What Do You Love About Nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am going to be starting the nursing program in January. I recently had an orientation at my school, which seemed (to me) to be devoted exclusively to informing us how difficult the program would be, and how we would have no life, and how we would suffer tremendously, etc., etc. I came home feeling pretty awful. Then I joined this wonderful site to see if anyone had any tips to offer to new students, and to look around to hear what other nurses had to say.

Wow! It seems like everyone hates their jobs/bosses/co-workers/patients. No one gets paid, everyone is exhausted, drained, burnt out, and miserable. Suddenly, nursing seems like the worst job on the planet.

I literally started crying. It seems like I am doomed to be miserable for two years in school, and subsequently for the rest of my life in my job.

SO...can anyone tell me something they actually like about nursing?

Nursing is not doom and gloom! Yes sometimes in schoool you have to "burn the midnight oil" so to speak. I never regret once going to nursing school. There are some things I wish I could change. If you're in an AD program finish and go straight for your BSN. Don't wait 20 years before going back to school. Nursing is rewarding. Blessings on your adventure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Orthopedics, Med-Surg.

Truthfully? I can't. The happiest day of my life was when I retired at the age of 56 and realized I would never have to work again. I had come to despise my job and my employer. I liked some of my patients and almost all of my coworkers. But not the administration and certainly not what the work had become.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you've got a strong work ethic, plenty of patience and you can find a good solid team to work with, it will be the best decision you ever made. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's an awesome challenge, and you have a ton of flexibility with your schedule and your career. Not to mention the options available to experienced nurses who are willing to undergo some extra training/schooling; you can pretty much write your own ticket.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

Nursing has been an interesting, challenging career where I know that I have made a difference in people's lives. I have enjoyed flexible scheduling, solidly middle class pay, excellent benefits and good working conditions. I've met a lot of fascinating people, have made some lifelong friends and even had the chance to interact with a few celebrities. If I could go back and do it over, I probably would not change a thing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nursing school orientation is the "shot that kids get" meaning the fear is not as bad as the actual shot.

I love being a nurse, sometimes forums are outlets for us to vent to people who actually know what you're going through.

There is nothing like the genuine thanks you get from a patient, or knowing that you've helped eased someone's pain. Being part of a family support system of a dying patient. Everything in life has its ups and downs, but in my opinion nursing is the most gratifying career I have ever had.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi,

I am about to start my second semester of an ADN program. I will say that I felt the exact same way after my first orientation. I left feeling overwhelmed and suddenly found myself thinking about failure and I hadn't even started yet. I survived first semester and I wouldn't have been able to do it without my fellow students. You will always hear negative regarding jobs, pay, coworkers and bosses in any profession. The important thing to remember in nursing school is that you are surrounded by peers and staff that want to succeed and to see you succeed. If you all work together then in the end you will leave knowing you are part of a group of new nurses that will bring positivity and compassion to the nursing world and with that you may change the mindset of those that may be feeling down and out about their nursing job. My suggestion is to refrain from asking people that aren't in the same place you are currently, because you will always get an answer you may not like. I just completed my orientation for second semester and again I left thinking omg, I'm not going to pass second semester. I say that because the staff told us that first semester was just to see if we could handle it and that second semester is when the hard part really starts. Now I don't agree with that approach, but having succeeded in first and going beyond the expectations I had for myself I just brushed off the comments and told myself that no words will stop me from pursuing this dream!

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm wondering if this is your first job? Because I think just about everyone who is employed has had these feelings at one point or another. That being said, I do think nursing has a different stress level and burn-out factor than others.

Before becoming a nurse, I worked in Finance. I made a lot of money but remember being frustrated by the "critical" projects that meant I had to delay my weekends, vacations, nights out, to meet some arbitrary deadline. I remember stating that nothing I did was "life or death" but that's how these deadlines were conveyed to us. I loved the stress, but not the way it imposed on my personal time.

Now I'm in a job that actually can be "life or death". I still love the stress, the challenges, the satisfaction of getting everything done during a shift, but most importantly I love making a real difference in someone's life - even if they don't realize it, appreciate it or thank me for it.

Don't come into nursing expecting to be thanked - you need to draw your own satisfaction from this job and not necessarily from your patients. I'm hoping some of what is being said during orientation is to try and weed out those who are entering the field for a pay check. And to prepare you for those shifts where no matter what you do, it isn't enough. After those shifts, you will feel burnt out, frustrated and exhausted.

But if you are entering nursing to make a difference - even without the gratitude of others - you will find satisfaction, a sense of accomplishment, pride and maybe even and heartfelt, tearful "thank you". Heck, you might even find yourself picking up an extra shift to help out, learn more and for the time and a half.

I make a fraction of what I once made, and I wouldn't trade what I am doing now. In fact, I wish I'd started sooner...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical/Surgical/Telemetry RN.

Thank you for this! I believe you have to go into nursing for the right reasons. No matter what give it all for your patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Clocking out!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Med Surg, Telemetry, Education.

I'm sorry that this is all making you feel this way. Nursing is wonderful. School is tough and so is working in the nursing field. But like any job people complain and vent. It makes it much easier to deal with some of the hard stuff that is going on on a daily basis. I've learned that no matter where you go those are the things people complain about everywhere (boss, hours, not getting paid enough, customers being rude, etc). But there are wonderful patients that you think about and say this is why your doing it, for the amazing co-workers you have and make the job fun, and for all the marvelous opportunities you have to increase your knowledge, see things no one else gets to see, help develop new techniques to assist others getting better, working different populations of people. Nursing may be a job for some but I truly love it, even if I complain about it at the same time. I couldn't imagine and don't want to about not being a nurse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi,

congratulations on getting into nursing school! I just finished my first clinical semester and although I don't have Career advice I can tell you it is not as bad as it sounds. I go to a top rated program that is considered very rigorous and challenging and the worst part of nursing school is the complainers! If I could change anything about my first semester it would be to either avoid or build a strong enough armor to ignore all the complainers in my class. The material is not hard and in some ways is even intuitive if you are a thinking feeling human being (and by your post it sounds like you are). I studied a few hours a week and besides the busy work and group assignments actual studying did not consume my life. I would suggest you really hard to build a self care regimen before you start school and try your best to stick to it. I slacked off on exercing and being loving towards myself and I'm feeling the effects of it now. And it is not because of nursing school, it's simply because I did not prepare and manage my time well enough. Don't let the hysteria get to you!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Follow your gut. Crying now is nothing like crying for the 27 years. I am 64 years old and looking for a job. Go into computer health care. Medical coding. Healthcare management anything but pt care. Nurses eat their own. It doesn't matter if you are seasoned or brand new if.you put off a vib.people will latch onto it and jealousy begins. You could be the most benign person but if someone has low self esteem you will be their target. Please listen. Or learn the hard way while you are working a job that you hate and pay off a student loan you wished you spent the money on another major.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment