Why do so many people want to discourage nursing students???? (vent)

Nursing Students General Students

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Ever since I told the first person, besides my husband, that I wanted to be an RN, I can't tell you how many people have told me, my mother or husband that I shouldn't do it.

"They're over worked, under paid and not appreciated at all" is what it constantly being repeated to me or members of my family.

A little background...my mom is an RN and has been for many years. I know that nurses aren't appreciated for all they do, all the time. I know they're not rich, I know they're over worked. That's not why I want to be a nurse! I'm not going into this for a cake walk, I know I have to work my butt off to get through school and work my butt off when I get to work in the field too! It just drives me craaaaaazy!

And on top of that, it's usually nurses that are the ones saying NOT to do it! :eek Why wouldn't a "fellow" RN want to have dedicated, hard working students eventually work side by side with them? Am I missing something? Even my mom's RN friends she works with say to her "Can't you talk her out of it? She'd make a much better lawyer!" ACK!

DH had a lady come in today and tell him "tell your wife she's crazy. This profession is for the birds". Now, I know that after a while, we all tend to get a tad jaded, but come on!!!

Oh well, I know this is what I want and 12 thousand people could tell me not to, but I'm so bullheaded, I wouldn't listen anyway! I'm 31, married and 3 kids and work my ass off now as it is! :chuckle To each his own, I suppose! Can't I just ask for someone other than a family member or fellow nursing students to cheer me on and not give me every reason under the sun, NOT to be a nurse!?

You MUST be a compassionate person to want to become a nurse. Any other reason and i could try to talk you out of it too!

Nurses get it up the rear from everyone but the janitorial staff.

I originally wanted to become an MD, even worked for a Medical College for 2 years to make some connections :)

I see the God Complex that is instilled into these students. Curing diseases and saving lives kinda does that to a person. They fail to realize that none of this would be possible without their competent nursing staff. They only bark out the orders while we perform the procedures, administer meds and take care of the whole person........that's what makes the difference.

Just my 2 cents

Hey you've got what it takes and that's all that matters

Well, I just got done listening to a whole night's worth of moaning from a new nurse, who already listened to all the same stuff you describe, and all she kept saying was, "if I'd known it was gonna be like this, I woulda"==

Eventually, I had to say, "Look, this is how it is."

I really had no answers for her; this IS how it is.

This profession has some very negative characteristics, and it simply does no good to moan about it. I choose to figure out ways to change it while I'm not at work, and shut up while I'm at work.

My advice: Learn to tune it out now, before listening to it in the break room drives you completely crazy, honey. ;)

Why? Because it's a tough job, as you know. Low pay, compared with other professions, lack of respect, lack of benefits or retirement plans, heavy patient loads, high burn-out rates, high number of on-the-job injuries, exposure to various diseases daily, never being able to be home with your family on holidays and weekends, working odd hours . . .

I'm concentrating on the negatives because you asked why. That's why. Most of those things aren't a big deal when you're younger. But, walk the walk for 20 or 30 years, and it takes on new meaning. Near retirement age and realize you've busted your butt all your life, but won't be able to afford health insurance, have a retirement plan, and live in poverty in your old age. Not a pretty picture. Maybe some of you young'uns can change it. We haven't been able to.

I just want to add my 2 cents in here....

I start school in January and when I told my family I was changing my major (I was originally Mass Comm), they were shocked, but very supportive. My cousin's best friend whom I've known for years is an LVN just finishing up her RN schooling and works in LandD. She says that she is always getting letters and cards from mothers who appreciated her support and care while they were delivering their children. Someone on this board said that people don't come into the hospital for the DOCTOR care, but for the NURSING care.

My aunt has her BSN and she was tickled pink when she found out I was going into nursing. Maybe my situation is unique, but my family and friends have been extremely supportive of my dream to wear the dreaded white support hose, and I am very grateful for that.

After all, those same people that discourage nursing would be in a heckuva pickle when they went into the hospital if we all took their advice and chose something else, wouldn't they?

Hang in there! :nurse:

StacyS,

I don't care if more expereinced nurses say "walk a mile in my shoes for 20 or 30 years...." Your life is what YOU make it. It's not all rosey but allot of life isn't, whether it's nursing or accounting or ballet dancing. I had many people say "it's reslly hard..." when they found out I was going to school. But I haven't found a single aspect of school or clinical work "really hard" at all! I love it. Maybe some people aren't made to be nurses. I am through and through. And I will role with the punches as they come and the WILL come. Even if you never hear a single "thank you" from your patients for the rest of your life, if you know you are making a difference is their life and the management of your place of employment, it IS worth it. The next time soemone give you a bad attitude, just say to them, "because I love it!" Hang in there and kick some butt!!!

Jill

Amen, Jill!

I feel the same way. No matter what profession you choose, it will always be difficult. Why waste 4 years (or more) on something that won't challenge you?

:nurse:

We all who plan to go into nursing are going to get some discouragements from a few people every now and then. But if its in our hearts to do it so let it be. Not everyone has the heart or stomach to do this for a living, but then there r some of us who do have it:p . Don't let anyone get in the way of your hopes or dreams, Remember people need doctors and nurses to make get them better;). I start school in January have my fingers crossed................. Later................:)

To add my sentiments, I totally understand. My mom was too embarrassed to tell her friends that I am studying to be a nurse. She told them that I was studying to be a pharmacist! Now, she is more understanding, but thinks that I am settling to become a nurse because I got married young, and had kids. The other week when I was talking to my sister (who is studying to be a teacher) said, "wow, Kim, you are so smart! Why aren't you studying to become a doctor?" Grrr...Maybe because I have never wanted to become a doctor. I know she meant it as a compliment, but you can't exactly be stupid to become a nurse.

Hi Stacy,

I have recieved a lot of negative statements when I say that I'm pursuing a nursing degree.

One person in my office even told me "You may have the personality for it now, but I'd like to see you in 5 years." Whatever that means, and do I even care?

You just gotta keep a tough attitude. Only you know what you are interested in and where you lead your life. As long as you are happy with your decisions, that's all that matters.

I think a lot of negative comments come from people who don't really understand nursing and have these preconceived notions that it's just butt wiping, etc.

I also don't think that a lot of people have a realistic view of professional opportunities that are available right now. So many times I hear, you should go into business or become a teacher or a lawyer, yada, yada, yada. I live in Pittsburgh and there are no teaching jobs, if you go into business as a woman you are automatically made a secretary. There isn't even much need for lawyers here either.

People say, nurses are not respected and make so little money.

Well, do you really think I want to stay in business as a secretary making $25,000.00 / year for the rest of my life?

Its all a matter of perspective but as long as you are doing what makes you happy that's all that matters.

Well, what else would they have done and would they still like it after 15 years? Face it....if a job was fun to do for 20 years it wouldn't be paid work, it would be a hobby.

In every job...law, medicine, business, engineering you are going to have people telling you what to do, sometimes those people calling the shots are indiots and not very nice people. Many of the problems with nursing are not unique to nursing, they are problems that the entire working world of women deals with. You cannot run and escape from human nature.

for some reason I do not have that problem.My whole family thinks that I would make a great nurse and my close friends are very supportive also.But this was not a fly by night dream for me this was something that took me 16 years to finally go to school for.

I really pity people who try to crush dreams and not be supportive.The only person I know for me that is not supportive is a woman that is the wife of my husband coworker and she is just jealous because she is an aide and doesn't want to go furhter because of her age(54)

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