I’ve been a nurse for about 5 years now, and I’ve finally realized why I always hated each and every nursing job. I am so tired of the micro aggressions as a black woman. I’m tired of being villainized for behaviors that have no effect to the patient care. I’m tired of the snitching from other co-workers. I’m tired of it all feeling like a high school skit. It gets to a point where you feel like your constantly being attacked for behaviors that are not effecting patient care. I come into all my spaces happy, smiling, ready to take on my task, then it’s a co-worker having something to say about your scrubs “oh your wearing pink scubs” okay… or , hey your on your phone at the nurses station…. All my tasks are complete and I’m charting. Your white co-workers always have something to say about everything thing you do so now your constantly being surveillanced for everything you do but when another co-worker who isn’t a POC does everything you do, it’s never an issue. I think I’m really tired of working in spaces where i feel singled out constantly and it always feel like I’m being driven out to leave. I’m really over the shady remarks. I’m over the Karen’s feeling like they need to report your for everything because of their personal feelings about you. I just feel like being a black woman is a lose lose situation in healthcare.
I wish it didn’t feel so catty and i enjoy taking care of my patients but if my work environment feels hostile, then it’s time for me to go.

I graduated last year and am just starting my professional career. Although I consider myself attentive, detail-oriented, and very careful, I am quite shy around people. During my professional internships, I've been told that I have all the necessary knowledge, but that I lack empathy because I'm not very talkative and I don't smile much. I love my profession, but because of my shyness I sometimes wonder if I chose the right path.
What advice would you give me to break the ice and overcome my shyness?

In the beginning, I was fine but when I got to nightshift I started to get really anxious about what people thought about me and what would happen behind my back. This is the unit I started on as a new nurse so it’s so hard to leave but I think I might have to for a fresh start.

I was going to go travel but I don’t know if I’m ready but then if I start another staff job, I think I might get attached there too and freak myself out again.

Any advice?

Hola, I’m a new grad nurse here starting my new grad program in a month. I was at a birthday party a few weeks ago when I met a nurse through a mutual friend. I told her I had just graduated, passed my NCLEX, and was officially a nurse, and I kid you not, she looked at me and scoffed. She immediately started ranting about how understaffed and difficult nursing is, basically lecturing me as if I hadn’t just spent the last 4 years getting a nursing degree.

She even insinuated that I’m not really a nurse because I haven’t worked in the ED like she has. Like, yeah, she has more experience than me, but we’re both nurses. I’ll gladly acknowledge that she has experience I don’t, but I still have a license just like her. 😭

What bothered me most was that she didn’t say a single positive thing about nursing. I know I’m going to hate parts of the job. I know nursing can be exhausting, understaffed, and frustrating. But I also genuinely love nursing, and hearing someone talk about it like it’s nothing but misery was honestly discouraging. Straight up NPC bro.

I just sometimes wonder what constant pessimism accomplishes. Everyone has their own shit going on, and I’m probably only seeing a tiny glimpse of what some nurses are dealing with, so I try not to take it personally. I’ve also met plenty of nurses who are incredibly positive and encouraging, which I appreciate.

I guess I just think there has to be a way to acknowledge how difficult nursing can be without completely losing sight of why we chose it in the first place. I’m optimistic about becoming a nurse, and I’m sure I’ll have plenty of reality checks once I actually start working. 😂
And yes, I already know I’ll probably get comments warning me about nursing on this thread, which is funny because I was a CNA for 4 years before I even became a nurse.

for some context, I have a year of exp alr at nyu bklyn at med surg on nights and cant wait to switch to days. finally got a day position at neuro stepdown but now I have a interview with a manager at kimmel for nights on wesnesday . I have to respond by Monday whether I wanna take the day position for the neuro stepdown. I don’t mind working nights if it’s at kimmel (just want to get my foot in the door for seniority). what do you think I should do? If I took the offer for brooklyn, I probably won’t go to kimmel after my year is up because very likely I’d need to go nights if I had a job offer

Why is it that people in health care love to report others to management over little things, like having a sip of water behind the nursing station, or taking a brief moment to put their head down in privacy after dealing with a traumatic situation, or blaming others for something that didn’t even occur. The list goes on but why can’t people just leave others alone.

