the pros & cons of being a nurse

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i came across a post, some saying they regret becoming one, some saying the love what they do. this post was from a while back, so im trying to get new imput on it. how do you feel about it? what is your daily rountine like? etc. etc.

all opinions welcomed and appreciated :D

It all depends...some days I think I should have gone to truck driving school instead !! Other days I am very proud to be part of the profession. As a rule, most days are good. It usually is not the work or the actual patients that get you down, but some of the idiots you are forced to work with, the lazy nurses, the "super"nurses, and the administrative crud that goes on in most places. These are the downers! Otherwise, it is nice to think you are helping people (even criminals--I work in a correctional facility). Somedays are cake...you think, "I can't believe I'm getting paid this much to do this job"...other days are the PITS...you are screaming "I DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH TO PUT UP WITH THIS NONSENSE!!!":rotfl: :banghead:

it worries me that so many nurses have talked about the people they work with in a negative way. just as everyone else, i too, want to be treated with respect. there are so many nurses who have talked about doctors talking down to them, head nurses, etc. etc. where ever i end up working in the future, id hope to get along with them. i wont get ahead of myself because naturally there are people who you just dont click with, but i think you get what im saying. thank you for your honesty!

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On a scale of 1-10 pros and cons

cons:

working holidays, weekends ......... 7

cleaning puke, bm, mucous ......... 6

disgruntled family members ......... 6

arrogant doctors, staff ......... 6

low pay ......... 6

upper level management ......... 6

no respect ......... 9

pros:

saving a life ........... 10+

seeing a newborn @ 2.8lbs,

turn into a thriving healthy baby ......... 10+

seeing a vent pt, breathing on

their own and no longer requiring

assistance ......... 10+

a recovering CVA pt, ambulating ......... 10+

good co-workers who carry

their own load and then assist

you when they can ......... 10+

gratitude from pts, or family ......... 10+

appreciation from other medical

feild workers ......... 10+

I am sure you can think of more, but when I add my scores up, being a nurse

out weighs not being a nurse!!!

just my honest opinion

this was extremely helpful, seeing a lot of aspects and how high/low it is to you. thank you.

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Well, I think I'm burning out already and I'm only a nurse since the end of June. I don't think it's for me... I'm not a patient strong enough person to deal with it all, which is my problem. A lot of times at work I'll have a kid screaming or getting upset over something like the pulse ox probe, and I'll just be thinking, "why don't you just SHUT UP, this is NOT that big a deal!!!"

I think my expectations were too high, of what nursing would be like and of my own capabilities. I don't know what my problem is. I seem to lose a lot of my compassion on the job... not in how I act to the patients but in the way I think, for sure!! I get extremely fed up with parents, with patients, etc., even though I KNOW they are under stress/anxious(parents), or don't really understand what's going on (kids). There are some kids I do love. But seems to me like there are many spoiled brats too. Go ahead and flame me please... I really know I deserve it. I'm being serious. But to all the parents who say... "I don't know HOW you all do this job!!!" I'm saying, well, I don't either know how these nurses stick around... they are amazing people which I will never be!! I may just need to get into another field of nursing. I do love most kids, but maybe I'm just not meant to take care of sick ones.

But I think if you are able to keep a positive attitude towards the profession and be realistic about the difficulty and stress of it, especially at first, then you will do well and end up enjoying it. Go into it with your eyes open and really research the positions you're applying for, and don't just take your first job offer because you're so excited! (that's what I did)

in the past ive seen how patient/nurturing nurses can be and its really something else. i on the otherhand sometimes wont be able to hold my tongue, which puts me in a rut when it comes to this job. you can try to understand the parents, kids, people, but at the same time youd wish they would understand its hard on both parts. you want to help, but with a parent next to you, questioning, yelling, being nurotic, doesnt make things easier for anymore. i hope you find yourself in a place you enjoy more.

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with most jobs, i think i can even say all, youll find yourself smiling, happy with everything, then the following day comes around and you want to pull your hair out. as someone said, the people with the extreme negativity was probably venting, and so i am glad i made this forum because its showed me a complete different side. from the looks of it, most enjoy it. thank you for your time and honesty! its very much appreciated.

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Im not a nurse yet but I am still in school for it. I read this for my future career and I think that it sounds fun with what you all are saying. There are a lot of mean people in the world speaking about the arrogant doctors and staff but heck with em huh? I cant wait to be a nurse. How long does a nursing school usually take? I have only started is why I am asking. I have taken Anatomy & Physiology 1, and my pre reqs so far. How long until I am nurse, does anyone know? Missy May

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I am a hospice nurse and absolutely love it. I have never regretted becoming a nurse. I love the bonds I form with my patients and their families.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I enjoy taking care of people, getting them well, relieving their pain.

I also enjoy making a difference through good assessment skills and intervention. Such as a patient vomits and taking it a step further and realizing they just had an MI.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

Being a nurse is an awesome job. It's very flexible and if you get tired of what you're doing there's always another direction to go. I have done doctors office, Nursing Home, Hospital, Home Health, Private Duty. Each one has it's own specific rewards and challenges.

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from a patient and hopeful future nurse (nurseing school in 1-3 years hopefully)

Top seven reasons to become a nurse

7. Cleaning up a patient after they get sick on themselves because they have just had surgery so they can't move their head quickly enough to get sick over the side of the bed and (hopefully) knowing without them telling you since they can't becuase they are drugged up with pain meds that they are grateful.

6. You get to help someone feel better physically

5. You get to teach people how to care for themselves better

4. You get to work in an "exciting" envirnment

3. You get to help families through tought times.

2. You get to help someone feel better emotionally

1. You get to influence how a person who has problems feel better about themselves.

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Wow, it is nice to know I'm not alone here. I have come real close to changing my major from BSN to something all together different this past week (I'm an LPN working in home health/hospice.) I get so discouraged sometimes, but all in all, I always come home from work thinking I made a difference in someone's life. It has made a difference hearing from other nurses.:)

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It all depends...some days I think I should have gone to truck driving school instead !! Other days I am very proud to be part of the profession. As a rule, most days are good. It usually is not the work or the actual patients that get you down, but some of the idiots you are forced to work with, the lazy nurses, the "super"nurses, and the administrative crud that goes on in most places. These are the downers! Otherwise, it is nice to think you are helping people (even criminals--I work in a correctional facility). Somedays are cake...you think, "I can't believe I'm getting paid this much to do this job"...other days are the PITS...you are screaming "I DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH TO PUT UP WITH THIS NONSENSE!!!":rotfl: :banghead:

:yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat:

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Im not being gross or anything but whats it like to clean up stuff after the patients? I am as said before a nurse to be, and i was just watching TLC and there was a lady there that came into the er with earth worms all over in her arm where there was a huge gash. Does stuff like this really happen? If so........holy cow what Ive comin to me lol......Missy May

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