Is nursing a good career?!

[Mrs. Sparkle Pants]

Okay, so here's my story. I have B.S. in another field, and 3/4 of a masters degree. In my last year of college I worked as a home health aide, and I fell in love with healthcare and geriatrics. I was already so close to being done with my degree and already headed to grad school so I decided to suck it up and stick with my path. Well after a year of HATING grad school and still longing to be working with the elderly, I quit school and started taking pre-reqs for nursing school. Eventually, I want to be a geriatric NP (obviously once I get in clinicals my passion might shift, but this is the plan for now). I was so excited to finally be pursuing my passion, but then I logged on to allnurses.com...

No offense, but you all sound MISERABLE! Everyone just sounds so unhappy, not just with their workplace, but with the job in general. Aside from that those who don't hate their job are unemployed and can't find work. I KNOW I am supposed to be a nurse. I love people, and I truly want to help, but good grief is it worth it to put myself through nursing school, end up with a ton of debt, and be in a terrible career?

Please tell me you all just come here to vent, and it's not really as awful as it seems.

[rn4ever?]

Nursing is a good career, in my own opinion. I don’t see myself working in any other field as of this point in time. And as with any other jobs, there will be good days and bad. There is politics, drama, and all that stuff. But there are also grateful and appreciative patients, awards, and all that stuff. It may not be recession-proof. And yes, they can fire you even if there was a nursing shortage-----one instance is if you don’t do things right and endanger a patient. But in general, it’s still one field that I really like. It could feed you and give you a comfortable life.

[bree*]

I already have my opinions about it. I asked 4 of my RN friends, who graduated with their BSN. All 4 said they regret going into nursing. One of them tried to reason that "things will get better", but all I can say is that I am sooooo glad I took the LPN route. I truly feel for the individuals who spent nearly 5 years of their life putting in so much work to a degree that we ALL know very well doesn't land you a position that pays the way it should or respect you the way it should. From what I have seen/experienced (in my VERY little time) Nurses are crapped on. Everyone knows there's nothing prestigious about the field and most nurses ARE miserable because they are abused, overworked, harassed, mistreated, and putting up with a lot of cattiness and corruption on a daily basis. ANY human being would be miserable having to deal with that. I LOVE taking care of patients and don't mind the dirty work..having to be on my feet, etc. It's the way that health care is set up that turns me off. This female dominated field can be a brutal one. Tons of backstabbing, lots of drama...it just adds to the stress as nurses are already worrying about life/death situations with their patients. I'm giving nursing my best shot...going to give it a solid 3 nursing positions. If it's as bad as I think it is, I definitely won't stay in it. I will go back to school and finish my Finance degree. I refuse to be one of those nurses who lives in utter denial about the field. I have way more respect for myself and I know my worth. I'm way too valuable to settle for less.

[bree*]

I bolded your statement I wanted to comment on. For most entry level careers that can be done with so little as a 2 year degree, the financial rewards from an RN are insurmountable. As a young person in my early 20's, I am bringing in more money than any of my friends with non-nursing related 4 year degrees. I am able to live comfortably, paying my bills, no debt, and still afford some luxuries.

I think you're painting a really nice picture there. Problem is, I know dozens of BSN RNs who cannot even land a job. The ones that are working aren't making any more than those people I know who earned their Business degrees. A lot of it has to do with the way you market yourself. In my opinion, the 40-65k/year that nursing pays is a slap in the face for what one is subjected to, so unless someone has an insane passion for it, 99/100 they will hate it and be burnt out. Even I had an extreme passion for it, but I am SO glad that I learned in my LPN program that it's NOTHING like the way it's portrayed. I'm still giving it a shot, but I am totally unimpressed with this field so far. It seems like the conditions are getting worse for nurses and the pay is decreasing as more and more programs are opened for things like EKG tech, patient care tech, phlebotomy tech, etc. No one wants to pay a nurse for something they can create a 6 month certificate program for and pay the person $5-10/hr less.

