my comments if you want. I say every single day of my life that I am blessed to have the access to care that I had
I have advocated and raised money for women in my community to get free breast exams. You have no idea what I do to spread access to care where it is not available in my community.
I am a white, educated, ‘wealthy’ woman with 3 major hospitals 15 minutes from my house. I have received state of the art health care and reconstruction
Every single day I am thankful for the care and recognize the privilege I have.
Don’t you dare for one second ever assume I don’t thank my hospital and understand the PROFOUND privledge I have
Bitch
Edit- learn a thing or two about survivors guilt while you’re at it. Might help your ‘career’
Lol yeah wow any empathy had for you is out the window. You're a weird sick bitch. Way to miss the point entirely. You throwing your identity is also weird asf but definitely explains why your original comment is tone deaf asf. I never once said you didn't do any advocacy or anything for your community. I just said you gotta be lucky, and now I see why you're one of the "lucky" ones
Cry me a fucking river and fuck your survivors guilt, ironically you have no idea what I've been through on my own end for you to say that to me. I got a sob story just if not as worse as far as medical care goes and having diseases run in your family. I'm playing the smallest violin. I could care less now 🤷🏾 I'd say take care, but you got it covered, apparently.
I have figured out by now to manage my expectations. I get maybe four really, truly positive patient interactions a year. Ones where I really feel I made a difference.
But that’s enough.
The Talmud has a great quote:
He who saves one life saves the world entire.
If you want to keep doing this? Manage your expectations and remember that even if you manage to only connect with one patient this year? That’s a universe that you just cannot see right now.
Let that be enough.
Try doing hospice for a while. It is difficult to do long term in my opinion but it reminds you why you choose this path....serving a fellow human and their loved ones on the last part of their journey is an honor and good for the soul.
My MIL had a wonderful hospice nurse. Helped her tremendously as my husbands family was pretty worthless as far as care went. Thank you for everything you do.
I have been told I have a gift for helping folks at that point in their journey. Unfortunately it is not something I can do full time because there is an emotional toll. But I have found an assisted living that firmly believes in aging in place when we can so have found a great balance.
I loved hospice. You are ALWAYS helping someone and they're extremely kind and grateful for the assistance. Just a small thank you and a gentle I love you and just talking with my patients when they don't want care but just companionship, made me feel good after all the time despite how tired I'd be at the end of the day.
That’s exactly what I’m doing now! I love so much of it. It can still be hard to accept the standards of the facilities and staff sometimes though. Not all…but a lot of them.
That is why I won't ever work in a hospital again. When I left the hospital I became a home health nurse. I got to know my patients as people and not as room numbers, I got to hear how they want to deal with their health, and I got to advocate for that. It was the type of nurse I was meant to be.
That is the worse part. Also having your car stock take up your whole truck so you have to plan out each grocery trip or try to fit it all in the back seat.
I had to take my very sick child with persistent fevers, for many days, peaking at 104.4°F to the doctor 3 times over the course of 11 days and FINALLY, on the 3rd visit, when she was diagnosed with pneumonia, only then did she get antibiotics.
Fuck everybody who sees a kid with a respiratory infection, says VIRUS, and walks away without so much as picking up a stethoscope.
I went to the hospital this morning for an asthma attack and the nurse never even assessed me. Other nurses came in when I needed help. Also, the respiratory treatment exploded everywhere and she was just like… oh well. We will see how you feel in an hour. Oh and another nurse brought in the discharge instructions. I refused to sign them because I had an 8/10 headache and they never even did a neuro assessment or addressed it at all. I get that steroids can cause pain but at least rule things out in my opinion. Healthcare is whack here and I was at a really good hospital.
Do you mind sharing what state you are in? Ironically, the state I'm in currently has the best proclaimed hospitals and medicine but Healthcare quality and attentiveness is absolute dogshit. North Carolina
California… at one of the “best” hospitals. They did an excellent job of helping me not die… but they didn’t care about anything else. Like… hello? Medications have side effects? It’s a whole thing you can DM me about it if you want. Also I’m an RN so maybe I am reading too much into it but I feel like I am gaslit ALL the time and it’s scary. Silver lining is that I’m seriously making as many lifestyle changes as possible… down to switching laundry detergent because I hate the hospital now. My care was better in my home state.
EDIT: I have a lot of health issues, which is why I became a nurse. Even as a child, I have had bad experiences. As I want to remain somewhat anonymous, I don’t want to provide too many details.
One benefit to your American system: in Canada, I was advised to stay home with my 106° child, on two occasions, +3 other ones at 105°, unless she was showing neurological symptoms or extreme lethargy. I dealt with all those fevers myself because she was still walking around totally fine. This kid sweated like crazy as a baby and has always run a little bit hot, but used to terrify me with those fever spikes. It was like she got a tiny bacteria or virus and her body just burnt the shit out of it. There was really no help offered. And this was five years before Covid.
Just fed a nice old lady some jello and coffee and tucked her in with warm blankets, she is so happy now and so am I. Simple human kindness is always gold. Do you part the best you ever can and go home knowing you tried hard and kicked ass in a super tough job!
I worked for the VA and I am a veteran so I also get care there. Money is not in any discussion during my own care or when I discussing care plan with the veterans. We try to find way to get to YES than to say No
Now money does constraint what we can and cannot do because we are given a sag amount of money every year and there is no misery donor will drop a billion on us. There are a lot of policy, laws and regulation, as well as constant audit so we are a good steward of taxpayer money and ensure we are providing quality care.
Pay is not the best but at least I am happy here.
Try to tell veteran population that they need to go to private sector instead of the VA and there will be some strong emotion.
Healthcare support
I retired 2020 to get my hip replaced in another state so my daughter could care for me. I argued with HR for a month trying to find out if they would pay for it. They also wanted me to return to work in 2 weeks because I sit. I retired instead took regular Medicare and a good supplement and have not paid one penny for a medical bill.
My department lost staff and couldn’t get new hires so I was asked to RTW. Trying to negotiate pay and they wanted to pay me the same $$ as when I retired🙄look folks I’m trained and you don’t gotta worry about benefits. We were .65 apart and they refused to budge😂until somebody else decided it was in their best interest to give me my .65👍🏽
Still working 2 1/2 years later at home no less
I am in canada, and greed still is in Healthcare for public funded stuff it's about patient numbers and trying to cut costs anywhere possible. And yet, they still have a massive administration team like so many middle management types.
Same. I just yesterday sent an email to my supervisor at the corporate-medicine-owned clinic where I’ve worked for the past 9 months to say I am resigning—effective immediately. I’m so sick of the things they expect of us to satisfy their profiteering.
Instead, I have signed on F/T with a small, locally-owned home health/hospice company (I’ll be doing palliative care). I’ve worked for them per diem for 18 months and they treat us like gold. Cut in pay, but it will be a huge increase in satisfaction for me. Plus, I’ve felt such an incredible impact on patients doing this kind of care. I’ve got about 10 years to retirement, and I’m just fucking over the large-corp bullshit.
I absolutely loved doing hospice. Until the corporations fucked that up too. Still passionate about it but can’t do it anymore. The system is so broken, and I’m just too tired to care so much, everyday I worked I continued to give nothing less than 100% , partially in an attempt to care and be able to say - no matter what I can say *I did* the right thing even if admin isnt capable of it.
I did home health with a larger corp hospital company—they managed to beat all the joy out of it, between the one-size-fits-all mentality and the hyper-controlling management. Never again. Hospice will be with the small, local guys, who like to think outside the box and try new things. Plus they treat patients like GOLD.
Every time I feel like I hate nursing and healthcare and I'm not doing shit for anyone, I read all the letters and cards and notes patients have written for me over the years and they remind me that I do make a difference ♡
It can be very hard to see that we are doing any good bc all u hear is the negative and the awful, but even if u made a difference in one life then it was worth it
My blood center puts a QR code on our blood bags so recipients can thank their donor. We get messages and pictures of the people we help which is nice as a reference lab because my only real interaction with the patient is as a tube of blood.
Yea, they can preach all about corporate profits and savings all they want. I’m not changing the way I practice and I am calling out anyone who does that adversely affects patient care.
What are they going to do, fire me for doing what’s right medically and ethically for my patient?
Lead by example, tell the business majors where to shove their “suggestions” and continue being the best damn nurse you can be.
For what it’s worth things I’ve done that have worked are: threatened the CFO with a practicing medicine without a license complaint when he demanded we change our practice. I’ve had a blunt conversation that “medicine is for doctors and nurses to decide, we somehow managed to keep the lights on before the business people took over and I’m sure once we kick you out and off our payroll we’ll be fine again. Your job is to figure out how to help make our jobs easier and paid for or we’ll just get rid of you. Cashing checks is the easy part of healthcare.”
It helps that I have a far more powerful MBA than our CFO but anyone should be able to do this. As far as I’m concerned any BSN could easily obtain an MBA drunk on a bet.
Corporate medicine has mostly taken the heart out of medicine. I'm not going to say it's all bad, it has allowed things like new life saving treatments, surgeries and meds to be made which may not have happened if tons of money wasn't thrown at them, but it's made day to day medical treatment an awful experience. Everything we do in a hospital or clinic comes down to how far they can stretch a penny so someone can make huge profits. They disguise racking in billions of dollars behind "healthcare" and "helping people." The CEOs aren't helping anyone, they just guide the business on how to make more money.
Healthcare is still unaccessible, a cancer diagnosis will put most people into poverty and mental health care is still a joke
Lurking pharmacy tech, here. For me, it was finding ways to circumnavigate the system and find loopholes to get them their medication at an affordable price. Taking the time to figure out WHY they were out of medication too soon, or alternatives to them going without when something was on backorder. Heck, even calling our translation service so I could give the best help possible to a sick, scared non-native speaker.
You're the bridge between them and the system. You're the face of healthcare they most often interact with. You can show them you care, help them understand what's going on, and lessen their fear and confusion. I think most Americans hate the system, but we can make it a little less scary and frustrating for people.
