Would We Still Choose Nursing? The $19/Hour Reality Check

Speaker: 00:00:11

Hello.

2

: 00:00:12

Welcome to Shift Happen podcast.

3

: 00:00:14

I am Nurse Millie and I'm Nurse Tara.

4

: 00:00:17

And today we are going to discuss quote.

5

: 00:00:21

After what I've seen what I still choose.

6

: 00:00:24

Nursing.

7

: 00:00:25

I love this. You love it.

8

: 00:00:26

Why do you love it?

You like you can really.

9

: 00:00:28

I love it

because, yes, I'm still choosing nursing.

10

: 00:00:31

I love being a nurse.

11

: 00:00:32

Okay, so if you could go back

and do it all over again.

12

: 00:00:36

Would you still become a nurse?

13

: 00:00:39

Healthcare has given us purpose,

but it also has changed us.

14

: 00:00:42

And was it worth it? For everything

I've seen?

15

: 00:00:45

I'm not sure I'd answer as quickly

as I once did.

16

: 00:00:48

So these are some things

that we are going to discuss.

17

: 00:00:51

People see the scrubs.

18

: 00:00:53

They don't always see what

the courier costs.

19

: 00:00:56

Some days

I choose nursing again in a heartbeat.

20

: 00:00:58

Other days I'm not sure.

21

: 00:01:01

I just contradicted myself.

22

: 00:01:03

I'm. I have to retract that.

23

: 00:01:05

I'm always sure. Sure.

Because you like making the money. But.

24

: 00:01:08

No, it's. It's not about the money.

25

: 00:01:09

I love what I do,

I love putting people to.

26

: 00:01:12

But you also realize

you have to slow down. Yes.

27

: 00:01:14

Because how much can you maintain that?

28

: 00:01:17

Has nursing

made us stronger or simply different?

29

: 00:01:19

Yeah, I feel like I'm very different.

30

: 00:01:21

Okay. I'm interested to know

what you have to say.

31

: 00:01:23

So what is our chief complaint today?

32

: 00:01:25

Since you are so passionate mamas,

I want you to take over.

33

: 00:01:28

After everything we've experienced

in healthcare, would we still choose

34

: 00:01:32

nursing today

or has a profession change us too much?

35

: 00:01:36

So our shift report today is so

this is what I'm giving you

36

: 00:01:40

because you take an overnight shift

and I'm doing day shift.

37

: 00:01:43

Nursing isn't just a career.

38

: 00:01:45

It's thousands of moments

that shape who we who we have become

39

: 00:01:49

our patients, their families,

our coworkers, and even ourselves.

40

: 00:01:52

Every shift leaves a mark.

41

: 00:01:54

Some moments inspire us.

42

: 00:01:56

Some break our hearts, and others

stay with us forever.

43

: 00:01:59

Today, we're asking one

of the hardest questions we've ever asked.

44

: 00:02:03

Knowing what you know now.

45

: 00:02:05

Would we still choose nursing

46

: 00:02:09

our call like Chronicles?

47

: 00:02:10

Okay, so you're going to interview me?

48

: 00:02:12

No way.

49

: 00:02:13

Why did nursing

50

: 00:02:15

feel like you're calling?

51

: 00:02:18

I feel like from.

52

: 00:02:20

I hate when I say I felt like.

53

: 00:02:21

I know that as a child, I always knew that

I wanted to take care of people,

54

: 00:02:26

whether that was being a mother, a wife,

a health care provider.

55

: 00:02:29

I didn't know what that would look like.

56

: 00:02:32

And naturally I went into health care

thinking I was going to do medicine.

57

: 00:02:38

And then when I had a

58

: 00:02:41

shadowing experience

with several different physicians

59

: 00:02:44

and different specialties,

I would just always catch a glimpse

60

: 00:02:47

of the nurse in the background.

I said, that's what I want to do.

61

: 00:02:50

What is that?

62

: 00:02:51

They're like, oh, that's a nurse.

Do you want to do that?

63

: 00:02:52

I'm like, I want to do that.

64

: 00:02:54

And so to answer your question, that's

why I felt like nurse was my calling,

65

: 00:02:58

because it just comes so naturally

or innate for me to take care of people.

66

: 00:03:02

And so when you work with Monica and

67

: 00:03:06

Girl to sue

68

: 00:03:09

to. So when I worked with

Let Me Clean It up,

69

: 00:03:12

when I worked with Monica in the ICU,

I felt like, you know what?

70

: 00:03:16

This is my calling to?

71

: 00:03:17

Maybe I don't want to help

deliver babies in seaport outcomes.

72

: 00:03:20

Maybe I just want to work in the ICU

73

: 00:03:22

and be with her

and just learn all these wonderful things.

74

: 00:03:26

The reality match your expectations? No.

75

: 00:03:31

The first reality that I observed was pay

76

: 00:03:36

I thought I was going to be making.

77

: 00:03:38

Oh, yeah.

78

: 00:03:39

You know, $100 an hour.

79

: 00:03:42

I'm about to get me a new Mercedes.

80

: 00:03:44

I got me a house, I'm going shopping.

81

: 00:03:46

I am living the life, mamas.

82

: 00:03:48

But when I went for a job interview

and they said, we're going to start

83

: 00:03:51

you at $19.28,

I said, oh, this isn't a job for me.

84

: 00:03:56

So I went to another hospital interview.

85

: 00:03:57

We're going to start you off at $19.12.

86

: 00:03:59

I'm like, what is going on here?

87

: 00:04:01

Nobody heard

me, told me that you make pennies.

88

: 00:04:04

So I said, you know what it is what it is.

89

: 00:04:06

I will gradually work myself, work

my way up with experience and and my pay.

90

: 00:04:11

That didn't happen.

91

: 00:04:12

You get $0.25 a year raise.

92

: 00:04:15

And that's

if your top nurse on your floor.

93

: 00:04:19

Right? If you're if you're

the bottom nurse, you don't get anything.

94

: 00:04:22

If you're in the middle you get $0.10.

95

: 00:04:23

Arrays like that is horrible.

96

: 00:04:26

And not only that, I'm working over

12 hours.

97

: 00:04:29

I'm coming in on my days off.

98

: 00:04:31

I'm doing more than I should.

99

: 00:04:34

We're also short staffed.

