Do I really want to be a nurse?

U.S.A. Arizona

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I have been on this board for sometime now. I have posted and read posts and just the other day I read a thread about what these nurses really go through. It really has me re-thinking if I want to become a nurse or not. I guess I was mainly going into this field because of the money and it seemed being a nurse would work well with my young growing family. After what I have heard in the last few days Im not sure this is right for me. 10-12hr shifts, holidays, on my feet all day long. Not to mention the patients families at your throat, the infectious diseases you come in contact with, the grouchy doctors...this is all that I can recall that I have seen that reflect things in a negative light. I know there is more.

Im not trying to be a pesimist, I want to think realistically. My kids are my life and the thought of having to miss out on alot is hard for me. Not to mention how in the world will they be taken care of if my husband works 12 hr days himself? I know this is something I will have to figure out for myself....but I'd like some input no matter what side of the fence you are on. Thanks!

$20-$24 and hour, that must be nice. Hospital LPNs here get paid $12.25, RNs only start at $18.75.

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Specializes in NICU.

$20-$24? I started at more than that.

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People don't go into nursing for the money. The career of nursing offers so many paths. When I was making decisions about a career I looked at alot of disciplines. Here is what I discovered: There is a need for a nurse no matter where you live. There are so many kinds of nurses and arenas to work in. Nurses work hard and yes, there can be alot of complaining but it is a love/hate thing. I don't know of anyone who choose nursing and then didn't feel good about what they had done with their adult lives. Like anything it can be what you personally make it. Don't give up on nursing because of what you read or hear. Experience it and then decide. A nursing education would never be wasted and like any undergraduate endeavor could lead to many disciplines in the future. I wish you luck. I have never regretted my career choice. I do sometimes feel overwhelmed and tired but I put my head on my pillow every night and know that I impacted someone's surgical experience.

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A lot of your complaints depend very highly on what area you choose to go into. I could never work a Med-Surg or Tele floor - on your feet all day, grouchy docs, lots of meaningless tasks. Other people love it. Go figure.

As a nurse, you will have flexibility you simply cannot find in another profession. Don't like 12 hour days? Work in the OR (they have lots of 8 hour shifts). Or as a dialysis nurse. Don't like the 7 am start times? Try the ER or PACU where you can do a 10 am - 10 pm shift. Can't stand the families - once again, PACU or OR may work, as well as a Cath lab RN, etc, etc. There is a job that can fit almost any lifestyle. Need lots of flexibility to choose certain days only - go registry. Banner Registry makes about $42.00 an hour.

But the only way to get the flexiblity is to get your year's experience somewhere first in a unit that interests you. In other words - graduate, suck it up, move on. Yes, you can get your LPN. I have one. I find the scope of practice really frustrating, and the cap on money very limiting. The pay range you quote is agency - not hospital (or at least, not any hospital I know). Why earn only $20-$24 at an agency as an LPN when you can earn twice that as an RN?

Go for the RN - you will be glad that you did...

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A lot of your complaints depend very highly on what area you choose to go into. I could never work a Med-Surg or Tele floor - on your feet all day, grouchy docs, lots of meaningless tasks. Other people love it. Go figure.

As a nurse, you will have flexibility you simply cannot find in another profession. Don't like 12 hour days? Work in the OR (they have lots of 8 hour shifts). Or as a dialysis nurse. Don't like the 7 am start times? Try the ER or PACU where you can do a 10 am - 10 pm shift. Can't stand the families - once again, PACU or OR may work, as well as a Cath lab RN, etc, etc. There is a job that can fit almost any lifestyle. Need lots of flexibility to choose certain days only - go registry. Banner Registry makes about $42.00 an hour.

But the only way to get the flexiblity is to get your year's experience somewhere first in a unit that interests you. In other words - graduate, suck it up, move on. Yes, you can get your LPN. I have one. I find the scope of practice really frustrating, and the cap on money very limiting. The pay range you quote is agency - not hospital (or at least, not any hospital I know). Why earn only $20-$24 at an agency as an LPN when you can earn twice that as an RN?

Go for the RN - you will be glad that you did...

One other thing...try a few shifts in the ICU. It is a whole other world in terms of the work you do, the respect from docs and families, and the satisfaction you may ultimately get from nursing. It is waaaayyyy different from Med-Surg or Tele...

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Specializes in NICU, Educ, IC, CM, EOC.

IMHO: The best nurses I've met seem to share a common trait; they didn't choose nursing as much as they nurtured and educated that part of their core that was already a nurse. Balancing out the hard parts of a nursing career is much easier when there is a basic inner calling to the profession. That sounds kinda loosey-goosey, but I think its true. (Now, we shall all sing Kum Ba Yah around the campfire :rolleyes:)

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Hi, Sassie.

I got into nursing for some very practical reasons: a decent salary, flexibility, and job security. That's it.

I just graduated from nursing school this past May and am about to take my state board next month. I have been a nurse extern for a little over a year.

I do not regret having completed a nursing program, but I am looking at the first chance to get off "the floor." It's miserable. You're either cut out for it or you're not. I'm hoping that after I pass the board, there will be administrative opportunities available (this was my previous background). I have made attempts and received a few calls about "alternative" positions, but have found that the license is a prerequisite.

Just an opinion from someone who got into it for similar reasons.

I wish you all the best in your decision!

Kelly

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Specializes in MSICU.

If you are not sure if you want to be a nurse, I suggest you volunteer. Make sure you volunteer where you will get patient contact. I was changing careers and I wanted to be sure first, so I volunteered. It was in the ER every Saturday night. It really opens up your eyes as to what the nurses do and the enviroment they work in. Plus, you get to help people and the nurses will also let you help them with certain procedures if you ask. It was the best thing I have done, it opened up many doors for acquiring a job at the hospital and getting into nursing school. You should try it.

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