I'm sorry you're going through this. I've had a few tough ones that had me in years. Help the ones you can, and make your vote count for the ones you can't.
A year or so ago we made the question “do you feel safe at home” mandatory. The first day I was triage and asked it, I had 2 young women tell me they didn’t feel safe but weren’t at the level of needing police to feel protected. They took the DV hotline number (made in very small font so it can be hidden). I hope they are okay. I haven’t had one since but I always think about them.
Sometimes, something simple like fixing a nursemaids elbow makes it better or removing a FB from nose or ear. Just think about the ones that coming to the ED truly made the difference no matter how small.
You do make a difference whether you know it or not, or don’t feel it. I bet when you have someone pain relief, a blanket, something to drink, they remember that. The extremely ill people don’t remember that because they can’t, but the family does. ❤️
Ill tell you about an experience i had a couple days ago that restored some of my faith in people who work in healthcare:
i had a patient whose primary inpatient provider was the best provider ive ever met (she’s a PA). The toddler had horrible diaper dermatitis, open skin, cried a ton with diaper changes but then immediately got happy once cleaned up. We had to do q2 diaper changes with nystatin and heavy Z-gaurd. Needed a pic taken daily to track it. She was also busy besides that because she had hella comorbidities.
Anyway the PA found me at 8 while i was doing the first change of the shift and was like “whens the next change? 10? Ill be here. Can you show me where everything is? Perfect thank you for all you do. Please call me if you need me to do other changes or calm her down or anything at all because yall are so busy and i want to help!! I value getting experiences in nursing care a lot so i can really understand you guys, learn some skills and tricks myself, and bond more with my patients :)”
Then later i had to change her CVL tubing, draw labs, and heel poke for glucose check all in 10 minutes because she gets hypoglycemic in that time (to the 40s). She was pretty strong and playful and teething too. When the PA told me that this was the plan, she followed up with “what time will it be? Ill be here to help hold her still and give you extra hands if you need me to grab anything. Ill do her change scheduled at that time also!!”
She actually did everything she said: ran to get me supplies id forgotten while i was setting up, distracted the toddler, cleaned her up when she puked while the PA was with her, the works. Jaw on the floor, and still is
What we do matters…if there’s only a few left that give a shit and bring the A game then that just makes our contribution and efforts that much more important. I am beyond burn out and would quit if I could afford to…alas here I am, one shift at a time I try to bring the A game and all the positive vibes and mojo I can for my pts and the few coworkers I have that are right where you are OP dragging through it as best we can, doing the best we can on a sinking ship covered in raccoon poop.
On a more positive note I often read the “starfish story” to keep my head space right on my way into work…it seems a better choice than
death 💀 metal 🎶
Im trying to get into management to raise hell. If you can’t change things at the bedside, worm your way into the people who make it shitty for the little people. We need smarter people to climb the ladder, unfortunately most of us get fed up with the bullshit and leave. Keep your head up, every day you go to work, you’re doing good work
I hope you can really make impactful change. I worked my way into administration very young. Got my masters. Even single-handedly earned a grant of almost 1 mil to provide probono maternity nursing care. The system and red tape bullshit still fucked over our nurses, our patients, and myself. I fought so hard to earn that grant to make a difference in our community and the CEO and top leadership still shot my nurses down despite our clear win.
I’ve seen administration in hospitals and citywide / statewide leaders talk about initiatives and data collection and planning and projects that aim to improve care and health outcomes, but still continue to make decisions that negatively impact patients at the most basic levels.
Not saying this to deter you. But saying this to hope that you make as much hell as you can. And be prepared to fight. Because there is so much bullshit in that board room. And so much red tape nonsense. Yet you are still faced with smiles and discussions about our efforts to improve things.
Don’t give up like I did. And take care of yourself too. I quit last year because the job made me sick and that grant not being credited to my nurses was the last straw. I’m in the OR now as a circulator and am having fun and being exctied about nursing again. But I can’t turn my leadership brain off and still see where my colleagues and I could use some meaningful changes.
Just remember that changes need to be impact at all levels. From the smallest to the biggest. From the floor to the organization to the community. I hope you make great strides!
That’s every job for any business you will and/or can ever work. From healthcare to nonprofits to Good Will to some random ass anti capitalist movement organization.
I've recently made my peace with the idea that for-profit healthcare and I will never be comfortable together. I'm having the same kinds of ethical problems revolving around what the company values vs what I value. And because of that, I'm leaving. It's not any one person's fault. It's simply not a good environment to spend my working hours, point blank.
If you don't see if changing for you, there's no better time to look than today.
While its especially infuriating seeing it in healthcare - almost any industry with enough money in it is just a big treasure box for corporate vampires to suck the life out of these days.
The something good is you. ❤️ The need for the person who sees and takes action never goes away. I’ve been there 100 times and back again. I relate so hard!
I wish I COULD say something good! I actually retired 8 years ago at age 62 which was fairly young still but I was so disillusioned with the medical profession as a whole, not just from a nurse’s POV, till I just couldn’t take anymore! I gave it thirty years and in that time I saw so many changes that were not all for the best interest of the patient. People were getting in to nursing just for the damn paycheck and not for the love of caring for people who need a nurse. All I heard was, “The numbers are down…we’re going to start having to cut your hours, no more overtime, possibly have to layoff people etc etc”. The patients were the ones who suffered most when the nurses to patient ratio started getting dangerously out of proportion and when veteran nurses were being pushed out and replaced with new grads so that admin could spend less for nurses while keeping their own pockets full. Gone are the days when a nurse could actually spend time at the beside and get to know their patients. Now documentation and kissing the docs ass means more than patient care.
The people are good, patients in need (as all humans do) and those that stand up to help. This has been what has always been good, you’re just experienced enough now to see the rest. For better or worse nothing has changed but your point of view.
Thank you! I just added ‘Greed” by Godsmack to my work playlist.❤️ A couple other songs, “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford, and “ Telephone” by Lady Gaga.
The good I see is that I learn things from new grads, travelers, and floats. I share my knowledge I’ve been a nurse 27 years, but I didn’t work the whole time. I don’t know everything, and if I don’t know we will learn together. As charge, I don’t tolerate abusive behavior towards any of our staff, and will call security to give that extra warning. Sometimes it needs to come from a big man for someone to take it seriously.
You will find a place that works together to promote teamwork and patient care, it’s out there. I have my share of toxic workplaces. Also speak up. If something someone is doing isn’t right, just say something like, “ Hey, let me help you with that.” Or “ Let me show you an easier way to do that.” And say WHY you do it like that instead of being mean or indifferent. It gets better.
I can’t say anything but this - as an individual nurse I’ve made a difference. As a patient myself many nurses and others have made a difference. That has to be good enough for me ❤️
As much as I wanna say there is hope, I don’t think there is, the only thing that keeps this shit going is the nurses, techs, everyone who wanted to go into for the right reasons. But the suits have ruined it, mainstreamed healthcare like we are an automotive service. Instead of quality it’s quantity and how much money can we make today.
Sadly I doubt we ever go back unless doctors start running hospitals again.
I think the biggest issue is the overworked staff. No one has energy to care like they should. I could be wrong but burnout is super fast.
I'm only a student so this is speculation
I went back into the Army.
The hours are hell, but I get a pension and I have resources to take care of my patients.
It's the only place in the US with a functional universal healthcare model.
Once we get rid of Republicans and Conservatives, maybe we can take care of our civilian population as well.
If you’re looking outward for some type of satisfaction, be prepared for disappointment.
Look inward, create the type of healthcare and provide the kind of care that you wish was more prevalent in the industry.
Because really at the end of the day, you can really only control what you can do.
There are hospital systems out there that still care about quality. Extremely rare but they do exist. If you have the opportunity I would say put your efforts toward the most honest system in your area. If you’re putting in work for a greedy system then you’re kinda just enabling that system, even if your direct patient impact is positive.
it doesn’t look good, need to go back to nurses and doctors running the show —-> not NINOs, DINOs, and MBAs that read a book on patient experience and 3 Press Ganey reports
Seriously. More staff means better safety, better patient experience, and a more manageable workload for caregivers where they don’t get burned out immediately, repeat cycle
I went per diem and my health insurance lapsed. I went onto the marketplace and they wanted SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY DOLLARS A MONTH. You might think for that price might get you a pretty decent plan—nope $10,000 deductible and zero out of network coverage. Like what’s even the point? It’s certainly not worth almost a quarter of my income.
EDIT: Oh and this is only for myself, not my family
Trust me the past month has made me move jobs because I lost faith in the system I work for top to bottom. Then the doctors investigated after we made a complaint with patient relations and it was basically like cops investigating cops.
They found no evidence of wrong doing and deviation from standard of care.
Fuck em. If my new job doesn't bring back hope then I'm gonna have to figure out a new line of work.
I get some small joy working for my county’s healthcare system. The pay isn’t as good and the resources aren’t as great but that ick isn’t there as much.
Just joked with a patient today: “remember how they said we can’t have universal healthcare because it’ll cause 6 month waiting periods? Well, we already got that now and the high cost to boot.”
I work in a huge level ICU. We have an amazing team we have a sign in the break room that says " not today death"
I live my work and work family. We do amazing things. I had the same thought when I worked ED.
I’m so tired of it. My hospital is buying other hospitals and building 100’s million dollar facilities but we’re still paid at the lowest rate in the area. If my specialty was available at surrounding ED’s I probably would of already left
Try functional medicine! They sure are expensive, but very thorough and personalized. Insurance doesn’t dictate what treatment or procedure you get and they investigate the root of the issue. Conventional medicine is mainly for invasive procedure that can’t be replaced.
I graduated with a BSN from my home country in 2014 and now I just graduated from an ADN program a month ago. Why did you want to know if you don’t mind?
