Do I want to do this career?

Race Mom, ASN, RN · Nov 5, 2005

While I am not even a first year nurse (waiting on acceptance letter this month for NS), I feel your concern. The problem with asking for this advice from 1st year RNs is that they (as I have noticed, and EVERYONE experiences their 1st year) struggle. They question if this is the right career choice, if they are even cut out for it because they feel incompetent because of lack of hands on experience. It is a rare nurse that takes off running and never looks back, never questions their decision, and never feels like they learned the wrong stuff in NS. Funny thing is if you ask the same question on the general discussion, almost every single one would tell you YES!!!

I had to withdrawl out of my 1st semester in NS due to $$ and family (kids were very young). I was sad that I gave up, but relieved that I didn't have to do all that work for school. I also felt guilty inside. I pretty much let the "dream" die. Went back to college for an Education degree. that was awful! (Politics, $, length of school). Of course, left that too. I quit my casino job of 9 years and started doing mortgage loans. I really enjoyed the flexibility and $. But... then one day it came to me. I have a job I can do, while making enough money working part-time, and go BACK to nursing school. Funny thing is that it only took me about 10 minutes from 1st thinking about it to deciding to do it! I was embarrased to tell my dh and family, since I had become a career "flake". My dh was more excited than I could have ever imagined! As was my family! I guess everyone knew (yes, including me way deep down inside) that I was put on this earth to become a nurse. Isn't it funny how life lays these cards out for us? Now I am more excited than ever to fulfill this desire. I know how hard the NS is, since I have already been there (and it is tough, but take it as a challenge of life that most people wouldn't take). I am ready this time. Luckily I am a loan officer, so we are currently re-financing our home to support my nursing school habit! I do not want to worry about money for these 2 years. I am ready for the challenge for the 2 years of school, and the 1st year of my career.

The way I look at it...If I were 85, and were looking back on my life, and had not become a nurse because I might not like it, would I wish I had it to do all over again? Probably so! What really matters is your WHOLE life, not just the first few years that are challenging, but the whole dang thing. I dont want to be like some of the elders I run into that seem so sad when they talk about what they should have done.

Plus...I am never embarrased to tell someone I am going to school to be a nurse, EVER! Most people are like..."wow, you'll make a great nurse!" I think so too! But now, when people ask me, I tell them I'm a mortgage loan officer and they avoid me. There are a lot of bad mortgage people out there, one's that will rip you right off, and I am instantly grouped with the profession. I actually make less than most I know, because I am not a hustler, or a scammer. That's why I would never make it a career. I do not want to live like this, I want to do something more satisfying. I finally feel like I am where I am supposed to be. You know what...I am. You are too, so welcome to allnurses! You're going to love it here!

We want to hear about all your challenges and troubles while you fulfill your dream! You only live once, don't waste that! ONCE!

Woogy

KatieBell · Nov 5, 2005

Also not a first year nurse (been there did that.)

I agree with your Aunt. Working as a Nurses Aide is an excellent way to prepare for nursing. Many people go out and "shadow" a nurse for a day and really do not get a good feel for the job. When you work as an Aide, you get the patient contact, perform certain nursing skills, and get used to the hospital environment. If you enjoy working as an aide, there is no way you would not like being a nurse.

cher722 · Nov 5, 2005

[color=cyan]

if you are questioning your decision now, time to find another career

PedsRN03 · Nov 6, 2005

I agree with KatieBell. Definately take a job as a nursing aide before you decide if you want to be a nurse or not. My roommate was going to become a nurse, and took a job as a nursing aide and then realized nursing was not for her after being told she would have to learn to put in a urinary catheter. I volunteered in the hospital gift shop in high school and shadowed a nurse for a day. (Of course the day I shadowed happened to be unusually quiet and I got the false impression that nurses had tons of time to spend with the patients and families). I had a very false impression of what nursing was like when I decided to major in nursing. Ive been out of school for 2 1/2 years and I do love some parts of my job, but honestly, if I were to go back and do it again I think I would go for another kind of career working with kids. Here's my personal list of pros and cons of going into nursing.

