The positive side of nursing...PLEASE!!!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everybody. This is my first day on this site and I've read a lot of interesting threads. I'm sad to say that I am SO discouraged right now! I've worked in a healthcare setting for 11 years and I know a lot of nurses. I know that nursing is a grueling job and that there are a lot of negative things about it, especially with the healthcare industry being affected so negatively by the economy. I've always wanted to be a nurse. Two children, one divorce and one remarriage later...I've been accepted into an ADN program, due to start this Fall. It took me over TEN years to get all of my prerequisite and supportive classes done and I'm finally in with a 3.6 GPA. I'm old enough to not have that wide-eyed, naive outlook on nursing, but would LOVE to hear some of the positive aspects of nursing from some of the RN's on this side. I implore you to share some of the "up" sides of your jobs...please! :lol2:

And on MOST days, I do love my job. I went into nursing for the flexible shifts and hours (I only work Sat and Sun nights, get paid for 3, with full bennies). I went into nursing to be fulfilled and knowing I'm making a difference in somoene's life. And oh yeah, the pay!

I agree with this, even though nursing kind of fell into my lap, when I was joining the Army (first as a medic/EMT, then later I became an LPN). I have now been an LPN for 14 years, and have one more semester before I complete my RN program.

Over the years, I have worked in many different areas. And for the most part, I have enjoyed all of my experiences. I am thankful that I'm in a field that I have a variety of areas to choose from, if I get bored. I'm glad I make decent pay, and can still earn an extra income (through agency) if I need it. And I like that I can make a difference in someone's life, no matter how small or "cheesy" it may seem to others.

Of course being a nurse is not without issues. But then again, isn't every other job out there the same deal? They may not have the same problems, but they do have them. And as others have pointed out, the horrible job market isn't exclusive to nursing.

So if this is what you have your heart set on, don't let the negative remarks and venting on these boards scare you away. Besides, I don't think that most of the people on here truly HATE nursing, otherwise I doubt they would torture themselves by continuing to work in the field. They just use the board as a means to vent.

It's good that we are able to share experiences, both good and bad. That way those considering pursuing nursing, can see that things are not always rosey. But that doesn't mean that it's always a horrific experience either.

Specializes in LTC/Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

A few things that I shared a while ago, but am happy to share again. I've worked primarily in long term care in my short career (2 1/2 years), but also in rehab/TCU, and med/surg in a small town hospital. Highlights include:

-Supportive co-workers, who when I left my last job told me I'd be missed and that they've learned a lot from me! Humbling and lovely to hear.

-Last summer after I returned from vacation, two of my favorite TCU pts. heard me outside of their room. I heard one say to the other "looks like our girl is back! Sunny is that you?" Absolutely melted my heart to be "their girl"

-Having our house MD write a letter to management about my skills and the nursing interventions I did for a dying pt. Knowing that I gave her 100% the best care and comfort in her last 24 hours.

-Having a family decide to move a resident who had been our facility for 8 years change their mind. This came about when the staff started putting together a list for the new facility of her likes, dislikes, and how we knew her needs since she has dysphasia. When list grew to two pages and the family read it, they changed their minds. I don't work with this resident as much I used to, and now when I do she always tells me she loves me :-)

-Having a TCU pt tell me "You made the difference".

Most days, I love what I do. Some days are very, very hard and I can't wait to leave, want to pull my hair out, etc. Thankfully, the good days make up for the bad.

Hi everybody. This is my first day on this site and I've read a lot of interesting threads. I'm sad to say that I am SO discouraged right now! I've worked in a healthcare setting for 11 years and I know a lot of nurses. I know that nursing is a grueling job and that there are a lot of negative things about it, especially with the healthcare industry being affected so negatively by the economy. I've always wanted to be a nurse. Two children, one divorce and one remarriage later...I've been accepted into an ADN program, due to start this Fall. It took me over TEN years to get all of my prerequisite and supportive classes done and I'm finally in with a 3.6 GPA. I'm old enough to not have that wide-eyed, naive outlook on nursing, but would LOVE to hear some of the positive aspects of nursing from some of the RN's on this side. I implore you to share some of the "up" sides of your jobs...please! :lol2:
Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Don't let the negative scare you, use it. Learn from it. I am glad I come here and read the vents and rants. It helps me to cope with my own feelings and I learn from them too.. I am new nurse also. I started working in Feb on a very busy renal floor. The pts are the sickest of the sick but I love it. I love the pt care and interaction with them (yes, even the mean ones LOL). I learn everyday and I enjoy the people I work with. I don't think most of the nurses here don't like nursing; I think it is how the hospital operates and the amount of pressure and responsibility they put on us and still expect high customer service from ALL of the pts. The reality is on my floor I spend more time doing the paperwork than I do with the actual pts and I carry a 7 pt load every night. The paperwork and a lot of the fluff work they have us do takes away from what we love to do which is pt care and education.. So please understand, it is not nursing that is so negative it is the politics. Follow your dream. There are rewards to nursing even if you never see them, you DO make a difference in someones life; even if it just a warm smile to a scared pt.

Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

Let's see, positive things about being a nurse....you can work in different specialties. You can work in hospitals, offices, homes, schools, and businesses. You can work flexible schedules, so if weekends work best for you, you can probably find a job that meets your needs.

Moments in my career--

Comforting a mother who just lost her *3rd* anacephalic baby(no skull, very sad.) I had just lost a baby earlier that week, so it felt very natural to sit with her while we both cried.

Cleaning and dressing the dead body of a young man who was shot in the head. I didn't want his mother to see him the way he came in.

Delivering a baby in the back seat of a car on a cold December night. I can still remember the steam rising off the baby's body.

Doing CPR on a 12yr old and feeling his life drain away.:crying2:

Saving the life of a 9yo whose mother accidently gave her 70 units of insulin(you read that right: 7-0 :eek:)

Intervening for a 13yo girl whose mother beat the crap out of her for not fixing green beans at dinner the night before.

Caring for a very mentally handicapped 4yo in the ICU so that his exhausted parents could go home and sleep. I had no idea how precious this gift was until I had my own profoundly mentally handicapped son.

So, yeah, there's a lot of crap in nursing, I tell you no lie. But for me, there's an awful lot of great moments, too.

Specializes in Psych.

You don't ever have to take work HOME with you! :yeah:

(Do you realize how 'part of the job' that is for so many other professions these days?)

Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.

I love my litttle old confused dementia patients. I love the smiles and hugs I get when I hold their hands. I love the way thier eyes light up when I sing a made up song to them and do a little dance. They are just so sweet (until they start pulling there IV lines out).

I love when a patient asks if I will be thier nurse tomorrow. I just love making them feel good and cared about. I love that my job is never boring and that I am not watching a clock all evening.

I love that I can choose to go to another area of nursing if I need a change of scenery. I also love that I am learning something new everday as a nurse.

I am glad for this thread. It reminds me of the good parts of my job.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

flexible scheduling -- i get to choose my own schedule.

i get to work weekends and have days off during the week. it's so much more fun to do lunch and a movie on a tuesday afternoon than dinner and a movie on saturday night with everyone else in the world!

i get four days a week off!

i can leave work at work. i do my 12 hours and go home.

interesting, challenging work.

interesting, challenging co-workers.

interesting, challenging patients.

i'm gathering lots of material for the book i'm going to write.

i'm experienced enough to have lots to offer the orientees i precept.

knowing i can make a big difference in someones life -- or make their death a little easier.

i miss the rush hour commute. i rarely have to drive in traffic.

good benefits and my salary isn't really that bad despite the fact that men make a gazillion dollars for playing baseball or football and i think i'm contributing more than they are!

Specializes in PICU/NICU/ER.

Oh my gosh, thank you everyone for your replies!! I love reading all of your stories and advice. I'm so glad I started this thread!! You are all AWESOME!! :redbeathe

Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.
Let's see, positive things about being a nurse....you can work in different specialties. You can work in hospitals, offices, homes, schools, and businesses. You can work flexible schedules, so if weekends work best for you, you can probably find a job that meets your needs.

Moments in my career--

Comforting a mother who just lost her *3rd* anacephalic baby(no skull, very sad.) I had just lost a baby earlier that week, so it felt very natural to sit with her while we both cried.

Cleaning and dressing the dead body of a young man who was shot in the head. I didn't want his mother to see him the way he came in.

Delivering a baby in the back seat of a car on a cold December night. I can still remember the steam rising off the baby's body.

Doing CPR on a 12yr old and feeling his life drain away.:crying2:

Saving the life of a 9yo whose mother accidently gave her 70 units of insulin(you read that right: 7-0 :eek:)

Intervening for a 13yo girl whose mother beat the crap out of her for not fixing green beans at dinner the night before.

Caring for a very mentally handicapped 4yo in the ICU so that his exhausted parents could go home and sleep. I had no idea how precious this gift was until I had my own profoundly mentally handicapped son.

So, yeah, there's a lot of crap in nursing, I tell you no lie. But for me, there's an awful lot of great moments, too.

your post made me cry! the happy kind---the cry that makes me know why we do what we do. thanks!:up:

Specializes in Med-Surg; Telemetry; School Nurse pk-8.

You have received many positive replies, which is great. You need to know that there are many things to love about nursing. However, it is a really tough job. Your good days will be really very, very good. Your bad days will be ... well, you get the idea. After that bad day, you will come here to gripe. The venting will help keep you sane. So that's why you see more negative posts than positive posts. It's not that they out-weigh the great things, it's just a coping mechanism to get past that rough day, and on to a better day. Best wishes to you as you start your career as a nursling! :redpinkhe

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