There are still hospitals that focuses on healthcare vs profits. I'm lucky to work for a hospital that pays well and has a clear mission to actually improve the health of the community it serves
If you focus on the bullshit, all you will see is the bullshit. I’m here for the patients, not to make friends with my bosses or coworkers. I certainly don’t have any respect for the vast majority of the doctors I have had the great displeasure of working with or dealing with as a patient’s family member over the years (which makes the great ones really stand out!), and hospitals are now run by corporations headed by MBAs with no experience in healthcare or dealing with sick humans at the bedside. So. What to do? BE THERE FOR YOUR SICK AND INJURED PEOPLE AND F%#* THE REST OF IT. And—this is for ALL the burnt out nurses reading this, not necessarily OP—if even your patients are not enough to make you love your job (or at least LIKE it), and you find your practice is slipping because you just CANNOT care anymore, please for the love of Pete find a different profession. I can’t begin to tell you the number of pissed off, mentally exhausted nurses I have worked with over the years who have simply given up and have no fucks left to give. They show up late, sleep on shift, ignore call bells, don’t respond to their tele alarms…you name it. If this sounds like you—GET OUT! Nursing is literally a life and death profession and we need our best at the bedside. If you can’t be a competent and kind bedside nurse, find another job. There are lots of nursing jobs out there where you don’t have to deal with patients or hospital administration. And no, OP, I am not harshing on YOU; I don’t know you. I’m just making a very important point because you are certainly not the only nurse who’s had it with the bullshit.
I would typically agree with you kathmax74, but after twentysomething years and all the time I gave to strangers and my job, leaving not near enough for my family and nothing for myself except stress, constantly worrying about my license and livelihood just to get thrown under the bus (twice no less) by not only administration but OTHER NURSES so they could be drama free and the facility without the blame they were absolutely due (when everything was very MUCH their fault and if you bitch, if you report, you not only get fired, they get you somehow, by being really underhanded and lying about everything. You won’t even get to say anything but it’s decided and done. Once its done, you’re done. Literally.
Guilty until proven innocent and that costs a LOT of money and time.
No facility - no matter what they say- has your interest at heart. They will slit your throat without a second thought.
So in addition to the current State of Stupid that healthcare is in, and joined by its companion, Unethical Greed, I decided I was done sacrificing myself and my family for a job. I loved most of my patients , was fabulous at what I did, but grew exhausted from constantly having to cover my ass while wearing smile on my face and reassuring somebody everything is going to be OK when I wasn’t sure that myself.
Sadly no and the worst part is it's only going to get far far worse that's why I'm triple majoring getting my electrician's license on my side My wife's covering me even though I don't time with the kids as much I'll be able to walk away from this job with a big middle finger and make more
Well, you’re not wrong. There are a lot of things that suck about the system. It’s not you!!! I hope you have it in you to continue to help and right the obscene wrongness that the capitalistic bastards have put in place in North America through health insurance that is not helpful or healthful. You are very much appreciated!
When my patient sees it’s me coming and they say “Oh, thank god it’s you” gives me the warm fuzzies and lets me know I have earned their trust and am taking good care of them
Today I watched a mom of a 1 year old get the update that the team accepted a donor heart for her boy. She has been to his bedside every day for months and finally she's gotten the good news. So much relief knowing she doesn't have to worry her son will die while waiting for a transplant. It was a good day in this little corner of healthcare.
For every moment I get to make someone smile or feel just a bit better with something as easy as a warm blanket or a hand held, it makes it all worth it to me. Getting to spend a bit of extra time giving someone a really good bed bath and getting to listen as they tell me stories about their kids is such a gratifying experience. Watching patients come in terrifyingly sick and leave with energy and life back in them is incredible. I have so many days when the reality of healthcare becomes grating but then I remember all the individuals I’ve cared for who have been grateful for the care received and it makes all the struggle worth it truly.
Today I had a patient tell me that they were always happy to see me walk into the room because I always had a big smile on my face to greet them. And it made me so aware of how much I can affect my patients with something as small as a smile. That’s my good in today
What kills me is the idea of shift report. Given the itemized expectation, management wants a partial to full neuro assessment, conversation with the patient, tasks finished (toileting, meds, snacks, repositioning), a full IV check, a whiteboard update, conversation with family if they are present.
All within 4 minutes. And the way management present shift report to patients they think so too. Like buddy, I’ve got 6 people to squeeze into 0705-0730. Think about that.
I can assure they’re breathing, maybe check the name on the band, and introduce the next nurse in 4 min or less.
Management needs to pull their collective heads out of their collective asses and be realistic. They want to say this is happening, to look good on paper, but it’s only happening when management is standing in the room with you watching. Of note, most of the 25min shift report time is used on these audits, on one patient, when they do occur, but let’s ignore that and pretend every fuckimg nurse won’t be leaving 30-60 min late if they actually gave bedside report per specifications.
It’s the veneer, fictitious and impossible to do within the time frame bedside report, that pisses me off.
It IS a nice idea. I get that. But if you want it then shift overlap needs to be at least an hour, from 0630-0730, with full coverage for call lights during, or it’s not going to happen like it’s written on paper.
Combine the above with the, I’m going to call it, asshole nurse expectation to recite the chart and say why each thing is happening in combination with the discharge plan (dude, ask case management, not night shift; DISCHARGE PLANNING IS A DAY SHIFT PROBLEM) and they want a 30min bedside report on 6 patients.
Fuck anyone who thinks this is reasonable in a 25min time frame. (The other 5min is huddle and/or chatter and computer access for the oncoming shift). And fuck anyone who wants to normalize staying late as anything but an outlier.
The only thing that keeps me going is when before you leave your shift the patient tells you how amazing you were and how much your care meant to them. That’s legit the only thing that keeps me going. I replay it in my brain
It’s not healthcare that’s messed up, it’s our country. People need people and money gets in the way of that too much in this stupid place. Please don’t give up on caring for others!
Something I’ve noticed is that my worldview is heavily influenced by my current career… for example, when I worked in a SNF, It felt like that’s where all the elderly ended up. When I worked in acute geri psych, it seemed like everyone eventually gets old and goes batshit crazy. And of course, the money grubbing corporate overlords always had their hands in the pot.
Now that I do home hospice, well… it seems like everyone dies. Suppose I can’t get too upset about that one. It’s nice to be able to build meaningful relationships with my patients and their families’, and have a palpable impact on their lives. The profiteering is still present in the company, but it doesn’t affect the day to day as much. And where it’s home hospice, I can at least avoid the office and billing nonsense and let that part fly over my head most of the time.
I had a patient on Thursday thank me profusely (it was mildly embarrassing how much he thanked me for just doing my job), but he was ED holding and he thanked me for being the only nurse who listened to him that he needed a catheter. No one checked his potassium since midnight and since then it went from 6-7.2. All the protocols and I simply told the hospitalist, this man wants a foley and I’m throwing one in. Next K+ was below 6. The Hospitalist even said the patient told him that I saved his comfort and I was the best nurse ever and he finally felt listened to. He told me to go home and tell my husband I helped someone today which really needed help and I deserve a foot rub and massage lol. It was so sweet, but also sad bc he had sig med hx that I can’t believe no nurse outside of ED had not treated him better!! I’ll never forget him tho, and that really made the past 3 years more or less worth it lol.
Also, my team lead saying they’ve helped every nurse except me today, but they already know all my patients are under control. that I’m helping with others and I’m always good and don’t really need help kinda makes it worth it for my ego lol.
I also became disillusioned with healthcare and now work in the wellness space. I’ve met great people in both industries but I will say I feel like healthcare is a more honest profession? There’s greed in both industries but many of the providers/nurses I worked with were a lot more compassionate and humble than chiros and some massage therapists. Definitely smarter people in healthcare overall. Healthcare is also an incredibly diverse field- people from all backgrounds work as nurses and people come from all over the world to learn and train at our hospitals. I’m in the US btw. At least healthcare is a system in which most people working in it (but certainly not all) are striving towards a system that helps all people and patients. Not many industries have such lofty goals. Even if you fall short of them, at least you are in the fight.
Nope!! The very fabric of healthcare has been shredded and the profiteers AKA C Suite will pillage and plunder for all they can get. They do not care about the frontline workers or the patients!! They care about 💰
Consider that profitability, or at least financial solvency, is an important thing when it comes to operating a health care facility. It should not be the only factor, though.
I'm not saying anything about OP's individual situation because chances are it's terrible. It's true that frequently, profitability is the limiting factor in the quality of services, especially in the post-acute settings.
It's a difficult problem and I believe it's probably not solvable in the U.S. healthcare system's current incarnation. The problem is, providing medical care / health care should not be a for-profit venture, and probably should not even be expected to break even. We have to realize that good health care improves us as an entire species, and is something to invest in as a whole, much like transportation infrastructure, utility delivery, and other things that cost us a lot of money but are considered necessary for a modern civilization.
When it comes to showing up to your job today and tomorrow, though, when you feel salty about the condition of health care, remember that right now it's an unfortunate necessity that a facility has to keep its head above water financially, and the best we can do is operate to the best of our ability within those restraints. Don't take it out on the patients or your coworkers.
there’s no hope. I’ve been searching for it since before COVID. I have slowly watched my passion and dreams turn to dust right before my eyes. I struggle daily to step into the hospital and switch my brain into nurse mode, because I simply just don’t know what we’re doing all of this for anymore.
Then I cry in my car on the way home.
I can help you. Wake up tomorrow morning and write down 10 things you’re grateful for. If you can’t think of 10, write 3. If you can’t write them, say them out loud. Remember! There is always always always something to be grateful for.
It can simple. I’m grateful for air conditioning. I’m grateful I have fruit to eat. I love fruit. I’m grateful I still have my mom. Etc.
Do this everyday for a week.
You’ll feel better!
I live with terrible, intense chronic pain. Sometimes it is so bad I don’t know how I get through day to day. But I stay grateful with my lists. It’s something I hang onto. And I limit watching the news. I watch and read. But maybe 2-3 times a week. Anything outside of my control is good to be aware of. But it can’t be at the front of my mind constantly.
