Give Me The Cold Hard Truth About Nursing

karenG · Feb 23, 2009

I think you will find the answer to all your questions in various places on this board.. most of them have been discussed to death!

and despite what we say, and all the complaining we all do about the hours, the patients, the sore feet.. none of us would do anything else!!

go into nursing expecting it to be totally different to anything you have done before... and you should be fine..

good luck

Pat_Pat RN · Feb 24, 2009

how hard is it to get into a field you want to...(i would like to work in icu or er or surgery...although i know this might change after nursing school and being exposed to different areas)?

this will vary depending on where you live. my first job out of school was in an icu, but it was 50 miles from home (back when gas was $4+/gal) i took a couple dollar an hour pay cut and got a job on the general med/surg floor of my "used-to-be-county-hospital".

what is the worst thing about the job?

depends on what you like or don't. also depends on the people you work with.

for me, it is changing departments in the hospital i've worked in before.

what is the best thing about the job?

helping people, the pay, the hours...many positives.

are nurses looked down upon, or are they generally treated well?

by who? i've found that the docs generally treat me better, being a male. but this will vary on where you work.

are male nurses treated differently than female nurses?

some little old ladies don't want a "man nurse".

i even had one say that, "the only reason a man becomes a nurse is to

see women naked."

yeah, grandma, you're right. ohhh show it to me baby.... :uhoh3:

how many hours a week do you work on average, with and without overtime?

i work weekend option, saturday and sunday nights (24 hrs total) but get paid for

36 hrs. then i also work an 8 hr shift in the er during the week. and i usually sign up

for call in one of the two places, at least shift per week ($50 per signed up shift whether you get called in or not)

if you could do it over again would you choose nursing again?

i already did choose nursing again :bugeyes: . i mean, nursing is my second career change.

i think this will take as there are so many different avenues to work in.

how you do and what you do depends on who you...er, i mean where you are. :lol2:

good luck!

JD810 · Feb 24, 2009

Pat, thanks a lot! Those are just the type of answers I was looking for

As far as this question Are nurses looked down upon, or are they generally treated well?

I keep reading various places that nurses get yelled at a lot in what seems to be a condescending way, I didn't know if there was truth in that or what, it might of just been people complaining.

Out of curiosity did you like ICU better or do you like Med/Surg better, or do you not care?

Thanks again!!!!

Pat_Pat RN · Feb 24, 2009

When I worked ICU I hadn't passed the boards yet, so I didn't get to do a whole lot. So I don't have a whole lot to base anything on.

Med/Surg is "ok", not my favorite.

ER is by far my favorite. Coming from an EMS/Fire background.

I don't find that people talk bad about nurses. Make good decisions, have facts and BMP's to back up what you did; tell them to back off, you were doing what you thought best.

Good luck.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2009

i love to help people, and don't mind doing hard or dirty work if it is what is required of me and is what will help.

that's a commendable attitude - most of us start out with such inclinations. imo, it helps to hold on to them - especially when the going gets rough (be it school or working as a nurse).

we all know the pay is good as are the employment opportunities

not sure i'd agree with you there. anyone who tries to tell you that "nursing is recession proof" or "nursing is a stable career" or any other related nonsense is spouting just that - nonsense. nursing is just as vulnerable and as susceptible to market forces.

but i want to make an informed decision on if this is really the right path for me. i have read so many different things about nursing that my head is about to spin off.

welcome to "life before nursing"

how hard is it to get into a field you want to...(i would like to work in icu or er or surgery...although i know this might change after nursing school and being exposed to different areas)?

in all honesty (and i know you're not looking for an answer like this), this is a very difficult question to answer with any degree of certainty. but here are a few basic "tips" i've observed along the way:

1. finding a good paying job is 'deceptive'. i say "deceptive" because working as a nurse is more than just what you earn on your pay check. don't be fooled by the cash they're throwing at your face (be it less than or more than what you were expecting). remember the struggle you had to go through to get your training and your license - now ask yourself, what job is worth that amount of blood, sweat and tears? ask yourself "if i were to accept this job offer, how well will i be able to protect my license that i worked so hard to achieve?" if these seem like hard questions, i encourage you to visit our state nursing forums and explore a bit - see what other allnurses.com members have to say about some of the states/institutions they're working at and form your own opinion. if you don't think you're finding enough answers, post/ask a question in that state forum - see what you get!

