5 Downsides to Being a Nurse (real talk)

Real talk alert! The other day I did a vlog on this topic and I thought that I would follow it up with a blog post as well. All employees have bad days at work and some fields have innate downsides across the board. These are some of the things about nursing that are not the best. They are for the better part a reality of being a nurse.

1. Staffing Ratios

This is the downside to long-term care. There were so many people that called off, didn’t show up for their shift, or would go to lunch and never come back. A lot of times being asked to have 60 patients and only 2 nurses aids. This is really a no-win situation no matter how you look at it. For us, as well as the residents. That situation really grinds you down, and staff turnover like I said is super high. Now, where I work, when we are short staffed we still run around like chickens with our heads cut off, but it isn’t on a daily basis. This makes it seem more manageable, and not like it will be like this forever.

2. Unrealistic Expectations

Nursing is one of a few professions where you are asked to be perfect. To err is human, well apparently they never met a nurse or medical professional before. Everywhere you look (when you are around management) is posters and campaigns for zero tolerance, a definite downside. I understand that it’s probably the only way to be able to help with mistakes on a corporate level, but it’s unrealistic. When everyone is trying to save their behind then you don’t have honesty. Without honesty about mistakes, there is effectively no way to improve. So the thing that they think is going to help, is really promoting a community of hiding. The only way a mistake can be really made right is for it to become a teaching tool, for you and for others. Zero tolerance really makes that impossible. It also dissolves the teamwork between co-workers because everyone is preoccupied with trying to blame others for mistakes.

3. Coworker Drama

Drama seems to be one of those things that follow nursing. Maybe it’s because we’re all woman (kind of sexist 💁 I know). Or maybe it’s because no matter who you work with, you are going to have personalities that don’t always mesh well together, super downside. Remember you didn’t marry these people. They were chosen for you, to be around you. This means that you need to constantly remind yourself that people are going to have differing opinions, beliefs, and coping mechanisms. These might differ from yours. I used to have a really hard time with this, I now recognize people for being human. My advice is to generally try to stay out of the drama. Just, try to not get sucked in. Your family is the most important thing, and these people are not your family. So, just try to take a step back, take a breath and move on.

4. Schedule

I once was told by a prospective nurse, that nursing had a flexible schedule. I laughed in her face, not purposefully, but because I don’t know who told her that, but they were really misinformed. Most entry-level openings are for a second or third shift position. This is most evident with LPNs (what I am) because we are usually not management. All nurses outside of management are generally expected to work weekends and holidays. This is not just a downside for you, but also for your friends and family. Usually in a rotation of every other weekend/holiday. The exception to this is office nursing, that usually doesn’t pay as well though. I am lucky because I work in a place where I don’t have to be relieved and is very flexible with my schedule. More than any other place I have worked for or known for working for.

5. Busy, Busy, Busy

This goes along with the short staffing ratios, the shorter the ratio the busier you will be. A reality of nursing is you will be on your feet for most of your day, a downside for your knees at the least. Getting vital signs on patients, answering call bells, dealing with patients that need total care. Whatever it may be, you will be compelled to take care of everyone else before yourself. This means nurses usually have to pee and are hungry. Or one or the other 😂. The other day I got pulled over for speeding after a particularly busy shift. The poor officer comes to my door. Channeling a toddler I was bouncing in my seat saying “I’m sorry officer I just got off work, and I really need to pee!” I am sure he was amused but it’s a real problem. We could probably take time for ourselves, we just never think about that. We are more concerned about the patients who depend on us. Other than these couple of things, I am in love with being a nurse. It is in my personality to care for others, I love the science of it. I love to critically think, and I love to have people trust me to care for them in times when they are unable to do it themselves. This can be emotionally or physically. If you would like to read my post about why being a nurse is awesome, check out the link below! In the meantime , you can watch my YouTube video!

10 Reasons Why Being a Nurse is Awesome

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsZlWlymbPk&t=69s

As always until next time!