Pros: interacting with patients, wide variety in job options, great learning opportunities, job stability, easy to find a job, decent pay, only have to work 3 days a week, can easily pick up extra shifts if in need of extra cash, feeling like you are doing something meaningful with your life.

Cons: long hours, inconsistent schedule, have to work weekends and holidays, feeling tired or worn out from the hours and inconsistency, usually have to start on hospital floor as new grad, staffing issues, have to do invasive procudures (foley's, IVs, NG tubes, etc). "difficult" or non-cooperative patients and families, times when things are changing with multiple patients and everything is important and there is immense pressure from docs, families, etc. wanting everything done right now, feeling like a waitress at times, pressure to wear many hats (get a soda, watch the kid, compliants about the room not being clean, the tv needs to be fixed, etc.) while you are busy just trying to get your nursing duties done, when patients or docs act like they are the only patient you are dealing with, trying to get your job done in a timely manner when you don't have the supplies there to do your job (meds, equipment, etc.), having to clean up bodily fluids and sometimes get them on you (blood, urine, stool, vomit, wound drainage, etc.), heavy lifting at times, having to perform skills with dexterity and make sure you remain completely sterile, being responsible for someone's life when you can not constantly keep an eye on them, dealing with patients dying or getting bad news, trying to support the families during these times while dealing with everything going on with your other patients, dealing with unit politics, worrying about tranporting patients to tests when half the time there is no transport person scheduled, not having time to follow up on important things about your patient, (read the chart,routine x-ray results, non-critical lab results, etc.),doctors who don't communicate new findings or their plan of care to the RN (tell the family something but don't tell the nurse), being blamed for things that are not completely your fault (kid doesn't get down to ultrasound for whatever reason, med is late because pharmacy didn't send it up...etc.) feeling overworked and under-appreciated at times.

I'm sorry..I dont' mean to be so negative! There are many realities to consider before you make a decision. There are good and bad things about nursing..Some people love it and some don't. Good luck in your decision!

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Nov 6, 2005

Being a brand new nurse myself there are definitely times that I question why I got into nursing. Some days I feel so frustrated and just want to cry ..... it's a lot to learn and with any new job we are going to second guess ourselves and have moments where we feel like quitting.

That's normal for any new job though. I remember feeling the same way during my first job in high school at a supermarket. It's overwhelming being in a new job and learning new things .... being on the bottom of the totem pole.

Would I recommend nursing to someone new? Absolutely! I know that once I get past the initial few months, especially the first year then I will feel more comfortable and competent in what I'm doing.

One of the main reasons I KNOW nursing is for me is because I absolutely love the patient care. I love working with the new moms, I love teaching them about their babies ..... I love caring for them. That part comes naturally to me. The part that I have to work at is the other stuff ..... knowing when to do things, how to do things, which paper to fill out for this thing, did I forget something?, did I do everything right?, etc. That will come with experience.

Adam D. RN2005 · Nov 7, 2005

Nursing is not an easy profession. I thought about it for 9 months talking myself out of it. I had some really good excuses on why not to do it. I did hear the horror stories. But when I asked my friends thinking that they would say I would make a terrible nurse, the answer I got was "Adam, you are the most compassionate person we know. You would make a great nurse!" They were right.

The real litmus test came when I went for an informational interview with a (you guessed it) nurse. During the 90 minutes that I spoke with her, she tried to scare me out of nursing. She told me everything I would see. And none of what she said phased me. She even said you will be expected to hold the hand of a dying patient. I didn't bat an eye. I said I will do what ever it takes to make that patients last few moments of life as pleasant as possible.

I use to be a computer programmer working for IBM. I got layed off in April 2002, and for the next nine month talked myself out of nursing. Yet it kept on coming back. And making a major career change is scary, no matter what profession you are going to. If it is in your heart, then do it.

