Scared Pre-Nursing Student: Is Nursing as Bad as I Hear? - Page 3

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  1. Mar 29, '11 by
    Quote from Ivy Black
    One thing I have seen a lot of on these boards is discouragement directed to the students and/or new nurses who are "niave" enough to have some enthusiasm towards the profession. That's pretty eff'ed up. If you have been doing it for years and have become jaded, (and I don't know if you have or not) that's fine. It is hard not to be "somewhat judgemental" when most of the post you read on these boards sound bitter, cynical and angry. It makes you ask yourself if nursing is this bad, why are these people still doing it? The craziest part is, most of these "I hate my job" nurses say that they have been nursing 5 years or better. I don't think it is "naive or judgemental" to begin to question what must be (forgive me) wrong with people who would go on 5-35 years doing something they claim to despise enough to "warn" anyone even remotely interested in it, not to do it. I don't know about you, but if I hate even as much as a 30 minute TV program, I change the channel. With that being said, I really have to wonder if nursing is really that bad or if some of the nurses here are just without goals that would take them beyond the apparently "hellish awfulness" of bedside nursing. I think after reading approx. 300 "I hate this. I hate this. I hate this" posts over the past 3 hours, me asking if these people are crazy, unmotivated or correct in what they say is an honest and fair question.

    I think some of the nurses here, instead of telling us pre-nursing and nursing students and new grads to "just wait until our lives too have been effed up, broke down, frazzled, ruined or destroyed by the dark, filthy, demon filled dungeon that is the inner stinch of this our great nursing profession", should place themselves in our shoes and consider how either terrifying or completely insane all of this "I hate this job that I have been doing for the last 15 years by my own choice" must sound. All I want is a sound answer that does not attack my passion, my goals or my "niave; judgemental" views and there seems to be a lot of that going around on this site. As a newbie, I must say, this site seems terribly negative and non-inspiring. I came here thinking I could learn and read some insightful and encouraging posts from seasoned field professionals. Honestly, there just seems to be a lot of whining. I am just trying to make some sense of all this. Considering the posts that are frequently posted here, again, I think my views are very fair. There are pros and cons to every job.

    Ivy Bee :heartbeat

    First, I have never seen a thread here started by someone with the intent of "discouraging" anyone from becoming a nurse. Any posts that I've witnessed, other than vents, that could be viewed as discouraging have been in response to a thread started by someone asking about other's opinions of nursing. So if you don't want honest answers, don't ask the question to begin with. As for the vents, every HUMAN needs to vent about something once in a while, and I guarantee that at some point you will too.

    Second, there are ways to ask "honest" questions without the judgement, but that's not what you did. The naivty is expected from someone still quite young and brand new to nursing, and has nothing to do with your enthusism, but the fact that that is what you attributed it to underscores my position.
    ashleew84, rnccf2007, juzme, and 1 other like this.
  2. Mar 29, '11 by
    Quote from GM2RN
    First, I have never seen a thread here started by someone with the intent of "discouraging" anyone from becoming a nurse. Any posts that I've witnessed, other than vents, that could be viewed as discouraging have been in response to a thread started by someone asking about other's opinions of nursing. So if you don't want honest answers, don't ask the question to begin with. As for the vents, every HUMAN needs to vent about something once in a while, and I guarantee that at some point you will too.

    Second, there are ways to ask "honest" questions without the judgement, but that's not what you did. The naivty is expected from someone still quite young and brand new to nursing, and has nothing to do with your enthusism, but the fact that that is what you attributed it to underscores my position.
    No, I am absolutely sure no one is intentionally discouraging anyone. What I am saying however, is that the collective image of many of these post is "discouraging". I had a friend come on this site and leave horrified. In fact, she is the one who told me about this site. She actually dropped out of her program behind the "cold feet" she got after reading some of this stuff (though I still feel that my friend was being extreme to say the least). Of course to you, a professional, it's just " nurses venting" but to us students it sounds like a "red flag". I must say, I was very "concerned" after reading many of these posts. I have taken out loans and expended much energy in my classes. I have absolutely no job security now. I have not had a "good position" since 2008. And, in that corporate office position I experienced extreme racism, bullying, back biting, name calling, racial slurs, mental abuse; it was unreal. It was hell actually. Pure hell. I am looking to nursing to get me out of the not-so-great position I am already in. The last thing I want to hear is that all these classes I'm getting A's in and all these loans I have taken out are just so I can feel like killing myself every day after my RN shift (should I choose to bedside nurse). Clearly, I went through that in my previous corporate office experience (stress related pneumonia, skin infections, hair loss, constant cold, insomnia, crying --- you name it.) I am putting alot of me into this and I am working very hard. This is very serious to me and it is quite alarming to hear so much "I wish I wasn't doing this". It makes you asks a lot of questions of yourself, God and everyone else. Sometimes when nurses "vent", they don't consider what this may sound like to students.