100

: 00:04:35

I'm burnt out, but yet I make $19.12

and I'm expected that 25 cent raise.

101

: 00:04:41

So reality is not mad you did it.

102

: 00:04:43

So I know this one for you.

103

: 00:04:45

How has nursing

changed your parenting or marriage?

104

: 00:04:51

It hasn't.

105

: 00:04:52

It's just complimented it.

106

: 00:04:54

It just goes along with everything else

I do in my marriage, in my home.

107

: 00:04:58

And like you said, even though I get

on your nerves, I like to baby people.

108

: 00:05:01

I am a breast feeder.

109

: 00:05:02

Okay?

110

: 00:05:03

I will put you on the breast and burp

you and change your diaper.

111

: 00:05:05

Even if you're 90 years old.

112

: 00:05:06

Like I am a nurturer.

113

: 00:05:09

Yeah, just by heart.

114

: 00:05:10

And so it's hard for me, like we discussed

before, is establishing boundaries

115

: 00:05:14

and compartmentalizing.

116

: 00:05:20

So let's go ahead and get in

your business.

117

: 00:05:22

Let's go ahead and get in your team.

118

: 00:05:24

Why nursing for you and then why Crna?

119

: 00:05:27

Why couldn't

you just stay a nurse in the ICU?

120

: 00:05:29

You feel like you got to move on.

121

: 00:05:31

Was it money related

or did you want to learn more about you?

122

: 00:05:33

Well, I want to know why you chose.

123

: 00:05:36

I sound like I'm a.

124

: 00:05:37

I just look like a Crna.

125

: 00:05:38

Now, what does this look like?

126

: 00:05:41

Me. Okay, so why did you choose nursing?

127

: 00:05:43

Because you're telling me

128

: 00:05:44

you have this hard exterior

and you're soft in the middle?

129

: 00:05:47

Do you think that makes you vulnerable

to patients? Yes.

130

: 00:05:50

And maybe that's why they love me.

131

: 00:05:53

Because my patients really love me.

And we like.

132

: 00:05:55

I feel like we lock eyes.

133

: 00:05:57

I can talk to them, and they look at me,

and they feel like this lady is going to

134

: 00:06:00

take great care of me, honey,

because I feel like that's very nervous.

135

: 00:06:04

Yeah.

136

: 00:06:05

Nerve wracking

when you have to have surgery

137

: 00:06:08

and you don't know this person

and I feel like I leave.

138

: 00:06:11

It's a brief interaction.

139

: 00:06:14

And I know with your mutual colleague

that I had surgery with recently,

140

: 00:06:17

Christina, I don't want to name names

and get in trouble again.

141

: 00:06:21

Christina was excellent.

142

: 00:06:23

Like, I, I felt like I knew her

and she was so chill.

143

: 00:06:26

And later.

144

: 00:06:27

Yes. You know her?

145

: 00:06:28

Okay.

146

: 00:06:28

Yeah,

we talked about her before, so I was like,

147

: 00:06:30

I texted you was like, hey,

do you know her? She's so great.

148

: 00:06:33

And so when I went into the operating room

149

: 00:06:35

and she was talking to me,

she's like, girl, you're going to be fine.

150

: 00:06:37

I was like, I'm going to be fine.

Yeah, yeah.

151

: 00:06:39

So she felt it, right, I felt it,

I love her.

152

: 00:06:42

Yeah. Don't even know.

153

: 00:06:43

So I would say, why nursing.

154

: 00:06:44

So I've always liked science.

155

: 00:06:46

And when I remember

going to the University of Oklahoma

156

: 00:06:49

I was doing my pre Rex.

157

: 00:06:52

You know,

you can do all the pre-race for science

158

: 00:06:55

degree nursing.

159

: 00:06:56

Know what? Science in nursing.

160

: 00:06:59

I think that's what no like I'm doing

organ why am I doing organic chemistry.

161

: 00:07:03

And I had to have organic for Crna.

162

: 00:07:06

I know what what am I learning from that.

163

: 00:07:08

But I feel like science.

164

: 00:07:09

Yes it is, I don't know. No.

165

: 00:07:13

Millie, what are you talking about?

166

: 00:07:14

I need to know how to give these meds.

167

: 00:07:17

Look out for these critical vitals

and you have to have science.

168

: 00:07:21

Organic chemistry is not going to.

169

: 00:07:23

What? Have you used?

170

: 00:07:24

Organic chemistry

to save a life of the time?

171

: 00:07:27

I use it all the time.

172

: 00:07:29

Oh, sorry.

You just want to be right again.

173

: 00:07:31

Okay.

174

: 00:07:31

When have you used genetics

to put somebody to sleep?

175

: 00:07:35

Genetics?

176

: 00:07:36

Just thinking about their DNA.

177

: 00:07:39

And you ain't thinking about that?

178

: 00:07:41

You ain't thinking about that.

179

: 00:07:42

Okay, what have you lose?

180

: 00:07:44

No, no. What was it? Physiology.

181

: 00:07:47

Millie, we're talking about anatomy

and physiology.

182

: 00:07:49

I didn't say anatomy. Okay, well,

you have to have science.

183

: 00:07:52

I'm bitter because I had to take genetics

and organic chemistry,

184

: 00:07:56

and I flunked out of those,

and that's why I didn't go to medical.

185

: 00:07:58

So here I am. Sorry I made this about me.

186

: 00:08:01

What were you thinking?

187

: 00:08:02

So why nursing for me is

because I've always liked science.

188

: 00:08:06

And you have to have science

to be a nurse.

189

: 00:08:08

I've always liked science.

190

: 00:08:10

When I was a child, and I was taking site.

191

: 00:08:13

Yes, and I was no.

192

: 00:08:15

Oh, you said you sound like Jeffrey

Dahmer.

193

: 00:08:17

Well, you said anatomy.

194

: 00:08:19

I mean, you did not say anatomy.

195

: 00:08:21

Had a skin. Cats in high school.

196

: 00:08:24

That was gross. And I just did frogs.

197

: 00:08:26

And I love the frog.

I love doing that with the frogs.

198

: 00:08:28

That's weird. But

199

: 00:08:31

you get

200

: 00:08:31

to see their organs

and you learn more about your organs.

201

: 00:08:34

Not interested. So anyway, so why Crna?