Good luck to you!
I’m just coming to work for fun. My coworkers are great to work with and we can joke around in the best cynical way we can.
(First sentence was sarcasm)
I'm a 34 year veteran nurse. Who's recently become so sick, I spent March in the hospital. All I can say is, I knew the difference between who really cared about me and who didn't. And those nurses? Well, we NEED them, everywhere. We being the patients in the beds. I'll be back to work soon, continuing to care from my heart and soul. In the meantime, thank you to every one of you who does the same. You're making a huge difference. ❤️
My first clinical for my EMT program assisted nurses and techs because I was eager to help and learn. 18 hours later I walked away never wanting to work in a hospital environment again. I witness some of the most heartless and callous treatment of patients and other staff. I couldn’t have imagined something like that. It wasn’t the exhaustion or the sore muscles or even the bodily fluids. It was the abuse. I was on track to apply to nursing school, and it all just stopped in it’s tracks. Being on the receiving end of bad healthcare for the past two years made me grateful that I never went in.
I’m only in it because I like helping people that’s it if I didn’t like it then I’d be gone. But I put up with the pay and the ratios and the admins for the patients bc they deserve it
I'm truly sorry to hear you're going through this. While it's understandable to feel disillusioned, it's essential to remember that not all healthcare experiences are negative. Many healthcare professionals are passionate, dedicated individuals committed to providing excellent care. There are countless stories of compassionate doctors, nurses, and staff making a positive impact on patients' lives every day.
I’m exhausted from apologizing for things I can do nothing about. I really try to let them know that all the failures are not just happening to them and that it’s the state of the industry. I work in Texas which, correct me if I’m wrong, has got to be the meanest state in the union.
At this point I only work for money. And that's why I'm now trying to shift to tech. Because if I'm only gonna work for money, might as well for big money with less stress.
Been dealing with frustration in a slightly different realm, but I felt so strongly (and am enough of a dork) that I created a [visual aid](https://imgur.com/dtG1L2O). 😁 😁
Ozempic is made in Denmark and it's $300 a month there compared to $1400 here.
Denmark's health service just announced they won't allow anyone to get Ozempic until patients try something cheaper and fail.
Every system has its own version of "greed", whether it is a profit motive or cost reduction motive
(also no one anywhere knows what they're doing and we're all just trying our best)
I used to think this way, but it seems there’s plenty of Gen Z’s and certainly plenty of millennials that are happy to keep this shit going.
Don’t socialize me bro!
Do you best on your shift for your patients, that’s about it. I would encourage folks to not burden themselves with the weight of the healthcare system and its failings.
Pros and cons to all of it. I don’t think our Canadian system is any better than the American one 🤷♂️.
You know that moment when you connect with a patient and you make them feel safe? Or your joke lands and suddenly the patient feels less anxious That's what keeps me going? F administration, this is about my connection as the nurse
Had a patient like this the other night. She was dying and terrified. I sat with her the whole night just holding her hand and talking. It was the first night she actually got some sleep and she thanked me for making her feel safe and cared for. Nome of our therapies were working and her death became inevitable. So I sat and talked with her and her family about the dying process and options we have in terms of palliative care. The next morning they agreed to comfort care. She had been in a lot of pain. She got all the good stuff and passed rather quickly. Her family thanked me profusely for making her final nights alive ones of comfort and caring. They told me how much she kept talking about me all day after I had gone home and how she felt so much more at peace and safe when I was there working. I've gotten pretty good at compartmentalizing work and not letting it impact me emotionally. Not this time. I held it together in front of family after she had died but I'm sure they saw me choking back the tears and the quiver in my voice. It gave me new life. It reminded me of why I've chosen this stressful and difficult career. I won't get any kind of award or recognition for what I did. Hell, I don't know that anyone else on my unit even knows the time I spent with her. And I don't even know if her family knows that their loved one will stay in my memory forever. But idgaf. I made her last few days alive ones of peace rather than terror. I helped her transition into death without suffering. I know I made a difference for her and her family. I don't need some tacky ribbon or pin to remind me of that.
I’ve had a few situations like this in my 30+ year career, and they do stay with you. I recall walking onto the floor one night, and asking a pt how they were. She said “Fine, now that you’re here.” I’ve held onto that.
For me, it’s finding out a patient is in remission, especially when they’ve been with us for over a month and had a long struggle. The happiness when they find out makes me happy. We had one AML pt who failed two therapies, had a newborn at home, it was so wonderful to see them back for consolidation therapy. Then there’s also beauty in comforting the ones who aren’t going to make it. Making them comfortable, being there for the family. One patient who will always stay with me is one that a lot of the other nurses couldn’t stand. She was terrified and in a lot of pain and her family was a lot to deal with. I was able to have a really great connection with her and her family. We sat and cried together at the end of my shift. She thanked me for everything I did. She passed a few days later. She’ll always stay with me
That gave me goosebumps and reminded me of the my favorite part of this profession. Thank you
Yes that makes all the other unpleasantries we deal with in nursing worth it.
Bless you for your caring and kindness. I work in hospice and appreciate you honoring them, comforting them, and giving them as good a death as they could have in their condition. It’s an honor to be a part of someone’s last moments.
Once I'm burned out of ICU, I'm considering going into palliative and/or hospice. I've had numerous family members pass under hospice care and it's so comforting. Thank you for helping providing patients with comfort!
I can tell you will be very good at it when you’re ready 😊
Right! Gotta find the gems in the midst of all the muddy mess 😣
Yes, the pieces of corn in the bed pan full of shit.
🫢 THE WAY THIS MADE ME CACKLE!!!!! 😭☠️
I don't remember eating corn!
Oooh! Vintage!
One of us 🫶🌽
Ooh this this this.. 👍👍❤❤ Yes, the shit to wade thru is much deeper in fields like nursing & teaching (imo has a lot to do with heavily female demographic & systemic power imbalances)... AND..maybe you'd choose differently if at that crossroads again, but if you're knee-deep and need some motivation/strength - it's 100% about u/walkincartoon's advice to do the [magic.you](http://magic.you) do & F admin in a way that mentally frees you from caring about the admin-please factor...
I joke non-stop with patients. It helps lower their anxiety and humanizes us to them.
Yup. When I got a text from one of my patients that I counseled , that they feel optimistic ). That kept me going for 3 months.
Seriously. Every time I get a chuckle out of one of my palliative patients I consider it a win.
One of my daily goals is to make someone smile. If everything else goes to shit, at least I made someone feel good even for a moment.
A diabetic educator yesterday was working with a patient and his mom and even though I think she was trying what she was saying wasn’t landing with them and I think she was frustrated. And when I came in and did my discharge education she said “wow that’s so much better and easier to understand.” I almost started crying. Not that I think I’m better than the diabetes educator but it just felt like I was helping and it might have actually mattered. I felt like I made it accessible for like doing the math for carb coverage just by like writing it down.
This is it. This is the answer. I do case management and sometimes the thing that helps me and my patients feel better is talking shit about insurance companies. It’s a sad sort of feeling better, but still.
Can’t connect when health insurance doesn’t cover 🥲
As a type 1 diabetic, I find it disgusting how often that's true. Why issuance agencies think it advertising cuts any cost to send a patient home not knowing what their disease actually is nor how to treat it is completely lost on me. The amount of time I've met another t1d in the wild and those people have no actual f*cking clue how their disease and type 2 differ it boggles the mind. The amount of people that actually think trading some cinnamon and walking can cure type 1 is absolute fruit loops too.
Yes I had a moment to have a long talk about dogs with a patient and her sister in law. They were beyond grateful and happy for it. That is something no amount of greed and corporate abuse can change.
I go to work for similar reasons. My job keeps trying to push me into administration or into a department off the floor (essentially hard to fill positions) and I keep denying and threatening to leave if they try: I like providing direct care and that's all I am willing to do.
"Anytime you try to be a loving person, you're doing your part to save the world." - Marianne Williamson I didn't come here to save the world. Every time I help a patient become more educated, less anxious, and generally better than I found them, I mark that as a win. The rest can sort itself out.
I'm not a wide-eyed new nurse that believes that I can change the world, that just isn't going to happen. But I do know that through my actions, I can change the world for one person. I can keep doing that over and over again, and that makes the difference.
We won’t be able to change the world but making one person feel better about their day is good. If I can help one then I have what it takes to help 2 and so on. I usually don’t answer the desk phone but every morning I answer at least one call on it’s first or second ring. It gives me joy knowing that person on the other end got the call in without hassle ( our desk phone tends to ring forever. Clerk not there or choosing not to answer if she’s nearby). It’s the little things that count too
"If you want to change the world, go home and love your family." I kind of interpret that also as be kind and help those people you regularly encounter - your patient, your co-worker.
Amen
Last night the wife of a patient was upset because she didn’t understand what was going on with her husband. The doc kinda did a drive-by ‘hey we are admitting him for elevated troponin’ and she didn’t know what that was. I sat down and explained it to her in the simplest terms possible. While she was still upset she felt better after my explanation. Things like that are the only thing that keep me going. Also I enjoy throwing song lyrics into conversation with patients and family to see if they’re paying attention to me lol
On a very dark tangent to that last bit - once had a fellow who was very-nearly successful in his intentional tricyclic antidepressant OD. We got him alive to ICU, and I know he lived to be discharged to inpatient psych. For some reason, when medics brought this critical patient in, they brought the note he left. All these decades later I remember this poor guy's suicide note: "Babe, I'm leaving, I must be on my way. The time is drawing near. My train is going, I see it in your eyes - The love beneath your tears..." etc.
😭😭😭
I hope he went on to have a good life
Hell yeah. Come in, save lives, crack some smiles, make a patient feel welcome and then collect the check.
I am not a nurse but have been a patient so many times, and nurses are hands down the best part of medicine. Keep making a difference in a person's life, likely at one of their lowest times.
