5 answers
Gabriella
Student
Rochester, Minnesota
6
Questions
Asked
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How do you stay determined to keep working in healthcare?
How do nurses and doctors stay determined to keep working in healthcare even when its diffcult or you're not appreciated for the work you do?
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5 answers
Karen Spencer DNP ACNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner and College Professor
14
Answers
Waldorf, Maryland
Updated
Karen’s Answer
I stay determined because I am dedicated to helping my patients. Politics, poor management, co-workers can have a negative effect on the days. However, l do my best to remain focused on my mission. I'm not in it for money. I get my satisfaction when a patient gets better, or those times when they say thank you, a family thanks me or l see them putting something I've taught them to use. I'm doing something l love. If you are doing that, find your mission and work to complete it every day.
I also take breaks. My vacation time gets used. I don't volunteer or do anything healthcare related during my of time. That keeps me fresh for the times when l do have to be at work and focused.
I also take breaks. My vacation time gets used. I don't volunteer or do anything healthcare related during my of time. That keeps me fresh for the times when l do have to be at work and focused.
Hailey Hamilton
Nurse
96
Answers
Canton, Georgia
Updated
Hailey’s Answer
It can be hard to keep going on when you feel like the patients are not appreciative. I think knowing you have made a difference in spite of their appreciation helps me. Knowing that they are having a terrible time and knowing that you helped them out makes it worthwhile.
John Levesque
Clinical Quality Nurse
84
Answers
Waterville, Maine
Updated
John’s Answer
Your query is indeed intriguing, echoing a similar one I addressed a while back. I'll draw heavily from that previous response for this one.
I aim to inspire you while maintaining sincerity, so here's my take...
Firstly, my focus is solely on Nursing. This profession is quite diverse in terms of schedules, experiences, working conditions, and challenges. With a quarter-century of nursing under my belt, in ERs, ICUs, and currently in the disability insurance realm, I can assure you that monotony is a rarity. There are instances where we're understaffed due to staffing issues. There are days when patients, their families, or visitors may resort to verbal or even physical aggression. You may occasionally feel overwhelmed by your employer's demands to accomplish more with fewer resources.
However... There will be moments when you witness the miracle of birth, or provide comfort to families as their loved ones depart this world. These experiences can be deeply moving and humbling, and there will be days when you feel invincible, as if the world is brimming with potential. Conversely, there will be days when you question the essence of humanity and your role in it. The range of experiences you can have in this role is limitless, and if you're keen on actively participating in life rather than merely observing it, nursing is an excellent choice. Having companions in the field or a partner engaged in similar work can be a boon, as it facilitates easier sharing of your experiences and emotions.
Here's a crucial piece of advice - stand up for yourself. Your employer may not prioritize your interests, so ensure you negotiate your salary, benefits, and preferred schedule. You might not get everything you desire, but it's essential to make your needs known.
In conclusion... There's a poignant Jimmy Buffett song titled, "He Went To Paris", which narrates the life of an elderly man. One of the verses describes how the man recounts his life to a younger individual, stating, "Some of it's magic, and some of it's tragic, but I had a good life all the way...". I believe this perfectly encapsulates the life of a nurse. Here's hoping your journey is filled with more highs than lows - that's why most of us persist in this field.
I wish you the best of luck. Embrace the journey.
I aim to inspire you while maintaining sincerity, so here's my take...
Firstly, my focus is solely on Nursing. This profession is quite diverse in terms of schedules, experiences, working conditions, and challenges. With a quarter-century of nursing under my belt, in ERs, ICUs, and currently in the disability insurance realm, I can assure you that monotony is a rarity. There are instances where we're understaffed due to staffing issues. There are days when patients, their families, or visitors may resort to verbal or even physical aggression. You may occasionally feel overwhelmed by your employer's demands to accomplish more with fewer resources.
However... There will be moments when you witness the miracle of birth, or provide comfort to families as their loved ones depart this world. These experiences can be deeply moving and humbling, and there will be days when you feel invincible, as if the world is brimming with potential. Conversely, there will be days when you question the essence of humanity and your role in it. The range of experiences you can have in this role is limitless, and if you're keen on actively participating in life rather than merely observing it, nursing is an excellent choice. Having companions in the field or a partner engaged in similar work can be a boon, as it facilitates easier sharing of your experiences and emotions.
Here's a crucial piece of advice - stand up for yourself. Your employer may not prioritize your interests, so ensure you negotiate your salary, benefits, and preferred schedule. You might not get everything you desire, but it's essential to make your needs known.
In conclusion... There's a poignant Jimmy Buffett song titled, "He Went To Paris", which narrates the life of an elderly man. One of the verses describes how the man recounts his life to a younger individual, stating, "Some of it's magic, and some of it's tragic, but I had a good life all the way...". I believe this perfectly encapsulates the life of a nurse. Here's hoping your journey is filled with more highs than lows - that's why most of us persist in this field.
I wish you the best of luck. Embrace the journey.
Godfrey Magawe
Clinical officer nephrology
121
Answers
Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya
Updated
Godfrey’s Answer
Working in health care basically needs passing and what you like doing is what motivates you and keep you going,you need to have friends that inspire you with know negative energy as mostly of your friends might be also working within the health sector and you will share alot in common
Deb Weber, MBA, MSRS, RCIS
Lab Assistant
18
Answers
Boise, Idaho
Updated
Deb’s Answer
Wow Gabriella!
That’s a pretty deep question and a great one. I anticipate many more answers than mine.