2. getting into a "critical care type specialty field" (icu, pacu, er/ed etc.) is hard - especially for new graduate nurses. but again, it depends from institution to institution. some institutions have dedicated "orientation programs" to 'guide' new grads (lasting anywhere from 8-12 weeks or more) while some institutions insist you have some "experience" (for example "med-surg" or for the you're applying for etc.) before applying. there is a difference of consensus about this issue - some nurses feel that if you feel your aptitude matches a particular field, then you should get into said field and gain all your experience there. there's another school of thought that thinks that anyone wishing to work high risk/critical areas ought to gain some 'general experience' as a "working nurse" before applying (i belong to the latter school of thought). you'll find plenty of threads here @ allnurses.com debating the pros and cons of these schools :)

3. either way - most (if not all) jobs pertaining to 'critical care' will ask for some kind/amount of "experience". the only advice i can offer if you're "dead set on critical care" in such cases is to apply anyway and wow them in the interview. just make sure they have a good, decent, solid orientation program (at least 12 weeks long) for you to follow with a dedicated preceptorship.

what is the worst thing about the job?

(it depends a lot on where you work. for me, the really horrid part of the job is informing family - especially of pediatric patients - that their loved one is no more. no matter how many times you do it, it never gets easier....)

but otherwise,

frankly, way too many to count. other than the obvious ones of having to intimately deal with the pee, poop, phlegm, blood and other body fluids/parts of complete strangers (all of which don't really bother me incidentaly); the 'worst things' imho are [in no particular order]:

1. you have 100% of the responsibility for the safety, well-being and outcome of the patient - but you have next to no authority about it! in other words, simply stating "but i was following the physician's orders" won't let you off the hook. you're expected to cross-check the orders and make sure they're safe to carry out - but your only recourse is to refuse to carry out a physician's order.

2. the general public - yes, many studies, probes and polls have consistently said that "nursing is one of the highest professions - trusted at a greater level than physicians and police officers". well, they must be sampling a "different" public population!! many homo sapiens that nurses encounter deem us no better than their personal servants. the vast majority of the public have no clue as to all that a nurse does - or is responsible for. my common refrain is that people get admitted to a hospital for "nursing care".

3. the fact that we can't turn anyone away - no matter how drunk, abusive, violent they are.

now don't get me wrong - we're in the profession of "helping people".

but even physicians can refuse to see a patient...

i'll just leave that as a starter list...

what is the best thing about the job?

"knowing that what you do on a daily basis often impacts the life of a total stranger for as long as they live". be it saving lives or relieving pain or just making someone "feel better" - we do it all and more.

are nurses looked down upon, or are they generally treated well?

50/50.

are male nurses treated differently than female nurses?

there does seem to be a discrepancy. most patients tend to "assume" that males are physicians ... and on the contrary side, many patients refuse personal care from "men". there also does seem to be a prevalent attitude amongst many people (including health care workers) that 'male nurses are usually homosexual'. personally? i'm not fond of the expression "male nurse" ... just as i'm not fond of "female cop" etc. my profession has nothing to do with my gender.

how many hours a week do you work on average, with and without overtime?

i'm scheduled to work 36 hours/week. but i usually end up working anywhere from 44-60 hours/week (anything over 40 hours is time-and-half overtime).

if you could do it over again would you choose nursing again?

yes and no. there are just way too many variables involved for me to provide an definitive answer...

cheers,

JD810 · Feb 25, 2009

Roy and Pat,

Thanks very much, those are just the answers that I was looking for, I appreciate the time you guys took to answer all my questions!

Dogman · Mar 4, 2009

I have been a RN for 28 years now, retired Air Force .. I have been asked more times than I can remember should I become a nurse. My answer to them, is that when your on your deathbed thinking back on your life. Are you going to be able to say that you made a difference in the world. I can tell you that as a nurse you can say that. There are only a few professions that have an impact that can last for generations, teachers and nurses. That touch or tear, the time you spend with the family, that time that you say, something just isn't right with a patient and sure enough there is...that gut feeling. You impact peoples lives...although they may not remember your name, they remember you.