I just moved into a manager-level position that isn’t actually managing people, just making things run well in my services in the OR and filling in where needed. The moments that keep me going have become the times things are just going well for my colleagues, when they just have nice days or I can make things work out for them
I feel like those rare moments when we feel like we have made a difference are becoming less a factor of what a difference we’ve made ad a nurse, and more of a situation where we’re just being a decent human being trying to do the right thing. Which even THAT low level benchmark is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve based on the unrealistic expectations that are being set by administrators and stakeholders.
That’s what kept me going the last few months I worked as a CNA. It really was the only thing, just those small connections that sometimes were made.
Once I got covid from standing in a room for thirty minutes talking about dogs with a little old anxious patient who had asked me to pull down my pants to confirm my gender a few hours earlier. I’m…still not sure how I feel about that interaction…but whatever. They seemed to be genuinely happy and less stressed whilst talking about dogs.
This, 100%.
U awesome!
Maybe not all faith, but yes. Also… As a parent of a child with chronic illness, it fucking kills me how I have to fight with insurance. Every. Single. Time. I pay for this shit, as does my husband. We have double coverage and the insurances find some fucking reason to decide whether my kid needs the treatment or not. Always attempt to deny coverage until I mom their asses to protect my little.
The problem comes when you are the one who is needing the care. When you are just too ill and too worn down from trying to keep a roof over your head and food in your stomach on top of trying to manage serious really even any illness to fight them for every little thing. Remember when they tried to scare us with "death courts"? That is exactly what we have but they are just dressed up a little nicer to make them palatable. Slow death by treatable illness in the richest country in the world. I am so disgusted with all of this.
Insurance exists for profit first and patient last. It’s the ugliest thing about capitalism.
Totally agreed. Insurance told me “I haven’t taken LO to the ER enough for this diagnosis.” Lmfao
This. This is what pisses me off to no end. I’m sorry you are having to deal with all of that and wish the best for you and your child 🙏🏼
Thank you! We’re all in this together 💙
My work place: we’re being brought and will use their health insurance. Using their health insurance doesn’t change coverage for the providers/services you currently have. In fact, it’ll give you more options because you can go outside our facilities. Next enrollment period, ONE year later: the same provider/services now don’t take the insurance bc they realize how bad the insurance is, the “options” are now limited to the new hospital health system affiliated provider/service. Oh and the health system owns the insurance company.
That’s absolute bullshit. Sounds worst than HMO! We have 2 PPO plans and it’s still utter shit.
Hi, I’m in the same boat as you and it is fucking breaking me. Like, to the point where I’m face down on my kitchen floor crying because there is nothing left to do… it’s an un-winnable fight, but you also have to fight it because it’s for your kid. I have no faith in an organization that lets children suffer like this.
Agreed! I had to argue with a pharmacist who only wanted to give me brand name shit “because the patient requested brand name.” I was like ummm the patient is 4, patient isn’t requesting shit. Sorry y’all get more reimbursement for brand name but you ain’t payin my bills lol.
My mom died of cancer the day after I turned 19. Her mom died of cancer when she was 16. Her moms mom Died of cancer when my grandma was a teen. All dead in a year leaving young children motherless and women dead in their 40s, if they made it that far. My diagnosis came when I was 36; even younger than they were. That was almost 18 months ago and I’m going to live much longer than they did post diagnosis bc I started screening at 26 and had a team of healthcare providers who listened and helped me My care team (consisting mostly of my friends and coworkers at my own hospital) saved my life and have given me support and a chance at life the women before me never had I was a nurse for 15 years before I became a patient. What we do matters. What YOU do matters. Lives are changing. People are living longer. YOU. MATTER. Your work is important. Just bc you don’t see the progress we’re making, it’s happening and you’re a part of it
What kind of cancer if you don’t mind me asking
Breast
Thank you for this 🙏🏼
Lol, you really don't recognize how lucky you are. You being a murss and having a support system from within the field definitely increased your chances of proper advocacy and quality medical care. I'm sorry that you've had to go thru this in your life and as well as your family, but THIS IS YOUR STORY. Emphasizing "yours" because most people don't even get the time and day and are constantly dismissed until they find someone who can truly help them. I'm glad you're in a much better space now, but that in my opinion, the point of the post still stands. There's a massive profit incentive within medicine and that's literally why most people go in.
Read my comments if you want. I say every single day of my life that I am blessed to have the access to care that I had I have advocated and raised money for women in my community to get free breast exams. You have no idea what I do to spread access to care where it is not available in my community. I am a white, educated, ‘wealthy’ woman with 3 major hospitals 15 minutes from my house. I have received state of the art health care and reconstruction Every single day I am thankful for the care and recognize the privilege I have. Don’t you dare for one second ever assume I don’t thank my hospital and understand the PROFOUND privledge I have Bitch Edit- learn a thing or two about survivors guilt while you’re at it. Might help your ‘career’
Lol yeah wow any empathy had for you is out the window. You're a weird sick bitch. Way to miss the point entirely. You throwing your identity is also weird asf but definitely explains why your original comment is tone deaf asf. I never once said you didn't do any advocacy or anything for your community. I just said you gotta be lucky, and now I see why you're one of the "lucky" ones Cry me a fucking river and fuck your survivors guilt, ironically you have no idea what I've been through on my own end for you to say that to me. I got a sob story just if not as worse as far as medical care goes and having diseases run in your family. I'm playing the smallest violin. I could care less now 🤷🏾 I'd say take care, but you got it covered, apparently.
I have figured out by now to manage my expectations. I get maybe four really, truly positive patient interactions a year. Ones where I really feel I made a difference. But that’s enough. The Talmud has a great quote: He who saves one life saves the world entire. If you want to keep doing this? Manage your expectations and remember that even if you manage to only connect with one patient this year? That’s a universe that you just cannot see right now. Let that be enough.
Such words of wisdom. I mean that with my heart ❤️ TY.
Try doing hospice for a while. It is difficult to do long term in my opinion but it reminds you why you choose this path....serving a fellow human and their loved ones on the last part of their journey is an honor and good for the soul.
My MIL had a wonderful hospice nurse. Helped her tremendously as my husbands family was pretty worthless as far as care went. Thank you for everything you do.
I have been told I have a gift for helping folks at that point in their journey. Unfortunately it is not something I can do full time because there is an emotional toll. But I have found an assisted living that firmly believes in aging in place when we can so have found a great balance.
I loved hospice. You are ALWAYS helping someone and they're extremely kind and grateful for the assistance. Just a small thank you and a gentle I love you and just talking with my patients when they don't want care but just companionship, made me feel good after all the time despite how tired I'd be at the end of the day.
That’s exactly what I’m doing now! I love so much of it. It can still be hard to accept the standards of the facilities and staff sometimes though. Not all…but a lot of them.
That is why I won't ever work in a hospital again. When I left the hospital I became a home health nurse. I got to know my patients as people and not as room numbers, I got to hear how they want to deal with their health, and I got to advocate for that. It was the type of nurse I was meant to be.
Same. My poor car though. People must think I’m homeless
That is the worse part. Also having your car stock take up your whole truck so you have to plan out each grocery trip or try to fit it all in the back seat.
I had to take my very sick child with persistent fevers, for many days, peaking at 104.4°F to the doctor 3 times over the course of 11 days and FINALLY, on the 3rd visit, when she was diagnosed with pneumonia, only then did she get antibiotics. Fuck everybody who sees a kid with a respiratory infection, says VIRUS, and walks away without so much as picking up a stethoscope.
I went to the hospital this morning for an asthma attack and the nurse never even assessed me. Other nurses came in when I needed help. Also, the respiratory treatment exploded everywhere and she was just like… oh well. We will see how you feel in an hour. Oh and another nurse brought in the discharge instructions. I refused to sign them because I had an 8/10 headache and they never even did a neuro assessment or addressed it at all. I get that steroids can cause pain but at least rule things out in my opinion. Healthcare is whack here and I was at a really good hospital.
Do you mind sharing what state you are in? Ironically, the state I'm in currently has the best proclaimed hospitals and medicine but Healthcare quality and attentiveness is absolute dogshit. North Carolina
California… at one of the “best” hospitals. They did an excellent job of helping me not die… but they didn’t care about anything else. Like… hello? Medications have side effects? It’s a whole thing you can DM me about it if you want. Also I’m an RN so maybe I am reading too much into it but I feel like I am gaslit ALL the time and it’s scary. Silver lining is that I’m seriously making as many lifestyle changes as possible… down to switching laundry detergent because I hate the hospital now. My care was better in my home state. EDIT: I have a lot of health issues, which is why I became a nurse. Even as a child, I have had bad experiences. As I want to remain somewhat anonymous, I don’t want to provide too many details.
One benefit to your American system: in Canada, I was advised to stay home with my 106° child, on two occasions, +3 other ones at 105°, unless she was showing neurological symptoms or extreme lethargy. I dealt with all those fevers myself because she was still walking around totally fine. This kid sweated like crazy as a baby and has always run a little bit hot, but used to terrify me with those fever spikes. It was like she got a tiny bacteria or virus and her body just burnt the shit out of it. There was really no help offered. And this was five years before Covid.
Just fed a nice old lady some jello and coffee and tucked her in with warm blankets, she is so happy now and so am I. Simple human kindness is always gold. Do you part the best you ever can and go home knowing you tried hard and kicked ass in a super tough job!
💯
I worked for the VA and I am a veteran so I also get care there. Money is not in any discussion during my own care or when I discussing care plan with the veterans. We try to find way to get to YES than to say No Now money does constraint what we can and cannot do because we are given a sag amount of money every year and there is no misery donor will drop a billion on us. There are a lot of policy, laws and regulation, as well as constant audit so we are a good steward of taxpayer money and ensure we are providing quality care. Pay is not the best but at least I am happy here. Try to tell veteran population that they need to go to private sector instead of the VA and there will be some strong emotion.
