That patient I wrote about in the previous post...her husband got banned from the hospital because he was taking her pain meds & shooting them up in his arm. Nice.
Seems like we are seeing more & more of those type patients since they cracked down on the "pain clinics." So many drug addicts...and it isn't just being addicted to the meds. They are shooting them up, snorting them, taking wayyyy too many of them. I really don't know how they are not overdosing. It's sad, but we aren't a rehab. And I'm not saying all of them, but a large majority come in with that selfish attitude & act like we owe them something! They have attitudes & they aren't pleasant ones.
I'm not one to judge & hold back on meds. As long as they are ordered & their vital signs are stable & they are alert & oriented...I'll give what is ordered. I've always told my new nurses...this isn't intervention. Just give what is ordered & shake off the attitudes the patients give you. It isn't personal. They value a drug more than life itself & we aren't going to change that in the 12 hours that they are in our care. Besides, they aren't here for help...they are here because they can't afford the drugs on the street & in the hospital they are free.
Needless to say, I've had a very light schedule for summer. Two shifts a week & relaxing the rest of the time. I was getting close to the feeling of being burnt out...so I took a break. I refuse to allow work to stress me out. It isn't worth it. The only things that matter to me are health, family & friends. Life is too short to take everything else too seriously.
This is the first year that I've noticed what a negative work place that being a bedside nurse really is. I mean we take care of sick people. They are stressed & venting to us in order to feel a little better. We are taking care of people who may not necessarily truly be sick physically, but mentally they are very sick & again...attempt to drain us mentally. I see people would rather drag us down to their level than to break free from the stress & make changes in order to be happy. I don't know why it took me so many years to see how draining a bedside nurse's job really is.
I still love my patients (well, most of them). I love the hours. I love that when I walk out the door at the end of a shift, all the stress stays in those doors. I refuse to take it home. Although there are times where I feel it creeping in (perhaps more hormone related) & I immediately address it. I am not going to let stress get me. I don't thrive off stress or drama.
Looks like I just destressed here...lol. Whatever it takes.
2 comments:
I have been a nurse for 34 years so I can so relate to everything you say. It is unbelievable what patients will expect and ask us to do. And all the changes, not good. I recently left a busy cardiac floor and am working in Ambulatory/ infusion center. So much less stress, and less lifting, still seeing the attitude though that we owe them all something. Come a hour after lunch but expect us to feed them when they will only be here for a hour. Want free cab rides home, free supplies. Free pop. Complaining about how crappy they feel and then wanting us to wait on their IV while they go have a smoke. After 34 years though I know you can't change people. Shake your head, do your job, go home. I am not sure I would recommend nursing anymore, would you?
Nooooooo, I definitely would not recommend nursing to anyone. The pay is ok, but it does not match all that is required of us. If I had it to do over again, I think I'd be an xray tech or do sonograms. Yeah, the pay may be less, but so is the stress.
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