Do you love nursing or hate it???

c_beshore_rn · Jun 12, 2009

BOY U ASK A QUESTION>>>>U GET 400 RESPONSES IN THE 1st 24 hours lol. WE are just dying to tell u!!

Even people that sit in an office and make 100,000/yr ***** about their jobs. Its human nature. Nurses, for the most part, are opinionated, passionate, bossy individuals.(either by nature or by experience). We love to let people know whats on our minds.

The thing about healthcare is your dealing with the human condition, directly, every day. There are not many happy endings. People are either at the end of their lives, very ill, or have a crisis of one sort or another going on when we see them. You really have to have a good spiritual backbone- Ive done everykind of nursing and I love the hands on stuff.

When I became a nurse I was 19. Youngest in my class and self-centered to the max. I did it for the money at the time thinking I'd do it for a while and move on to something else. I didn't plan on falling in-love with it. I'm 33 now and can't imagine doing anything else. It's backbreaking, heartbreaking, and frustrating work. It's like the marines or army....Its the toughest job you'll ever love.

c_beshore_rn · Jun 12, 2009

I think we all get burn out at one level or another. Turnover, where I work, seems pretty low. (with the RN staff)

The fantastic thing about nursing is u can get burn out in one specialty and move to another. What other profession lets you do that? You can do med/surg, OR, Pediatrics, OB, Psych, Administration, Long term care, private duty, ER, ICU....the list goes on and on. Even if you switch jobs 100 times in the first year- you'll eventually find your home.

ysin · Jun 12, 2009

Thanks c behore rn!

I like that there are options and you can transition to other specialties. I can't do that in my current profession. I can change firms, but pretty much its the same thing over and over again : (

This may seem like a stupid question. I am 29 & my husband thinks I am crazy for wanting to change careers. We want to start a family but I also want to start transitioning before time flies by too quickly and I have to hold off pursuing another profession. Do you think that I am going to pull my hair out trying to do all this in the next few years? I am sure there are plenty of nurses who have juggled this, but I don't know any.

c_beshore_rn · Jun 12, 2009

I have 4 boys and have been a single mom for a good part of my career. Calling in is never a popular thing to do. I had a lot of peers in nursing school that either got pregnant during nursing school or had a baby during nursing school. If your one of those women that can have a baby one day and go back to work the next thats great, if not WAIT. Get into an ADN program. Its only 2 years and if u have college credits they will transfer which will save u time. A BSN nurse and an ADN nurse make the same--the BSN has more opportunity for management but thats the only difference- Some hospitals offer 25 cents more/hr for a bsn.

Most hospitals ,that I've checked in missouri,your benefits kick in 30days after hire. A few start the day of hire (like a government job) and a few make u wait 90days. If you get pregnant your first day of work your covered throughout your pregnancy. Most of the time FMLA (which ensures your job the full 6wks-12wks maternity leave off) doesn't kick in until after 1 year of employment or 6 months I cant remember.

One other thing....(i know employers arent suppose to discriminate, but....) If you are pregnant when you apply for a job and your not showing....don't tell em until you've secured the job. A. Its non of there business B. It ensures that it wont count against you. No matter what they say if employers have 2 nurses up for the job and they know one will be taking an extended leave...the other will get the job.

If you don't mind me asking....what was your other profession? Where are u looking at working? What made u change careers?

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2009

I love nursing. The only part I seem to have a problem with are drug addicts

that come in positive for drug tox screen and docs prescribe them dilaudid.

It just gripes me, esp when I have pts that have trouble breathing and the

drug addict is hitting the call button constantly wanting the dilaudid.

ysin · Jun 12, 2009

Great insight!

Well, let's see where I begin with what my profession is or was. During undergrad, I worked with children with autism for 3 years. After graduation I took another position as a case manager. At 23, I was thinking about graduate school and trying to map out my life's adventure. And during that process, I decided that I wanted to leave social services and try something new - fulfill my creative outlet. I decided not to go to grad school and went to art school and got a BFA Interior Design(1 1/2years later). I have been working in the architecture/design industry for about five years as a commercial interior designer (law firms, corporate offices, hotels, etc). In the beginning, I loved design. It is not a bad industry/profession. My husband is an architect and its his calling for sure! But its not for all of us. There are good and bad aspects, similar to other professions. But my bad aspects are out-weighing the good which in turn has lite my curiousity towards nursing.

I miss helping people. I feel guilty a lot designing expensive spaces because I think how much those funds could help & be used in social services. Also, I really do not enjoy sitting behind a cubicle all day (and a lot of times we too work overtime - I have worked 80 hours weeks!!!). And my poor wrist is hurting from all the drawing with the mouse. And unfortunately, the design industry can be very superficial. Have you seen the movie "Devil wears Prada" My design director is very very similar to her. I want to shoot myself sometimes and wonder if she really thinks that the world really evolves being a designer. But I do not want to disrespectful the industry because there are plenty of hard-working individuals too. Unfortunately I do not know how much longer I can survive in this industry. But we'll see what happens in the next year. For now, I am researching all options.

Thanks!

c_beshore_rn · Jun 12, 2009

Best of luck!! Medicine is also very superficial. We have our rich patients that are able to afford the best of treatment. They can get treatment for cancer that most of us can't afford and insurance will not cover. On the other hand, we have hard working people that get sick and have to leave their jobs and their insurance to fend for themselves. No wonder people go to Canada!! At times it seems like money decides who lives and who dies. I think this is the worst thing I see in healthcare.

allthingsbright · Jun 12, 2009

It's love here--and it's pretty unconditional on my part. It has to be! Nursing is HARD!

wondern, ASN · Jun 12, 2009

I am a young 29 :nuke: and I am thinking about changing careers into nursing. I was so excited to transition, but now after researching different sites, I am starting to get second doubts because of all the blogs I have read about why nursing is bad and how people hate nursing.
I have read wonderful blogs about loving nursing but its sad how reading so many negatives one stick in one's head!
Do you love nursing?
Do you hate nursing?
Why??
Has anyone changed careers to do nursing and realize they love it or hate it?
I appreciate your honest feedback. Thanks!!!

:tinkbll:I love nursing but hate bullies :trout:

and the managers who enable them. :hlk::scrm:

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Jun 13, 2009

My only regret is that I didn't become a nurse sooner..but when I was younger, I also didn't have enough confidence in myself.

Most days, I like my job. Might not always like my coworkers, or my facility, but I like my job. I think it's important to know yourself, do some research(which you are) and find your niche.

Any field is going to have nasty coworkers, etc. No job is perfect. I do like the fact that what I do makes a difference. Even if it seems small at the time.

Good luck!:nuke::nuke:

JomoNurse · Jun 13, 2009

i really hate to say this, especially since i've been an RN for such a short time, but i hate nursing most of the time. it's odd, because, i wanted to be an rn SO BAD in nursing school. and now that i have it, i can't stand it.

vashtee, RN · Jun 14, 2009

i really hate to say this, especially since i've been an RN for such a short time, but i hate nursing most of the time. it's odd, because, i wanted to be an rn SO BAD in nursing school. and now that i have it, i can't stand it.

Well don't worry. If you are really 94 years old, it will all be over soon.