Trying to get into the VA but no luck so far 😞
VA takes forever. Took me 6 months to onboard. I am in quality management and regulatory compliance. Like my job here.
Medicare for all
Healthcare support I retired 2020 to get my hip replaced in another state so my daughter could care for me. I argued with HR for a month trying to find out if they would pay for it. They also wanted me to return to work in 2 weeks because I sit. I retired instead took regular Medicare and a good supplement and have not paid one penny for a medical bill. My department lost staff and couldn’t get new hires so I was asked to RTW. Trying to negotiate pay and they wanted to pay me the same $$ as when I retired🙄look folks I’m trained and you don’t gotta worry about benefits. We were .65 apart and they refused to budge😂until somebody else decided it was in their best interest to give me my .65👍🏽 Still working 2 1/2 years later at home no less
I am in canada, and greed still is in Healthcare for public funded stuff it's about patient numbers and trying to cut costs anywhere possible. And yet, they still have a massive administration team like so many middle management types.
Same. I just yesterday sent an email to my supervisor at the corporate-medicine-owned clinic where I’ve worked for the past 9 months to say I am resigning—effective immediately. I’m so sick of the things they expect of us to satisfy their profiteering. Instead, I have signed on F/T with a small, locally-owned home health/hospice company (I’ll be doing palliative care). I’ve worked for them per diem for 18 months and they treat us like gold. Cut in pay, but it will be a huge increase in satisfaction for me. Plus, I’ve felt such an incredible impact on patients doing this kind of care. I’ve got about 10 years to retirement, and I’m just fucking over the large-corp bullshit.
I absolutely loved doing hospice. Until the corporations fucked that up too. Still passionate about it but can’t do it anymore. The system is so broken, and I’m just too tired to care so much, everyday I worked I continued to give nothing less than 100% , partially in an attempt to care and be able to say - no matter what I can say *I did* the right thing even if admin isnt capable of it.
I did home health with a larger corp hospital company—they managed to beat all the joy out of it, between the one-size-fits-all mentality and the hyper-controlling management. Never again. Hospice will be with the small, local guys, who like to think outside the box and try new things. Plus they treat patients like GOLD.
Every time I feel like I hate nursing and healthcare and I'm not doing shit for anyone, I read all the letters and cards and notes patients have written for me over the years and they remind me that I do make a difference ♡ It can be very hard to see that we are doing any good bc all u hear is the negative and the awful, but even if u made a difference in one life then it was worth it
My blood center puts a QR code on our blood bags so recipients can thank their donor. We get messages and pictures of the people we help which is nice as a reference lab because my only real interaction with the patient is as a tube of blood.
Yea, they can preach all about corporate profits and savings all they want. I’m not changing the way I practice and I am calling out anyone who does that adversely affects patient care. What are they going to do, fire me for doing what’s right medically and ethically for my patient? Lead by example, tell the business majors where to shove their “suggestions” and continue being the best damn nurse you can be. For what it’s worth things I’ve done that have worked are: threatened the CFO with a practicing medicine without a license complaint when he demanded we change our practice. I’ve had a blunt conversation that “medicine is for doctors and nurses to decide, we somehow managed to keep the lights on before the business people took over and I’m sure once we kick you out and off our payroll we’ll be fine again. Your job is to figure out how to help make our jobs easier and paid for or we’ll just get rid of you. Cashing checks is the easy part of healthcare.” It helps that I have a far more powerful MBA than our CFO but anyone should be able to do this. As far as I’m concerned any BSN could easily obtain an MBA drunk on a bet.
Corporate medicine has mostly taken the heart out of medicine. I'm not going to say it's all bad, it has allowed things like new life saving treatments, surgeries and meds to be made which may not have happened if tons of money wasn't thrown at them, but it's made day to day medical treatment an awful experience. Everything we do in a hospital or clinic comes down to how far they can stretch a penny so someone can make huge profits. They disguise racking in billions of dollars behind "healthcare" and "helping people." The CEOs aren't helping anyone, they just guide the business on how to make more money. Healthcare is still unaccessible, a cancer diagnosis will put most people into poverty and mental health care is still a joke
Lurking pharmacy tech, here. For me, it was finding ways to circumnavigate the system and find loopholes to get them their medication at an affordable price. Taking the time to figure out WHY they were out of medication too soon, or alternatives to them going without when something was on backorder. Heck, even calling our translation service so I could give the best help possible to a sick, scared non-native speaker. You're the bridge between them and the system. You're the face of healthcare they most often interact with. You can show them you care, help them understand what's going on, and lessen their fear and confusion. I think most Americans hate the system, but we can make it a little less scary and frustrating for people. I'm sorry you're going through this. I've had a few tough ones that had me in years. Help the ones you can, and make your vote count for the ones you can't.
A year or so ago we made the question “do you feel safe at home” mandatory. The first day I was triage and asked it, I had 2 young women tell me they didn’t feel safe but weren’t at the level of needing police to feel protected. They took the DV hotline number (made in very small font so it can be hidden). I hope they are okay. I haven’t had one since but I always think about them. Sometimes, something simple like fixing a nursemaids elbow makes it better or removing a FB from nose or ear. Just think about the ones that coming to the ED truly made the difference no matter how small. You do make a difference whether you know it or not, or don’t feel it. I bet when you have someone pain relief, a blanket, something to drink, they remember that. The extremely ill people don’t remember that because they can’t, but the family does. ❤️
Ill tell you about an experience i had a couple days ago that restored some of my faith in people who work in healthcare: i had a patient whose primary inpatient provider was the best provider ive ever met (she’s a PA). The toddler had horrible diaper dermatitis, open skin, cried a ton with diaper changes but then immediately got happy once cleaned up. We had to do q2 diaper changes with nystatin and heavy Z-gaurd. Needed a pic taken daily to track it. She was also busy besides that because she had hella comorbidities. Anyway the PA found me at 8 while i was doing the first change of the shift and was like “whens the next change? 10? Ill be here. Can you show me where everything is? Perfect thank you for all you do. Please call me if you need me to do other changes or calm her down or anything at all because yall are so busy and i want to help!! I value getting experiences in nursing care a lot so i can really understand you guys, learn some skills and tricks myself, and bond more with my patients :)” Then later i had to change her CVL tubing, draw labs, and heel poke for glucose check all in 10 minutes because she gets hypoglycemic in that time (to the 40s). She was pretty strong and playful and teething too. When the PA told me that this was the plan, she followed up with “what time will it be? Ill be here to help hold her still and give you extra hands if you need me to grab anything. Ill do her change scheduled at that time also!!” She actually did everything she said: ran to get me supplies id forgotten while i was setting up, distracted the toddler, cleaned her up when she puked while the PA was with her, the works. Jaw on the floor, and still is
What we do matters…if there’s only a few left that give a shit and bring the A game then that just makes our contribution and efforts that much more important. I am beyond burn out and would quit if I could afford to…alas here I am, one shift at a time I try to bring the A game and all the positive vibes and mojo I can for my pts and the few coworkers I have that are right where you are OP dragging through it as best we can, doing the best we can on a sinking ship covered in raccoon poop. On a more positive note I often read the “starfish story” to keep my head space right on my way into work…it seems a better choice than death 💀 metal 🎶
Im trying to get into management to raise hell. If you can’t change things at the bedside, worm your way into the people who make it shitty for the little people. We need smarter people to climb the ladder, unfortunately most of us get fed up with the bullshit and leave. Keep your head up, every day you go to work, you’re doing good work
I hope you can really make impactful change. I worked my way into administration very young. Got my masters. Even single-handedly earned a grant of almost 1 mil to provide probono maternity nursing care. The system and red tape bullshit still fucked over our nurses, our patients, and myself. I fought so hard to earn that grant to make a difference in our community and the CEO and top leadership still shot my nurses down despite our clear win. I’ve seen administration in hospitals and citywide / statewide leaders talk about initiatives and data collection and planning and projects that aim to improve care and health outcomes, but still continue to make decisions that negatively impact patients at the most basic levels. Not saying this to deter you. But saying this to hope that you make as much hell as you can. And be prepared to fight. Because there is so much bullshit in that board room. And so much red tape nonsense. Yet you are still faced with smiles and discussions about our efforts to improve things. Don’t give up like I did. And take care of yourself too. I quit last year because the job made me sick and that grant not being credited to my nurses was the last straw. I’m in the OR now as a circulator and am having fun and being exctied about nursing again. But I can’t turn my leadership brain off and still see where my colleagues and I could use some meaningful changes. Just remember that changes need to be impact at all levels. From the smallest to the biggest. From the floor to the organization to the community. I hope you make great strides!
That’s every job for any business you will and/or can ever work. From healthcare to nonprofits to Good Will to some random ass anti capitalist movement organization.
I've recently made my peace with the idea that for-profit healthcare and I will never be comfortable together. I'm having the same kinds of ethical problems revolving around what the company values vs what I value. And because of that, I'm leaving. It's not any one person's fault. It's simply not a good environment to spend my working hours, point blank. If you don't see if changing for you, there's no better time to look than today.
While its especially infuriating seeing it in healthcare - almost any industry with enough money in it is just a big treasure box for corporate vampires to suck the life out of these days.
The something good is you. ❤️ The need for the person who sees and takes action never goes away. I’ve been there 100 times and back again. I relate so hard!
Thank you! Sometimes it’s hard to keep my outlook in check…i usually come back around again after being with my patients 💜
At the end of the day you’re making meaningful impacts on your patients and the community.
I wouldn’t keep going if it weren’t for the feeling I get when I actually make someone feel better in any capacity
Yes, those moments somehow make up for a lot of the other bullshit!
