How are you feeling about nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. How are you feeling about nursing?

    • 19
      Nursing student. Excited about the future!
    • 2
      New grad, working and love it!
    • 4
      Recent grad, working. Disappointed in nursing, but things will get better! Looking for my niche!
    • 10
      Seasoned nurse. Working in direct pt care, love it.
    • 29
      Seasoned nurse. Having good and bad days. Hanging in there!
    • 12
      Seasoned nurse. Vacillating between wanting to leave nursing and hanging in there.
    • 13
      Seasoned nurse. Burnt-out and want out, but stuck for now.
    • 4
      Seasoned nurse. Burnt-out, actively seeking to leave nursing.
    • 2
      I left nursing and am happier for it.
    • 3
      I left direct pt care nursing and am now working in an office and/or adm. It's the only way I could stay in nusring.

98 members have participated

I have been doing some soul-searching, re: nursing, and how I feel about it, and what I want.

Where are you in your nursing career?

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Specializes in ICU.

Trouble is I cold have at one time or the other chosen "all of the above". I HAVE been burnt - out, I HAVE left the direct patient care area to work in "office" jobs. I HAVE contemplated leaving but keep coming up against "to what?" Good days/Bad days.

I recently found that after years of ICU that I love working with patients who can speak (CCU) and interact. I love having fun with my patients - handing out quips and smiles as much as meds and obs. The patients seem to enjoy it too and on those days when the interaction is buzzing and you are doing something positive - those are the days I love.

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I graduated in '92..A whole DECADE ago! I feel as though it were much more recent, because there is always something new to learn. I would say that I am content for now. If only I could go for my RN part-time!! (Need that paycheck) :)

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I don't know how to answer...I've only been out of school for two years, but in my first hospital job for only four months.

I guess I would have to answer: Newbie, having good and bad days, but hanging in there.

;)

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Specializes in Step down, ICU, ER, PACU, Amb. Surg.

I graduated in '92, too mert and although there is always something to learn, I feel I fall in to the seasoned but hangin catagory for now. I have been burnt crispie....I spent 1 yr and 8 months out of work due to an injury suffered on the job......I spent 3 months in a wallow of self pity because I was kicked to the curb during that time frame.....then I picked myself up by the boot straps and decided I was not so damaged that I could not make a come back in nursing.....enter Uncle Sam and a want ad in the general help wanted section and 5 yrs later I work as a civilian in a very small Army hospital as a archaic(sp) staff nurse in their SICU (I say archaic because our turn over is so high with everyone coming and going so often that i am considered an old timer here...lol). This job has it's own set of challenges, some the same as working in a civilian facility and yet there are challenges that I would have never been exposed to if I were not working here. Yes, I could make more money somewhere else (but i am too damn dedicated), yes I could work closer to home (this 1 ho ur commute is starting to do me in) and yes, I could be working in some high speed facility (and I'd be crispy fried like chicken, again). I stay for a variety of reasons but the biggest is that these people nee an advocate too...someone to stand up for quality care and patient privacy.....no it is not always pleasant and there is much more beaurocratic(sp....it's 1:30 am hey! lol) BS than most places but it is where I feel I am needed for now.....someday I may decide what I want to be whenI grow up and change but for now I will continue with the childhood dream andplay nurse (so to speak).

Christie

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I feel good about nursing and patient care.

Not so great about healthcare finances and regulatory stuff.

I find that I get burnt out on jobs, but not theprofession. When the frustrations or boredom with tedium gets to me I start looking for a new job-but never a new profession and I graduated 22 years ago.

Since that category wasn't an option I didn't vote.

I think frequently we transfer our frustration with a current situation to the profession itself. I find that I'm much happier when I recognize that I love nursing, just need a new situation sometimes.

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I feel good about nursing and patient care.

Not so great about healthcare finances and regulatory stuff.

I find that I get burnt out on jobs, but not theprofession. When the frustrations or boredom with tedium gets to me I start looking for a new job-but never a new profession and I graduated 22 years ago.

Since that category wasn't an option I didn't vote.

I think frequently we transfer our frustration with a current situation to the profession itself. I find that I'm much happier when I recognize that I love nursing, just need a new situation sometimes.

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I wanted to put in more options/answers to choose from, but ten is the max allowed in a poll.

I've been anurse for ten years, and I have come to the conclusion this morning after a hellish week, that I am crispy-fried.

I thought that a change to a different area of nursing would help, but it hasn't.

I want to be able to provide my best for my pts, and take care of myself, too. In today's "get 'em in and get 'em out, increase your production and keep the herd moving" mentality, it is not possible.

I feel so discouraged and disillusioned right now.

=0(

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I wanted to put in more options/answers to choose from, but ten is the max allowed in a poll.

I've been anurse for ten years, and I have come to the conclusion this morning after a hellish week, that I am crispy-fried.

I thought that a change to a different area of nursing would help, but it hasn't.

I want to be able to provide my best for my pts, and take care of myself, too. In today's "get 'em in and get 'em out, increase your production and keep the herd moving" mentality, it is not possible.

I feel so discouraged and disillusioned right now.

=0(

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

I hear you, Hellllllo ! The "system" really is the pits, but I do love what contact I have with our patients. Would like to expand my skills and knowledge to other areas yet.

Have you considered Home Health Nursing? A lot of redtape, I'm sure, (medicare billing, etc.) but perhaps you'd feel more like you were really doing patient care without all the"facility"/"hospital" hassle? It's something I'm considering for the future... perhaps IV nurse or woundcare in home health.

We'll see. Need to get more info on what options there are in that field.

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

I hear you, Hellllllo ! The "system" really is the pits, but I do love what contact I have with our patients. Would like to expand my skills and knowledge to other areas yet.

Have you considered Home Health Nursing? A lot of redtape, I'm sure, (medicare billing, etc.) but perhaps you'd feel more like you were really doing patient care without all the"facility"/"hospital" hassle? It's something I'm considering for the future... perhaps IV nurse or woundcare in home health.

We'll see. Need to get more info on what options there are in that field.

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My choice was not up there either. Mine would be....I have left bedside care and work in an office. I did not leave due to burn out but because my goal when I went into nursing was to teach patients and other nurses and now that is what I do.

I like my job...now if they would just pay me a decent wage.

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