First appeared on FOX: With roughly two-thirds of U.S. nurses experiencing burnout, including 69% of nurses under the age of 25, according to the American Nurses Association, many in the nursing profession are calling for change.
A recent survey by AMN Healthcare found that: Health care workers According to a survey conducted by a Texas-based healthcare solutions company, the majority of nurses are not optimistic that the situation will improve, with 80% believing that 2024 will be “neither better nor worse” than last year, and 38% expecting the situation to get worse.
“Many nurses have concerns about their profession. Created by COVID-19 “Even though the crisis is over, those fears haven’t gone away,” Robin Johnson, group president of nursing solutions at AMN Healthcare, which conducted the survey, told Fox News Digital.
Nurses say they are “highly likely” to leave the profession due to “emotional and stressful” conditions and call for change
“Many nurses still feel overworked and underpaid,” she said.
“What they want is a change in their daily working conditions – improved working hours, Fair compensation It also gives me more time to spend with my patients.”
From left, Karie Ryan, Michele Acito, Katelynn Blackburn and Lisbeth Votruba shared their insights about the nursing profession with Fox News Digital: Two other nurses also shared their thoughts. (iStock/Karie Ryan/Michele Acito/Katelynn Blackburn/Lisbeth Votruba)
Amid the ongoing challenges facing nurses today, six people share what they wish they’d known before entering the nursing profession. — And what advice would you give to newbies?
Lisbeth Votruba: “Nurses are not making enough of an impact”
Lisbeth Votruba, a third-generation nurse from Belmont, Michigan, also serves as chief clinical officer for AvaSure, a virtual health care platform.
“When I first joined the profession in the 1990s, I was surprised to learn that nurses are held to high ethical and legal standards but don’t have the clout to match that level of accountability,” Votruba said.
“The trends are showing that things are changing, and as part of the senior leadership team at a technology company, I’m doing all I can to ensure that nurses’ voices are heard when healthcare technology is designed,” she said.
Lisbeth Votruba, a third-generation nurse from Belmont, Michigan, also serves as chief clinical officer for AvaSure, a virtual health care platform. (Lisbeth Votruba)
“Nurses need to be included in any discussion about technology that will affect patients,” she said.
Matt Wellnitz: “I wish I’d known the stress that would come with it.”
Matt Wellnitz, a registered nurse in Big Rapids, Michigan, recently retired after more than 34 years of employment, most of which were spent in rural hospitals. Intensive care.
“I wish I had known how stressful nursing can be,” Wellnitz said.
“I wish I had taken more time off for myself. It wasn’t until about a week after I left that I realized how little stress I was under.”
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She added, “Before, as soon as I lay down, my heart would start pounding and I would constantly think about work. But now that’s not the case. I’m sleeping better.”
Larry Williams: “Your work affects your overall health”
Larry Williams worked as a registered nurse in the intensive care unit at Stanford Hospital in California until his retirement in 2021.
“I went into nursing with my eyes wide open and I worked at two different hospitals while going to school so it wasn’t a surprise,” Williams said.
“My advice to anyone considering nursing or medicine in general is to find a way to actually work in a hospital before you graduate. Pay attention to your strengths and weaknesses and choose a field that suits you.”
“This isn’t a career for everyone, but it was for me.”
He also told Fox News Digital: “While you’re working, pay attention to how your work is impacting your life. General healthNot everyone is suited to working in an ICU. I still dream about it sometimes and remember the names and faces of those I cared for who did not survive.”
“That’s balanced by the lives I’ve touched and the happy memories I have of my peers. This isn’t a profession for everyone, but it was for me,” Williams said.
Callie Ryan: “Bedside nursing is not the only option”
Callie Ryan, who currently serves as chief nursing officer at health tech company Articite, worked as a nurse in Florida for 27 years, specializing in medicine, surgery and orthopedics.
“There are a lot of opportunities in the profession, including nursing informatics,” Callie Ryan, who currently serves as chief nursing officer at health tech company Articite, told Fox News Digital. (Kari Ryan)
“I wish I had known that bedside nursing wasn’t my only option for making an impact,” she told Fox News Digital.
“There are many opportunities to grow in specialties, including nursing informatics.”
She added, “If nursing schools offered the exploration of nursing informatics and other specialties, it would open up a new world of possibilities for nurses, as well as those entering the nursing field.” Later in career Some people may want to change jobs but still want to stay in the profession.”
Kaitlyn Blackburn: ‘The constant pressure took its toll’
Former nurse and entrepreneur Caitlin Blackburn worked 12-hour night shifts for Parent Access Care in Chico, California, for more than two years before leaving the field.
Before leaving the field, Kaitlyn Blackburn worked 12-hour night shifts for Parent Access Care in Chico, California, for more than two years. (Kaitlin Blackburn)
“I wish I had known more about how my personality would affect a career in the medical field,” Kaitlyn Blackburn said.
“I’m empathetic and compassionate, but the field itself comes with a lot of distress and anxiety for patients and their families,” she said.
“The constant challenges combined with the pressure to provide comfort and support to patients and their families has undoubtedly taken a toll on me.”
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She added, “Rather than income or salary, The actual job isYou have to find something you’re passionate about and make sure it provides financial security for your family.”
“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a personality that wants to achieve more, so I decided to leave the corporate world to pursue something that I feel is a better fit for me,” Blackburn said.
Michele Asito: “The emotional bond is deep”
Michelle Asito is executive vice president and chief nursing officer at Holy Name Medical Center in New Jersey. She joined Holy Name in 1989 as a telemetry nurse and worked in the cardiovascular and intensive care units before being promoted. Earlier in her career, she worked as a staff nurse in the orthopedic surgery department at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center.
“I wish I had known what an emotional decision I was making,” Asito said.
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“While we are committed to providing the best possible care, the emotional connection and commitment to our patients and families runs deep as they navigate life-changing events. As nurses, we quickly learn how to comfort, celebrate, support and educate our patients and families through good times and difficult times.”
She added: “Nearly 40 years into my nursing career, I can look back on how my training as a nurse has helped me to help patients and their families when they were at their most vulnerable, and that’s why I’m proud to be a nurse.”
Michelle Asito is executive vice president and chief nursing officer at Holy Name Medical Center in New Jersey. She originally joined Holy Name in 1989 as a telemetry nurse, working in the cardiovascular department and in the intensive care unit. (Michelle Asito)
“Another thing I wish I’d known before I got into this profession is how complicated it is to juggle a career with a young family and home,” Asito said.
“Nursing was the perfect career for someone trying to keep it all under control.”
But, “What I’ve realized is that nursing is the perfect career for someone who strives to manage it all and find fulfillment and purpose on a personal and professional level. Nursing requires thoughtful prioritization, planning and support.”
Other insights: “Nurses are career learners”
Asito also said, Continuing Education Set up nurses for success.
“Having graduated from a BSN program, I thought I was prepared educationally for my entire career,” she said, “but I quickly realized that wasn’t true.”
She said: “Nurses are lifelong learners. Completing a degree is really important to keep your theory up to date, but learning through continuing education is paramount to keeping your practice up to date.”
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“Technologically, nothing changes in healthcare,” Asito says, “It’s a field that’s constantly evolving, so pursuing a nursing career in a hospital or health system that’s committed to investing in innovation and technological advancements is crucial.”
“What I didn’t know then, but I know now, was that when I decided to become a nurse, it was the best career choice I could have made. The hours are hard, the stress is high and the emotional responsibility is deep, but the rewards are countless,” she said.
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