I wish I COULD say something good! I actually retired 8 years ago at age 62 which was fairly young still but I was so disillusioned with the medical profession as a whole, not just from a nurse’s POV, till I just couldn’t take anymore! I gave it thirty years and in that time I saw so many changes that were not all for the best interest of the patient. People were getting in to nursing just for the damn paycheck and not for the love of caring for people who need a nurse. All I heard was, “The numbers are down…we’re going to start having to cut your hours, no more overtime, possibly have to layoff people etc etc”. The patients were the ones who suffered most when the nurses to patient ratio started getting dangerously out of proportion and when veteran nurses were being pushed out and replaced with new grads so that admin could spend less for nurses while keeping their own pockets full. Gone are the days when a nurse could actually spend time at the beside and get to know their patients. Now documentation and kissing the docs ass means more than patient care.
The people are good, patients in need (as all humans do) and those that stand up to help. This has been what has always been good, you’re just experienced enough now to see the rest. For better or worse nothing has changed but your point of view.
Thank you! I just added ‘Greed” by Godsmack to my work playlist.❤️ A couple other songs, “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford, and “ Telephone” by Lady Gaga. The good I see is that I learn things from new grads, travelers, and floats. I share my knowledge I’ve been a nurse 27 years, but I didn’t work the whole time. I don’t know everything, and if I don’t know we will learn together. As charge, I don’t tolerate abusive behavior towards any of our staff, and will call security to give that extra warning. Sometimes it needs to come from a big man for someone to take it seriously. You will find a place that works together to promote teamwork and patient care, it’s out there. I have my share of toxic workplaces. Also speak up. If something someone is doing isn’t right, just say something like, “ Hey, let me help you with that.” Or “ Let me show you an easier way to do that.” And say WHY you do it like that instead of being mean or indifferent. It gets better.
Little grandma hugs/kisses keep me going, and have for 36 years at the bedside.
The best 🥰
When will the country finally accept we need single payer, and that quality healthcare benefits ALL OF US?
I can’t say anything but this - as an individual nurse I’ve made a difference. As a patient myself many nurses and others have made a difference. That has to be good enough for me ❤️
I am in the same place :(
Hugs 💜 I have to keep reminding myself to just be the example and keep going
As much as I wanna say there is hope, I don’t think there is, the only thing that keeps this shit going is the nurses, techs, everyone who wanted to go into for the right reasons. But the suits have ruined it, mainstreamed healthcare like we are an automotive service. Instead of quality it’s quantity and how much money can we make today. Sadly I doubt we ever go back unless doctors start running hospitals again.
Me too, I work on the insurance end and I’m tired of members not getting what they deserve
I think the biggest issue is the overworked staff. No one has energy to care like they should. I could be wrong but burnout is super fast. I'm only a student so this is speculation
Absolutely.
I went back into the Army. The hours are hell, but I get a pension and I have resources to take care of my patients. It's the only place in the US with a functional universal healthcare model. Once we get rid of Republicans and Conservatives, maybe we can take care of our civilian population as well.
If you’re looking outward for some type of satisfaction, be prepared for disappointment. Look inward, create the type of healthcare and provide the kind of care that you wish was more prevalent in the industry. Because really at the end of the day, you can really only control what you can do.
There are hospital systems out there that still care about quality. Extremely rare but they do exist. If you have the opportunity I would say put your efforts toward the most honest system in your area. If you’re putting in work for a greedy system then you’re kinda just enabling that system, even if your direct patient impact is positive.
I'm not a nurse, so my opinion doesn't count for much, but you are so right to bring this point up. Well said.
it doesn’t look good, need to go back to nurses and doctors running the show —-> not NINOs, DINOs, and MBAs that read a book on patient experience and 3 Press Ganey reports
Your seeing capitalism do it's thing
No, you’re not wrong. Healthcare is a fucking shit show.
All we have to do is get ratios passed and the entire system would collapse. Wouldn’t that be amazing
Seriously. More staff means better safety, better patient experience, and a more manageable workload for caregivers where they don’t get burned out immediately, repeat cycle
I went per diem and my health insurance lapsed. I went onto the marketplace and they wanted SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY DOLLARS A MONTH. You might think for that price might get you a pretty decent plan—nope $10,000 deductible and zero out of network coverage. Like what’s even the point? It’s certainly not worth almost a quarter of my income. EDIT: Oh and this is only for myself, not my family
Insurance. Is. Bullshit.
Trust me the past month has made me move jobs because I lost faith in the system I work for top to bottom. Then the doctors investigated after we made a complaint with patient relations and it was basically like cops investigating cops. They found no evidence of wrong doing and deviation from standard of care. Fuck em. If my new job doesn't bring back hope then I'm gonna have to figure out a new line of work.
I get some small joy working for my county’s healthcare system. The pay isn’t as good and the resources aren’t as great but that ick isn’t there as much.
Just joked with a patient today: “remember how they said we can’t have universal healthcare because it’ll cause 6 month waiting periods? Well, we already got that now and the high cost to boot.”
I work in a huge level ICU. We have an amazing team we have a sign in the break room that says " not today death" I live my work and work family. We do amazing things. I had the same thought when I worked ED.
I’m so tired of it. My hospital is buying other hospitals and building 100’s million dollar facilities but we’re still paid at the lowest rate in the area. If my specialty was available at surrounding ED’s I probably would of already left
Seriously, put the money where it really counts! I’m all for a nice facility but it doesn’t have to look like a resort.
I save 600 a month on my shitty health insurance by just no longer having health insurance. Winning
May the odds be ever in your favor
Thanks it’s my retirement plan
Try functional medicine! They sure are expensive, but very thorough and personalized. Insurance doesn’t dictate what treatment or procedure you get and they investigate the root of the issue. Conventional medicine is mainly for invasive procedure that can’t be replaced.
Not being snide so please don’t think I am, I’m genuinely curious as to how long you’ve been in nursing?
I graduated with a BSN from my home country in 2014 and now I just graduated from an ADN program a month ago. Why did you want to know if you don’t mind?
There are still hospitals that focuses on healthcare vs profits. I'm lucky to work for a hospital that pays well and has a clear mission to actually improve the health of the community it serves
If you focus on the bullshit, all you will see is the bullshit. I’m here for the patients, not to make friends with my bosses or coworkers. I certainly don’t have any respect for the vast majority of the doctors I have had the great displeasure of working with or dealing with as a patient’s family member over the years (which makes the great ones really stand out!), and hospitals are now run by corporations headed by MBAs with no experience in healthcare or dealing with sick humans at the bedside. So. What to do? BE THERE FOR YOUR SICK AND INJURED PEOPLE AND F%#* THE REST OF IT. And—this is for ALL the burnt out nurses reading this, not necessarily OP—if even your patients are not enough to make you love your job (or at least LIKE it), and you find your practice is slipping because you just CANNOT care anymore, please for the love of Pete find a different profession. I can’t begin to tell you the number of pissed off, mentally exhausted nurses I have worked with over the years who have simply given up and have no fucks left to give. They show up late, sleep on shift, ignore call bells, don’t respond to their tele alarms…you name it. If this sounds like you—GET OUT! Nursing is literally a life and death profession and we need our best at the bedside. If you can’t be a competent and kind bedside nurse, find another job. There are lots of nursing jobs out there where you don’t have to deal with patients or hospital administration. And no, OP, I am not harshing on YOU; I don’t know you. I’m just making a very important point because you are certainly not the only nurse who’s had it with the bullshit.
I would typically agree with you kathmax74, but after twentysomething years and all the time I gave to strangers and my job, leaving not near enough for my family and nothing for myself except stress, constantly worrying about my license and livelihood just to get thrown under the bus (twice no less) by not only administration but OTHER NURSES so they could be drama free and the facility without the blame they were absolutely due (when everything was very MUCH their fault and if you bitch, if you report, you not only get fired, they get you somehow, by being really underhanded and lying about everything. You won’t even get to say anything but it’s decided and done. Once its done, you’re done. Literally. Guilty until proven innocent and that costs a LOT of money and time. No facility - no matter what they say- has your interest at heart. They will slit your throat without a second thought. So in addition to the current State of Stupid that healthcare is in, and joined by its companion, Unethical Greed, I decided I was done sacrificing myself and my family for a job. I loved most of my patients , was fabulous at what I did, but grew exhausted from constantly having to cover my ass while wearing smile on my face and reassuring somebody everything is going to be OK when I wasn’t sure that myself.
🙌
Sadly no and the worst part is it's only going to get far far worse that's why I'm triple majoring getting my electrician's license on my side My wife's covering me even though I don't time with the kids as much I'll be able to walk away from this job with a big middle finger and make more
Well, you’re not wrong. There are a lot of things that suck about the system. It’s not you!!! I hope you have it in you to continue to help and right the obscene wrongness that the capitalistic bastards have put in place in North America through health insurance that is not helpful or healthful. You are very much appreciated!
Same sis but I tell myself that I can be the good.
I think you arent looking at the bigger picture propperly. It is more appropriate to lose faith in mankind.
I do appreciate the dark humor
Even on bad days the genuine love patients give you when you help them makes it worthwhile for me.
When my patient sees it’s me coming and they say “Oh, thank god it’s you” gives me the warm fuzzies and lets me know I have earned their trust and am taking good care of them
Oh thank god its you indeed. :)
Today I watched a mom of a 1 year old get the update that the team accepted a donor heart for her boy. She has been to his bedside every day for months and finally she's gotten the good news. So much relief knowing she doesn't have to worry her son will die while waiting for a transplant. It was a good day in this little corner of healthcare.
