PROLOGUE
Jan 11, 2024
I never really understood how some celebrities, who are wealthy enough to have anything under the sun, claim they’re going through emotional struggles. I think it’s because, unlike people in regular jobs with fixed hours, they can pick what to do and when, which sometimes leaves them with too much free time. They’ve never had to worry about anything, so they end up finding something to stress over, and, not surprisingly, most of the time, it’s about their mental health.
Looking back, I can’t say I’m delighted with my life. Honestly, who is? I have plenty of reasons to feel defeated, but the bills keep me moving. I work nights and drag myself in nearly every evening, racking up hours until my mental health barely gets a thought. Nights have wrecked my sleep, my body, my mood and my whole life. How badly I wish I could afford to walk away. Only those who work nights can understand the toll of being pulled from deep sleep to face a job you cannot stand. It’s even worse when the stress follows you home, seeping into your personal life. That’s my reality. I don’t just dislike it. I despise it.
Oh, yes. I Hate Nursing.
Never thought I’d say this, but here we are! Feels weird, considering I spend more time at work than anywhere else. But it’s true. I hate every damn part of it. The exhaustion, the stress, the way it eats at me shift after shift…
Long-term care is the same old grind every single day. Meds, care tasks, wound care, assessments, and, inevitably, charting. Endless charting. If you don’t write it, it never happened. Cover your ass – rule number one. The shifts are killers. Twelve hours straight, barely a break. Weekends? Forget it. Holidays? Nothing but another day on the unit. Feels like life outside of work doesn’t exist.
The hardest part, though, is the people. There are four groups to deal with, and none of them makes life easier.
First, the residents. Some are sweet, and the only reason work isn’t completely miserable. The rest are pure nightmares. Dementia doesn’t excuse hitting, spitting, kicking, or swearing, but guess what? They get away with it. Every. Single. Time. The funniest thing, though…, somehow, we’re the ones made to feel guilty.‘Why didn’t you step away and try again later?’asks someone who has likely never faced these situations firsthand. Oh, sure, because a few magic minutes undo years of those behaviours. And yeah, we’ve got time to keep trying, what, five more times? In the middle of the staffing crisis, we’re already dealing with!
Then, the families. They drop their loved ones in a care facility, barely visit, and then act like we’re their servants. They complain, they demand, and if they don’t like something? Straight to the ministry. No hesitation!
Next come the coworkers. The best way to describe them? Drama. All kinds of it. From pulling each other’s leg to treating work like a getaway. From acting like they know everything to carrying on like they run the place. Honestly, I don’t even have the words. You’re lucky if even one shows up to do their job.
Finally, the big shots. THE MANAGEMENT. They hide in their offices, sipping coffee while we’re out there drowning. But the second something goes wrong... Boom. They are there, firing off their favourite line.‘What could you have done differently?’Well, I don’t know. Maybe hire more staff? Maybe some actual support? Oh right, I forgot! Their job is to talk, not to help.
So yeah. That’s why I hate nursing.
Whenever I start venting about how much I dislike my job, someone always goes, ‘So why don’t you quit?’
Simple. The pay’s decent, and the work never dries up. And I’ve got bills to pay. So, I keep going. Even though I don’t want to. Even though I hate it.
And if my patience runs out one day and I do something unthinkable, don’t act surprised. And don’t come looking for answers.
