Yes I Would Recommend Nursing!

mom and nurse · Jan 12, 2006

Nursing is rough, hard work, dealing with bodily fluids and patients that can be grumpy (or more likely some family members who can be condescending... one family member had a favorite saying "hurry up, my mom needs to go to the bathroom....what did you go to nursing school for anyway?" (and I sighed with my little RN,BSN name tag and helped her mom to the bathroom for the umpteenth time because my poor overworked CNA had twice as many patients as me and would not be able to keep up with her mom's bladder...). :rolleyes: ...but..

every once in a while a patient or a family member gives a heartfelt thank you, or a patient who had been formerly flat on their back, comes back to the hospital to show how much they have improved since their amputation (walking with their prosthetic leg), or since their stroke, or etc (this happens often in rehabilitation nursing, especially at Christmas time), or I see my patient walk again for the first time since the stroke or the accident (during physical therapy), or a family member thanks me for listening through their tears about what their mom, dad, son or daughter used to be like before the stroke, spinal cord injury, accident or gunshot wound and you know....it's not so bad being a nurse. I'm more satisfied now than the years I worked in the government as a secretary...pushing papers..answering phones...pushing papers....answering phones... :)

Is nursing for everyone?...Nope....But it does have its rewards and the opportunities are numerous......

mom and nurse :)

clee1 · Jan 12, 2006

It has been (sometimes fairly) said that Nursing would be a wonderful profession if it weren't for patients, coworkers, supervisors and MDs screwing it all up! :lol_hitti

Yet, for all the trials and tribulations, I can think of no more-rewarding careers.

Sara, RN · Jan 12, 2006

Thank you for shining a light on the positives! There are many a days I wonder what I'm doing in this profession...when I see the 20-some year old "disabled" with chronic back pain searching for some more oxycontin, or the 3 year old with such a sad life due to his home environment, or the 18 year old pregnant for the second time living off of me. Yes, this is frustrating!!

However, there's so much good!

What other profession continually challenges your mind, your emotions, your ethics, and yes, your back and feet??? Where else can you hold someone's hand as they lay dying? Wipe the tears of a 3 year old who's scared of getting stitches? Watch a new dad cry at the beauty of his newborn child? See the amazing resilience of people given the unbelievable news that they have metastatic cancer? Or just get a big smile, hug and a thank you for helping someone who doesn't feel good?

Many times it's easy to get bogged into the negative, but there is such a reward! Just knowing you did all you could, you made an impact...that's the best. That's what we need to remember!

I agree, being a nurse is a calling, it's 24/7. Unfortunately, some have chosen the wrong career or are burned-out, those people do need to look at a change, please.

Yes, the hours can be long. However, what profession allows you to completely change your practice (ob to icu to management) without having to give up your experience? Where can you adjust your hours based on your home-life needs (night shift vs baylor program vs days)? Or work 3-12 hour shifts and have 5 days off, without taking a vacation?? Not too bad, eh?

And, do I think I am worth more money? Yes!! But I make a lot more now than I ever thought I would. The opportunities and rewards of an RN are continually evolving. We need more RN's that treasure this and have a sense of the "calling." No one ever said caring for people not feeling well would be easy. It's all in the attitude!:wink2:

Sara, RN · Jan 13, 2006

As you ladies return for your nursing degree keep in mind that there is soooo much more to our profession than bodily excretions and "wiping butts." I must say that those duties encompass minimal amount of time. The really stressful things are trying to calculate the right dose of a med while a 3week old codes on you and the family is screaming or when the doctor won't back you up on the education you've given a family or you go to the parents of a 22 year old and ask if they're interested in organ donation or the MD tries to hang his screw up on you or you're in the office because you tried to educate a young lady on using protection (she's been to your department many times for chlamydia) or the MD's yelling at you because he can't get the art line in???

Also, the 12 hour shifts that turn into 14 without time to go to the bathroom much less eat are too numerous to count! Plus you were an RN short. Keep some ibuprofen on hand for muscle aches and headaches.

Yes, nurses are finally making more money (supply vs. demand), but it is us at the bedside ensuring patient safety, checking the doctor's orders and really making the difference. The MD might give you the right orders and might not...the RN gets to figure that out. You must know that 10 mg of dilaudid is too much vs 10 mg of morphine might be ok, and why.

So, please, never assume that what RN's are complaining about is only the "butt wiping," there are so many facets and responsibilities. Many days I forget that I'm actually responsible for a human being...that's worth more than what we're paid!

Actually, in regards to the pay...if I did not work in high acuity, acute care, say clinic or home health, I would make less than a teacher, work 50 weeks/year and still have yuk insurance. So, the bigger bucks comes with a lot more stress, all the shift work 24/7, 365. I was an RN for 10+ years before I made $20/hour.

Nurses are the only part of the healthcare team that is not billable...thus, come many issues. It's interesting when the physical therapist, working 9-5 and doing rehab only, is making lots more than me who's running all the drips and the vent, calling the doctor, missing Christmas morning with my kids, and rarely getting a lunch break.

These are some of the true gripes, which you'll understand when you've actually "walked in our shoes." But there are days when cleaning up a "code brown" or getting sputum coughed in your face are just more than you can take.

However, there is still nothing I'd rather be!!

So, go for it!! We need RN's that want to do the entire job and love it (most of the time).:)

Sara, RN · Jan 13, 2006

As you ladies return for your nursing degree keep in mind that there is soooo much more to our profession than bodily excretions and "wiping butts." I must say that those duties encompass minimal amount of time. The really stressful things are trying to calculate the right dose of a med while a 3week old codes on you and the family is screaming or when the doctor won't back you up on the education you've given a family or you go to the parents of a 22 year old and ask if they're interested in organ donation or the MD tries to hang his screw up on you or you're in the office because you tried to educate a young lady on using protection (she's been to your department many times for chlamydia) or the MD's yelling at you because he can't get the art line in???

Also, the 12 hour shifts that turn into 14 without time to go to the bathroom much less eat are too numerous to count! Plus you were an RN short. Keep some ibuprofen on hand for muscle aches and headaches.

Yes, nurses are finally making more money (supply vs. demand), but it is us at the bedside ensuring patient safety, checking the doctor's orders and really making the difference. The MD might give you the right orders and might not...the RN gets to figure that out. You must know that 10 mg of dilaudid is too much vs 10 mg of morphine might be ok, and why.

So, please, never assume that what RN's are complaining about is only the "butt wiping," there are so many facets and responsibilities. Many days I forget that I'm actually responsible for a human being...that's worth more than what we're paid!

Actually, in regards to the pay...if I did not work in high acuity, acute care, say clinic or home health, I would make less than a teacher, work 50 weeks/year and still have yuk insurance. So, the bigger bucks comes with a lot more stress, all the shift work 24/7, 365. I was an RN for 10+ years before I made $20/hour.

Nurses are the only part of the healthcare team that is not billable...thus, come many issues. It's interesting when the physical therapist, working 9-5 and doing rehab only, is making lots more than me who's running all the drips and the vent, calling the doctor, missing Christmas morning with my kids, and rarely getting a lunch break.

These are some of the true gripes, which you'll understand when you've actually "walked in our shoes." But there are days when cleaning up a "code brown" or getting sputum coughed in your face are just more than you can take.

However, there is still nothing I'd rather be!!

So, go for it!! We need RN's that want to do the entire job and love it (most of the time).:)

ps-nurses scrubs are no longer hospital supplied...you get to bring it all home to your laundry. Check with your school district about ppe-they must have gloves, etc available and it's your responsibility to carry it.

pabby · Jan 23, 2006

i have been a nurse for a lot of years, and there are rewards and drawbacks to it, just like any other profession.

[color=#ffa500]

[color=#ffa500]it should not be a profession that you choose just for the money. the money certainly decent, and i have always made enough money to allow me to live my life the way i choose to live it, so that's fine.

[color=#ffa500]

[color=#ffa500]there are days when i feel like the most frustrated, underappreciated person on the planet. but then there are days whe i feel like i have helped soeone in the most wonderful ways imaginable.

[color=#ffa500]

[color=#ffa500]nursing is one of the few professions where you are given the gift of seeing life at its beginnig, and at its end. you are invited into peoples' lives at some of the best and worst times, and the impact you can make is unimaginable.

[color=#ffa500]

[color=#ffa500]it is a calling. there is an art and a science to nursing. it takes someone special to be able to do it, enjoy it, and excel at it.

Saifudin · Jan 23, 2006

28 years (4 years in nursing, 12 years active ANP practice and DON to the present time) ; I can't think of anything else I would have wanted or want to do and that is a really blessing to spend a career satisfied, content and proud of my care and accomplishments.

arthursmom · Jan 24, 2006

This is my first post here and I just want to say BRAVO for posting this positive thread for nursing. I'm going to nursing school in the fall and I'm so excited as nursing is all I have ever wanted to do. I went to school for social work initially because of all of the negative things I heard about nursing. I have overcome that as nursing is all I can ever see myself doing...I feel I have a calling. So, thank you so much for posting this, and I now only listen to MY heart and drown out the negative people!! :)

Biol20fan · Jan 26, 2006

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I've printed out a few of the posts on this thread to keep as a reminder to myself why I am going to nursing school.

*going to get a tissue to wipe my tears* I want my life to have meant something to other people; I want to repay, in some small way, the loving care that I have received from the wonderful nurses I have had; I want my family to be proud of me and most of all, I want to be proud of myself.

Thank you again :crying2:

MMARN, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2006

So I'm browsing around allnurses.com and come across a thread "no, I wouldn't recommend nursing." At first I thought it was sarcasm, but to my dismay, i find 8 pages of nurses agreeing that nursing is an awful profession. And as much As I'd love to add some light to that thread of despair as some have tried, my words would only get drowned out by the negativity. So I've decided to start my own thread...
YES I WOULD RECOMMEND NURSING! Nursing is a wonderful profession that gives you a feeling of self worth, and self accomplishment. It gives you an opportunity to touch the hearts of so many who need the compassion that the rest of the world had given up on. It gives you the knowledge to respond rapidly when somebody collapses in the middle of Safeway. Nursing gives you an appreciation to life that unfortunately not everyone will discover. So many complaints about nursing is cleaning up crap, but I find no shame in doing it because I don't see crap, I see somebody's grandmother, brother, son, who is already ashamed of themselves for needing the help, and it will be me standing there, assuring them that it's ok. Yes nursing may not be glamorous but it is humbling.
A message to the contributors of "no I wouldn't recommend nursing": everybody is entitled to their own opinion, and we obviously have had different experiences to come to such different conclusions about nursing, but keep in mind nursing may not be for everyone, but it is for others. If you are unsatified with your job, do something about it. Whining about it accomplishes nothing. And telling somebody not to follow a career that wasn't right for you does not make your life any better, it only makes theirs complicated.
A message to the nursing students: yes nursing is challenging. You'll find people who love it, you'll find people who hate it. My opinion- forget them all, it doesn't matter what we think about nursing... what do you think?

Well said!!!! Nursing is a great career. :nurse: :nurse: :nurse: