As bad as they say??

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 19, 2005

I just read a post about everyone discrediting nursing as a bad career choice unless you enjoy being yelled at and treated like dirt. So that really turned me off. .

You're welcome. I don't allow myself to be yelled at and treated like dirt. Therefore, it's not been something I have experienced much in my career. I wouldn't work in a place where that kind of behavior is the norm. Fortunately, there are lots of work environments that aren't that bad.

You have to remember ... This is a forum where nurses come to vent about their bad day. The negative comments tend to outweigh the positive because people tend to "spew" more when they are unhappy.

What is that old business adage? "A satisfied customer will tell 5 people. A dis-satisfied customer will tell 30 people." That same principle applies when reading websites such as this one.

Good luck!

llg

Rockstar · Dec 19, 2005

I plan to get an attitude with anyone who does not give me the respect I deserve. My mom yelled at a lady at her job and the manager gave her a promotion and made her employee of the month. I don't know if it was out of fear or respect, but she demands both at her job. I used to be a Pharmacy Technician and I got yelled at all the time and blamed for things I didn't do. I quit, but I feel that I need to demand respect wherever I go from now on. I'm a nice person and very quiet and I think people mistake my kindness for weakness. Ok... I don't know what that had to do with this thread, but lol... after reading the thread about the negatives of nursing I refuse to let someone bring me down in a job that I like.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2005

That used to be the case in my neck of the woods for several years. Now it's changed, and there is quite a gap now between myself and new grad wages. But that has only happened within the past couple of years.

Same at my place. I'm about $8.00/hr above what a new grad nurse makes on my unit. Mainly due to raises, but also certifications and skills that pay extra. :)

zambezi, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2005

I really enjoy nursing...as with any profession, there are good and bad points. I agree that it is not an easy job...because of the way that health care is today, many nurses feel the short end of the stick with budget cutting maneuvers that hurt nurses...

As for pay...I definately feel that it is decent money. I think that starting out, you will be making about average compared to what others coming straight out of college with a four year degree are making (espeically those that come out with a two year degree) are making, if not more. Plus you will have a job right away whereas many of your peers may have to search a lot harder to find a job (at least this was true with my friends). That said, pay tends to plateau in a few year more than your peers in many other professions. However, you will always have a job (many of my frieds are still job hopping in search for a consistent job). I am lucky in that I really enjoy those that I work with. I think that work enviroment is really important. I like my coworkers and doctors. I like the challenge that nursing offers. I like the variety of fields that one can persue (ER, critical care, peds, srugery, med/surg, research coordinating, sales, IT, professional development, teaching, etc- the degree is very versitile) . I like that I can further my education. I like meeting people and working with families in times of need (most of the time anyway). The hours of nursing can be very flexible (hours can be good or bad depending on your point of view). The profession is always needed.

Things I don't like:

Short staffing. Feeling stretched beyone what I can do safely because of short staffing. The plateau in pay. Nursing can be emotionally tiring- especially if you are prone to it (this aspect dosen't bother me personally but for some the emotional part can be really draining). The job can be phsically tiring- long shifts, heavy patients, lots of standing and walking...As with any profession, you meet your fair share of those that don't respect you, make you feel dumb, possibly berate you, are rude etc. I think that alot of the personality stuff is variable though...I tend to be pretty laid back and don't have too many personality conflicts but there are deffinatley those out there are just plain awful to have to work with! Underappreciation (again, I personally don't really notice this one, but I know others do). Sometimes, you have to do things that can be unappealing (and that's putting it nicely).

Anyway, there are alot of pluses and minuses to this and any job. You just have to take a look at yourself and see what you like...For some, nursing is a perfect fit and for others, the negatives are just too many. As tweety mentioned, this board is often used as a sounding board to vent so many of the posts seems negative- but its kind of like the news...the stories are always the most negative and gruesome because that is what wears on people and they need to talk about it to release stress...If you could shadow someone, you may be able to get a better idea of whether or not nursing is for you...

Good entry level jobs to see what nurses do:

monitor techs

CNAs/aides

voluenteering in patient care areas

lift team/patient care technicians

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Dec 22, 2005

Thanks Tweety and llg for your more clarified and in depth responses...it is better than hearing "nope not gonna happen" or "don't count on it" attitude. I am considering nursing as a male nurse and I found alot of information here. I just read a post about everyone discrediting nursing as a bad career choice unless you enjoy being yelled at and treated like dirt. So that really turned me off. I want to work in a productive, team-environment atmosphere. The "not-for-the-faint-at-heart" talk doesnt really phase me b/c I know why I am going into the field -to help and care for patients(PEOPLE). I know it is not glamourous and I look forward to a challenging career. I appreciate everyones post whether negative or not, but thanks to those who offer to give me some positive feedback for my career choices.

Just because it wasn't what you wanted to hear DOES NOT mean that it is not true. Nursing salaries do not increase much over time in relation to new graduate pay. It has nothing to do with my "attitude". Plus, I never said that there is "nothing positive" in nursing. I don't recall seeing ANYBODY say that, actually.

