Do I Love Nursing? What Day is it?

Wonderful, Wonderful.....you hit the nail on the head! What a great post.....thank you. I am just now getting ready for bed to go to work on Friday...my Monday. I work weekends only so I live for Monday. You have made it easier to think about getting up in the morning.

I started nursing school when I was 47. It took 4 years to finish a 2 year ADN because of waiting lists, graduated near the top of my class, got a job in a small hospital not too far from home and have been working med-surg since then. I felt it was easier for me than for some of the "kids" in my class who had little kids and a job that were also in school full time. When I got home from school, I could do what I needed to without worrying about my kids' schedules. So it turned out to be a good time for me to go to school.

I did find myself telling my own kids and grandkids on some occasions that I needed to study or write a paper so they couldn't come that day, but it didn't happen real often, and my grown up kids were very understanding.

It takes dedication and hard work, but it certainly can be done. I won't lie and say I love everything about nursing, but it is a career that is rewarding financially and emotionally. It is stressful and there are days I joke about working at Walmart instead, but I am glad I got into the field.

Good luck to you as you contemplate your future.

As many have said, very well written article. I'm not a school nurse, but many of the issues you wrote about apply to my line of work as well. (clinic nurse). Thanks for sharing!

Have to agree to everything especially with KY RN about getting up in the morning - hate getting up especially when its cold and I haven't had much sleep. But by knock off time ( thats right I also haven't had a chance to pee ) but its such a good feeling when you go home knowing you've made a difference to someones life. Theres nothing better

Hey there!
I'm brand new to Allnurses. I'm 47 years old, and yesterday, on my birthday, I got my letter saying I had been accepted to nursing school. I cried. There is no better gift than to have someone hand you your dream on your birthday. That letter looks great sitting on my table next to the roses my boyfriend got for me!

I decided to go out for nursing a year ago. I already 2 BS degrees, one in Microbiology and one in Biochemistry. I got them 20 years ago. At that time, there was really nothing you could do with them. I worked various jobs, and settled into the import/export business for the last 14 years. When my mom and my aunt were diagnosed with breast cancer, and I could see the confusion and bewilderment in the their eyes as they tried to understand the doctors, I thought to myself, "I want to be that person. You know the one...the one that helps to relieve the fear by explaining things in easy to understand terms. The one that tries to keep cool and comforts a parent as their little boy slips away. And yeah, the one that gives the doctors someone to scream at when inside I know they really want to crawl into a dark corner and bawl."

It's never too late. Everyone has their reasons. Everyone has their goals and dreams. I found mine. Yours are out there, too. What you choose to do with them is entirely up to you.

Oh I love it...I feel the same. Mine is Alarm at 0500...I HATE this job. Coffee and clocking in...0644..it's ok. 0700...getting patient "report" from Kardex - PMH 3 lines long ( morbid obesity and chronic pain) and allergic to every pain med but Dilaudid...I hate my job. Walk in smiling for introductions to this same patient...to see her up in bed putting on lipstick. Educate POC and ask "Are you in pain." and she says, "Oh yeah honey but none of those meds work with me so I just live with it. I'm 79...something is gonna get me." I love my job. There are so many ups and downs. But overall...I'm happy. I like it when I make a difference. That makes it worthwhile.

wow!that was a long-great-cool-story about your life struggle of NURSING..the only difference between us is that im still a junior-(confused-uninterested )student nurse...

The thread hijacking has to end, if you aren't yet a nurse or considering it, can you discuss getting into it/is it for you where appropriate? I read this site daily and it's almost every other thread hijacked with the same thing.

I'm an extern and so far the bad days outweigh the good. It usually is never the patient, but their family that makes life miserable for work on the floor. Concern and outright unjustified hostility are completely different. I can however name 2 instances that were "ah-hah!" moments.

Thank you for this article, your so right, you have to pick your poison and deal with it. No matter where you go you are over worked and underpaid. If you are getting the big bucks you have no life and small amount of happiness. If you are working for less pay to get the time off it alway's feels like your not doing enough to feel like a Nurse. You need to do what's best for you. Thank you.