anyone decide NOT to become an RN due to current nursing issues?

[-jt]

Is there anyone here (nurses aide, student, healthcare professional, etc) who once considered a nursing career but has since decided NOT to become an RN due to current nursing issues like unsafe staffing, mandatory ot, difficult workplace conditions, lack of respect --- you know --- all the things we are reading in the news. Was anyone on their way to becoming an RN & then changed their mind because of what theyve been reading about the reality at the bedsides today?

[EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN]

I still want to become an RN, but all this crap I am hearing lately scares me sometimes and makes me wonder if I am picking the right profession. Still, I see the nursing shortage and current issues in nursing as an OPPORTUNITY. Maybe this will finally get bad enough that it will make administrators, legislators, etc... finally wake up and realize that some serious change is in order!

[2banurse]

I have to be honest, I had been going back and forth in wanting to be an RN and though I had changed majors for a while, I still find myself drawn to be a nurse. I guess I feel like EmeraldNYL and that there are opportunities.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I am already a nurse but I definitely am holding back from the tempting traveler positions I see advertised because I never know where or in what I would land.

[funnygirl_rn]

Hi. My cousin returned to school for a new career change & graduated as an RN in May. She is 42 years old..and basically has had it with this profession. She loves the patient care & interactions...but as far as unsafe staffing & overloading her with 10-12 patients on the Med-Surg floor...who has time for astute patient care?!? She previously worked as a professional chef. She gave her resignation & is going back to cooking.

[Furball]

I'm in my 40's, been an RN for 5 years. I'm seriously considering going back to college for a degree chemistry and/or computer science due to reasons stated above.

[2banurse]

I meant to answer this, but made a new thread...it's the medicine, it is starting to make me feel dopey.

I asked the moderator to delete the other, and I'll post here.

My question was why is your cousin quiting nursing after only graduating in May? I mean there is more to nursing than just working in med/surg.

Kris

[rebelwaclause, ASN, RN]

I'd consider becoming an RN, however if I did, I'd never return to grunt floor nursing work like I'm doing now - I'd go into Case Management or something along that line.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I know of two wonderful R.N.'s who went back to school to get their MBA's......and neither with the intent of ever returning to nursing. They got sick of the abuse (all around), low pay and aggravation (not to mention constant fear of ligitation). One is considering law school and coming back as a Nurse Expert in Law.(the other side of litigation, ya might say). The other is becoming an accountant....having found nursing so distasteful she swore never would return...and has not , so far. Sad.

[funnygirl_rn]

Originally posted by 2banurse

I meant to answer this, but made a new thread...it's the medicine, it is starting to make me feel dopey.

I asked the moderator to delete the other, and I'll post here.

My question was why is your cousin quiting nursing after only graduating in May? I mean there is more to nursing than just working in med/surg.

Kris

Hello 2banurse. Yes, there is more to nursing than med-surg, but if you read the above & below posters you will understand why she left.

She is also a divorced single mother, has 2 kids and it seemed she was constantly staying over an hour or two each shift she worked, struggling to find baby-sitters that could adapt to her long shifts. As I mentioned she couldn't take the unsafe working conditions or the bs that often comes with the territory...so going back to being a chef will at least allow her to get off on time..where she can lead a more "normal" life.

[-jt]

Thanks. I was just thinking might some nursing students and other healthcare workers who would be considering becoming RNs now be changing their minds & making a different career decision because of what theyre finding out about our working conditions.

[KaroSnowQueen, RN]

Yes. I have been an LPN for almost 20 years and have only my clinicals left to do on my RN and can't make myself sign up for the rest of the program. I think how miserable I get in this field at times, the added responsibilities for not much more money, and just can't make myself make the jump.

At this point, I am debating remaining an LPN let alone going further and becoming an RN.