[eyeball]

I am a five month old nurse. During nursing school I would read a disturbingly large number of posts about how unhappy a lot of nurses are in their career choice which scared me. Unfortunately this is also true for me so far. I entered nursing as a second career. I had had a lifelong interest in medicine, raised 4 kids, have a nurturing/people oriented nature, am thorough in my approach to all work. I graduated at the top of my class....so what could possibly go wrong here?

A lot. Nursing isn't all that much about attending to the patient...it's about covering the hospital's and the nurses's a** and being a virtual maid to everyone....drs, pts, families, etc. If my phone isn't ringing, my pager is going off and I feel like a switchboard operator. I feel pulled in 50 directions almost always. I do not take breaks and lunch is typically 15 minutes after having been going for a 7-8 hour period. We have a huge level of responsibility yet there is no power nor control over our practice. It's been a challenge to "learn the trade" and I am learning it. Problem is, I feel depressed and demoralized so much of the time. The workload is very heavy and sadly, at my hospital, nurses are not treated as professionals.

I don't write this in a spirit of ranting and wanting to bring you down. You sound very excited about nursing and perhaps it will be the best thing you ever did. I guess I just feel it's fair to answer your question honestly. It is good you are asking these questions.

[bree*]

I am a five month old nurse. During nursing school I would read a disturbingly large number of posts about how unhappy a lot of nurses are in their career choice which scared me. Unfortunately this is also true for me so far. I entered nursing as a second career. I had had a lifelong interest in medicine, raised 4 kids, have a nurturing/people oriented nature, am thorough in my approach to all work. I graduated at the top of my class....so what could possibly go wrong here?

A lot. Nursing isn't all that much about attending to the patient...it's about covering the hospital's and the nurses's a** and being a virtual maid to everyone....drs, pts, families, etc. If my phone isn't ringing, my pager is going off and I feel like a switchboard operator. I feel pulled in 50 directions almost always. I do not take breaks and lunch is typically 15 minutes after having been going for a 7-8 hour period. We have a huge level of responsibility yet there is no power nor control over our practice. It's been a challenge to "learn the trade" and I am learning it. Problem is, I feel depressed and demoralized so much of the time. The workload is very heavy and sadly, at my hospital, nurses are not treated as professionals.

I don't write this in a spirit of ranting and wanting to bring you down. You sound very excited about nursing and perhaps it will be the best thing you ever did. I guess I just feel it's fair to answer your question honestly. It is good you are asking these questions.

You are correct to a T. That's what I experienced as a nurse resident, so I can only imagine how much worse it's going to be now that I will be working as a licensed nurse. I don't think you're ranting..you are being realistic! Thank goodness..I sometimes cringe at posts that say they cannot see themselves doing anything else....so they cannot see themselves NOT being slaved around? Just a thought of mine. I can see someone loving the field,but find the "I can't see myself anywhere else" mentality very weird. I know I could never put up with being a nurse forever. The system is just getting worse and worse.

[OldNurseEducator]

If you dislike nursingthat much, get out of it. Just my:twocents:.

[Mulan]

If you dislike nursingthat much, get out of it. Just my:twocents:.

If you really are an RN, and if you have ever actually worked in a hospital as one, how long has it been?

[silentRN]

I do critical care nursing and I love it. It feels great when you worked hard to keep someone alive. Not every night is like that, but the night that are, you go home feeling fulfilled. My advice is just to find something you enjoy. I've worked Med-Surg and I've tried ER. I didn't like both of those, but Intensive Care Unit I would say has the lowest turnover.

[Guest717236]

"I can't see myself anywhere else" mentality very weird. I know I could never put up with being a nurse forever. The system is just getting worse and worse.

Nurses need to organize with

the current business oriented environment.

This is correct the system is getting worse and worse. But the nurses who love nursing continue on,they find happiness in caring for their patients

and in continuing their education in their chosen specialty/specialties.

Where you would want to earn more $ years ago, today having and

keeping a job is goal. If you can find a job with more $$, terrific!

In regard to the 'I love nursing concept' as weird, many nurses

have worked in other fields that are also very challenging and where they also have not been respected.

This includes professions as well as trade jobs.

Nurse now come from all walks of life, not straight out of high school

like many years ago.

