My daughter (30) has an undergrad degree in communications and an associates in nursing and a bachelor of science in nursing. She was pinned 6 years ago and has worked at two different hospitals in two different states. While the hours were long and appreciation short pre-Covid, now the entire healthcare system has said a big “fuck you” to those that thought they had prepared for a lifelong career. Hospital nursing has always been where the money was but then travel nursing became a thing. She worked alongside nurses making literally five times what she was. But management could not afford to give their employees a raise. They found money for travel nurses but not their own employees. But it is the way they are treated that broke my heart. Her last role was a case manager because that way she had somewhat of a regular schedule. But aside from finding a decent schedule for herself, these were her benefits: two weeks paid vacation and the option to purchase crappy health insurance. Maternity leave? NONE (You can apply for FMLA AFTER you exhaust your time off and that only holds your job – no pay.) So you have to save all your time off to have any paid leave when you have a baby. NO paid holidays off. Their system starts each year with 10 points. You are deducted a point for any infractions and if you run out of points before you run out of year, you will be fired. The paid time off is only for planned absences. The only point my daughter has had is when she was dehydrated with the flu, went to her own ER for confirmation and was told if she did not come to work (with a confirmed contagious diagnosis) she would get a point. So they really don't care about the patients either. The insurance available is shit. Her husband works for Verizon who has excellent insurance and even gives every employee $75,000 for adoption/IVF per employee! So after another week of dealing with the pressure to discharge patients to free up beds for all the people waiting in the emergency room, dealing with doctors and insurance companies and rehab and care facilities, and getting a brown paper bag with chips and a plain hot dog with a note that says, “you are our hero,” she is leaving for an admin position outside of healthcare. Why? This position offers paid time off for sickness or vacation (more than she has now.) Ten paid holidays. Two weeks paid maternity leave and short-term and long-term disability paid in full by the company. (Which she can use to be partially paid while on maternity leave.) Excellent insurance options that are paid half by the company. A family friendly culture that understands you have a life outside of work, and kids, and commitments and sometimes that happens 9-5. Freedom to work from home as needed. No weekends (which she has now because her department is poorly run.) And no corporate texts like she got Friday that state the hospital is on inclement weather policy and you are required to be present so make plans to get to work in snow, sleet, tornado, or whatever. She feels guilty but the minute she turned in her notice (they require 4 weeks) she felt relief. Excited for this new position. I hate that her dream has died but so very proud she isn't wasting another minute in an industry that looks like will only get worse. No, she won't be anyone's hero anymore, but she will have her mental health. And a life.