Whats to Enjoy about Nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm a student and have been reading up on some of these forums and many, many nurses would leave their jobs if they didn't need the money. Everyone continually talks about how stressful their jobs are based on scheduling, continuing education, pay scales, nurse/patient ratio...etc. I was wondering..why do nurses even bother with work? Why don't they switch professions into something less demanding and as good of pay? What makes you get up in the morning (or evening or night!) to go to work?

Specializes in ICU,ER.

I love the feeling when you get an AMI off the street and you have them to cath lab in less than 15 minutes.

Or the feeling of holding the paddles that shock a person's heart back into rhythm.

Or getting that multi-trauma to the OR in record time.

Knowing that they would have died it if weren't for you.

I love all the wacky people I meet. ( I mean that in a good way)

I still get cheezy about things and I've been doing this for 11 years.

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

1. I like the diversity in nursing. Think about it. If hospital bedside nursing isn't my thing (which it isn't), there's always another avenue to consider.

2. I like the autonomy. In my chosen nursing specialty (hospice), nurses are the care managers.

3. There's the money. For a three-year education, it's the best out there.

4. There's the interaction with the patient and family. It's an opportunity to show some love and walk away a richer person for it. The art of nursing can get lost in the science and technology. I'm especially fond of the art part.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Private Duty Peds.

being able to put a patient at ease, holding their hand during that last breath, hearing a family memember saying " thank you for taking such good care of him/her last night" the list could go on, but these are the most rewarding for me.

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I'm 53 and I have been a nurse for about 1 and a half years. Yes, I was the oldest in my nursing school class.

I like:

1) My 2 day a week schedule. I work 2 12 hours day (which actually becomes 13 hour days). Although I am part-time, I am eligible for health insurance and tuition reimbursement.

2) Most of my co-workers. However, I started out in the ICU, where I did not have such nice co-workers. I am now in Med-surg. The point is, you can usually find your niche.

3) The pace. I like that the day goes fast. I have also lost 10 pounds since starting floor nursing! I can wear my skinny pants again!

4) Being a patient advocate. Spotting something the docs have missed, and making sure they see it, too.

I don't like:

1) The politics and budget cutting at hospitals.

2) Some of the tattling and negative treatment of other nurses in certain floors and units. You have to find a good space to work in.

3) The physical lifting. I make sure to have helpers or techs do a lot of that. I am too old to trash my body for this job. Remember, you don't have to be super nurse!

4) The paperwork is nuts. We spend so much time documenting to cover our butts.

There you have it. Good luck!

Oldiebutgoodie

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Specializes in Lie detection.

i enjoy:

the sincere thank you's from my pt's and knowing that i make a difference in their lives. i get to make that difference by having time and continuity of care with them.

having choices in my career. if you don't like one area of nursing, there are so many others. and so much education! i love to learn an nursing provides that opportunity.

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Specializes in Rehab, LTC, Peds, Hospice.

Just a few years ago I said I loved being a nurse. There's been a lot of changes in my job this year and in my life - the loss of my youngest child which I think really changes your perspective and tolerance. It's been 3 years now and I'm finally starting to get that back but for a while it was just a paycheck.

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Just a few years ago I said I loved being a nurse. There's been a lot of changes in my job this year and in my life - the loss of my youngest child which I think really changes your perspective and tolerance. It's been 3 years now and I'm finally starting to get that back but for a while it was just a paycheck.

I'm so sorry about your loss.

Oldiebutgoodie

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paycheck/benefits

plus i love some of my coworkers.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, ER.

A simple answer to that question.....I love my job! It has been very rewarding to me in the 7 years that I have been a nurse.

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Specializes in NICU.
Just a few years ago I said I loved being a nurse. There's been a lot of changes in my job this year and in my life - the loss of my youngest child which I think really changes your perspective and tolerance. It's been 3 years now and I'm finally starting to get that back but for a while it was just a paycheck.

I am so sorry about your child. My heart goes out to you.

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Ah, what do I enjoy about nursing? The people, of course!! I go in to little 'Mary's' room in the morning to do her blood sugar - sing a little song to wake her up, she sings back, we chat for a minute.

Then I go see 'Jenny' - we talk for a bit - I was responsible for getting the foley cath removed, and bladder training done, and she's doing great - and she's SO happy to have it out!:)

I have a lot of reasons to leave, but a lot of reasons to stay, and those are the people I become close to.

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So far, I'm pretty happy with the choice I made in a second career. But, if I were independently wealthy, I probably wouldn't work as a nurse....or any other traditional, good paying, good benefit job for that matter! :coollook:

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