Am I the only new nurse who doesn't hate my job?

Nurses New Nurse

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I've been working as an RN in LTC since April. Like everyone, I have bad days at work and sometimes I find myself thinking "What in the world have I gotten myself into?" but at the end of the day, I really like my job and my residents. I don't post in this forum much because it mostly seems to be negative. Surely there must be other new nurses who like their job.

I hope that I don't make anyone who isn't enjoying their job feel bad and I understand the transition can be difficult, but I'm just hoping to hear some positive things about being a new nurse.

I love my job. I'm right where I need to be. I go home feeling like I've really made a difference (on most days).

I'll be at my one-year-mark in July.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I'll be at my one-year-mark in July.

Me too! July 20. :)

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Specializes in ICU.

December '08 graduate here, working in a small SICU.

I love my job!

I think my previous craptastic Corporate jobs, cushy though they were (strolling in a 9, taking a 2 hour lunch break, and leaving at 4,) gave me a little perspective, though. Nursing is much harder than any job I've ever had (and I've had lots...5 jobs in the first year out of college the first time around!) but also much more rewarding. I love my patients. I get a huge lift to see my previously vented patients walking the halls! Every day is different, every day I learn something new, and I'm being challenged every second. Part of my brain probably went necrotic during those years in Corporate America, so I'm thrilled to be using the noggin' again.

Is it frustrating? Hell yes. Every day I feel at least a little bit like a fraud. Yesterday, my patient told me I'd be a good nurse "someday," after my preceptor mentioned I was new. He's right; I don't feel like The Nurse yet. In fact, there's still very little seperating me from a nursing student, except I can pull narcotics and double check insulin. I've made amazing progress in just a few months, but the more I learn, the more I realize I have to learn. I think that is one of the hardest things we face as new graduates.

But even after my hardest days, I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be working, or any other job I'd rather be doing. I haven't yet woken up dreading my shift. My husband even told me I haven't been hitting the "SLEEP" button as much as I used to. I told him, "that's what happens when you don't hate your job."

I would obviously rather be independantly wealthy, but until that happens, I feel pretty honored to call myself a Nurse.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

I really like my job!!!! I work on a neuroscience floor and feel right at home because I use to work on a psych unit(5 yrs) and a nursing home(15yrs+) in another field. I loved both of those jobs and now I feel like I get a combination of the two on this floor.Its like getting aquainted with my previous population and nursing them back to health.:loveya:

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Specializes in Telemetry Med/Surg.

i hate my job everyday>>>>>>the nurses i work with aren't "people person's" i hate it that i've been nursing for only a year and a half and have to precept another precepting nurse's student because she gets too overwhelmed. I hate signing off other people's paperwork because they are too busy talking on the cell phone. I hate it when everyone comes to work frowning and p'd off because they have to be at work and then look at me and say "why are you smiling?" What is really going on?

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Let's keep it positive people...please! This is a great thread. Gives a lot of hope for future nurses.

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to be honest, i have days i leave and never want to go back. then again, i have days where they fly by and i find myself thinking that despite the floor where i work (peds hem/onc which is a very difficult floor in terms of emotions and job description) i have the greatest job ever. it usually just all depends on what has happened to me that day. i think the key is to remember that nursing isnt just a physical job - it can be an emotional one too, and that can make for some very challenging days... but it can also offer the most rewarding days as well.

over all, i have had far more good days where i love my job than where i hate it. i guess that means things are going good!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER.

I too love my job, I am excited to go to work! All of my co-workers are fabulous! It has been almost a year since I began working as an RN and I can't believe how much it has changed me. I am more confident in all aspects of my life, more outgoing and comfortable with myself. There are still times that I wish I could have explained some thing better to my patients, or had more knowledge about a particular disease or meaning of certain labs but I know that I have so much more to learn and that it will all come in time, so I don't beat myself up over what I don't do exactly right - just keep learning and realize no one is perfect or stops learning.

There is nothing I would rather do or be than a nurse!

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I have no regrets about leaving my comfortable job and becoming an RN -AT ALL! I would so do it all over again. All of my co-workers are incredibly kind and helpful. It is such an honor to know that you made a difference in someone's life - from teaching a new ostomy patient to changing a dressing or repositioning them to make them more comfortable, or just listening and holding their hand. I love the hours (3 - 12's) - I have so much more time with my friends and family. I love that I have so many choices if I ever tire of hospital work. I embrace the challenging physical work - it keeps me strong! I love to use my brain to problem-solve, and to practice the new clinical skills I've learned. However, I DO really look forward to my knowledge base growing to the point where I understand things automatically without having to ask questions all the time or look things up. I realize that process takes around two years, and I am happy to be patient and wait for it happen. In the meantime I will keep my eyes and ears open, ask a million questions, do lots of reading, and go to work each shift with a smile on my face:D!

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Specializes in Cath Lab, EP.
December '08 graduate here, working in a small SICU.

I love my job!

I think my previous craptastic Corporate jobs, cushy though they were (strolling in a 9, taking a 2 hour lunch break, and leaving at 4,) gave me a little perspective, though. Nursing is much harder than any job I've ever had (and I've had lots...5 jobs in the first year out of college the first time around!) but also much more rewarding. I love my patients. I get a huge lift to see my previously vented patients walking the halls! Every day is different, every day I learn something new, and I'm being challenged every second. Part of my brain probably went necrotic during those years in Corporate America, so I'm thrilled to be using the noggin' again.

Is it frustrating? Hell yes. Every day I feel at least a little bit like a fraud. Yesterday, my patient told me I'd be a good nurse "someday," after my preceptor mentioned I was new. He's right; I don't feel like The Nurse yet. In fact, there's still very little seperating me from a nursing student, except I can pull narcotics and double check insulin. I've made amazing progress in just a few months, but the more I learn, the more I realize I have to learn. I think that is one of the hardest things we face as new graduates.

But even after my hardest days, I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be working, or any other job I'd rather be doing. I haven't yet woken up dreading my shift. My husband even told me I haven't been hitting the "SLEEP" button as much as I used to. I told him, "that's what happens when you don't hate your job."

I would obviously rather be independantly wealthy, but until that happens, I feel pretty honored to call myself a Nurse.

I hear you Sweet Caroline! Wait until you're off orientation and they start wanting you to orient to hearts less than a year out from your hire date! Talk about an "oh sh*t" moment. I keep thinking to myself: "They arent' on to the fact that I actually suck as a nurse...how could this be????" I totally feel like a fraud too LOL! Someone somewhere believes that I might turn out to be a decent nurse so I'm going with that for now I guess...

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I am so glad this was posted and to see all of the positive responses. I am a second career nurse want to be, just started my second year of pre-reqs for a BSN and should graduate at the age of 42. I read the forum every day and really started question whether or not I was doing the right thing by going back to school and pursuing something I have always wanted to do. I thought about quitting after reading some of the horror stories but I will try and remember how many people there are that really do love what they are doing which is what I am so looking forward too.

Thank you all!!

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Its okay to love your job.. an its also okay to not like your job..You second career Nurses..if u loved ur first job soo much...why are u switching to Nursing???? All nurses is a forum that allows people to be real and to be able to voice out their feelings..or vent or share wonderful stories about being a nurse..its better than being pretentious that everything is wonderful, thats why u have other nurses here who encourage you..people have good days and bad days or maybe permanently bad days..hey...thats why there is a job market( not soo sure about that in this economy though) to go look for some part of nursing one might actually be interested in...

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