Why I Hate Nursing #16

16? Well that's the maximum hours of work we can accommodate for each shift. Screw your judgments if you have. My page, my rules.

So I hate being a nurse because....

1. Changing soiled diapers. Why can't the patient's relative do it instead of bugging the nurses if our ate and kuya aides/orderlies are not around? So much with the back breaking pasty/watery stools every now and then. Human shit!!

2. Unavailability of nurses' bill of rights. Patients have their copies of the so called "Patients Bill of Rights" upon admission. A powerful handbook eh?? Why do nurses cannot posses "Nurses Bill of Rights" handbook? We were mistreated and dehumanized frequently but we cannot complain. Sore losers. Damn you too "secretary!!"

3. Manpower agencies belittling nurses. Google it! Just type nurse cook yaya on the search bar. Professional yaya? What a menial job. See for yourself! I intermittently had one on one encounter with the actual posters downtown.

4. Inadequate health benefits and PPEs. We don't have health hazard fees. I'm always queasy and pigging out for antibiotics. This only applies to ou r beloved physicians, swearing an oath to practice medicine ethically, and so on. And a part of this Hippocratic Oath is to cure their fellow sick physicians without charging any professional fee. What about our "Nightingale Pledge??"

I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administe r any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician, in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.

5. No work interruptions. Holidays, rain or shine, in sickness and in health we still have to commit ourselves to serve our patients. There will never be a valid excuse to be missing, except if you are contagious and dying. Poor nurses on duty that they have to work for 16 hours straight just to cover up for the absentee.

6. Human working machine. Ok this is not about money, but the crap that goes along with this job! Everybody knows that we're under compensated, and not much appreciated by everyone else. We're a virtuoso of our routine task, even way beyond our job description.

7. Understaffing. =Fatigue and exhaustion!! Do I need to say more?

8. Dealing with the impossible. Patient's relatives requires more attention than the patient. Shit! We're not your personal maid or private duty nurses. Don't you think that we have other seriously ill patients to minister? Ever heard of prioritization?

9. Competency in all aspects. The need to know

everything attitude is a must. Anything bad is forbidden. We don't want to commit sentinel events right?? If something goes wrong, it will ALWAYS be blamed on the nurses.

10. Doctors who decry nurses. Respect us the way we respect you. I detest writing doctors order during their rounds, seems like I have left with no choice. Delegate that unpleasant strain to your resident doctors than being an outright rude. The

fact that I accompanied you during your rounds means that I acknowledged your presence and willing to assist you on whatever patient endeavor you will make. I'm not your secretary.

11. Sexual harassment at workplace. Old man's arm wrapped around your shoulder and waist caressing you, what a common hospital scenario. I once had a horrible experience with a wild disorderly doctor who has a great craving for women

!!! Disgusting!!

12. Workplace incivilities. Senior staffs who treat their "juniors" as minions and not a part of the team. It's a shame that so many experienced nurses who has superiority complex are so inconsiderate to the "un-experienced."

13. White uniforms. Absolutely a fashion killer!! Affixed on our head is our nurses' cap that makes us distinctive from yayas. Yes, we all hate our caps and tight buns but it dignifies our profession.

14. Unfinished business. 1 nurse vs. 10 patients or more with all those useless demands. They don't even have common sense to think how tired their nurse can get on each shift. I'm physically and emotionally drained. How I wish I can just leave them all at my own pace.. to eat, and rest.

15. Biological clock disharmony. We can't sleep and eat on time with that work shift inconsistencies, such drift does not take place under normal

circumstances because external cues reset our internal clock each day. We're living with an accustomed jet lag!! Complete resetting of my cockerel requires a week or more. Darn to my immensely erroneous brain component!! And ooohhh I really really really hate my raccoon eyes!

16. Because I'm a NURSE!? Trapped in this dreadful career?? Grotesquely miserable!!

But of course we do have generous SELFLESS REASONS why we LOVE NURSING...

No matter how we hate or love our job, its what we make out of it... :) XOXO!!