202

: 00:08:37

Because I was working the ICU

and I felt like that was a good bridge

203

: 00:08:40

for critical thinking, one on one care.

204

: 00:08:43

And I love being a Crna.

205

: 00:08:45

It's my favorite when you're a gator.

206

: 00:08:47

Yeah, I'm a go getter.

207

: 00:08:49

So what are some cases that you'll

never forget that made you say, you know

208

: 00:08:53

what, I chose the right profession or hey,

I chose the wrong one.

209

: 00:08:58

I will say, this lady,

210

: 00:08:59

she had surgery in another hospital

and she was bleeding out.

211

: 00:09:04

She was very young.

212

: 00:09:05

She just had a baby,

and she coated so cold blue.

213

: 00:09:09

Her heart stopped three times in the ICU

and we brought her down.

214

: 00:09:14

Everyone was like, oh, no,

we don't want to take care of this patient

215

: 00:09:16

because she was so critically ill.

216

: 00:09:18

I said, guys, we gotta save her

217

: 00:09:20

because I talked to the husband

and he showed me the baby.

218

: 00:09:23

I was like, we've had to save her.

219

: 00:09:24

And I was just running the code like,

hey, you

220

: 00:09:28

get some insulin to get her potassium

down, do this.

221

: 00:09:31

And I pretty much ran the code and

the surgeon did his job and she survived.

222

: 00:09:37

And I felt really great about that.

223

: 00:09:39

What is the time where you feel like

you know what?

224

: 00:09:41

This ain't for me.

225

: 00:09:42

I had a patient code in the O.R.,

226

: 00:09:46

and they had cancer,

and I think they threw

227

: 00:09:49

a pulmonary embolism,

and they just died there on the table.

228

: 00:09:53

And that was very sad.

229

: 00:09:55

And everyone was very comforting

and and supportive.

230

: 00:09:58

Was this early in your career? No.

231

: 00:10:00

It was maybe like six months ago. Dang.

232

: 00:10:03

I've never had anyone die on the table

unexpectedly before then.

233

: 00:10:06

Oh, Jesus.

234

: 00:10:07

So that was kind of sad. Yeah.

235

: 00:10:09

Well, that kind of it was that that,

236

: 00:10:12

So what

moments restored your faith in nursing?

237

: 00:10:16

Were you

maybe you were on the brink of saying,

238

: 00:10:18

this isn't for me,

but it is, and I'm undecided.

239

: 00:10:21

So recently I did a travel job.

240

: 00:10:25

Oh yeah.

241

: 00:10:25

And I was like this is not for me

242

: 00:10:30

because I treat you

243

: 00:10:32

kind of differently

and everyone's not so nice.

244

: 00:10:35

But I remember I met one Crna

245

: 00:10:38

and he was so nice, so kind to me.

246

: 00:10:42

And this made me feel

a lot more comfortable.

247

: 00:10:45

And I was like, okay,

248

: 00:10:46

I'm just going to finish this assignment

when I wasn't going to.

249

: 00:10:49

But he's like, you can do it

because it's very hard to go into a place

250

: 00:10:54

and you know how to do the anesthesia,

but you don't know how to work the

251

: 00:10:58

anesthesia machine.

252

: 00:10:59

You don't I don't know the pumps.

253

: 00:11:00

I'm still like, help me

because it's not a pump I'm familiar with.

254

: 00:11:04

And so that can be hard

when you're used to being the top dog.

255

: 00:11:07

And then you have to come somewhere

where you're not as familiar.

256

: 00:11:10

That can cause a lot of stress.

257

: 00:11:13

Yeah, that's why I'm not confident enough

to do travel nursing because I need

258

: 00:11:17

I am a routine.

259

: 00:11:18

I am a creature of habit.

260

: 00:11:20

I need to know where everything is.

I need to know who I'm working with.

261

: 00:11:23

I need to know where things are

on the floor, where I'm going.

262

: 00:11:26

You know what I'm going to expect?

263

: 00:11:27

Yeah, that's that's

what makes it difficult.

264

: 00:11:29

Yeah.

265

: 00:11:30

Let's talk about our anonymous admissions.

266

: 00:11:32

So these are people really saying this,

Yeah.

267

: 00:11:35

So we just collected a couple of comments

or DM's

268

: 00:11:39

and we've compiled them

to anonymous admissions. Wow.

269

: 00:11:42

So can you read a couple of these?

270

: 00:11:44

If I knew then what I know now, I honestly

don't know if I choose nursing again.

271

: 00:11:50

Oh, I still think about patients

from years ago.

272

: 00:11:53

Wow, this made me so sad because it's real

people saying, you know what?

273

: 00:11:59

Let me interject really quick

when we talk about if I knew what I knew.

274

: 00:12:03

Now, I honestly don't know

if I choose nursing.

275

: 00:12:05

So a lot of people nowadays, exceptionally

after Covid, think nursing is such

276

: 00:12:09

a glorified profession.

You get paid a lot.

277

: 00:12:11

Everybody's got Stanleys

and the bags and the shoes

278

: 00:12:14

and the vests and the head wraps

and the pretty scrubs.

279

: 00:12:18

It wasn't like that back then.

280

: 00:12:20

And so a lot of people go into nursing

thinking it's a lifestyle.

281

: 00:12:24

And I've always told young people

or anybody interested in nursing that

282

: 00:12:28

you really have to love what you do

and love taking care of people,

283

: 00:12:31

because it's not all that you see,

and sometimes it's not worth the paycheck

284

: 00:12:35

at the end of the day.

285

: 00:12:36

Yeah. So it's it's more than that.

286

: 00:12:38

Oh, I've said in my car after work

wondering if I had anything left to give.

287

: 00:12:43

Oh, they're just really tired.

288

: 00:12:46

Grow.

289

: 00:12:47

That's

why I turnover is so high in nursing

290

: 00:12:50

or maybe in health care and burnout

291

: 00:12:52

because it it will run you into the ground

if you don't have those boundaries.

292

: 00:12:56

Nursing made me appreciate life, but

it also made me anxious about everything.

293

: 00:13:02

Oh, now that is a gym, honey.

294

: 00:13:04

Because when you're a health care

provider, like, okay, so I have surgery

295

: 00:13:07

coming up and I'm like,

all the things that can go wrong.