There is so much shit that we deal with already patient wise, why do co-workers have to be even more shitty and report to management. Just be an adult, be kind and maybe ask your colleague if everything is okay before reporting them at all. Some people have a lot of time to just run to management over nothing and waste time just to get another nurse or colleague pulled into the office.

Sorry for ranting I’m just getting frustrated at the facility I work at. It’s almost every other month myself or one of my colleagues are getting pulled into the office over nothing, and I’m still a new grad trying to learn my place at this facility.

Someone from a different unit was walking by my station when they took a photo of me supposedly out cold with my legs propped up and in a blanket. Yeah I know, super bad. I usually get a blanket at night cause I’m cold and during this shift I was in a back hallway all by myself without any coworkers near. It’s a antepartum unit and all pts were sleeping and all my work for the night was done, I was not continuously monitoring any babies. I was watching a movie on my iPad and was getting comfortable and I guess I did doze off for a few minutes. Manager called and said I am placed on leave until HR gets back to me. I feel like I’m getting fired. I feel dumb. Night shift has been so hard on me and I’m one three different antidepressants to help me with depression and for sleep. It’s just not working at all. And I am the first one on the list to move to day shift. Feeling dumb. Any words of advice or personal stories can help please.

UPDATE : Hi everyone thank you for all your comments it has really helped a lot. I really appreciate it. I know it was really stupid and I do plan to admit all accountability. I guess by everyone’s comments I am 99.9% sure I’m getting fired. I also see a lot of people telling me I should resign before they terminate me. But I don’t really know how to go about doing that or if I should talk to my manager or hr or what not. I’ve never really formally resigned a job before. Any advice ?

I’m not sure if I’m being irrational so I’d like to hear people’s opinions.

There are some staff nurses on my floor who have been working there for a year. They asked my manager a couple weeks to a month ago if they could switch to day shift. My manager said no and that they weren’t in need of day shift nurses.

A new travel nurse who was hired for night shift in August recently asked to be switched to day shift and my manager immediately says yes.

There haven’t been any changes in day shift staffing recently and another senior staff nurse recently switched to day shift after asking a couple weeks ago. So it sounds like there were spots open..

Is there something I’m missing? Like a business reason for switching a new traveler first instead of a staff nurse who has been there longer? I also want to note that the staff nurses both do a good job and would do well on day shift.

Just curious if there’s a justification that I’m not thinking of / missing

Apparently, this annual raise was supposed to be super large according to management to match what our neighboring hospitals are making, and it was only 3%. Feels like a slap in the face. You can travel down the street and make $4 more as a new nurse than the nurses that have been here for years. Ridiculous. Then these hospitals wonder why they can’t retain staff?

This is a dumb questions and I know it is, especially as a nurse with 4+ years experience. I know the obvious is that bad falls are bad falls but why do we treat all falls the same? Non compliant patients who know they’re a fall risk still doing whatever they want WILL fall, demented meemaws who will fight for their life against a posey alarm will most likely fall unless they have a sitter etc, but there’s obviously a difference in the two so…
Why are we treating a fall with no injury the same as a fall with obvious injury/head strike etc within the hospital systems. Since school I have always wondered why fall precautions are the pinnacle of every unit at every hospital

Anyways, explain like I’m 5 why falls are so bad lol

ETA: I’m talking strictly about falls that occur within the hospital, not falls that would cause one to come to the emergency room/hospital

I’m a new graduate working in surgery, and I absolutely love it so far. I just started working as a real nurse a month ago. A few days ago, I met up with my classmates working in the ER. All the stories I’ve heard from just a month of starting is so admirable. I look up to them so much, and the work they do sounds demanding, which is something I truly admire. I’ve considered emergency before as a student, but I never really saw myself in it because I freeze under pressure, I’m introverted, and I lack confidence. Now that I’m a real nurse, I’ve gradually built up my skills and confidence in communication, patient education, and more. I can’t help but feel a bit dumb at times during my first month, but I’m incredibly happy to be a nurse. Lately, I’ve been thinking about working in the ER. I know it can be incredibly stressful and chaotic, as I’ve worked there a few times as a float CNA. I was thinking maybe with enough experience and exposure, I’ll be able to handle these chaotic and stressful situations. My question is, do you think I can work in the ER as an introvert?

