No I wouldn't recommend nursing

I personally would recommend nursing as a career choice for the right individual(s). I love the work that I do 99.9% of the time. It isn't glamorous and it won't give me monetary wealth, but it gives me a sense of satisfaction. For myself it isn't about pay, corporate recognition or benefits, it's about the desire to make a real difference each and every day in the lives of those I care for and about. ALL my patients are treated like family by myself and my staff and we have fewer complaints. I have in the past and would again donate my nursing skills for absolutely no financial gain to someone in need. I know many disillusioned nurses and I feel bad for them. Being a nurse isn't what I DO, it is what I AM. I've never been happy doing anything else. Maybe it's my parents' fault, I have a brother and a sister who are also nurses, mom is a CNA (35+) years and daddy was an O.R. tech for many years. I agree if you're not happy, move on until you find your place in the world. Not all employers set out to force staff to work unsafely. Sometimes the reimbursement system doesn't leave many options when a profit must be turned to remain open. Good luck to you all, I hope you find a career that gives you what you are seeking.

NOT AT THIS TIME. THE ENVIRONMENT FOR NURSES ISN'T HEALTHY ANYMORE. IF HEALTHCARE FACILTIES KEEP ABUSING NURSES BY INADEQUATE STAFFING AND MINIMAL PAY, ALONG WITH INADEQUATE SUPPLIES..<SHALL I GO ON ALSO?>...WHAT INCENTIVES DOES A NURSE HAVE? THIS FACILTIES ARE ALL PROFIT, WITH POOR QUALITY OF CARE. BUT THEIR BROCHURES LOOK NICE. MYSELF, I'M DESPERATELY LOOKING INTO MEDICAL SALES AND OR PHARMACEUTICAL SALES. CURRENTLY WORKING AS AGENCY NURSE UNTIL THAT HAPPENS. IT SCARES ME EVERYTIME I GO INTO A NEW FACILITY. AND AS AN AGENCY NURSE, THE STAFF THERE TENDS TO OVERLOAD THE AGENCY NURSE BECAUSE OF 'MORE MONEY'. IT'S GETTING UGLY OUT THERE

I have been a RN for over 30 yrs - women had few options for careers. According to the American Nurse Executives poll, there are over 2 million nurses - however, only 1 million are actively working. Where did every one go? Maybe to a better paying, better working environment?! We have unwittingly created our own problem for the nursing shortage. Until the profession itself does something, we will all continue to be in this mess.

My Daughter is in her third year in college and before she went I told her under no circumstance do I want her to get into the medical field.Lucky for me she listened to me for once.The options and oppurtunities she will have and have already been offered is something nurses dont get with much more money.And as far as nursing being a calling that don't help yor kids when your working alot of 16 hours and holidays.And cant give a part of yourself back to them because your to tired all the time so not only would I tell someone no but h--- no.

Well, I'll put in my 2 cents. Nursing has its ups and downs. Unfortunately, lately, more down than up. I would not recommend nursing to anyone right now to be honest with you. Yes, the pay is good, but you have to put up with so much...verbal abuse from both patients and doctors, long odd hours, understaffed floor (sometimes I've had as many as 11 patients with no aid), staff that is underqualified...the list goes on. No one is interested in nursing anymore. When we had the shortage back in the late 80s, nursing started gaining respect, then when the market got saturated, hospitals started cutting salaries, benefits, hours etc. And now, we are back where we started from and even worse off.
On the up side, there is nothing like seeing your patient get well and the care they need. Nothing like hearing thank you from patients (although, not heard too often).

Would I recommend Nursing as a career? NO! what other profession can you go into where you are underappreciated, shown no respect by the client's (patient's/doctors) peers, and especially administration.

Kudos Judy. You have hit the nail on the head! Until the profession itself (including those of us in it) does something, we will certainly continue to be in the soup. Nurses must take this responsibility squarely on its own shoulders, quit whining and complaining and start acting. Action means do what ever is within your capacity and capability to get the best knowledge about the issues, inform everyone you know about the issues in a non-threatening way, join together for solutions and leave the past behind. We can not correct the inequities of the past, but we can certainly secure a brighter future for ourselves and for those that follow us. I fully support the concept of independent professional practice as a viable model and my goal in life is to help as many nurses as possible learn about the model and embrace it as an alternative to traditional employment.

regards
chas

As a nursing student I feel very nervous and scared by all of this. I have researched all my options very carefully and even people in high paying jobs are miserable. I have talked to people in the computer industry they do not recommend the field just like nurses do not recommend the field. My brother and cousin both making over $70,000 in the computer field and they do not recommend the field to me or anyone else because they say people are constantly getting laid off, the work hours sometimes can exceed 70 hours a week, and they have to work many nights and weekends. People in the business field like advertising/marketing are saying the same thing. As a matter of fact my local paper did a recent survey of people in ALL fields and the survery showed that over 75% of people are unhappy in their jobs including those making over $50,000 a year. The survey also showed that over 60% of people in all fields plan to switch career tracks within the next 2 years. It is so confusing to me I don't know what to think anymore. Oh well I guess since I invested two years into school already I minus well finish my last two years and earn my BSN and if I don't like it I can always change. I am only 21 so I guess if I do not have nothing to gain I won't have nothing to lose either.

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.

I've been in nursing for 24 years. I discouraged my daughter from going into nursing. I have been in Home Health for the past 7 years. I left the hospital because staffing was unsafe for the telemetry unit I charged for 4 years. Home Health is better as for as that goes but this is my first weekend off after working 19 straight days, 14 days of which I was on 24hr call. I'm salaried and we or obligated from 7am to 7pm if we are not on call. I am case managing 30+ patients, some weeks I do over 20 vists and drive 100+ miles per day. It is imposible to keep up with required documentation and coordination of care. I agree with others that nursing as a profession need to come together to improve working standards. The board of nursing in our state is wonderful at mandating standards of practice, but those standards are imposible to impliment under realistic conditions. I think boards of nursing should do more to make sure nurses are not mandated by thier administration to work under unfavorable and impossible conditions. Nurses need more political leverage if this is ever accomplished.