296

: 00:13:10

Normally when I was in my 20s

and I had a tonsillectomy, I'm like, hey,

297

: 00:13:14

my tonsils are sort of get these out,

I don't care.

298

: 00:13:16

I didn't even think about the things.

299

: 00:13:17

But now that I'm like,

oh my gosh, like, what if this happens?

300

: 00:13:20

What if this happens?

301

: 00:13:21

Are they going to do that?

302

: 00:13:22

So it does make you anxious

about everything, and even your family

303

: 00:13:25

members and friends that are coming to you

with health care advice, you're like,

304

: 00:13:29

oh, what should I?

305

: 00:13:30

But I know what she means by nursing.

306

: 00:13:32

Makes me appreciate it because you see

someone worse off than you,

307

: 00:13:36

and you can't help but appreciate

where you're like, that's true.

308

: 00:13:38

Wow, wow. That's good.

309

: 00:13:39

I love my patience.

310

: 00:13:41

I don't always love health care.

311

: 00:13:42

Oh, that's the truth.

312

: 00:13:44

That's a good one.

313

: 00:13:45

The hardest part is in

the work is caring at home.

314

: 00:13:50

That's true.

315

: 00:13:51

Well, thank you guys

for submitting these to us.

316

: 00:13:54

I think these are really beautiful

admissions.

317

: 00:13:56

And of course, they remain anonymous.

318

: 00:13:58

If you guys would like us to address

some anonymous admissions,

319

: 00:14:01

please feel free to drop in our DMs

or just message us in the comments

320

: 00:14:06

and we will try to address those

in our anonymous admissions

321

: 00:14:09

or break room check ins.

322

: 00:14:11

So with the break room check and honey,

what did you pack in your lunch?

323

: 00:14:15

Because I want to know

some food for thought from

324

: 00:14:17

you people out there listening.

325

: 00:14:19

If you could go back

326

: 00:14:20

knowing everything you know today,

would you still choose nursing?

327

: 00:14:24

Why or why not?

328

: 00:14:25

So let us know again in the comments

or send us a DM, because your response

329

: 00:14:30

may be featured in a future nurse's

station, anonymously or not.

330

: 00:14:34

Whatever

you prefer, but we do abide by HIPAA.

331

: 00:14:38

Okay, was that weird?

332

: 00:14:39

Okay, so we're going to move on

to the nurse's station.

333

: 00:14:42

So this is where we're checking in

with you guys and trying to stimulate

334

: 00:14:47

some conversation and some deeper

thinking, critical thinking.

335

: 00:14:53

So you go ahead

and leave the nurse's station

336

: 00:14:54

because I'm gonna take me a break

on the computer, get my notes caught up.

337

: 00:14:57

What's one thing

nursing school never prepared you for?

338

: 00:15:02

What's keeping you from leaving?

339

: 00:15:06

Nursing.

340

: 00:15:08

What do you think is one thing

that nursing school never prepared

341

: 00:15:11

you for?

342

: 00:15:15

I said when I was working the ICU,

just the death.

343

: 00:15:17

A lot of people died,

344

: 00:15:18

and I don't think they prepared me

for the emotional connection

345

: 00:15:21

you would feel with a patient

when they die.

346

: 00:15:25

I don't know, that was really hard

because they get their having open

347

: 00:15:28

heart surgery

or they're just very critically ill.

348

: 00:15:32

Like, I have a patient

349

: 00:15:33

that was intubated that wrote a note to me

and said, let me go.

350

: 00:15:36

I'm like, whoa.

351

: 00:15:37

Why is this to me? Like, why?

352

: 00:15:40

But and that was hard.

353

: 00:15:41

And people wait for their family

to leave or their family to come

354

: 00:15:45

before they're going to die.

355

: 00:15:46

And I don't know, it's just I think that's

something that doesn't prepare you for.

356

: 00:15:51

Do you think that it helps you find peace

in learning about death and seeing it?

357

: 00:15:57

I'm so uncomfortable with this,

358

: 00:15:59

even though I know the whole process.

359

: 00:16:02

I wasn't uncomfortable with it.

360

: 00:16:03

I mean, I just think it will make me

sad and empathetic,

361

: 00:16:06

but now that I'm older, it makes

I think death is a little bit scarier

362

: 00:16:11

because when I was in my 20s,

you think you're just invincible.

363

: 00:16:15

But now that I'm older,

I think about death. And,

364

: 00:16:21

I mean, I have my funeral together.

365

: 00:16:22

It's going to be lit and it's

going to be a whole her strong character.

366

: 00:16:26

So it'll be nice

party. It's going to be fine.

367

: 00:16:29

Fireworks,

and it's going to be really nice.

368

: 00:16:31

And you want to be buried in Morocco

or something?

369

: 00:16:35

No, I can be married, buried here,

but it's going to be lit.

370

: 00:16:39

So I'm. I think death can be scary.

371

: 00:16:42

And that's something nursing

school doesn't prepare you for. And,

372

: 00:16:47

has nursing

changed how you parent your children?

373

: 00:16:51

Well, let me.

374

: 00:16:51

I want to address the nursing school.

375

: 00:16:54

What did nursing school

never prepare me for?

376

: 00:16:56

I feel like everything.

377

: 00:16:58

Everything I feel like in nursing school,

it's just the books.

378

: 00:17:01

It's the academic part of it.

379

: 00:17:02

Even though you have your clinicals, it's

such a brief glimpse

380

: 00:17:05

into different specialties,

and then you kind of

381

: 00:17:07

get your feeling of what you like,

but it's like a reality show.

382

: 00:17:10

You literally going to say what nursing

prepare you for.

383

: 00:17:13

And I'm gonna say,

you asked me the question, okay, sorry.

384

: 00:17:17

We like how those tables turn, don't we?

385

: 00:17:18

Tune in to the last two episodes

and you'll see what I'm talking about.

386

: 00:17:21

Because I was being messy

when she asked me.

387

: 00:17:23

Oh, you asked me to question.

388

: 00:17:24

Okay, but I want to interrupt sometimes

because that's what I do.

389

: 00:17:27

Anyhow, you asked me the question,

so I feel like nursing.

390

: 00:17:31

Where was I?

391

: 00:17:32

Nursing school.

Oh, you got something to say?

392

: 00:17:34

Oh, nursing school did not prepare me

for anything academically.