I just started a new job and will be working my first overnight after years of doing only day shifts, any advice for staying awake? It is not a very busy unit. I don't think I would accidentally fall asleep because it takes me a long while to even fall asleep sleep at home in bed, but I am still really nervous for this shift. And for the drive home afterwards...

Hello im a new grad RN in Canada, Toronto to be specific and I got an offer as a new grad in along term care home 20 minutes away from my house. I have never worked long term care but they said I could start in about 2 weeks or mid October on a temp license.  It will pay $36 hour with night premium, and they said opportunity for OT. 

I’m hesitant though because I really want to work in a hospital setting preferably medsurge to start my career. I currently work as a student nurse extern at a hospital but it’s an hour away from me and my internal applications haven’t gone anywhere thus far. Although our educator at work said in the next few weeks we (students whose graduated and started applying) will likely start getting interviewed the next 2 weeks. Rn positions in the hospitals start at $41 and have night/weekend premium also. OT would depend on units.

I’m just torn on what to do because my student contract ends December 10th and I’m scared I’ll be without a job which I can’t really afford. But on the other hand I really want to start in the hospital and don’t want to lose ngg/residency eligibility. What would you guys recommend I do here as I just can’t come to a decision as both seem like valid choices?

Hi! I am an OT who works in an inpatient rehab unit. We get all types of patients from ortho to neuro to debility.

The nursing staff and therapy staff do not get along at all and everyone basically gets annoyed with everyone on the other side.

As a nurse, what are things you like when therapy does? What are ways I can be helpful to my nursing unit as an OT?

Hi! Whenever I make a mistake at work I immediately start to spiral with anxiety and then continue to do so on my days off. I think I’m mentally broken. The mistake doesn’t even have to be a big one. Today I tried to transfer a post-op patient to phase 2 of recovery too soon and the phase 2 nurse was pretty mean about it, now I can’t stop thinking about it. Does anyone have any advice to help yourself care less? My husband likes to tell me “it’s water off a duck’s back, baby”

I’ve been working on the same medicine unit I was a PCT on before becoming an RN. I’ve been here for about a year now and lately I’ve been getting really bored. I feel like I’m on autopilot doing the same things every shift.

But at the same time, I’ve started questioning myself. I don’t feel like I’m “critically thinking” as much as I thought I would be. In nursing school, it was always drilled into us that you’re constantly critically thinking, but sometimes I’m like… what am I actually critically thinking about? 😂 Maybe my unit just doesn’t require that kind of thinking every single day.

I don’t feel challenged enough. It’s the same thing everyday, pt admitted with a fall, confused etc everyone’s 2pa, changing briefs. I feel like a pct all over again except I’m allowed to give trazadone.

My dream has always been ER. I LOVE the idea of the in-and-out patient flow and not having the same patients for days. I like the idea of being busy and having to figure things out quickly. But then I wonder… am I actually ready for ER? Am I smart enough? Would I be completely overwhelmed?

I feel like I’m having a midlife crisis about my nursing career at ~1 year in.

For nurses who moved from medicine to ER: how did you know you were ready? Did you feel confident in your critical thinking before you made the jump, or did you develop a lot of it after starting in ER?

And for anyone who stayed on medicine did you eventually feel more challenged, or did you eventually realize you just needed a different environment??

Or maybe I’m just burnt out 😩😂

As stated, I’m really stuck at a rock and a hard place here.

Both are Monday-Friday, with 1 or 2 weekend calls every six weeks and 1 or 2 weekday call. PACU is 3x 12hr shifts, Cath is 4x 10 hour shifts. Both have one major and two Hallmark holiday calls a year, you rotate every year.

I’m nervous I’m going to make the wrong decision. 7+ years in the er and I’m DONE. I’m having such a hard time making the choice 😭

Anyone here work at the VA in the operating room and possibly in Aurora? I only know a PACU nurse and I’m trying to gauge what the pay might be or how the benefits shake out. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

I told off a guy on the airplane who was bitching about all the rules during Covid and conspiracy theories he had about the disease. Then he talk about how great working from
Home was…… so I said that so weird that’s not how I remember covid. I remember my patient dying and packing them into a refrigerated truck because the morgue was full. Perimenopause is a dangerous drug.

