No, I am not kidding.

And yes, I avoid the medical profession except when absolutely necessary.

One other thing they didn’t teach in nursing school: I have come to see that the training and certifications really serve as the liability warning- “Yes, your honor, we trained him. He KNEW the proper procedure”. Critical care and it’s challenges are immensely rewarding. However, at some point we have to ask ourselves: How long can I operate in the most risk laden environment , taking the most critical sick patients the hospital has to offer before I get overloaded and hurt someone or myself? Nurses do not seem to understand- we have no personal obligation to anybody, any corporation, any professional code to get absolutely slammed, over and over, overly utilized and not ask ourselves- WHO ELSE IS PROFITING FROM THE FRUITS OF MY LABOR? IS THIS FAIR TO THE PT?

Risk vs. Reward. I greatly enjoy doing it. Hell, I like the challenge and risk. I look forward to work (sometimes) but I hate the drive home. I am expected to keep training, keep getting certs, keep taking more and more responsibility but THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXPECTATION THAT I SHOULD GET PAID FOR IT. Some say- “Then quit!”
No, I’m not quitting. But I am going to bring up the point that as an employee I am doing more and harder work than your average staff R.N. and I want to be compensated for it. Just a couple quarters on my paycheck that says: Danger to license and self pay, we know we put you through the ringer.
My coworkers complain how broke they are but act like to ask for more money is somehow beneath them.

Of late, anesthesiologists are training staff R.N.’s to do more and more of their gig. MD’s hate it when R.N’s get paid for doing “their” work but don’t mind us doing it when we don’t get paid or acknowledged. Most R.N’s don’t realize they are actually helping the M.D.A.’s keep C.R.N.A’s out of the hospital. Good ol’ boy Dr. Drugs gets to bill out. Why don’t I get a cut?
You know those organ’s you helped get “donated”? Those were sold. Where’s your cut? Non-profit. Hilarious.

Fighter pilots call it “Situational Awareness”. 50 tiny flashing lights, bleeps, buzzes, warnings, guages, incoming calls with priority messages, information that absolutely must be communicated, all diving into your head and out-each one means life or death for you or someone else. This term was developed as competent, proven pilots made sentinel errors of the basic kind, i.e. flying the plane into the ground, colliding into other aircraft or structures, failure to prioritize most urgent crisis-getting shot down.
Same thing in nursing, ESPECIALLY in the I.C.U. Pure sensory overload. It’s gonna be a dumb move that does your patient and your career in.