393

: 00:17:37

I was prepared.

394

: 00:17:38

But it's

not until you get in those situations

395

: 00:17:40

where you really have to start

thinking about critical thinking.

396

: 00:17:43

Also, the more that you do things

in, the more routine are comfortable

397

: 00:17:46

you become with with work

and what you're doing and the patient

398

: 00:17:49

you're seeing or in your specialty,

399

: 00:17:51

you're like, okay, but

you don't learn that in nursing school.

400

: 00:17:54

And I feel like

because I had a science degree

401

: 00:17:58

as a background,

that's why I perform so important.

402

: 00:18:01

It is.

403

: 00:18:02

But I performed horribly in nursing school

because science is definitive facts.

404

: 00:18:06

It is what it is. There's no changing it.

405

: 00:18:08

When you when I started nursing school,

all the answers are right.

406

: 00:18:12

But which one is more right?

407

: 00:18:13

Yeah, that was hard, you know?

408

: 00:18:15

And so I feel like once you start working

the most, the most hands on experience

409

: 00:18:19

I had was when I did my orientation,

because I'm actually at my job on my floor

410

: 00:18:24

seeing the patients.

411

: 00:18:25

I'm going to see you working with,

the nurses I'm going to work

412

: 00:18:27

with and their training me

how to use the computer,

413

: 00:18:30

what to look out for to do this

when you have a drain, to do this,

414

: 00:18:32

when you have a thoracotomy

to pull this tube and pull that.

415

: 00:18:35

I didn't learn that in nursing school.

416

: 00:18:37

So anyway, I feel like what you learn

in nursing school, not shit.

417

: 00:18:40

Yeah. You got to get out of your above.

418

: 00:18:42

Is that what you wanted to say?

419

: 00:18:44

But I'm holding back.

420

: 00:18:45

Okay, so what was

what was the next thing you said?

421

: 00:18:47

What kept you from leaving? Nursing?

422

: 00:18:51

I mean, there's

nothing else I could see myself doing.

423

: 00:18:54

That's true.

424

: 00:18:54

Is that sad?

425

: 00:18:56

No, because I, I mean, I feel like

426

: 00:18:59

this is nursing school, nursing,

427

: 00:19:03

nursing school.

428

: 00:19:04

Being a nurse is life is something.

429

: 00:19:07

We chose a lifestyle. So it's it's life.

430

: 00:19:09

Just like

life is not peaches and cream every day,

431

: 00:19:12

but you just deal with it and know

432

: 00:19:15

that the morning is going to come and by,

you know what I mean

433

: 00:19:19

by morning, that symbolic

like your good times are going to come.

434

: 00:19:22

So I feel like being a nurse or working in

healthcare is just like life.

435

: 00:19:28

There's good and bad.

436

: 00:19:29

And is this about balance?

437

: 00:19:31

So with life, you just are thankful.

438

: 00:19:34

Like the one person said, I'm

thankful for what I have

439

: 00:19:40

and I just feel like that's the like,

this is life.

440

: 00:19:43

It's not always going to be

this the best scenario,

441

: 00:19:46

but I feel like there's

really great things about nursing.

442

: 00:19:48

And then sometimes

443

: 00:19:49

there's really bad things about nursing,

and sometimes nurses need to make a change

444

: 00:19:54

and maybe get out of the ICU and do

something a little less thought provoking.

445

: 00:19:58

Not that, you know, not being a nurse,

446

: 00:20:01

but maybe just do like a pre-op nurse

where you're not doing

447

: 00:20:06

setting critical drips

and critically thinking all the time.

448

: 00:20:11

So sometimes you just have to,

449

: 00:20:13

just like in life, alter your plans

and make some adjustments.

450

: 00:20:17

You know, I like to piggyback

you love a good piggyback.

451

: 00:20:19

Like a good piggyback.

452

: 00:20:21

I like what you said about

if something's not working for you,

453

: 00:20:24

then you can just do something else,

especially in nursing.

454

: 00:20:27

So I was interested

in doing physical therapy.

455

: 00:20:31

And when I was doing my shadowing,

because you think you have to have

456

: 00:20:34

like 500 hours

before you can apply to PT school.

457

: 00:20:37

I would talk to these physical therapists

and I'd say, hey,

458

: 00:20:40

like they're like, do not.

459

: 00:20:41

If you have an opportunity

to get into nursing school, do that,

460

: 00:20:44

because once you're a physical therapist,

if you don't like it, you've invested.

461

: 00:20:48

It's your job.

462

: 00:20:48

You do the same thing every day,

and there's really no way to move up

463

: 00:20:53

on the clinically or financially

because it just is what it is.

464

: 00:20:57

Unless you do

some administrative type stuff

465

: 00:20:59

with nursing, if you get tired of ICU,

you can go to labor and delivery.

466

: 00:21:03

If you get tired of labor and delivery,

you can go to surgery.

467

: 00:21:06

So there's so many different options

for you to do that.

468

: 00:21:09

Hey, I'm bored with this.

It doesn't serve me. I don't like it.

469

: 00:21:12

I have options.

470

: 00:21:13

You're not bound to one specialty.

471

: 00:21:15

Yeah, which some people dislike

because they feel like you're not,

472

: 00:21:19

mastering a specialty

because you can float around, like.

473

: 00:21:22

Yeah, as a physician

that's done their residency or fellowship.

474

: 00:21:25

They know that's their specialty.

475

: 00:21:26

So when you talk to doctors

about being a nurse, they're like, wait,

476

: 00:21:29

you did this, this, this, this, this,

this, like, where are you sticking

477

: 00:21:33

to one thing

and learning specifically about that.

478

: 00:21:36

So anyway, nursing offers flexibility.

479

: 00:21:39

Definitely. I'm so flexible.

480

: 00:21:43

If you weren't a

nurse today, what career would you choose?

481

: 00:21:45

I wanted to ask you that because you said

your nursing is ingrained in you.

482

: 00:21:49

Think really hard.

483

: 00:21:50

What else would you be doing

484

: 00:21:53

since you love science?

485

: 00:21:54

Would it be healthcare related?

486

: 00:21:57

I'm sorry, I didn't hear you.

487

: 00:21:58

The stripper maybe.

488

: 00:21:59

Could I say that?

489

: 00:22:01

I guess.

490

: 00:22:02

Well, now I'm curious to know why.