My moment was in December 2002, I was on a first aid squad, not even an EMT, we were bringing my mother into the ER and when we walked in, I suddenly realized where my heart belonged, and said out loud, "What am I doing in I/T, this is where my heart belongs." Everyone including my mother knew what I ment. Three years later, I am the RN. And I have not looked back once. No regrets, because this is where my heart belongs.

Adam, RN

tmarie75 · Nov 7, 2005

i can't honestly say at the moment that i would do it all over again. i'm still in the midst of being a new rn, so i'm still having very good days and then some very bad days. i can't be objective yet. at times the patients, their families, and physicians can be very rude, unappreciative, and expect you to wear too many hats.i think you should definitely give some thought to what pedsrn03 said about the pros and cons of nursing. it's so easy to get swept up into this romanticized view of nursing, especially if you don't have previous healthcare experience. i don't hate being a nurse, but hospital nursing isn't exactly for me. i've always wanted to do public health. i'm going to do at least a year or 2 on the floor to get experience and start working on my msn in january so i can transition to that specialty. i would definitely shadow a nurse or volunteer in a hospital before making the decision because nursing school is very unrealistic. you will not know what it's really like to be an rn until you're actually out there. i didn't have any healthcare experience until nursing school and i wish that i had beforehand. good luck with your decision.

jalvino1 · Nov 12, 2005

to cher722:

With all do respect, I couldn't DISagree anymore. Everybody, no matter what profession, questions the path they've chosen during rough times, and love their profession during good times. What lizB has to consider is which times are dominating, and are the rough times worth it.

To lizB:

I think it was risky to post on the first year forum, but your rationale is reasonable. You mentioned that you are also in your first year of your profession, but did not mention what that profession is, so it leaves me to wonder what it is that you are questioning. And the reason I wonder is because I don't know what it is your searching for in a profession. Financial stability? challenging environment? Feeling of worth? Well nursing offers all of those if your curious.

Yes it's my first year in nursing. I've been working on a surgical unit for about 2 months, some days I love it, other days I think "run for the hills!"

Personal story: one day at work I thought to myself "what am i doing here?" That day a man walked into the nursing break room and said "do you remember me." And the nurses in the break room did. He was a patient they had one year ago who was in a motorcycle accident. It took him months just to be able to walk again, and looking at him that day, I couldn't even tell he was ever injured. He came back to the hospital to thank the nurses. He was so beyond appreciative of taking care of him. And he answered my question "what am I doing here?... I'm making a difference." cheezy I know, but that's what nursing gives me.

What are you searching for in a career? It's difficult to answer your question without knowing.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Nov 12, 2005

If your heart is in it then go for it!

Good luck.

childpsych74 · Nov 12, 2005

No, run away...fast. Just kidding

Like all jobs, there will be good days and bad days. Unlike other jobs, people's lives are in your hands. You can't afford to have an "off" day and veg out in a cubicle.

Nursing was definitely NOT for me. And I was aide in nursing school. My instructors even told me, "Nursing doesn't seem like a good fit for you" and I wish I had listened. What do others tell you? Like Adam, give their opinions weight.

I was a nurse for 9 years, mostly in ICU. Because I'm not a "people-person" I burned out after 9 years. But I'm glad I still have my license and can "fall back" on it if I need to. Right now, I'm trying to break into Utlization Review/Case Management part-time while I homeschool our kids. That's the beauty of nursing, you can switch areas so easily.

It is one of the HARDEST, least appreciated professions. But if it's what you want, you will make the best of it.

RN2MD · Nov 12, 2005

I have been a nurse for 6 years. I've known from my first clinical rotation that nursing was not for me. However, nursing was my second bachelors degree so I decided to stick it out until i could find my way back to my true love medicine. I will be entering med school in 06:) . Please make an informed decision about this make sure this a good fit. What type of personality do you have? Do you enjoy physically demanding tasks? Do you enjoy taking orders instead of giving orders/devising care plans. Do you mind working weekends and holidays? Do you mind being ordered around by everyone from your nursing coworkers to dietary or transport?Can you live with such low pay and hazardous working conditions?

If these things are acceptabe/tolerable nursing may be the job for you.