[Zookeeper3]

OP, I can't imagine any nurse after a long day at work, coming to an internet site and just griping from boredom. For most of us, our complaints are REAL, gut wrenching bearing our most difficult times to an internet that only other nurses can relate to. It is that difficult.

Read the one year nursing boards as to how hard adjusting is... than look at the posters that are quite happy 1-5 years in and then compare those to some of us whom have been nursing for our entire lives, 16 for me. My posts are tough, honest and to the point. My work is difficult as it is... I have no intention of coming here just to "gripe" about nonsense. It's one of the few places I can where others understand.

I'd strongly suggest a solid month or two of reading these boards, they are brutally honest... not exaggerated and what you will face... some piece of every post in your career. The good and the bad. Yes the bad for me is heavier now... but what I post is reality from my own little world so that maybe someone out there can relate to me. when people give kudos... I at least can see others can either understand, agree with me or at least respect what I have to say, on a bad day then I'm not so alone in my issues.

Sure I make good $$... but if you read my posts, you'll see the effects of work on me, how I'm beyond done... and those posts don't even begin to cover what I've lost with my family missing important events, holidays... slept through dinners... missed awards ceremonies ..... I could go on but I'm depressing myself.

My family has given up VERY much for me to nurse... and I've missed a lot. Looking back now... as I'm doing more often... have I known then what I'd give up... I would have chosen a regular job where one bad decision didn't lead to death. That's how serious this profession is and that's why our words can be so strong.

Anyone can graduate and be a nurse... not everyone can nurse for 16 years and still be whole and happy. Food for thought. Thats what nursing really is...

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I think you're painting a really nice picture there. Problem is, I know dozens of BSN RNs who cannot even land a job. The ones that are working aren't making any more than those people I know who earned their Business degrees. A lot of it has to do with the way you market yourself. In my opinion, the 40-65k/year that nursing pays is a slap in the face for what one is subjected to, so unless someone has an insane passion for it, 99/100 they will hate it and be burnt out. Even I had an extreme passion for it, but I am SO glad that I learned in my LPN program that it's NOTHING like the way it's portrayed. I'm still giving it a shot, but I am totally unimpressed with this field so far. It seems like the conditions are getting worse for nurses and the pay is decreasing as more and more programs are opened for things like EKG tech, patient care tech, phlebotomy tech, etc. No one wants to pay a nurse for something they can create a 6 month certificate program for and pay the person $5-10/hr less.

While I realize that there are many GN's that are struggling to enter the workforce, for the experienced nurse, I believe the future is brighter. I have been a nurse for 2 1/2 years and I work PRN, making around $70,000/year. Some of the hospitals in my area are very desperate for nurses, which is increasing the pay. None of my college grad friends make this much, and if they will, it will be after they obtain a graduate degree, not with a 2 year nursing diploma.

[eyeball]

I love, love, love nursing. That is not the problem. The problem is that there are too many times on the job that you cannot do any nursing, or at least decent nursing. How can you when there is no time to even go to the bathroom on a regular basis, let alone take a lunch break? And I wanted so much to make life more bearable for my patients and ease the pain and loneliness of the little old people who have no-one and who would benefit so much from a kind word and some extra attention. Problem is, these little old people don't fill out Press Ganey surveys and bend the ears of the managers with foolish complaints and demands for ridiculous European-spa treatment. THAT (and especially their family members and friends) seem to be what is important. That is why nursing is so hard and so heart-breaking. You just can't do what needs to be done, what should be done, what you went into nursing to do. I hope so much it will change, that the new Institute of Medicine reports, the ANA, the sheer common sense of new graduates who will not stand for dog-eat-dog and tearing down their team-mates for the benefit of administration, will put us back in a position where nursing can be what it is supposed to be again. The world I saw 40 years ago. Instead we turn on each other instead of standing together for our patients. That's why I got out. I hated the kind of whining, frustrated, hateful person I became on the job. I hated this even more than I hated giving up bedside nursing.

This post is the truth. Nursing just isn't much about care. It's about a whole lot of other things but caring is not high on the list of one's daily duties.