does anyone regret this career?

Nurses General Nursing

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just curious.

I regret it every single day. I had good intentions when I started, and I wasn't idealistic either. But it is a FAR worse job than I imagined. I feel like the life has been beaten out of me.

I consider myself a good nurse, and I do give it my all for patients when I'm at work. But I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this.

Just wanted to know if I was alone. My family and friends don't seem to understand.

A lot of you mention changing specialties, are there any suggestions for this? I am thinking of leaving acute care, but I am not sure where to go. I feel the same way you do OP and I've only been doing this for a year. It makes me sad that I have lost my passion I once had.

No....I have bad days and when I work too much overtime, I hate everything, but in general....I love what I do.

Are you sure you aren't just in need of your niche? Or maybe it's just the culture where you work? How long have you been working- maybe it's new nurse blues?

Nursing isn't for everyone, but I'd try to find out if you simply need a different setting or some more comfort on the job before giving up what you've worked for. That way, if it truly is not right for you, you can move on knowing that it was truly not the right career for you.

At times I have felt that way. I do love what I do though. Its touch and go, some days I go to work ready to take on the day. Other days I'm dragging on waiting for the end of my shift. But the biggest thing that makes me regret it in any way is that this job has SO much responsibility, SO much competition, and I feel like I'm always being judged on my competency and nursing skills. I lack assertiveness, so the nurse aids will do whatever they want because they know I won't say anything. I'm learning still and have only been at it for less than a year. But overall, I think I just need to give it more time and also get out of LTC. Maybe thats what you need as well, a different environment and more time.

Yes! Every. Single. Day. We are going to work ourselves into an early grave on my floor. I run around for 12-14 hours per shift and come home completely beat and exhausted. I rarely have time to take a meal break,(nor does anyone) and we just got a new CEO, so our patient load has increased dramatically. Same for the techs. It is all about squeezing every last drop out of us. I went into nursing to care for people but it really is not about that at all. It is all about money and profits. I have terrible health insurance that covers nothing and costs a fortune. My hospital also starts new grads at about 5 bucks an hour less than new grads 5 years ago. Oh, and there has been a wage freeze, so no hope of ever making over 20 bucks an hour. Yay for nursing.

Its nice to see that there are other introverted nurses as well and that not everyone has a higher calling when they decided to be a nurse. I honeslty dont know what drove me to be a nurse, i think my reasoning was that I wanted a career with good job prospects and a job that i could apply knowledge and my skils to. I have my ups and downs when it comes to nursing. Some days theres a thousand irritations that pile up and make you fed up with everything and then theres days when i can help people and realise im not so bad at this job.

thanks for the replies. I've been doing this for about a year and a half (not long, but I'm not brand new either). And I have tried changing specialties and hospitals, but things just went from terrible to even more terrible. I've heard there are better jobs out there, but they aren't hiring. And I don't have enough experience to get away from acute care yet.

I'm so tired all the time. I am literally running all shift long, trying to be in 3 places at once. And management just says "do more!" I can't even go to the bathroom without having 3 missed calls and then having everyone ask "is your phone working?!" the second I get out. I'm so sick of trying to mediate arrogant doctors, needy/ridiculous family members, and back-stabbing coworkers.

I'm trying, I really am. But I'm tired of being treated like this day after day. How is this considered a profession?

Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I did regret it for awhile because I was working far from home for a crappy employer (but with some fabulous people).

I now have a much better job and am delighted that I made the choice and the years of sacrifice at the low-end employer.

For me, I entered nursing primarily due to the practicalities of the job: Good pay, abundant positions (not necessarily openings) in my locale, non-exempt employment status, and 3x12 shifts. I happen to find the work interesting and I enjoy many of my patients but it was, remains, and will continue to be simply a job. Now that I have a good one, I am happy with my choice.

Specializes in being a Credible Source.
thanks for the replies. I've been doing this for about a year and a half (not long, but I'm not brand new either). And I have tried changing specialties and hospitals, but things just went from terrible to even more terrible. I've heard there are better jobs out there, but they aren't hiring. And I don't have enough experience to get away from acute care yet.

I'm so tired all the time. I am literally running all shift long, trying to be in 3 places at once. And management just says "do more!" I can't even go to the bathroom without having 3 missed calls and then having everyone ask "is your phone working?!" the second I get out. I'm so sick of trying to mediate arrogant doctors, needy/ridiculous family members, and back-stabbing coworkers.

I'm trying, I really am. But I'm tired of being treated like this day after day. How is this considered a profession?

It sounds like a matter of environment. What you describe is nothing like my experience. I am very busy but have had no problems with the docs nor my coworkers at three different hospitals. Patients... while many of them are needy, I can usually keep enough emotional separation to keep from being drawn in... not always, but usually... and I'm very comfortable saying, "I can only do what I can do." I will not own the system failures.
Specializes in Emergency, ICU.

I only regret that it took me so many years to figure out what I wanted to do with my life! Had I been more prepared for college in my 20's, I would have gone to medical school. But I didn't and went into nursing as an older student as it was a quicker career path in a field I love. After working as a nurse for almost 6 years, I still seriously considered going to med school but I was able to let that go and decided to go for advanced nursing practice instead.

The burn out you feel is common because nurses are not appreciated nor are we compensated enough for all the crap we take from our working environment. I cannot wait to get out of bedside nursing because I love dealing with patients. I just want to do it on my terms.

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Specializes in LTC.

I know how you feel. I decided to become a nurse at 40yrs old. Went to a hospital based diploma program and worked as a CNA on weekends. I started in a hospital nightshift position for 18 months then a home health nurse for 2 different companies for 2 years. Now I am a assistant director of resident services at a ALF. I like helping people, residents along with many of my previous Pts say I am a great nurse. But I do not feel that way. I lack confidence. I tried different specialties, I do not love my job. I do not have any answers either. Just remember the grass is not always greener at another company. In this economy I need to stay where I am. Good luck.

I guess for the most part i do not. I picked nursing for the "flexibility", pay and ease of getting a job. the last one was a huge joke as i had to relocate far far away to the middle of nowhere for a job. i have awful shifts, used to get sick of the thought of work and all it involves. I sometimes wish I would have chosen another field but i dont think i am ambitious enough to succeed in most fields. I am not a people person either and find it difficult to keep my mouth shut with all if the bs that goes on. I get through the rough times by thinking about the money i make compared to other people I know. that helps but there really are some shifts i want to run out the door. going to nights helped a lot. i dont think i could hack it on days ever. i feel stuck in my current position.no one understood my complaints so i just keep my mouth shut and complain on this site. most non nurses will never get it and there is no point in telling friends or family . i keep things to myself or online forums .lol

Try a different specialty??

Our professor was talking about how there is a place in nursing for just about everybody. for EX. She said she had a student who seemed to be what you describe yourself as....

Now that student is really shining as an OR nurse....

I guess what I am saying is, there could be areas of nursing that require less actively engaged patient to nurse contact!

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