I quit my job as an Oncology nurse / why nurses are quitting

Summary

In this video, a nurse opens up about her experience with burnout, overwhelming workloads, and the emotional toll of working as an oncology nurse. She reflects on the unrealistic expectations new nurses face, including unsafe patient ratios and lack of support. Despite initially loving the connection with patients, the stress ultimately led her to quit her first job after seven months. Now working in labor and delivery, she shares how much more fulfilling the job is. The video highlights the challenges of staying in a physically and emotionally demanding field, and the growing trend of nurses exploring alternative careers for better work-life balance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Many new nurses experience burnout and stress due to overwhelming work environments.
• 😀 Nurses are often overwhelmed by unrealistic patient-to-nurse ratios, with some facing six or more patients per shift.
• 😀 The orientation process for new nurses is intense, often escalating patient loads quickly, leading to high levels of stress.
• 😀 Despite the perception of a glamorous nursing career, the reality for new grads is often underwhelming financially, especially when working outside high-paying areas like New York or California.
• 😀 Healthcare has become a business where profits are prioritized over patient care and nurse well-being, contributing to burnout.
• 😀 Nurses may make mistakes due to unsafe staff ratios, and the fear of severe consequences, like losing their job or facing legal action, adds to stress.
• 😀 Lack of support from senior staff and poor management can make nursing environments more difficult, leading to high turnover rates.
• 😀 The physical and mental demands of 12-hour shifts can be taxing on nurses, contributing to rapid burnout.
• 😀 Many nurses are leaving bedside roles for less stressful jobs, such as outpatient care, aesthetic nursing, or work-from-home positions.
• 😀 New grad nurses are more likely to leave their first job due to a combination of stress, lack of support, and poor working conditions.
• 😀 Despite initial struggles, some nurses find greater job satisfaction in roles like labor and delivery, which offer a better work-life balance and more support.

Q & A

Why did the nurse quit her first job after seven months?

The nurse quit her job due to overwhelming stress, unsafe patient ratios, lack of support, and the physical and emotional toll the job took on her. She felt that the demands of the job were unsustainable, especially with the high patient-to-nurse ratio and long working hours.

What aspect of oncology nursing did the nurse enjoy?

The nurse enjoyed working with cancer patients because of the deeper relationships formed, as patients often stayed for longer periods and returned for treatment. She appreciated getting to know the patients and their families.

What was the most challenging part of the nurse's job in oncology?

The most challenging part was the overwhelming workload. She was expected to care for multiple patients at once, sometimes up to six or seven, which led to stress and mistakes. Additionally, the long hours and lack of adequate time for charting or self-care were significant stressors.

How did the nurse feel about the financial aspect of nursing?

The nurse found the financial aspect of nursing to be underwhelming, especially as a new graduate. Despite the perception that nursing is financially rewarding, she felt that the paycheck did not reflect the amount of work or the stressful nature of the job, particularly during her first year.

What does the nurse believe is a major issue in the healthcare industry today?

The nurse believes that healthcare has become too focused on business and profit, often at the expense of both patient care and nurse well-being. She noted that nurses are seen as easily replaceable, and there is little regard for their safety, especially regarding unsafe patient ratios.

Why does the nurse think many new grad nurses are leaving the bedside?

New grad nurses are leaving the bedside because of overwhelming stress, unsafe working conditions, and a lack of support from management. Many are also attracted to less physically demanding roles or higher-paying opportunities in fields like tech, which offer a better work-life balance.

What role does social media play in the perception of nursing as a career?

Social media, particularly platforms like TikTok, often glamorizes nursing by focusing on the financial rewards and perceived luxurious aspects of the job. However, the nurse in the script points out that the reality for new nurses is far more challenging, with high workloads and less financial reward than often portrayed online.

How does the nurse feel about the turnover rate of new nurses?

The nurse acknowledges the high turnover rate among new nurses but emphasizes that the lack of support from management and the challenging working conditions contribute to this issue. She believes that healthcare institutions are not doing enough to retain new nurses.

What advice does the nurse offer to others considering a nursing career?

The nurse advises prospective nurses to carefully consider the long-term physical and mental demands of the profession. She suggests looking for ways to make money work for them, such as through smart investments or finding a nursing role that offers better work-life balance. She also encourages pursuing alternative career paths if nursing becomes unsustainable.

What change did the nurse experience after switching to a labor and delivery role?

After transitioning to labor and delivery nursing, the nurse felt a significant improvement in job satisfaction. She wakes up excited to go to work, finding the role less taxing and more fulfilling compared to her previous experience in oncology nursing.