    Also, I didn't judge anyone in my initial post.

    Ivy Bee :heartbeat
  3. Mar 29, '11 by
    I think nursing, at the bedside at least, has the distinction of being on the list of careers which can be both the worst and the most rewarding at the same time. I think I can say with all honesty that unless you've done it, you'd never believe what it's actually like. I'm lucky enough that I've found a "home" floor to work on that is incredible in general...nowhere is perfect...and I am able to go to work with a smile on my face every shift. Some nights it's harder than others to keep that smile there, but I never dread going back. A lot of people are not that fortunate, however. And healthcare is going through a weird time right now.

    I'd like to add, as a side note, that in my area of the country at least $25-50/hr is a little...unreasonabe...to expect for pay. Brand new RNs @ the hospital get just over $20/hr...and as a LPN, with 11 yrs experience, I'm not even there yet. I have a good friend who is a bed coordinator/shift supervisor for our entire hospital, and even she's not making near the $50 mark yet...and she's getting paid more now than she was when she was a interim unit manager.
    rnccf2007, Ayvah, and GM2RN like this.
  4. Guide
    Mar 29, '11 by
    You need to remember that many people come here to vent. It is difficult to talk to people that are not nurses, only another nurse would understand. It doesn't mean that we don't love our jobs, but we all have "those days".

    The OP needs to remember that she should get a good grounding in bedside nursing before moving on to be an educator. There is nothing worse than being preached at by an educator that hasn't actually walked in our shoes for a while. The suggestion that nurses that ADN nurses with less options are the ones that are unhappy in nursing is preposterous.

    Yes nursing is a wonderful job, but it is also stressful,exhuasting and frustrating at times.The OP has rosy intentions of a stellar career but reality can sometimes smack you across the back of the head when you least expect it.
    Last edit by loriangel14 on Mar 29, '11
    ashleew84, rnccf2007, juzme, and 5 others like this.
  5. Mar 29, '11 by
    Ouch...I just read the rest of the thread...

    Honey, this is a site for nurses and students to come to for all things nursing related. I rarely post about the awfulness that occurs at my job, but offending someone's sensibilities is the least of my concerms when I do. I'm searching for empathy, constructive criticism, and advice from others who have been through the same.

    And if you're seeing "red flags" here, well, yep...you can't miss them. Better to go into it with you eyes open while you still have a chance to change your mind. Not everyone has that option, which is why so many people who have come to hate bedside nursing, legitimally IMO, are stuck. When you have a family to provide for, personal satisfaction in career choice often takes the back burner.

    It would be awesome if nursing was all sunshine and roses, but it's not. At all. It sucks hard core on a regular basis....and this is from someone who can honestly say that I love my job and career and would never consider doing anything else. It's not "whining" to come here and vent and look for support...it's the only safe place that many have where there are oodles of people who know exactly what they're talking about. Just like you can choose to change the channel on the TV, you can choose which threads to focus on here...but don't expect those of us who have been there, done that, to moderate our "behavior" b/c being honest about our experiences might frighten people out of pursuing nursing as a career. No offense intended towards your friend or others who might have changed their mind after coming here, but if they can't even handle READING about what we go through, it's probably better that they got out before investing their blood sweat and tears in a nursing degree.
    ashleew84, rnccf2007, juzme, and 11 others like this.
  6. Mar 29, '11 by
    OK, I am going to throw in my ,

    Nursing is a profession that we see the very best and the very worst in people. Most people just think that is limited to our patients, it's not. It is our patients, fellow nurses, doctors, CNAs, CMAs, NPs, etc... Our job is to deal with extremes of human nature and sometime it is really hard for that not to leave some sort of mark on you. Some days our jobs are so physically, emotionally, and psychologically draining and stressful that we need somewhere to go to vent to someone who has been there with us. It is not the side of nursing that most students consider when they are working to get that hard earned license, but it really does need to be acknowledged. I was always told that it takes a special kind of person to be a nurse. I see that is true now more then ever. Most nurses now are feeling overworked, under appreciated, disrespected, and "dumped on". I have a feeling that a great majority of nurses have a genuine reason to feel this way.