First and foremost (and general advice for any career) never take a job if your only interest is a paycheck - that goes double in healthcare. The career itself has the word ‘care’ in it. Care which involves life and death of living beings. It’s really hard, in my opinion, to stay motivated in a job you don’t fully appreciate in the first place. But if you’re lucky enough to have a paycheck that cancels out any negativity you might feel to the job, I’d say you’re either not in healthcare, or if you are good for you - most will never be in the latter category.
Ok, that said - how do you stay resilient during every day challenges like feeling unnoticed and unappreciated for your efforts, much less resilient during challenges like a pandemic?
As a former phlebotomist, EMT, and cardiac cath lab student, I’ve experienced two pandemics and many other challenges like entire hospitals moving and health systems upgrading their electronic systems.
I’ve had psychiatric patients attack me, coworkers who wouldn’t trade one shift with me so I could go to physical therapy, policy and procedure changes passed down from leadership that didn’t always come after feedback from those of us actually performing the tasks, and (rarely thank goodness) even being treated like I wouldn’t understand things because I wasn’t a nurse, doctor, or supervisor at the time (I believe the term is patronized or belittled) so many challenges! On top of all that health care is also a field with so much technical knowledge required and so many moving pieces it can really overtake anyones ability to understand everything rather quickly without experience.
So…your question…
To stay feeling appreciated I’ve found that being the best team-member I can possibly be every day has the reward of providing coworkers who often do the same and appreciation becomes a two-way street that only multiplies when the team as a whole cares about their work - sometimes regardless of leadership efforts (or lack of), and occasionally you get a leadership team that also does the same and it’s amazing. But to get a great career going - you MUST start with your own positive attitude.
Then there’s the work itself - I must admit one of the worst experiences was being overloaded with work involving isolation patients down every hall, an endless line of outpatient draws and swabs during covid (after surgery started back up I think we never caught up on the backlog covid created), and coworkers quitting en mass due to various issues I won’t mention. It was AWFUL!!! I was SO tired. But I kept showing up, doing my best, had a team I loved working with, and made sure I did lots to relax and de-stress as often as possible.
I also changed careers shortly after that. But to be MORE involved in health care than ever - not less.
You know why? Because the challenges never end, but overcoming them can occur when you bring the positive with you, and so does your team. You can overcome anything that way! And you start to appreciate your own abilities and accomplishments regardless of whether all your patients were demanding or you work in a behind the scenes job where none of your patients will thank you because they don’t know you exist (like the laboratory).
It doesn’t matter. Yes, change is required sometimes when appreciation from leadership fails, and your cries for being overloaded with work go unheard. But mostly, satisfaction comes from knowing you do your best, and it adds up to a great big picture for your patients because you love your job. As they say, do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.
Show up with a positive attitude - expect the best/prepare for the worst
Find a way to appreciate challenges and coworkers - and don’t be afraid to change your situation if you cannot find another way to do that’ll
Do a job you love
Realize when it’s difficult and find self-compassion
Never care for paychecks more than you do for people
That’s a pretty deep question and a great one. I anticipate many more answers than mine.
First and foremost (and general advice for any career) never take a job if your only interest is a paycheck - that goes double in healthcare. The career itself has the word ‘care’ in it. Care which involves life and death of living beings. It’s really hard, in my opinion, to stay motivated in a job you don’t fully appreciate in the first place. But if you’re lucky enough to have a paycheck that cancels out any negativity you might feel to the job, I’d say you’re either not in healthcare, or if you are good for you - most will never be in the latter category.
Ok, that said - how do you stay resilient during every day challenges like feeling unnoticed and unappreciated for your efforts, much less resilient during challenges like a pandemic?
As a former phlebotomist, EMT, and cardiac cath lab student, I’ve experienced two pandemics and many other challenges like entire hospitals moving and health systems upgrading their electronic systems.
I’ve had psychiatric patients attack me, coworkers who wouldn’t trade one shift with me so I could go to physical therapy, policy and procedure changes passed down from leadership that didn’t always come after feedback from those of us actually performing the tasks, and (rarely thank goodness) even being treated like I wouldn’t understand things because I wasn’t a nurse, doctor, or supervisor at the time (I believe the term is patronized or belittled) so many challenges! On top of all that health care is also a field with so much technical knowledge required and so many moving pieces it can really overtake anyones ability to understand everything rather quickly without experience.
So…your question…
To stay feeling appreciated I’ve found that being the best team-member I can possibly be every day has the reward of providing coworkers who often do the same and appreciation becomes a two-way street that only multiplies when the team as a whole cares about their work - sometimes regardless of leadership efforts (or lack of), and occasionally you get a leadership team that also does the same and it’s amazing. But to get a great career going - you MUST start with your own positive attitude.
Then there’s the work itself - I must admit one of the worst experiences was being overloaded with work involving isolation patients down every hall, an endless line of outpatient draws and swabs during covid (after surgery started back up I think we never caught up on the backlog covid created), and coworkers quitting en mass due to various issues I won’t mention. It was AWFUL!!! I was SO tired. But I kept showing up, doing my best, had a team I loved working with, and made sure I did lots to relax and de-stress as often as possible.
I also changed careers shortly after that. But to be MORE involved in health care than ever - not less.
You know why? Because the challenges never end, but overcoming them can occur when you bring the positive with you, and so does your team. You can overcome anything that way! And you start to appreciate your own abilities and accomplishments regardless of whether all your patients were demanding or you work in a behind the scenes job where none of your patients will thank you because they don’t know you exist (like the laboratory).
It doesn’t matter. Yes, change is required sometimes when appreciation from leadership fails, and your cries for being overloaded with work go unheard. But mostly, satisfaction comes from knowing you do your best, and it adds up to a great big picture for your patients because you love your job. As they say, do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.
Deb recommends the following next steps:
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
Gabriella