491

: 00:22:04

Like, yeah, maybe I'll be a stripper.

492

: 00:22:05

Strippers make good money.

493

: 00:22:07

Would you do it for the money?

Or is it just.

494

: 00:22:09

I'll do it for the money

and I will do it for the booty claps.

495

: 00:22:12

Okay.

496

: 00:22:13

And one time I was at the barber shop

and it was All-Star weekend, okay?

497

: 00:22:17

And someone thought I was a stripper.

498

: 00:22:19

What were you wearing and doing?

499

: 00:22:21

I was wearing some scrubs and some eggs.

500

: 00:22:23

So why would they think you.

501

: 00:22:25

I don't know, my body's right.

502

: 00:22:27

Your body's what? Right.

503

: 00:22:29

Oh, so you walked in like that,

and they were like, oh,

504

: 00:22:31

I know you got to be walking around. What?

505

: 00:22:34

I went to the strip club with

the guy was dating and they said,

506

: 00:22:37

what's your name? Are you

are you dancing tonight?

507

: 00:22:40

And I had really been working out

508

: 00:22:41

very hard with my trainer, and

I thought that was such a great compliment

509

: 00:22:45

because I don't know if you know,

but strippers have great core strength.

510

: 00:22:49

They're almost like athletes. They are.

511

: 00:22:51

And so I feel like I could.

512

: 00:22:53

You feel like you wanted.

513

: 00:22:54

Yeah. What about when you get a little bit

older?

514

: 00:22:56

I'll just have to retire.

515

: 00:22:58

I'll just drop a slower. Okay.

516

: 00:23:00

So not really retire,

but just slow it down.

517

: 00:23:03

I don't know, I don't,

I just don't know what I would do.

518

: 00:23:05

I just feel like stripping will be fun.

519

: 00:23:07

I like going to the strip clubs.

520

: 00:23:09

Okay.

521

: 00:23:09

So on the other spectrum,

I feel like I would be an actress

522

: 00:23:14

doing data or something like that,

but I can't say I have no talent.

523

: 00:23:18

But yeah, I really like your actress.

524

: 00:23:21

I know, but I can't remember lines

and I can't sing.

525

: 00:23:24

And anyway,

I think that's what I'd want to do.

526

: 00:23:27

We're just going to do things

that we probably would not be good.

527

: 00:23:30

We should definitely do that.

528

: 00:23:31

You should take your stripper class

and I'm going to take an acting class.

529

: 00:23:34

Okay,

so that's what we do with our hobbies.

530

: 00:23:37

Like we want self-care, girl,

go to that pole class

531

: 00:23:40

and I'm going to go to an improvising

and provisioning improv class. Yes

532

: 00:23:47

okay.

533

: 00:23:48

So we're going

to move on to the diagnoses for today.

534

: 00:23:51

So where are you diagnosing these people

with nursing changes you.

535

: 00:23:56

And that's okay.

536

: 00:23:59

Oh grief and gratitude

often exist together.

537

: 00:24:03

We just have been saying this

the whole time.

538

: 00:24:05

You're sad about something,

but then you're happy and thankful.

539

: 00:24:10

I think that's really good for nursing.

540

: 00:24:11

And I think it's important

to recognize that.

541

: 00:24:14

I think that's

what gives you the balance, like you said.

542

: 00:24:16

And it's okay to question

your career is sure is it?

543

: 00:24:20

Sure is.

544

: 00:24:21

But once you've invested in school

and a job, I think a lot of times

545

: 00:24:24

people have a hard time transitioning

to a completely different career field.

546

: 00:24:29

And I've even had personal conversations

with our friends and it's like,

547

: 00:24:31

I don't think I want to do this anymore.

548

: 00:24:33

I'm like, well, try a different specialty

because you're really going to go out

549

: 00:24:36

and start all over

and try to figure it out.

550

: 00:24:38

No, it doesn't mean you should be unhappy,

but you have to make it work.

551

: 00:24:43

I mean, in my opinion,

552

: 00:24:45

this is a good one because it just

goes along with to question your career.

553

: 00:24:49

Your purpose may evolve over time.

554

: 00:24:52

Okay. So let me ask you this.

555

: 00:24:53

What would you say to the nurse at any age

that decides,

556

: 00:24:58

you know what,

I've done different specialties.

557

: 00:24:59

I don't want to do nursing anymore.

558

: 00:25:01

I've evolved as a person.

559

: 00:25:02

This doesn't serve me.

560

: 00:25:04

What would your way to retire?

I don't know.

561

: 00:25:07

They feel burnt out and they feel like

562

: 00:25:09

if they're ready to

retire, they can retire 40.

563

: 00:25:14

You know, some nurses being there today.

564

: 00:25:15

So why are they not like, nursing so much?

565

: 00:25:18

I guess maybe this is the thing

though, that I don't have experience with.

566

: 00:25:22

I never work on the floor.

567

: 00:25:24

I never had to be torn

in so many different ways.

568

: 00:25:28

I worked ICU, I had maybe two patients,

and when I worked in California

569

: 00:25:33

I always had one.

570

: 00:25:34

And they're really great

about patient ratios

571

: 00:25:37

because of the union.

572

: 00:25:40

So I can't say how I would feel,

just like I'm so torn.

573

: 00:25:45

I just know when I was working ICU,

what I got sick of

574

: 00:25:49

was working night shift,

and I got tired of doing all the lifting

575

: 00:25:54

and and care

because it was total patient care.

576

: 00:25:57

So at that point when I said, if I don't

get in a school, I'm going to do

577

: 00:26:02

like pre-op or I'm like, good morning,

I'm getting ready for surgery

578

: 00:26:06

and it can just be nice

and they're coming.

579

: 00:26:08

This is the attitude is better

when you're coming to have surgery

580

: 00:26:13

versus having cardiac surgery.

581

: 00:26:15

I think maybe you just have become

less of a people person.

582

: 00:26:18

Like, I feel like being a crab is great

because if you're not a people person

583

: 00:26:22

or you work in surgery

or something like that,

584

: 00:26:24

you have minimal interaction

with patients.

585

: 00:26:26

But I feel like a majority of nursing

consists of patient care.

586

: 00:26:29

And we all know that patient care

can be exhausting because sometimes

587

: 00:26:34

people just cannot be satisfied

no matter what type of care you give them.

