I didn't sign up for this

[Whentheleavesfalldown]

I've seen this a lot on a few threads, "Well you're the one who signed up to be a nurse"

But I didn't sign up to be discharging patients home before they are ready, without proper support at home.
I didn't sign up to be sending patients home to likely die because their operation has been cancelled or postponed.
I didn't sign up to be preparing to turn the elderly away in favour of younger patients who are just as sick.
I didn't sign up to not be properly protected at work by not having the right equipment.
I didn't sign up to be given poor training on how to vent a patient and be expected to work outside my competency.
I didn't sign up to leave my patients soaked in urine for too long because we're so short staffed and there are sicker patients to deal with.
I didn't sign up to be not supported by managers.
I didn't sign up to have relatives say their last goodbyes to their loved ones over the phone.
I didn't sign up for this.
I signed up to properly care for my patients safely and competently, and now that's not possible.

Don't tell me I signed up for this.

I don't even know why I'm posting this.
I am tired and I am broken knowing that I am letting my patients and their families down, but I can't leave as it'll just be worse for those patients.

We're doing our best in a stressful situation, please take social distancing and isolation seriously, as it's only going to get worse.

From a very tired and broken nurse

Hang in there, I have so much respect for you and am so grateful you are there. You are a truly amazing person.

I’m so grateful to you, OP, and all the other NHS staff and essential workers who are absolutely on their knees and yet still keep going for us. Thank you so much - you are all incredible.

No, you didn't sign up to this.
I am so sorry for what you are going through and so incredibly grateful for all you and your colleagues are doing.

You did not sign up for this. You are under paid and undervalued for your everyday work, let alone the current situation. Thank you so much for what you do.

Nor did I , but it's a pandemic.
It's going to be like a war zone very soon and the NHS is not good enough to cope with it and all the normal day to day stuff.

@Daet & @ChestyNutsRoastingOnAnOpenFire thank you. Trying to keep things in perspective... there are younger people dying too soon. My mom’s 88 and has vascular dementia and I know it’s her time. But you know... she’s my mom and she’s in pain and frightened and I want to hold her hand & stroke her hair & help her go in peace. I am thankful, so thankful, to the wonderful nurses on her ward.

Thanks for all that you do.

You are amazing, you’re definitely nbu and you have a nightmare of a tough job. Thank you so much 💐

Thank you it is very much appreciated the work you do!!!

Jimmers she’s still your mum no matter how old she is, and of course you want to do those things for her. Small consolation but she was obviously a great mum as you sound like a loving considerate daughter.

It’s awful but you are helping people

You didn’t sign up for this and I’m so sorry you’re in this position. You are amazing and I thank everyone that works for the NHS and care work for doing all that you can do. Thank you so much and again I’m sorry for how shit this situation is

I think you and all of your nhs colleagues are amazing I'm so sorry your feeling like this, I couldn't even finish reading your post as I was welling up. Life is so unfair! I hope you find the strength in you to continue doing such an amazing job and don't let a few stupid people with insensitive comments get you down. As you can see it's not the feeling of the majority. Take care x

Jimmers she is your Mum no matter her age or conditions, my heart breaks that you can’t be there but you have reminded me why I should suck it all up and be there for people like your DM and you.
I’m sure a nurse will hold her hand

Jimmers, big hug. I'm so sorry. X
It's so hard.

No words; Just the most heartfelt thank you, OP

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Xxx

I am a nurse. Pulled from palliative back to critical care. I am broken and you have explained why. I honestly have looked so hard inside myself and I just honest to god have no idea where I am going to get the strength, physically or mentally to keep this up. But the is simply no other choice. Watch nurses leave in their droves after this. As the sign on our notice board says, keep calm and carry on nursing ❤️

This thread is a breath of fresh air to see we are supported by the public smile

Chesty, you really, really are. I wish there was something I could do, but I'm not even in the same country.

I can't believe that anyone other than a teenager on a Russian troll farm would disagree with you, Whentheleavesfalldown.

Thank you for all you do.

I'm trying to hold it together as I feel so sad that there isn't anything more I can do personally to help you all. I'm isolating so I can't even get out to help in the community.
Good luck to everyone

Thank you for your work. Sorry it’s so rubbish.

Whoever said that should have a deep hard look into their souls if they have any. Love and amazing gratitude from us here. We love you and all your colleagues to bits. And when this 'war' finally ends we want a country and NHS fit for heroes. xxx

And greedy fuckers like Branson with his grasping bailout hands can fuck right off.

Thank you. Very few people could do what you're doing. Our wonderful nurses are on the front line and we send you all our love and gratitude.

You did not sign up for this. We are all so grateful that you are doing as much as you possibly can in this dire situation. As a T1 diabetic with 2 T1 children, we are observing strict self isolation rules in the hope that we will escape this. Try to stay strong and know you have our very heartfelt gratitude for everything you are doing. We are so lucky to have our wonderful NHS.