I love this job, helping people, but the conditions I work under makes me feel like a slave. Morale is low and I can’t see myself slogging my guts out doing this forever, certainly not into my 60s – it’s just not worth it.

As such I am seriously considering voting with my feet and going overseas where I will be appreciated instead of banging my head against a brick wall trying to get management to speak up for us rather than imposing state government regulations with no consultation. The problem with us nurses is we are too nice. We just keep taking it so they keep dishing more out. We are good at bitching to each other but not to the decision makers. No wonder school leavers study other things. The way we do things needs reform. We study for 3 – 3.5 years and get paid less than cops and graduate teachers. Little consideration is given to work/life balance and we have to work late/earlies without adequate sleep. Nurse managers tell you “it’s not in the award” to expect to start on a late and finish on an early and although we need management, it is too top heavy. A satisfaction survey released from earlier this year unanimously indicated management as the number one gripe among nurses in WA. So although they’ve earned their stripes and moved off the ‘floor’ as such, they need to figure out how to be part of the team as opposed to the us up here vs them down there mentality. Non management nurses would support management I think if they felt they were being listened to.

I agree with the above comment about how narky experienced nurses can be to new comers. It’s not on. I wonder if they have any idea how deeply it hurts new nurses when someone rolls their eyes at having to preceptor them or basically ditches them during the shift so they have to fend for themselves? I had to preceptor in my first year and I can assure you, they feel stupid, worthless, lost and inadequate when it happens. This also comes back to pressures on existing staff to manage tight patient loads with frequent staff shortages coupled (again) with a lack of support.

Also, what ever happened to actually caring for patients? They are the ones who miss out while we run up and down the corridors putting out fires all shift. On the odd occasion that I do have time to sit down and actually listen to them, they are so grateful for some TLC and genuine human contact and it is an unusual experience for them. How sad is that?

Surely we can all put our heads together and come up with a better system of delivering quality nursing care that supports better patient outcomes whilst addressing the issue of attracting and retaining staff. For example, the rostering system here is archaic and should be hauled off the nearest cliff. I am no expert on alternatives, but the more energetic nurses that I’ve spoken to have been highly in favour of a 12 hour shift so they can have more of a life outside of work. This could be offset by nurses who do not wish or are unable to work long shifts. Flexibility is the key and recognising that we are individuals rather than soldier ants. There is more than one way to skin a FTE arrangement, not to mention part time and casual work.

Instead of burning out experienced nurses, give them the proper opportunity to pass on their skills without the pressure of having to manage and coordinate at the same time – this could be allocated time within the working week. The newer nurses are keen to learn but instead they get caught up in the chaos as well and do their best to keep their heads above water.

Something needs to be done because patients are living longer and with more chronic conditions and nurses are about to become fewer and fewer judging by the above comments. We are smart professionals who can figure this out, we just haven’t come together and thought of the answers yet.

I am 37 years old and am considering of studying again and going into nursing as a second profession. My timetable is that I need at least 3 years of schooling plus another 3 years to have a good experience. Would you advise me to continue with this plan?
Is nursing really stressful? Have you experienced being shouted by doctors and patients alike?

Hoping for your reply. Thanks

I think the problem is actually multi-faceted. I hear some stories from my friends and everywhere…… I guess what I hear is one of the factors of newer and younger nurses leaving their job.

I think there are some ‘older (aging)’ (hence much more experienced) nurses who lack of tolerance and consideration towards newer nurses….. being very harsh to the newer nurses (not necessarily, but most often, those novice nurses are younger than them) at times. They can be gnarly and complaining yet when it comes to them doing their work, those people allow themselves to be sloppy (e.g. Saying, “Well, they can deal with it”). I understand that it must be really tiring for the older (aging) nurses to cope in the environment that they are working ….. but at the same time, I can’t deny that their attitude like that can disadvantage other workers and jeopardize their team work. The younger (or newer) nurses tend to zip it and not to complain about those things, but it certainly does not help keeping their motivation up to remain in the workforce!