588

: 00:26:37

And now your pay is based on patient

satisfaction scores,

589

: 00:26:42

and you don't get bonuses,

you don't get raises or we can't.

590

: 00:26:46

We're going to have to

591

: 00:26:47

let go of some staff because we didn't

make this mark for this thing financially

592

: 00:26:51

that these administrators see

but don't have any health care experience.

593

: 00:26:55

So I would think that if you're tired

of nursing it just or it could

594

: 00:26:59

just be your colleagues or, you know,

I don't know, but my recommendation

595

: 00:27:04

would just be to try a different specialty

rather than start over.

596

: 00:27:08

Yeah, I feel like that's always a thing

because you have to get in your niche.

597

: 00:27:12

So maybe you try,

598

: 00:27:15

ICU and there's a lot of nurses

that work in the

599

: 00:27:19

Or now that were ICU nurses,

and they absolutely love it.

600

: 00:27:23

And they're not giving any care

because they're mostly circulating.

601

: 00:27:28

You know what popped in my head?

602

: 00:27:29

Maybe it's just you

you know, I remember calls at one time

603

: 00:27:32

he he didn't say it to me, but

I can't remember who he was talking about.

604

: 00:27:36

He was like, if you have problems

with everybody and everything around

605

: 00:27:39

you, maybe it's just you.

606

: 00:27:42

Maybe it's not work.

607

: 00:27:44

Maybe if you don't have. Well, first off,

let's just go a little bit lighter.

608

: 00:27:47

If you don't have self-fulfillment

and self happiness and your content

609

: 00:27:50

within you, then you're not going to be

happy doing anything, going anywhere,

610

: 00:27:54

especially in your career

or in relationships, period.

611

: 00:27:58

But if you always find conflict and.

612

: 00:28:03

You can't be fulfilled, then

613

: 00:28:06

maybe you need to kind of

have the words of coal.

614

: 00:28:09

Yeah. So I was like, interesting.

615

: 00:28:11

So what is your treatment plan, Millie?

616

: 00:28:15

I would prescribe remembering your why.

617

: 00:28:19

Don't let it become the reason

you ignore your own well-being.

618

: 00:28:24

So yeah, like you said, sometimes you have

to reflect and say, hey, I could be.

619

: 00:28:28

That's what I do, honestly,

because I'm a stair.

620

: 00:28:31

Like I said, when I chose my specialty

in getting my master's,

621

: 00:28:34

I know that I didn't want to do

acute care.

622

: 00:28:36

I knew I wanted to do primary care

because I know my why is to establish

623

: 00:28:40

rapport with patients

and build a relationship over time.

624

: 00:28:43

I don't do well with emergency situations

where I have to be on my feet and think,

625

: 00:28:46

that's

why you don't want to do the acute care.

626

: 00:28:48

I didn't want to do acute care.

627

: 00:28:49

And also I get really it's

probably unhealthy.

628

: 00:28:53

I know I get attached to patients after

I've had you for four days at the bedside.

629

: 00:28:57

Like I'm just like, oh, like I make

friends with everyone, even my preceptors.

630

: 00:29:01

I invited them to my weddings

631

: 00:29:02

or I meet people, throw my pest control

man was like, can I come to your wedding?

632

: 00:29:06

I was like, of course you can.

633

: 00:29:07

Like girl, like, I have boundary issues

that we discussed before.

634

: 00:29:11

Yeah, my prescription girl.

635

: 00:29:15

Don't try to alter it to me.

636

: 00:29:16

Not diagnosed and or treat me.

637

: 00:29:18

You need to stay with me.

638

: 00:29:19

You don't have to love every shift to love

what you do.

639

: 00:29:23

I think I said that that's good

because it's just about life.

640

: 00:29:25

You don't have to love

every part of your life to love your life.

641

: 00:29:30

Give yourself permission to grow, change

and ask for support.

642

: 00:29:35

Give yourself grace.

643

: 00:29:36

Yep, it's like

you want to preach a little bit on that.

644

: 00:29:39

Yes, Lord.

645

: 00:29:40

So can you give me one little nugget,

a little nugget of what you thought?

646

: 00:29:44

Because I saw it run through your brain.

647

: 00:29:46

This.

648

: 00:29:47

Love yourself and.

649

: 00:29:51

Love yourself enough

650

: 00:29:52

to want to have good things for yourself.

651

: 00:29:56

So I think nursing is great

and just love yourself enough

652

: 00:30:00

to like you said, do something different

if it doesn't serve you anymore.

653

: 00:30:04

Before we move on to the next thing

I want to address

654

: 00:30:08

where we are,

like with millennials and Gen Zers

655

: 00:30:12

and all the things I feel like we're this

generation now is instant gratification.

656

: 00:30:16

Even with relationships, marriage, jobs.

657

: 00:30:19

It's like,

if it doesn't serve me, I'm done.

658

: 00:30:21

I'm in a place where I'm in the middle

659

: 00:30:24

like a millennial

and a Gen Z, or I feel like I

660

: 00:30:28

have to be content in what I'm doing.

661

: 00:30:29

Doesn't mean that I can't move on

or evolve from something.

662

: 00:30:32

But I also realize that sometimes

you have to do the hard work.

663

: 00:30:37

You have to get your hands dirty,

and things don't happen overnight.

664

: 00:30:40

Or just because it's not perfect doesn't

mean that you can need to dismiss it.

665

: 00:30:44

Whether it's a job

or relationship or whatever.

666

: 00:30:46

I'm just a committed person.

667

: 00:30:48

I'm a stair.

668

: 00:30:49

Yeah, I'm a stair. I'll stay forever.

669

: 00:30:52

So what are our discharge instructions

for today for our listeners?

670

: 00:30:56

If listeners only remember one sentence

from this episode, this is it.

671

: 00:31:01

Your career is only one part

of who you are.

672

: 00:31:05

Let nursing shape you, but never let it

define your entire identity.

673

: 00:31:10

That is very good.

674

: 00:31:11

That is. That is very good. Oh! Hands up.

675

: 00:31:14

That's good.

676

: 00:31:16

You have to.

677

: 00:31:16

Yeah, you have to be confident in yourself

and know who you are.

678

: 00:31:19

And that just goes with everything

outside of your career.