TrinaCNA · Mar 4, 2009

I am a pre nursing stuent and I have the same exact questions as you...Although I can't give you a answer to this question I do recommend purchasing a book called Stressed Out About Nursing School" By Stephanie Thiebault (I think that's how you spell hwer last name). Not only does it give you tips on gettiing through nursing school, but it also tell you the answers to all the questions you have...I highly recommend it...The author doesn't sugarcoat anything and she gives you (as you said) "the cold hard truth about nursing...Hope you get the book and I hope I helped you out...GOOD LUCK!

zaggar · Mar 4, 2009

How hard is it to get into a field you want to...(I would like to work in ICU or ER or Surgery...although I know this might change after nursing school and being exposed to different areas)?

In my experience (all following opinions are in my experience), not hard at all. Of course, if they aren't hiring for Surgery, then I guess you have to wait a bit. You might be like me, and find out that you like something entirely different from what you thought you would like.

What is the worst thing about the job?

Stress, worry, am I missing something, did I forget something, are my patients OK?

What is the best thing about the job?

It's very rewarding to help people get and feel better. It's also nice that you can hunt around until you find the field that's right for you.

Are nurses looked down upon, or are they generally treated well?

Generally treated well. It's the minority of physicians who treat nurses badly, and most patients love us. If you're an idiot and choose to fight with the patients and doctors, you will be living in the land of continual lose.

Are male nurses treated differently than female nurses?

If you're willing to help out (in other words, willing to help with the lifting) then you are treated BETTER than female nurses. They like the thought of you being there for them, so will generally be willing to trade favors.

How many hours a week do you work on average, with and without overtime?

without = 36; with = 48, with those last 8 being time and a half. 12 hour shifts.

If you could do it over again would you choose nursing again?

Yup.

Anything else I should know...?

Girls play with each others hair a lot. Never really saw guys do that. Girls also don't mind talking about their periods in front of male nurses.

MurseMikeD · Jun 6, 2009

1) "How hard is it to get into a field you want to...(I would like to work in ICU or ER or Surgery...although I know this might change after nursing school and being exposed to different areas)?"

- That depends on you. It's not at all unusual these days for a new grad to start in the emergency department, ICU, or surgery. But, getting a job like that as a new grad has a lot to do with performing well academically, making a good impression in the clinical setting, and networking. Rest assured though that even if you don't get the specialty you want right away, more often then not you can get into it within a year of graduating.

2) What is the worst thing about the job?

- I don't know that there's anything I actually dislike about the job. Task complexity is definitely an issue -- in addition to learning to be a nurse you now also have to learn to interface with all sorts of technology and carry out various administrative tasks. It can also be difficult sometimes to have intimate contact with patients and families on what are often, "the worst day of their lives." I think it's a privilege though. Most of the common complaints nurses have are chickens***, it's a great job, but like any job people will find something to complain about.

3) What is the best thing about the job?

- Variety. Flexibility. Working with your hands. Interacting with people. Making a real difference. Challenging yourself.

4) Are nurses looked down upon, or are they generally treated well?

- Society has a lot of catching up to do before they truly understand what nurses do and appreciate them for it. I think in general it's a very respected profession, but that people don't realize just how much nurses really do. I was an EMT for years before nursing school, and I'm still astonished at all the things we do that I didn't know about.

5) Are male nurses treated differently than female nurses?

- Sometimes, for better or worse. You may have a nurse treat you unfairly during your maternity rotation in school... conversely you may have "that doctor" who treats all the female nurses poorly treat you like his best buddy. It's not nearly as prevalent as you might think though.

6) How many hours a week do you work on average, with and without overtime?

36 without OT, maybe 48 with.

7) If you could do it over again would you choose nursing again?

A million times over. I was a firefighter before I did this and I haven't looked back once.

8) Anything else I should know...?

It's worth it.