Nurses from Ontario are you happy you went into nursing ?

[bluestar776]

I was finally accepted into a BScN program my dream for so long. I want to go into home care one day as I have been reading a lot of negative things about hospitals..

I'm worried now because I have had a passion for nursing for so long and worked hard at the pre reqs but I've been reading negative things about nursing how many nurses are understaffed and dislike their jobs.

Is there anyone who is happy with their job? Do you feel happy you went into the nursing field ?

[loriangel14, RN]

I love my job and I am happy I decided to go to nursing school. I love working in the hospital and yes we are understaffed but so is homecare. You will need to get some exposure before you can really decide where you want to work.

[theRPN2b]

I'm a new grad RPN (have only been registered with the CNO for less than 2 months now) and so far I love being a nurse and the hospital unit I am working on. As stated above, pretty much anywhere is understaffed, but you'll learn to manage!

[Fiona59]

I thought I'd do homecare. My time with a homecare nurse, whilst a student, changed my mind fast.

filthy, unsafe, and downright dangerous homes. Pit bulls in the yard. Oh, and can you do the dishes before you leave?

no thanks, give me an isolation room any day

[loriangel14, RN]

Plus you really need experience before you jump into homecare. You will be relying on your own judgement and assessment skills.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

In hindsight, I would have become a dietician or an OT instead. However, I enjoy working with seniors and I'm looking forward to my graduate studies this year.

There are many areas that you can pursue in nursing.

[NewRPN85]

I usually am. I don't love my job, but I love the people I work with and I feel fulfilled at this point in my career. I don't regret becoming a nurse, but there is certainly a dark side to the profession if you work for a for profit clinic.

[vintage_RN, BSN, RN]

Yes. I love my job. Nursing keeps me fulfilled and challenged.

[madricka, BSN, RN]

Working in a good hospital can be a fantastic experience. Depending on where you are at, there can be a lot of opportunity to work in different areas. For example, I started in surgical oncology -- the unit I did my consolidation -- but then was hired into critical care and the hospital paid the tuition fees and my full-time wages while I took the critical care program. This is important if you don't like the area you start in or aren't really sure which area of nursing you are interested in (you can also spend a few days shadowing nurses in different areas to give you an idea what their shifts are like, how they manage their time, etc). There are tuition reimbursement options if you want to upgrade your education and paid education days if you want to attend conferences or seminars (again, hospital-specific). You will also be exposed to MANY different health care team members and develop strong communication skills. Depending on where you work you may have the opportunity to be involved in research (directly or indirectly). You will learn a LOT!

I have absolutely no regrets about choosing hospital work (or nursing). YES, it is often understaffed (sometimes you get lucky and agency nurses fill the gap!) and the work is tough but if you working with a good team makes ALL the difference. It's also VERY important to take care of yourself (physically and mentally), know when to take breaks and how to manage your stress. You need to learn how to leave work at work and not take it home with you (which can be tricky, but it's essential).