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I have read your story.I'm alsoa nurse and I understand your situation.The job is too demanding nowadays

posted by adventurer02 on June 29, 2015 at 3:53 AM | link to this | reply

I quite understand...what's the point in being a superwoman whose scope for
being human is increasingly being reduced?

posted by Straightforward on July 5, 2011 at 8:17 PM | link to this | reply

Unfortunately hospitals have become a business, and the fewer employees, the more the profit. I fear the only people who can force a change are the exhausted nurses themselves - and it won't be pretty, for anyone, when they have to resort to dong exactly that.

posted by adnohr on July 5, 2011 at 7:05 PM | link to this | reply

Oh, brings a recall of nursing school days and nursing assistant shifts
You are a special spirit, but remember to nurse yourself too..

posted by Raye09 on July 5, 2011 at 5:58 PM | link to this | reply

Re:
Thank you so much Justi. I had a little meltdown today thinking about my next three dayshifts. It is sad that our managers do not look out for us and as a result our patients are the ones who suffer most. The nurses I know are so frustrated by the current healthcare situation. Something must be done - and fast.

posted by Dark_Dreamer on July 5, 2011 at 3:21 PM | link to this | reply

I have a beautiful little step daughter who is a nurse. Her story was just the same. She moved from the day shift until the evening one and it gives her more time to be with patients but during that time they are often sleeping. She is over working any way she goes at it. I am so sorry that those people who give so much, so much is taken from them. God bless you dear heart.

posted by Justi on July 5, 2011 at 3:17 PM | link to this | reply

 DD - you are truly a caregiver and all I can add - is as a caregiver and for many years - I simply would forget about 'myself' and it took a toll - just some loving advice.  However, is why I would take breaks now and then - times I would leave the medical care field for years to 'recuperate' ~ however, I ended up taking 'care' of my family and extended as well - Once with a big heart and compassion overflowing, God bless, then always and so, all I can add is I join in your hopes that the medical field will only get better as I know (by personal knowledge) that there is lack and certainly lack of the likes of your heart, caring for the many needing patients out there. Elyse

posted by elysianfields on July 5, 2011 at 11:47 AM | link to this | reply

I continue to be amazed at the large amount of work that nurses do. It's amazing what they are able to accomplish.

posted by FormerStudentIntern on July 5, 2011 at 10:57 AM | link to this | reply

Have you thought about trying yoga or meditation?  they can help mind and body relax and allow you to let go in the evenings

posted by lionreign on July 5, 2011 at 8:13 AM | link to this | reply

Re:
I find it so difficult to leave work at work. I could with every other job I have had but not this one. The days events just stay with you. I often dream about work as well. Tossing and turning with zero to no sleep at all .... :(

posted by Dark_Dreamer on July 5, 2011 at 6:22 AM | link to this | reply

I could have written the words of this post a few years back.  I finally retired at age 67 because of the same type of conditions that you speak of here.  I couldn't stop working even when I finally fell asleep.  I'd work all night in my dreams and wake up worn out.  It all started increasing my hypertension to extremes.

posted by TAPS. on July 4, 2011 at 9:30 PM | link to this | reply

Re: I am a retired RN from Australia...and always it seems to me that Nurses

Dearest Kabu,

Thank you for your reply. I can relate so much to your comment and in a strange way I found some comfort in knowing that I am not the only one who has neglected certain "me" things at work. For example, one of my past three twelve hour day shifts it was not until I arrived home at 2000hrs that I realized I had not voided that entire day. Surely dehydrated but also because there is just one thing after another needing to get done that it gets forgotten about. I miss my breaks all the time because there just is not enough time in the day to do the job "right". Most of my shifts, I do not eat. Not just because there is little time and I have missed my breaks but because I am on my feet for so long hustling along that my stomach couldn't possibly handle it (hard to explain but it is hard to eat at work).  It makes me so sad because most people do not know how hard nurses work and when patients and families get frustrated when they see their nurse sitting down in the nursing station they do not realize she/he is either filling out reports, completing required charting or checking their patients lab work to name only a few. I know that when I do sit down at work it is usually for less that 10 minutes for my entire shift because most of my patient charting is completed down the hall standing at the nurse servers outside each patients room. Oh dear I could so go on and on here ... Something needs to be done to improve the work conditions for nurses - it is quite serious.

posted by Dark_Dreamer on July 4, 2011 at 5:15 PM | link to this | reply

I am a retired RN from Australia...and always it seems to me that Nurses
are expected to work beyond their physical capabilities. I understand your love for your work the frustration and the exhaustion. My heart goes out to you.....for i couldn't keep working so hard but i couldn't let go. once I ended up being hydrated on a drip after collapsing at the end of a day. no time for meals and i had skipped even stopping for drinks....silly me my blood sugars were too low to register and i was so dehydrated. i was more careful after that scare. Take care of you, I am sure that you are a wonderful caring and generous Nurse.

posted by Kabu on July 4, 2011 at 4:55 PM | link to this | reply

wow and I complain if I have to work 8 on my feet, I am use to sitting on my butt doing customer care

posted by Lanetay on July 4, 2011 at 3:35 PM | link to this | reply

DArling, even angels rest their wings once in a while... You will be no good to anyone if you get sick or so exausted that you can not function, so be a little selfish, take a deep breath and take some time to just hang around and relax.  Taking care of yourself will make you better equiped to take care of others as I am sure you already know.  It sounds like you have achieved what most of us search for... to work at something we love to do.  Be well and REST!  xoxoxo

posted by Sinome on July 4, 2011 at 1:15 PM | link to this | reply

With so many to care for I completely understand being exhausted! But folks like you are so needed in this cold, harsh world! sam 

posted by sam444 on July 4, 2011 at 1:11 PM | link to this | reply