A nurse from Chicago, Illinois, slams the reality of working in local hospitals as terrible conditions. She alleges that it’s these conditions, often caused by lack of funding, that are making nurses miserable and leading to the bullying of coworkers.
What prompted her to post the TikTok video was a fellow nurse in the area thanking her for making her feel validated about her feelings “surrounding the Chicago hospitals.” The Illinois nurse addresses what it’s like working at these hospitals in hopes that fellow nurses who want to work in the city will take note. Her video has surpassed 54,000 views since posting and has over 5,000 likes.
She starts by addressing that there are only three hospitals to work at in the city, “four if you can get in.” The Illinois nurse believes that unless the hospital is an academic medical center, then “everyone’s playing you.” By this, she is referring to hospitals that are underfunded with fewer resources, which include staff. She alleges that the understaffing she has seen at the hospitals has left her “gobsmacked on the floor.”
The Illinois woman continues, claiming that the nurses at these hospitals are blind to their situation. She states, “They don’t even understand how bad their conditions are.” She alleges that this creates a never-ending cycle “where everything sucks all the time.” The woman also calls out the hate some of her coworkers give to those they feel have “more going for them.” She says, “Because of the jealousy, there lies the bullying, and as a black woman, you think that half that stuff isn’t racially motivated?” The video ends with her comparing the environment to that of university hospitals, which have more funding and actively support people’s success.
Illinois Nurse Sparks Hospital Conversation
The Illinois woman has sparked a conversation about hospitals in the comments of her TikTok video. Her fellow nurses have spoken about how they feel validated and are pointing out their own experiences. One says, “County is AWFUL. Northwestern doesn’t pay [expletive].” Another claims, “Advocate Trinity Hospital is the worst!!! I left after 2.5 years because I didn’t want to lose my license.” A third comment reads, “It’s like this everywhere, unfortunately.”
Others are feeling disappointed hearing about the reality of working at these hospitals. One says, “Omggg I live in Chicago & [am] a new grade nurse. This is so discouraging.” Several are blasting the drama that they seem to find wherever they go. One says, “UIC Is Unionized and pays great, but definitely has drama like the others.” Another claims, “I walked in Stroger… and walked out.”
The Illinois nurse recommends that those new to the healthcare field, specifically in the Chicago area, should do their own research before applying.
