Are you sure about your decision to become a Nurse?

portland_guy · Mar 20, 2003

Funny you should bring this up. Sometimes I read the posts on here and I am scared that I am getting into the wrong profession!!! Maybe I should just stay in my cubicle and sit in front of my computer for the next 25 years. Oh yeah....I need a change. Even if I only nurse for a few years and switch to something else, it will be a great learning experience, or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

CountrifiedRN · Mar 20, 2003

I think one of the things to keep in mind is that this site is a place where many nurses come to vent, so you will hear alot of different opinions. I've also seen threads that have some really heartfelt and touching stories.

Personally, I know this is the right decision for me. There are ups and downs in every profession, but I think in nursing there is an emotional element involved that is not part of other professions, so the highs and lows are made that much more intense. I know that I'm in for some really bad days, and some really good days, and I just plan on crossing those bridges as I come to them.

Have you had any experience as a CNA or as a volunteer? If not, maybe you should do that over the summer to make sure that this is really what you want.

Regarding the shortage, pay, and hours...that is something that I hope I can be a part of changing for the better once I become a nurse.

RN1263 · Mar 20, 2003

i'm in the application process for lpn & i'm very excited . i worked at a hosp. before as a tech & the nurses i worked w/ didn't seem unhappy. i'm going for lpn & because the pay isn't as good as rn i'll probably do agency when i have a year under my belt also it's another way of avoiding the politics, working weekends & holidays

hope this helps

Love-A-Nurse · Mar 20, 2003

personally, i would think most would feel unsure about considering leaving their "comfort zone" into a "world" of the "unknown" and it's normal.

it would be helpful to realize no matter the profession, pros and cons exsit.

welcome and what ever you decide, i do wish you all the best.

/~MaryLuAn~/ · Mar 20, 2003

Hello Teronicaweaver! I am on first class of nurssing colleg and

I must say You moved a very good subject. I think this problem is very popular right now. It is necessary to realize every pros and cons of this profession. First of all and the most important is - "calling". Nursing is a hard work and to make us happy we have to know what we chose, to avoid dissappointment and prevent our patient to become disaffected to us. This profession needs lots of sacrifice maybe thats why there is so many complaints connected with pay and working hours , they dont feel respect for what they do. And what do You think about this problem ?

taronicaweaver · Mar 20, 2003

I think that any profession where you're dealing with people would be a taxing career. And like /~MaryLuAn~/ stated, you have to feel like this was something you were called to do because you are not only dealing with people, you're dealing with people on their worst day. You're dealing with life and death, sickness and health. And you have to stop thinking about yourself for a moment and concentrate on someone else. That would seem like a difficult thing to do--especially in this day and age with so many selfish people running around here thinking only of the bottom line. So-- I agree /~MaryLuAn~/, if this is not something you have an absolute passion for, maybe you would be a little unhappy and unable to take the bitter with the sweet.

renerian, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2003

I love being a nurse! It is who I am!

renerian

Flynurse · Mar 20, 2003

Despite all of the bad things I hear and read and see....its the patients and sometimes their families that keep me going everyday. Its that smile, the graditude, the small gestures they make for a job I have been educated to do automatically, without a thought. The times when you give a bedbound alert patient a bedbath and a little backrub, I think nothing of doing it, but then I say to the patient, "Do you feel better now?" All the person has to do is smile at me and say "Thank you!" and I could melt to the floor. Listening....I mean really listening to a person even though I may not have the time makes me feel good about what I do. These are the things which makes me LOVE nursing.

Like renerian says....It is who I am! :nurse:

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2003

Nursing school is the hardest thing I have ever done, but I AM HALFWAY DONE AS OF TODAY!!! I have heard nurses tell me to "get out while I still can", but the fact is, no job is perfect!! Yes there are problems with the nursing profession but I am idealistic in thinking that maybe things will slowly start to change over time. I want a career that will provide me with lots of opportunities, make me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile to help humanity, challenge me intellectually, and provide me with a reasonably comfortable salary-- I think nursing does all of that.

Disablednurse · Mar 20, 2003

Taronica, I know on these boards you hear a lot of negative. This is a place where nurses can get things off their chest that they cannot with spouses or other friends just because they do not understand what nurses go through. I have been a nurse for 25 years and would not trade a year of my nursing. I often vented to my husband and family, but they did not understand. When I went into nursing 25 years ago, it was a calling. I have not regretted any experience that I had and would not trade anytime I spent in LTC and I spent 22 years there. Unfortunately my nursing has come to a screeching halt r/t my health and I have never missed nursing like I have in the past year and to know that I will not be able to nurse again. Good luck in your schooling and best wishes for a long and profitable nursing career.

NurseWeasel · Mar 20, 2003

Here's a tidbit of advice that people may or may not appreciate or be able to use.

When you get that new job with the 'big bucks' (okay, compared to flipping burgers, it's big bucks), DO NOT immediately go out and rack up a bunch of credit. All you accomplish when you do so is tie yourself down to a job you may end up hating. Then you can't leave because you "can't afford" a pay cut to go do something different.

I saw this all the time where I used to work. The pay was about double what anyone else in the valley was paying, and people would flock to the employer in droves (mixing my metaphors but what the heck). Within a couple months they'd be driving brand new vehicles, moving into more expensive housing, having cell phones for each member of the family, satellite tv, new furniture... everything you can think of that screams "I've got money" to everyone they know, they did it. A year or two down the road (if they didn't get canned before then, which happened a lot) they'd be hating their job, crabby, difficult to work with, more times than not divorced or on their way there... and yet they were 'stuck' at that job because they'd committed themselves financially to that level of income.

It makes me very sad. I left that job because I was financially able to. I wish I had a dollar for every person that approached me, saying ever so sincerely that they wished THEY had the guts to move on... or were in a financial situation to allow it.

The most important thing I wish everyone in the world could learn "the easy way" is financial independence. Yes, we will "always" have to have somewhere to live and something reliable to drive, uniforms and groceries to buy. But keeping your bills to a bare minimum and avoiding credit when at all possible really does make a huge difference. If you're already up to your neck in debt (and with student loans, who isn't...), make getting OUT of debt a priority! You'll thank yourself endlessly!

Just my two cents. Your mileage may vary. I'm stepping off my soapbox now.

On a completely different angle here, the thing I *love* about nursing is the diversity of my future. If I hate one unit or hospital or wherever I'm working, I can change. Just look at the number of forums on this board, for all the different specialties. I'm sure to luck into a few that I just love, and if I stumble into one for which I'm not a good fit, I'll just keep looking.

Best of luck to you!