Does nursing really suck that badly?

[Irish_Mist]

I know this discussion has likely been hashed and re-hashed several times. However, I wanted to discuss not only my concerns but my specific situation.

Here is some background information on me:

I recently graduated with a non-nursing bachelors degree. For the past two years, I have had my heart set on entering an ABSN program. But, I wanted to finish my bachelors first as I felt since I was almost done, I could apply for a one year accelerated program and essentially not "waste" my almost completed degree. I am taking A&P2 and Nutrition this semester and Chemistry and Microbiology in the fall with hopes of applying for two ABSN programs in my area.

Here are my concerns:

I read so many negative things on here about nursing. Whether it is someone complaining about their boss, a high patient to nurse ratio, backstabbing co-workers, patients who treat you like a slave, managment that doesn't get it, concerns about losing nursing license, etc etc. I understand that NO job will ever be perfect. I understand that people come here to vent. I am not judging the nurses who complain on here because everyone needs an outlet to release stress.

My fear is that I will get into a career that I hate. My fear is that I will be chewed up and spit out. I am already at a cynical point in life where I see employers in general as crapping all over good employees and rewarding the bad ones. I am at a point where I am so tired of my government internship that I will do ANYTHING to get away from it. I love the idea of helping people. I love science. I've thus far enjoyed the academic pursuit of nursing. Additionally, I consider myself to be a compassionate, loving person. I can take a lot of things in stride but I have my limits. Is entering the nursing field really that scary? Are hospitals really that toxic? Are co-workers really a reincarnation of that evil witch and her possee from junior high?

I could really use some advice from some of you RNs who are already "there" and have been in the trenches.

-Signed-

Someone who wants to help others and wants to be a nurse but is terrified of the future

[TheNGTKingRN]

It sucks.

[TheNGTKingRN]

Sucks sucks sucks

[Anna S, RN]

Nursing is a very hard job. Admins/mgrs seem to work to prevent us from helping anyone, but if you learn to circumvent the system, you can help some people, in my experience.

Another thing to consider is that a lot of pts don't really want to be "helped. "

[Humaneclowninscrubs]

Truth is all areas of nursing suck. It is practically a useless degree. My advice move on. NP isn't the solution either, but probably much better than running around like a monkey and more pay but more responsibility.

What makes me weary about this whole nursing field is the quick degrees and accelerated programs institutions have. The value of even the bachelors degree is a joke. I cannot believe I have a BS in Nursing. I just did not want to quit. At least I proved to myself I finished an I am not a quitter so I am using many of the sciences courses to transition over to a whole different career. Technically time not really wasted.

But nursing for the rest of your life, no way, either you will hurt your body, go insane, or burned out or a combination of the listed items.

Quick degrees are not a career. No offense but nursing is not a profession. The BS degree should literally be a 6 month certificate. It was stupid and silly.

[vintage_RN, BSN, RN]

I work on a surgical unit which is understaffed, crappy management etc. but I love my job. I love nursing and I love being a nurse. I'd do it for minimum wage. No regrets.

[eyeball]

I think nursing sucks and would not advise it as a career to any of my children. You can message me if you like.

[eyeball]

With pretty much anything in life, you take out of it about what you put into it. I'm sorry that nursing sucks for YOU, but it doesn't have to suck. For anyone.

I've read stuff like this and no longer believe it. I put my heart, soul, and mind into nursing and it's been largely an ordeal. Reading comments like this make me sadder than I already feel about how lousy a choice nursing has been for me.

[Farawyn]

I've read stuff like this and no longer believe it. I put my heart, soul, and mind into nursing and it's been largely an ordeal. Reading comments like this make me sadder than I already feel about how lousy a choice nursing has been for me.

What type of nurse are you?

[kidzcare]

I think nursing sucks and would not advise it as a career to any of my children. You can message me if you like.

I'm not saying I completely agree with you, but if any of my kids was considering nursing I would ask them to seriously consider how impactful on their life it will be to work weekends and holidays (or if they were choosing a career path other than nursing that involved that).

Of course I was AWARE that I'd be working weekends/holidays when I decided to become a nurse, but in practice, it is very difficult to plan around.

Of course I didn't plan that I would be a single mom working 2 jobs, so that gives an extra degree of strain. One job is Monday-Friday and the other job is every other weekend, so I work 12 days on, 2 days off.

[Libby1987]

Some nursing experiences have been so different than that of mine and my sister's, and coworkers. I wonder how it can be so different.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

It's a matter of what job you get. I love my current job, but there have been a few(more than half) with bullying coworkers and managers, and impossible expectations. I can't get a paper cosigned if I'm the only nurse working kind of expectations. I wouldn't start at the beginning again, but I can't see doing anything else.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Some nursing experiences have been so different than that of mine and my sister's, and coworkers. I wonder how it can be so different.

I think a lot of it has to do with wanting what you have rather than getting what you want. Most people are exactly as happy as they make up their minds to be.