No I wouldn't recommend nursing

nursemelani · Jan 10, 2006

Hello All,
I am very stressed out right now. I am going back to complete my final stretch of becoming an LPN. Classes start again on 1/23 and I am seriously considering not going back. My dilema is this, I have been told that there are not a lot of jobs for LPNs out there. Also I hear they are only making around $8-$10 per hour. I can not survive on that I work in customer service and make a lot more than that. I am also looking to go to medical school and I pay my own tuition. 8-10 dollars per hour will put an end to that. I have also looked online and I can not seem to find any jobs for LPNS. I only see positions for RN's. Can this be true, or am I not looking in the right places? Please Help!!!!!!!!

That sounds very low to me, but I am in CA. I am an LVN, working for a home health agency, and I earn $17/hr. I would earn more if I worked in a hospital. Find LPNs in your area and ask them.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2006

would i recommend nursing as a career choice to anyone? yeah, sure....especially if you want a job that entails no breaks, no lunches, mandatory overtime, constant stress, no management support, poor pay, lousy hours, minimal recognition for a job well done under adverse circumstances, daily exposure to blood and bodily fluids, inadequate staff levels, little or no respect...shall i go on?

With the exception of bodily fluids (of course, cleaning up the kid vomit on aisle 13 is probably always a possibility), I hear they treat people exactly like that at Wal-Mart. You could always work there for eight bucks an hour. Seriously, though, I've got at least six of those features at my current job. AND when I was a cop in the US Air Force, I pretty much had ALL of those lovely features (maybe not DAILY exposure, but I have a few stories) - so trust me when I say THAT'S PROBABLY JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE.

The one thing that kept me sane as a cop? What I did MATTERED to someone. It's what I'm looking forward to when I become an RN.

And yes, I'll be happy to speak with you after a couple of years at the bedside - since that seems to be a common retort to any posts like this.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2006

Hi all. I am currently an attorney, wanting to switch careers to become a certified nurse-midwife. I haven't had time to read ALL the responses yet, but just wanted to add my own 2 cents. I went to school for 4 years to get my B.S., then 3 more long years to get my J.D., all the while thinking I was going to make a difference in the world by becoming an environmental attorney. I have spent the past 6 years sitting in an office for sometimes 12 hours a day, bored out of my mind doing paperwork, or in the courtroom getting yelled at by some judge or other attorney, or being yelled at by supervisers. I went to work for the "big firm" making the "big bucks" (a total of $60,000 per year, whoopee), only to spend every minute of my time working with no life on the side, no vacation, little holiday time, and even working on weekends, all to put more money in the hands of greedy corporations. When I decided I didn't want to sell out anymore, I started my own practice, only to find that my clients are the worst bosses of all, and making less than $20,000 a year my first year. In order to make the big $$$ I would have to put in long hours and get no vacation time, not to mention no benefits. I don't know any happy attorneys. I have tried all areas of law, including family law (divorces and custody), personal injury, real estate, government work (very low pay), medical malpractice, the list goes on and on, and I have not found one area where I felt I was actually helping someone.
Meanwhile, I have discovered that I have an absolute passion for babies being delivered. And my mom is friends with a nurse who has been practicing for 30-odd years, is paid $80,000 a year +, and works two days a week, in a hospital. So I am going for it.
I think the bottom line is, if you have a passion for any career, you will gravitate towards it and find a way to make it work for you. Practicing law really does not fit my personality and I did it mainly on the advice of other people, so I do not enjoy it. But I can imagine that there are people out there who absolutely love going into the courtroom and arguing their case, even despite the long hours, and those same people will probably work their way up to partner and make big bucks too. Those same people probably think I am nuts to give up such a "wonderful" career, but I am going to do what I love and so are they.
If you love being a nurse but hate the working conditions, why not go back to school and become a nurse-anesthetologist (sp?), or switch to clinical work? Surely there is someplace for all these trained yet unsatisfied professionals? If not, I agree with other opinions on here--change your career. No use bitching about it. Do something about it, it's never too late.

LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!! GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND GOOD FOR YOU!!!! :balloons:

rafael80 · Jan 13, 2006

If you are willing and able to handle being verbally abused by doctors, co-workers, administration, patients,& patient's family members, work long hours for little pay, no breaks, not even for lunch, not receive any respect,be unappreciated,be treated like you don't have a brain, have little time for personal, family life, and lots of fights with you're spouse about all the time you spend at work, this is the career for you. I love what this job, I wouldn't do anything else, could do without the arguements with my boyfriend though. Yes i would recommend nursing as a career.

so what' wrong with working 3 -12 hr shifts?? i mean making 35 hr it shouldn't be bad right?? i am only taking prerequisites right now but i am almost done. all these comments don't discourage me at all. it's true , nobody is 100% happy with their job. but at least there's the job security right?? there will always be sick people around. and as far as cleaning the poop, maybe one day someone will have to clean ours. treat others as you would like to be trated.

AtlantaRN, RN · Jan 13, 2006

i think every job has it's pros and cons...

some days are better than others.

I can't imagine myself doing anything else (I used to work for a textile mill

in middle georgia...ever see "norma rae"? same working conditions; in mid 80's

worked for $3.50 an hour lifting 70 lbs rolls of fabric over my head onto a machine...i was too short so had to step up on a milk crate to do my job...)

yes, nursing is my thing

linda

rafael80 · Jan 13, 2006

I've been a nurse for almost five years in a high-risk labor and delivery unit at a university hospital and I love it more and more. Invariably, when I'm ready to give up (for all the reasons listed above-and more) I'll have a patient or a family who teach me once again what it's all about. I feel useful and needed in nursing. It is without doubt a high calling. I don't know anyone who is in it for the money, although you can do fairly well depending on area. Nursing offers so many different specialties, so many different experiences. But you all are so right, it's not for everyone.
I'd say if you read all the negative postings, really think about them, and then still can't get enough of your clinicals in school, you're hooked.
Even with all the administrative problems, I have never regretted one day that I spent with patients.
Good luck. :)

thanks for this comment. that's exactly how i feel about going into nursing. i am only a student taking the last prerequisites and this helps me alot. thank you

wincha · Jan 13, 2006

so what' wrong with working 3 -12 hr shifts?? i mean making 35 hr it shouldn't be bad right?? i am only taking prerequisites right now but i am almost done. all these comments don't discourage me at all. it's true , nobody is 100% happy with their job. but at least there's the job security right?? there will always be sick people around. and as far as cleaning the poop, maybe one day someone will have to clean ours. treat others as you would like to be trated.

12 hour shifts are very hard on your body. guess its great for new young nurses but as you get older it gets much tougher not to mention taking you away from your family all day and all night

WDWpixieRN, RN · Jan 14, 2006

12 hour shifts are very hard on your body. guess its great for new young nurses but as you get older it gets much tougher not to mention taking you away from your family all day and all night

Yes, because working M - F at least 8 hours a day (often with mandatory overtime -- UNpaid because you're salaried) and then spending your 2 days off catching up and trying to familiarize yourself with your kids and their activites DOESN'T take time away from your family. :rolleyes:

There are pros and cons to both sides of that story, but I say -- bring on the 12-hour days....I work 10 most days anyway 5 days a week and wish I had longer stretches of time off to work on projects around the house or just "be".

fuzzpuff · Jan 30, 2006

Good grief. I am a nursing student in the midwest. I have several friends who are nurses, all of whom love their jobs and the flexibilty that comes with nursing. Great for raising kids. Maybe they work PRN or maybe they work 3/12 hour shifts. My one friend worked PRN in ICU made $80,000. He is now in school to me a CRNA (nurse anesthetist), he is 8 months from graduation. He gets job offers weekly from all over the country with salaries in the $200,000 range. Nurse practioners make over six figures. As far as back breaking labor, switch to something else. School nurs, doctors office, administration, pharmaceutical sales rep. That is what is sooo great the opportunities are endless.

jones21498 · Jan 31, 2006

It surprises me how many students are going into nursing. I had my BSN since 1992 and have worked in the hospitals since then. Nursing is back-breaking labor with the reoccurring role of cleaning poop. There is no way my back can last another 20 years until retirement. Pick something else to go into.

My reply:

I have worked in factories, they're no easier on your back

and I have kids...the poop does not phase me.

I know I am in for a lot of back aches, but I do my best to

prepare. I stay healthy, lift weights, do cardio, and stay active.

I don't know a job that doesn't have its own set of problems. Before

students get discouraged about going into nursing, they need to

know that nursing is by far not the only job that deals with hard

physical labor, and for those that cannot take the physical portion,

there are many avenues to be explored in nursing.

mtngrl, ASN, RN · Jan 31, 2006

so what' wrong with working 3 -12 hr shifts?? i mean making 35 hr it shouldn't be bad right?? i am only taking prerequisites right now but i am almost done. all these comments don't discourage me at all. it's true , nobody is 100% happy with their job. but at least there's the job security right?? there will always be sick people around. and as far as cleaning the poop, maybe one day someone will have to clean ours. treat others as you would like to be trated.

35/hr???? I made $15/hr at the hospital I just resigned from!!!!!!! As an RN! The part I hate about nursing is that it is such a huge responsibility. That is what makes me want to leave the profession. One error and it could mean someone's life.

nursemelani · Feb 1, 2006

35/hr???? I made $15/hr at the hospital I just resigned from!!!!!!! As an RN! The part I hate about nursing is that it is such a huge responsibility. That is what makes me want to leave the profession. One error and it could mean someone's life.

OMG, that is an insulting wage for an RN !! What state are you in? Here in CA, I make more than that as an LVN, and since I work home health, I make less than hospital LVNs.