    I personally love where I work and am lucky to work with a group of people that get along. I know that my team members have my back, just like they know that I have theirs. Right now that seems to be more the exception then the rule, and that makes me sad. I encourage anyone who wants to enter into the field of nursing. But I think that it is a decision that needs to be entered into with your eyes wide open. It is what you make it.
    ashleew84, rnccf2007, MoLee228, and 4 others like this.
  7. Mar 29, '11 by
    I don't usually post but I've been thinking about some of what you have written and in one of your posts you mention that maybe ADN's have limited options and may be unhappy. While I admire your drive and passion and commend you for it the previous post is true, if you can't read about it then you proboly can't handle the reality of the profession. I am working on my ADN, not because I don't have the drive to complete my BSN but for personal reasons and I already have a MSM so another degree to put behind my name isn't really important. Secondly not to insult teachers of the trade but have you ever heard the saying "Those who teach can't do"? I think you need the the ground work as a hands on nurse to make you exceptional in teaching. While I see your point in reference to the negativity in some of the posts all I can say is the truth is ugly sometimes, take it for what it is. And if you think that being insulted and descriminated in the corporate world is bad just wait. I have worked in the streets as a Medic for 16 years in the inner city. I've been beat up, spit on, held hostage and had weapons pulled on me not to mention having racial slurs yelled to my face. You think working with low income, underserved communities will be a walk in the park then I challenge you to go to your local Fire Department or ER and volunteer a few hours in the inner city environment. Those nurses who you perceive on here to be negative are venting their reality. I think anyone in the medical field will go through that phase, it comes with experience. I'm sure that any one of those same nurses can tell you about an experience where in a moment of complete chaos they witnessed a miracle that made it all worth it. I to have grand visions of what I want to do when I finish my nursing degree but I feel blessed that I am going into it with experience and knowledge of the other side of it. Every career has it's down side, nursing is no different. In fact it can be worse sometimes, people in this profession will see things that no one should have to see. Cut them some slack for pouring out their frustrations into words, at least until you can talk from experience. Good luck in your journey, hopefully the path you have chosen is the right one and you find happiness.
    rnccf2007, Ivy Black, jennybean14, and 4 others like this.
  8. Mar 29, '11 by
    IMO, it is a little unrealistic for you to expect nurses to censor what they say in their posts because the students might get the wrong idea. Some days nurses say "I hate my job" because they are having a bad day while others do say it because they mean it. For those that mean it... it isn't as easy as you say to "change the channel if you don't like what is on TV." Maybe some of these "I hate my job" nurses would love to do something else but can't. Maybe they are up to their eyeballs with student loans, maybe they are the only person in their house earning an income, maybe they are single parents with no outside help, maybe they can't afford to go back to school for another job that pays as much, or maybe they are saying it because they are truly unhappy people.
    Whatever the case it, you shouldn't let a bunch of vents on a web site discourage you. If you want to be a nurse - the go for it and the heck with what others say. BUT you do have to be realistic about it. Nursing isn't just taking care of sweet little old lady and cuddling cute babies. You can't always control who your patients are, you can't always control who you work for/with, and you can't control other people's attitudes. What you can control it you. Keep a smile on your face and keep pursuing your goal!
    And just for the record... you should really consider the small number of nurses who post on AN versus the number of nurses actually in the profession... and don't forget that nurses from other countries also post here. Do the math.... AllNurses is a very small sample of a huge population!
    rnccf2007, Ivy Black, GM2RN, and 1 other like this.
  9. Mar 29, '11 by
    I don't think nursing is as bad as you hear. Although it depends on where you work. You have to understand people use this as a place to vent when they have had a bad day. I have done it. I love my job, my coworkers, not to say I don't get annoyed with them at times. Noone has a great day everyday. I think I get paid adequately for my job, now if I got paid more I would be even happier but who wouldn't. Don't let anything on here scare you away from nursing. Now, if I won the lottery I would quit in a minute but I am happy being a nurse.
    Ivy Black likes this.
  10. Mar 29, '11 by
    The people who are miserable are always the most vocal. I love my job.
    Ivy Black likes this.