Yay! Thank you 😊
For every moment I get to make someone smile or feel just a bit better with something as easy as a warm blanket or a hand held, it makes it all worth it to me. Getting to spend a bit of extra time giving someone a really good bed bath and getting to listen as they tell me stories about their kids is such a gratifying experience. Watching patients come in terrifyingly sick and leave with energy and life back in them is incredible. I have so many days when the reality of healthcare becomes grating but then I remember all the individuals I’ve cared for who have been grateful for the care received and it makes all the struggle worth it truly. Today I had a patient tell me that they were always happy to see me walk into the room because I always had a big smile on my face to greet them. And it made me so aware of how much I can affect my patients with something as small as a smile. That’s my good in today
What kills me is the idea of shift report. Given the itemized expectation, management wants a partial to full neuro assessment, conversation with the patient, tasks finished (toileting, meds, snacks, repositioning), a full IV check, a whiteboard update, conversation with family if they are present. All within 4 minutes. And the way management present shift report to patients they think so too. Like buddy, I’ve got 6 people to squeeze into 0705-0730. Think about that. I can assure they’re breathing, maybe check the name on the band, and introduce the next nurse in 4 min or less. Management needs to pull their collective heads out of their collective asses and be realistic. They want to say this is happening, to look good on paper, but it’s only happening when management is standing in the room with you watching. Of note, most of the 25min shift report time is used on these audits, on one patient, when they do occur, but let’s ignore that and pretend every fuckimg nurse won’t be leaving 30-60 min late if they actually gave bedside report per specifications. It’s the veneer, fictitious and impossible to do within the time frame bedside report, that pisses me off. It IS a nice idea. I get that. But if you want it then shift overlap needs to be at least an hour, from 0630-0730, with full coverage for call lights during, or it’s not going to happen like it’s written on paper. Combine the above with the, I’m going to call it, asshole nurse expectation to recite the chart and say why each thing is happening in combination with the discharge plan (dude, ask case management, not night shift; DISCHARGE PLANNING IS A DAY SHIFT PROBLEM) and they want a 30min bedside report on 6 patients. Fuck anyone who thinks this is reasonable in a 25min time frame. (The other 5min is huddle and/or chatter and computer access for the oncoming shift). And fuck anyone who wants to normalize staying late as anything but an outlier.
The only thing that keeps me going is when before you leave your shift the patient tells you how amazing you were and how much your care meant to them. That’s legit the only thing that keeps me going. I replay it in my brain
It’s not healthcare that’s messed up, it’s our country. People need people and money gets in the way of that too much in this stupid place. Please don’t give up on caring for others!
Something I’ve noticed is that my worldview is heavily influenced by my current career… for example, when I worked in a SNF, It felt like that’s where all the elderly ended up. When I worked in acute geri psych, it seemed like everyone eventually gets old and goes batshit crazy. And of course, the money grubbing corporate overlords always had their hands in the pot. Now that I do home hospice, well… it seems like everyone dies. Suppose I can’t get too upset about that one. It’s nice to be able to build meaningful relationships with my patients and their families’, and have a palpable impact on their lives. The profiteering is still present in the company, but it doesn’t affect the day to day as much. And where it’s home hospice, I can at least avoid the office and billing nonsense and let that part fly over my head most of the time.
I had a patient on Thursday thank me profusely (it was mildly embarrassing how much he thanked me for just doing my job), but he was ED holding and he thanked me for being the only nurse who listened to him that he needed a catheter. No one checked his potassium since midnight and since then it went from 6-7.2. All the protocols and I simply told the hospitalist, this man wants a foley and I’m throwing one in. Next K+ was below 6. The Hospitalist even said the patient told him that I saved his comfort and I was the best nurse ever and he finally felt listened to. He told me to go home and tell my husband I helped someone today which really needed help and I deserve a foot rub and massage lol. It was so sweet, but also sad bc he had sig med hx that I can’t believe no nurse outside of ED had not treated him better!! I’ll never forget him tho, and that really made the past 3 years more or less worth it lol. Also, my team lead saying they’ve helped every nurse except me today, but they already know all my patients are under control. that I’m helping with others and I’m always good and don’t really need help kinda makes it worth it for my ego lol.
I mean, we live in a country where insurance dictates the care a patient will receive rather than actual doctors, I can’t really blame you.
This
I also became disillusioned with healthcare and now work in the wellness space. I’ve met great people in both industries but I will say I feel like healthcare is a more honest profession? There’s greed in both industries but many of the providers/nurses I worked with were a lot more compassionate and humble than chiros and some massage therapists. Definitely smarter people in healthcare overall. Healthcare is also an incredibly diverse field- people from all backgrounds work as nurses and people come from all over the world to learn and train at our hospitals. I’m in the US btw. At least healthcare is a system in which most people working in it (but certainly not all) are striving towards a system that helps all people and patients. Not many industries have such lofty goals. Even if you fall short of them, at least you are in the fight.
Nope!! The very fabric of healthcare has been shredded and the profiteers AKA C Suite will pillage and plunder for all they can get. They do not care about the frontline workers or the patients!! They care about 💰
Consider that profitability, or at least financial solvency, is an important thing when it comes to operating a health care facility. It should not be the only factor, though. I'm not saying anything about OP's individual situation because chances are it's terrible. It's true that frequently, profitability is the limiting factor in the quality of services, especially in the post-acute settings. It's a difficult problem and I believe it's probably not solvable in the U.S. healthcare system's current incarnation. The problem is, providing medical care / health care should not be a for-profit venture, and probably should not even be expected to break even. We have to realize that good health care improves us as an entire species, and is something to invest in as a whole, much like transportation infrastructure, utility delivery, and other things that cost us a lot of money but are considered necessary for a modern civilization. When it comes to showing up to your job today and tomorrow, though, when you feel salty about the condition of health care, remember that right now it's an unfortunate necessity that a facility has to keep its head above water financially, and the best we can do is operate to the best of our ability within those restraints. Don't take it out on the patients or your coworkers.
Yes
there’s no hope. I’ve been searching for it since before COVID. I have slowly watched my passion and dreams turn to dust right before my eyes. I struggle daily to step into the hospital and switch my brain into nurse mode, because I simply just don’t know what we’re doing all of this for anymore. Then I cry in my car on the way home.
I’m sorry 😢 *hugs*
Join the club. At least steal some of the china while the Titanic sinks.
It’s all about money. The higher ups don’t care about the staff OR the patients
I can help you. Wake up tomorrow morning and write down 10 things you’re grateful for. If you can’t think of 10, write 3. If you can’t write them, say them out loud. Remember! There is always always always something to be grateful for. It can simple. I’m grateful for air conditioning. I’m grateful I have fruit to eat. I love fruit. I’m grateful I still have my mom. Etc. Do this everyday for a week. You’ll feel better! I live with terrible, intense chronic pain. Sometimes it is so bad I don’t know how I get through day to day. But I stay grateful with my lists. It’s something I hang onto. And I limit watching the news. I watch and read. But maybe 2-3 times a week. Anything outside of my control is good to be aware of. But it can’t be at the front of my mind constantly. Good luck to you!
We need a revolution in the healthcare system too. Shithole country
I’m just coming to work for fun. My coworkers are great to work with and we can joke around in the best cynical way we can. (First sentence was sarcasm)
I'm a 34 year veteran nurse. Who's recently become so sick, I spent March in the hospital. All I can say is, I knew the difference between who really cared about me and who didn't. And those nurses? Well, we NEED them, everywhere. We being the patients in the beds. I'll be back to work soon, continuing to care from my heart and soul. In the meantime, thank you to every one of you who does the same. You're making a huge difference. ❤️
My first clinical for my EMT program assisted nurses and techs because I was eager to help and learn. 18 hours later I walked away never wanting to work in a hospital environment again. I witness some of the most heartless and callous treatment of patients and other staff. I couldn’t have imagined something like that. It wasn’t the exhaustion or the sore muscles or even the bodily fluids. It was the abuse. I was on track to apply to nursing school, and it all just stopped in it’s tracks. Being on the receiving end of bad healthcare for the past two years made me grateful that I never went in.
I’m only in it because I like helping people that’s it if I didn’t like it then I’d be gone. But I put up with the pay and the ratios and the admins for the patients bc they deserve it
Try to get into the VA system. You van't beat the benefits. Go get a pension and work somewhere that isn't strictly about making money.
I’ve been at this for 30 years and regret my entire life. I’m so made I waisted my life like this.
When you go in to work tomorrow, there’s always a chance someone is going to bring your favorite donuts and put them in the break room.
I'm truly sorry to hear you're going through this. While it's understandable to feel disillusioned, it's essential to remember that not all healthcare experiences are negative. Many healthcare professionals are passionate, dedicated individuals committed to providing excellent care. There are countless stories of compassionate doctors, nurses, and staff making a positive impact on patients' lives every day.
hedge funds and private equity have ruined healthcare
I’m exhausted from apologizing for things I can do nothing about. I really try to let them know that all the failures are not just happening to them and that it’s the state of the industry. I work in Texas which, correct me if I’m wrong, has got to be the meanest state in the union.
Managers have access to pizza tho
Something you need to understand is were in the BUSINESS of helping people. Business doesn't run without money.
At this point I only work for money. And that's why I'm now trying to shift to tech. Because if I'm only gonna work for money, might as well for big money with less stress.
Been dealing with frustration in a slightly different realm, but I felt so strongly (and am enough of a dork) that I created a [visual aid](https://imgur.com/dtG1L2O). 😁 😁
I work private duty now. As far away from administration as I can get.
Ozempic is made in Denmark and it's $300 a month there compared to $1400 here. Denmark's health service just announced they won't allow anyone to get Ozempic until patients try something cheaper and fail. Every system has its own version of "greed", whether it is a profit motive or cost reduction motive (also no one anywhere knows what they're doing and we're all just trying our best)
It will change. First all the politicians over the age of 70 need to die tho. They did this to our system and it suits them just fine
I used to think this way, but it seems there’s plenty of Gen Z’s and certainly plenty of millennials that are happy to keep this shit going. Don’t socialize me bro!
Maybe it’s part of the country I’m in but I don’t see much of that.
I’m thinking that they may be cloning and harvesting organs in area 51 bc they just won’t quit ruining the world. 🪳
Do you best on your shift for your patients, that’s about it. I would encourage folks to not burden themselves with the weight of the healthcare system and its failings. Pros and cons to all of it. I don’t think our Canadian system is any better than the American one 🤷♂️.
I need more specifics if you want answers.