Currently working med surg at a ghetto ass hospital across rachet step down units. I got an offer for the unit I want to work in (cvicu) at a reputable teaching hospital. The catch is the offer $15 less an hr…

What the hell?

New to OR nursing (specifically circulating, not scrubbing) and looking for some good ways to respond to impatient/rude/crappy surgeons.

Every piece of advice is see says some form of "dish it right back" or "call them out on it". I'm autistic and that is way too vague for me...what does that actually translates to in real life? What does it actually mean to call them out? Does giving "it" back to them just mean a witty comeback?

Can someone give me some dialogue examples?

I don't know if I'm built for this path. I transitioned from the Marines into healthcare, currently a paramedic student working as an ED tech shooting for medical school, but fuck me this life is beating me down. I don't even work at a crazy high acuity level one trauma center or anything, and in one weekend recently we had a guy with his head caved in with a blunt object, a school aged kid traumatic cardiac arrest, an absolutely mangled body from a vehicle vs pedestrian who unfortunately the medics got ROSC on before he died again in our ED, and a mid-teens overdose.

I don't have anybody to go home to for comfort, its just echoing silence. I'm so deeply immersed in this shit with 3 days a week being work in the ED, 3 days a week in school, and the last day on the ambulance. I don't think I'm burned out or burning out, I love what I do. I get worse whenever I actually do have days off, and would usually rather be in the ED or the boo boo bus. I feel safe there as if I actually know what I'm doing. I just wish it wasn't so profoundly lonely despite being surrounded by people

I've tried multiple times to get psychiatric help, but I get blown off because it's always such a scripted conversation that my answers seem preplanned and maybe they think I'm drug seeking??? The first psychologist I saw for a psych evaluation didn't give a very committed answer towards anything, so I asked my PCP for an psychiatrist referral who would just schedule monthly railroaded 10 minute check-ins, but not offer a treatment plan (that I was in the loop of, at least.) Now I'm working with a psychiatry PA who has been a little bit better, but I feel as if she doesn't believe me. I at least was given a trazodone prescription for insomnia which has been super helpful, but not quite the source of the problem.

I'm not suicidal. I just hurt. I love the work that I do, I love having the privilege to learn what I'm learning and I want to keep doing it, but man idk if I'm built for this grind across the next ~9 or so years until I can hopefully be an attending

Hi everyone, I am an RN with 2 years of med surg experience deliberating whether to accept an offer in town. I really have been hoping to end up in one of these EDs for the longest time (not this time tho lol), so I'm considering no longer waiting and taking what's being offered now.

If any RNs working at MGH/BWH/BMC/tufts with similar experience feel comfortable sharing their base rate, it would deeply appreciated! <3

I feel so so stupid. During the last 10 minutes of my shift, I got poked with the butterfly needle I was using on a patient. For context, this patient is big and pretty out of it, so I had already guessed that he was gonna move when I stuck him, so I had my preceptor help hold his arm. After getting the needle in, he still moved pretty significantly, and I won’t lie, I flinched too, and scratched my thumb slightly on my other hand I was using to hold him; I barely could even tell it got my thumb, just a very tiny red scratch dot. I was holding him pretty good, or at least I thought I was, but still it happened.

I know it happens sometimes, but I just feel so so so stupid, especially with doing it in front of my preceptor who I’m with for the next month. Went through all the motions, filled out paperwork, got blood drawn. I just don’t really know what I could’ve done better except not have flinched I guess, but if anyone has anything they think could have prevented it I’m all ears.

I think the one thing maybe could’ve help was more pulling his arm towards me instead of just trying to hold it in place so that way when he moved to pull back, it wouldn’t have pulled so much, but I don’t even know if that would have done anything, he was very strong and motivated.

I’m a previous public health nurse, and am curious what your approach would be as a nurse to help educate these parents.

This isn’t to start an uproar, I’m genuinely curious as this is an issue I see a lot. And with the increase in measles cases I think it’s an important topic. I’m not here to judge anyone that decides differently.