679

: 00:31:22

Just you as a person. Yes.

680

: 00:31:24

And I quote a hater.

681

: 00:31:26

They said she ain't all that.

682

: 00:31:30

That's how she said it was.

683

: 00:31:31

It ain't all that.

684

: 00:31:33

And I said, well, maybe

685

: 00:31:36

she's saying that if I wasn't a crack.

686

: 00:31:39

I said, you know what, I am a Crna

687

: 00:31:43

and I'm a and I'm all that and I'm not.

688

: 00:31:45

Well, she says I'm not special either.

689

: 00:31:47

I'm special because I'm a Crna.

690

: 00:31:49

I'm special because I'm a Christian.

691

: 00:31:51

I'm special because I'm a mother.

692

: 00:31:53

I'm special because I'm a friend.

693

: 00:31:55

I'm so because I'm a daughter.

694

: 00:31:57

There is things about me, like you

said, that are just.

695

: 00:32:00

Nursing is not just it.

696

: 00:32:01

I'm special because I'm a hard worker.

697

: 00:32:03

Because I'm caring. Because I'm loving.

698

: 00:32:06

Because I'm funny. I'm funny as shit.

699

: 00:32:08

You really are.

700

: 00:32:09

I should really be a damn comedian.

You really should.

701

: 00:32:11

I really, I should have,

I should have said comedian.

702

: 00:32:15

Yeah, you could do both.

703

: 00:32:16

Yeah, you could tell jokes

while you spin around the floor. Yeah.

704

: 00:32:18

And like sitting on someone's lap

to get that.

705

: 00:32:20

That lap dance. Yeah.

706

: 00:32:21

Make them laugh and give you some.

707

: 00:32:23

Yeah, but I say that to say I am special.

708

: 00:32:27

Not just because I'm a Crna.

709

: 00:32:29

I'm special because of who the hell I am.

710

: 00:32:31

You know what? Let me add this.

How did you.

711

: 00:32:34

Okay, first, I'm someone that has never

had confidence and been self-assured.

712

: 00:32:39

I have a lot of insecurities.

713

: 00:32:41

However, I'm very confident

714

: 00:32:43

in the way that I treat people,

so that's kind of what I pride myself on.

715

: 00:32:46

But everything else, all of the things

that you named, I've never felt that way.

716

: 00:32:50

So what is it like

to have that confidence?

717

: 00:32:53

Did you again,

718

: 00:32:54

I'm always asking you because you're older

and I like to learn from you.

719

: 00:32:57

Did you did it take you a certain

time in your life to get there?

720

: 00:33:01

Was it a certain situation?

721

: 00:33:02

Was it age

or have you always felt like that?

722

: 00:33:04

Yeah.

723

: 00:33:05

I think just as I got older,

I feel more confident

724

: 00:33:08

because I don't know,

I wasn't always so confident

725

: 00:33:12

and I'm confident in my skills

and I'm confident in everything

726

: 00:33:15

I'm doing because I'm established now.

727

: 00:33:17

So I have a lot of good things going on

where I feel like I'm

728

: 00:33:21

an established person in society.

729

: 00:33:23

So maybe that I feel like I really am

the shit.

730

: 00:33:28

Well, okay, well, okay, I can't, you know.

731

: 00:33:32

So what is the medical term of the week?

732

: 00:33:34

I like when you read it because I just

feel like compassion fatigue,

733

: 00:33:38

emotional and physical exhaustion

734

: 00:33:41

caused by prolonged exposure

to caring for people in distress

735

: 00:33:45

when you spent so much time

caring for everyone else first,

736

: 00:33:52

that you forget to take care of yourself.

737

: 00:33:55

I'm a fucking tired.

738

: 00:33:57

Remember they said that? Tied.

739

: 00:33:59

Not tired, tied to be tied.

740

: 00:34:03

And I think it's really to do that

in nursing, I really do,

741

: 00:34:08

I really do.

742

: 00:34:10

And then when you got to come home

and be a mom to or a wife

743

: 00:34:14

or a wife or take care of yourself

or not much care of myself.

744

: 00:34:18

I remember before I had kids

and I was married, I could do I could do 4

745

: 00:34:21

or 5 shifts,

746

: 00:34:23

I could do a whole week,

and I would just go home

747

: 00:34:25

and have a couple of days

off, rest and get back to it.

748

: 00:34:27

But now I just really have a lot of

respect for people who are working

749

: 00:34:30

12 hour shifts,

especially in the hospital,

750

: 00:34:33

then coming home and having the same

responsibilities that they would

751

: 00:34:36

if they didn't work cleaning, cooking,

doing laundry, taking care of kids,

752

: 00:34:41

doing drop off, pick off

753

: 00:34:42

parent teacher conferences,

birthday parties on the weekends.

754

: 00:34:45

And not only that,

even being a single mom, it's tiring.

755

: 00:34:49

It's tiring.

756

: 00:34:50

It's tiring being in this world today.

757

: 00:34:52

We're exhausted.

758

: 00:34:53

We're exhausted.

759

: 00:34:54

But you know what? Smile, right? Smile.

760

: 00:34:57

We don't want to be so pessimistic,

but we're just being realistic.

761

: 00:35:00

That's what I say.

762

: 00:35:01

Yeah, well, thank you all for tuning in

to Shift Happens podcast.

763

: 00:35:06

I hope you enjoyed our segment today.

764

: 00:35:08

I hope that you clock out at 7 p.m.

765

: 00:35:11

and you get your self-care, your time off,

you're not called in and all the things.

766

: 00:35:15

Or if you're with somebody,

don't ask the phone, keep it on then yeah,

767

: 00:35:19

tell your significant other

that's in health care.

768

: 00:35:21

Put it on silent

because you need self-care in me time,

769

: 00:35:25

which is what I'm telling

my husband today.

770

: 00:35:26

We're having an intervention

with him, by the way.

771

: 00:35:28

We'll talk about that next time.

772

: 00:35:30

Also, if you have any comments,

please leave it in our

773

: 00:35:33

or our comments below and subscribe

774

: 00:35:37

on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook,

775

: 00:35:42

Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

776

: 00:35:44

I think that's all I got I got you.

777

: 00:35:47

All right, we're clocking out and we're

going to get in the car and head home by.

Share Episode

Shownotes

Transcripts

Follow

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube