Getting real

Guys, to be honest, I read something on social media earlier today and honestly, it just really upset me. And it was written by a person I am no longer facebook friends with. When I saw it was from said person, I'm going to level with you, I was expecting it. And that's when I decided enough was enough. I sat in my car today for a while, trying to compose myself after thinking about the enormous amount of sacrifice my parents provided for me, my sister and my brother. The post was a response to the teacher's strike today in lieu of the recent shooting in Florida, and to be honest, it was in my opinion a very ignorant opinion. That's all I'm going to say on that matter, but I was thinking about a lot of things on the drive home, and I feel the need to get them out here. So ready or not, here they come. 

I've worked with very good nurses in my own career as a nurse. They're great for their own reasons. However, some very good nurses I've worked with could become very great nurses, but so much of that goodness is clouded by judgment towards a specific patient population, constant negativity and complaining about things out of anyone's control and then turning around on co-workers. My favorite is when I've been told by other nurses to "lighten up" because I have too much energy early in the morning. Also have been told to "just let it go" when I was verbalizing a thought about a patient and their discharge plans. Then there's chaos: chaos, chaos, chaos. It's a word that I've heard thrown around so many times, and often I feel it's self-perceived chaos. Because guess what, if one assumes there's going to be chaos all day, then guess what? Chaos will follow all day. Basic fact of life, really. 

I'm going to throw out one last "getting real" moment. I think some people are just cold people. They put on this big grand facade that all is hunky dory and tirade on and on about how great and wonderful their lives are, but then I see how they interact with some of their co-workers. I hear what they say to the nurse's station about particular patients (addicts mostly) and their blatant lack of just common and decent sympathy towards one's suffering. The truth is, that's one of the things I see, being an outsider and staying for only a short time. And then when someone talks about leaving but never actually does, who know who suffers? All of us. Then when they actually do leave, to be honest it's the best thing for those patients. Because they deserve someone who's going to give them 110% all of the time. Here's the thing; if you don't like where you are, LEAVE. Don't TALK about leaving; find something you enjoy and actually DO IT. I guarantee you will be so much of a happier person. 

Guys, I'm sorry this seems ranty. I apologize if some of this seems harsh. I'm tired, I'm angry and I'm frustrated. I'm not just talking about one person; I've encountered everyone like I've described at every single job I've been to. And it makes me sad, because I don't understand how someone like such evolves over time. Is it really just burn-out from bedside nursing? Or is it more? I pray that God never puts out the fire I have for nursing, and not just nursing, but nursing for the mentally ill. And when I mean the mentally ill, I mean ALL of the mentally ill. That's all I have to say about that.