You said you were trying to determine if nursing is for you or not, and I took that statement at face value. I do not believe in painting a rosy picture for people who are HONESTLY seeking advice. I have seen too many nurses wind up VERY DISAPPOINTED after spending a lot of time and a lot of money on nursing school because they had an image in their minds of what nursing was that had little to do with the reality of nursing. They would have been grateful if someone had warned them ahead of time that they shouldn't "count on" getting what they were "expecting". Instead, they find that they do not like what nursing is and feel frustrated or even trapped because of all the time they spent in school and all the money they spent on their education. Nursing is not for everyone. It is best to find out if it is for you BEFORE investing the time, energy, and finances necessary to become a nurse, wouldn't you say? That is what I thought your post was about. If you were expecting to make a noticeably higher salary 2-3 years after graduation (as you have said you are in more than one of your posts), and if that is important to you (and I guessed it was, since you posted about it more than once), then there is a good chance that you are going to be disappointed. I say that not to rain on your parade, but to give you the information you requested. There was really no need to make negative comments about the advice/information you were given.

Checking out of this discussion now (and seriously considering letting the "seekers" find out for themselves from now on --- it might not save them future disappointment, but it will keep me from being criticized for trying to offer information).

RN34TX · Dec 22, 2005

Checking out of this discussion now (and seriously considering letting the "seekers" find out for themselves from now on --- it might not save them future disappointment, but it will keep me from being criticized for trying to offer information).

Please don't take that too personally.

I thought that your candid and honest comments about nursing were very valuable.

Nursing students and particularly prospective nursing students want encouragement and to hear postive things about the profession.

They are either thinking about embarking on, or are already in the middle of, a very big commitment and investment of their time, effort, and money.

In addition, many of them are unsure of where they might fit in, if at all, in the nursing profession, so it can be very distressing to hear a lot of negative honesty coming from an experienced nurse.

But they do need to hear that stuff as much as the encouraging stuff.

I think that the OP was hoping to read many posts saying "It's not as bad as people say" and was disappointed when he/she didn't get it.

I wish that someone would have given me a more realistic picture of nursing before I started. I had a rosy picture painted for me and was met with many disappointments down the line as a result.

Sheri257 · Dec 22, 2005

What everyone has said here is true. But a lot of it also depends on where you live. In California we have a ratio law where they can't give you more than five patients. This has drastically improved working conditions and, also, pay because even the low paying hospitals have had to increase pay to get enough RN's to meet the ratios.

If you don't want to work somewhere, there's always plenty of job options and other places you can work. RN's routinely are solicited with job offers all over the state. That's the upside. The downside is the high cost of living, constant traffic problems, higher gas prices, etc. Housing prices are particularly outrageous although, this also depends on where you live in the state. I'm not trying to paint too rosy of a picture here but overall, if you're an RN in California, chances are you're doing pretty well, both with ratios and pay.

:nurse:

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Dec 22, 2005

Where I work the pay is starting at $17.50 hr. Doesn't matter if you are a new grad or have 30 years experience. $0.25 raise a year for 4 years, then nothing after that unless there are across the board raises. However, this is a private owned rural hospital and they can get away with it because there isn't another hospital in the county. The closest hospital is in the next state.

AtlantaRN, RN · Dec 22, 2005

I'm an associates level nurse w/ 10 yrs experience in the hospital setting, I make $25/h w/ excellent benefits...not bad for middle georgia. my husband says I've always been a nurse, but had to go to school for the license...it's just who I am. yes, it's a hard job, and sometimes you don't get alot of "att a girls'", but the good outweighs the bad...

Ilove it some days, and have friends and lots of outside interests like travel and motorcycling, so when I need a break I travel

linda

LPN2RNdude · Dec 22, 2005

well, i have to say, nursing is not what i expected it to be. there are some downsides to the feild.... never having enough time to do everything in a single shift... co-workers arguing about petty things..... people not doing their jobs correctly, and some, not at all..... but i honestly say that i am happy with my job. no, it is not what i expected, but you are appreciated if you work hard and strive for excellence..... the patients see that you are trying to make a difference in their lives, the family sees it, and management sees it...... no nursing is not all fun and games, but then again, neither is any other job. some nights i leve work with a sick feeling in my stomach, wondering if i made any mistakes, wondering if i did everything by the book.... but then i just go home, and give thanks for everything that did turn out right that shift, and tell myself tomorrow is a new day.

SFCardiacRN · Dec 23, 2005

IT'S HORRIBLE!! Avoid it like the plague. No respect, low pay, terrible working conditions, mean co-workers, bosses from hell. Oh, wait a minute. That's my last job. The one that convinced me to go into nursing. Nursing has been great to me!

leslie :-D · Dec 24, 2005

incredibly stressful working conditions- never enough time to finish your work w/o feeling like you're going to have an mi.

co-workers who aren't team players, don't pull their weight, don't give a damn.

mgmt. who keep on pushing you w/o a clue or care of you being stressed to the max.

pay is ok in boston area but still doesn't mean a damn thing when you think you're going to have a nervous breakdown, or burn-out altogether.

yet i wouldn't trade places with anyone and continue to be impassioned about what i do. my patients are my driving force and it is they who motivate me to be the best that i can.

leslie