[Jen2]

Whine whine whine whine. Good thing this person is leaving, I wouldn't want someone like this taking care of anyone I knew anyway. She/he probably got into it for the money alone and then realized it was actual work with real respondability. Sorry, but I've already heard all of this before a 100 times and have worked in healthcare for 8 years and is hasn't stopped me yet. Healthcare has been in trouble for years. Nurses do work extremly hard with a large amount of responsability. Does money alone compensate for that? No, but there is more to it than that. Will you have to work all shifts, weekends and holidays. Yes. People don't just get sick from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Hospitals are not banks. Mandation. I used to mandated all the time when I worked as a phleb. There were times when I'd work an 8 hour night shift and then be mandated to work an 8 hour dayshift on top of that for a total of 16 hours. Why is there a nursing shortage? Because the hospitals created it (in my area anyway). The hospitals did huge layoffs in nursing in the late 90's to compensate for the HMO'S. These nurses that got layed off found different professions and never returned. The babyboomers are getting older, thus new hospitals are being built, floors are being added onto hospitals to accomadate this, new nursing homes are being built, so therefore it is hard to find enough nurses to staff and accomadate all of this. Not to mention nursing school is not easy. My college only puts out about 25-30 GN's once a year each May. Not sure how many pass their boards, but we have 8 hospitals in the area and a countless amount of nursing homes and visiting nursing agencies with onlly 2 other nursing schools around, so is 75 GN's once a year enough to staff all of these facilities? No! So what if a doctor rips your head off. I'll be there to advocate for my patients. If I get my feelings heart because of that, then that only means that I am doing my job. Sorry so long, it just irks me when someone says this to a student about the profession. Many of us already know what it is going to be like and still want to do it. I can't imagine a job with more satisfaction than to watch someones progress right before your very eyes, and to know that I had a part in that makes all of the politics worth it to me.

[mariedoreen]

Lol, bring on the flames because my opinion always is the more you know the better. She has more experience obviously than we do and I consider her opinion to be of value. If nothing else, you get a heads up for what's to come and are not perhaps as shell shocked by it as you otherwise may have been. Also, use it as a spring board for discussion with other nurses... "You know, a nurse made these comments one time.... What's your take on that? Do you agree?" I'd always rather know the good, the bad, and the ugly and as far as I'm concerned the opinions of two people can often give you a clearer picture than just the opinions of one... but then I'm a sucker for honesty.

[Sheri257]

I agree that other perspectives are important, even from nurses who hate their jobs. It's certainly prompted me to do more research on the job market and working conditions in my area.

On a side note, I thought this particular statement was kinda funny:

"Are the educational requirements too hard (like a nuclear physicist)??? No…Does it cost a lot of money to become a nurse??? Not anymore than other jobs…Does it take a long time to become a nurse??? 2 years…."

Did this former RN take pre-reqs? Because I haven't heard of anyone who's been able to knock it all out in two years.

And I have yet to meet anyone in nursing school who didn't think it was hard. The high failure rates in pre-reqs and, of course, nursing programs would seem to confirm that.

Maybe it's not nuclear physics, but it sure is tough.

[mitchsmom]

I'm with MarieDoreen.

Plus the person was prolly just venting.

That's the good thing about the internet.. we can always ignore it if something bothers us!

[VickyRN]

The copied and pasted post is an example of burn-out. Burn-out has a high occurrence in nursing, but it can be avoided or ameliorated.
First, do your homework. Use the nursing shortage (soon to be crisis ) to your advantage. During the job interview, ask about nurse patient ratios. If the ratio is too high, go elsewhere... hey, for the graduate RN it's an employee market. Find out from word of mouth about the doctors in a particular unit or hospital. If they treat the nurses like dirt, simply don't go there. If, however, there is a true atmosphere of collaboration between the physicians and nurses, well this is a big plus. Check out the floor... what is the "feel" or atmosphere? Are the nurses embittered, angry, and creating a toxic environment? AVOID THAT UNIT LIKE THE PLAGUE. Thanks to the nursing shortage, the ball's in your court and you can be very, very choosy It's your future career, choose carefully, choose verrry wisely. A little proactivity goes a long way.

[SoulShine75]

Hi everyone. First of all, I want to apologize for cutting and pasting that thread. I did provide a link to rectify my actions. I don't know proper "netiquette" I guess. Secondly, thanks for everyones feedback and opinions. Third, I never meant to start any heated debate. I just was feeling down about what I read and felt as though this person was trying to prevent students from going further which is crappy because one persons bad experience isn't always anothers. PLUS, isn't this why there is a shortage with nursing anyway? I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the stigma involved. Either way, I'm not letting anything deter me from continuing on in something I believe in, no matter how bad it is. I believe this profession is all about finding your nitche. If you find a place that suits you and you're happy there you can work in any conditions. Just my opinion. I appriciate everyones feedback. Thanks,

Christy

p.s. I am taking off the "red ink" post so it won't be an issue anymore. The link will still be there.

GOOD LUCK to everyone in this [rofession and everyone striving fo the dream.

[RNPATL]

Christy - I think you know in your heart what it is you want to do. When I went to school, there were plenty of nay sayers as well. However, I had to follow my heart and my dream. That was over 20 years ago and I am glad that I did. Nursing has been and continues to be a passion of mine. I also know many nurses where nursing is also their passion. Stay true to yourself and your desire and I am sure you won't go wrong.

In relationship to the nurse who "got out" - she obviously had some pretty bad personal experiences with nursing. I think nursing is so diversified, that even if you find one area of the profession that does not suite you, there are so many other areas that might. I have never regretted my education and I am sure you will find that your education as an RN will open many, many doors.

Best of luck to you and your desire to become an RN.

[DZcarrie]

her nickname includes EX in it.


thank god.

glad i won't have to work with him or her!

also glad that i won't be stuck in a hospital with someone like that caring for me!

there are people in all professions that hate their job. posts like that make me sick to my stomach that someone has so negativity that they feel the need to go around bursting bubbles.

poooooo to them!

[Hellllllo Nurse]

Originally Posted by lady_jezebel

You know, I would have to agree with every single statement made by the person in red ink. My coworkers and I talk about all of those issues a great deal. These ARE legitimate problems with the field. As long as you can accept the profession's limitations, you'll be reasonably happy in the field -- but I understand how people get "burned out" & tired of remaining voiceless, powerless and frustrated when all you want is a little respect, a chance to give valuable input & to make positive changes, and the best care for your patients.

Honestly, students have NO IDEA what the field is really like. You won't know the truth from classroom dialogues, textbooks, or observation from a vantage point outside of the RN/LPN role. I thought I knew what it was really like when I was a nursing assistant -- how wrong I was.

A year or so in the field, practicing as an RN/LPN, will really open your eyes. Please hold your judgement of well-meaning advice until you experience the reality of the job for a while yourself. Let's hear your opinion a year after you've worked under your own license, in the field.

As an experienced nurse,(CNA 3 years, LPN 8 years, RN 4 years) I completely agree with the above. Very, very, well said.

[Hellllllo Nurse]

Originally Posted by mariedoreen

Lol, bring on the flames because my opinion always is the more you know the better. She has more experience obviously than we do and I consider her opinion to be of value. If nothing else, you get a heads up for what's to come and are not perhaps as shell shocked by it as you otherwise may have been. Also, use it as a spring board for discussion with other nurses... "You know, a nurse made these comments one time.... What's your take on that? Do you agree?" I'd always rather know the good, the bad, and the ugly and as far as I'm concerned the opinions of two people can often give you a clearer picture than just the opinions of one... but then I'm a sucker for honesty.

Very insightful post, MarieDoreen.