Would you become an RN again if you had the choice?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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I'll be applying to ABSN (or ELMSN) programs this upcoming year.

I have been getting increasingly frustrated over becoming a nurse which is starting to worry me. The main thing I keep hearing is that nurses are mean and not nice to each other. I've heard this from many different people and I'm getting worried. I don't want to either 1. become one of those people or 2. be treated poorly by my co-workers

My question is, would you still become an RN if you had the choice to do it again? Why or why not?

Would you recommend getting your MSN and NP license? Why or why not?

Thank you! I really hope that the people I am hearing these things from are wrong!

no way dude. Sometimes I wish I was in front of a computer and had my own cubicle.

probably not

Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

There are so many specialties in nursing and so many options. I cannot imagine another field with so much diversity and such variation. I have RN friends who work in research, school nursing, correctional, psych, ED, oncology, nursing educators, etc. My next door neighbor is a flight nurse.

Maybe I'm a happy nurse because I've never worked a floor.

OK. So far I have counted the following:

28 "No's,"

19 "Yes's,"

and about 7 "? - Maybe if this or that/unsure, or not definitively answered either way."

Specializes in PCCN.
Since this is a third career for me, I can relate to being a waitress and a customer service rep for an insurance company, and let me tell you something, I get far more respect being a nurse. This is a career that I knew I'd be using my brain on a daily basis. I don't feel like I'm a waitress, because I've been a waitress, I've had creamer thrown in my face. Don't get me wrong I loved waiting tables, however, my body took a beating and I just couldn't see myself waiting tables when I'm in my 60's. I have two bachelor's degrees and chose nursing as my career. I've worked with women all my life and let me tell you, they never change. It doesn't matter where you work there are catty women! You have to rise above the BS.

you must not work on a hospital floor then. customer service AND waitressing along with medical tx :-(

And at least in waitressing the odds that a customer is going to attack you with a fork are fairly low, correct me if im wrong :-)

Specializes in PCCN.
Just curious for all those who answered "no"...What would you rather be doing for work? I ask this in all sincerity, because I'm on the fence, myself, and trying to get an idea of all the options out there.

I had a factory job prior to nursing. company closed. I might have c/o stuff back then, but after being in nursing, what I wouldnt give to have that job back!!!

To be realistic though, I was thinking of going back to school for RHIT healthcare records tech. I have alot of the pre- req's already.yes it's a cut in pay. But it would give me a couple years to pay off my bills while studying, and realize there might be an end to the nursing h e double hockey sticks

Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

I don't know... I had the opportunity to become a teacher instead, but I kept

feeling a "tug" to go back to nursing school.

I think part of that though, was that the education program at the college

where I was attending, was horrific, and the office staff were rude. I got

stuck doing observations in a kindergarten class, and the teacher and aide

kept sticking me with this little girl who had the most gawd-awful behavior.

There are many many times that I wish I had become an art teacher!

Specializes in MDS/Office.

I am in front of a computer all day...I'm an MDS Coordinator. :laugh:

Specializes in Cardiac.
you must not work on a hospital floor then. customer service AND waitressing along with medical tx :-(

And at least in waitressing the odds that a customer is going to attack you with a fork are fairly low, correct me if im wrong :-)

I am correcting you, I do work as a floor nurse, I work on a cardiac step-down unit, it is crazy there everyday, but I love it! I have never been attacked by a patient. There are those days that I do think, what the heck was I thinking going into nursing, however, I think those thoughts far less than I did when I was waiting tables. I'm not putting down being a waitress, but, I never used my brain like I do now. Think about it, everyday we help save someones life, everyday we have to make crucial decisions on how we treat our patients, we are their voice. We see people at there most vulnerable times. This is just my opinion, I for one LOVE BEING A NURSE!

Not in a million years, nope, never.

Its really REALLY sad to me that so many of us feel this way....

If I could go back, I would not have done anything related to the health care field.

I would rather be

1. Stay at home mom (and NOT have to worry about bills)

2. A good paying job that I could perform strictly from home so that I could do what I really love (refer to #1)

3. A non-stressful office type job

As an LPN for 10 years, who is awaiting acceptence into an RN program as we speak, the answer is a resounding YES! I have paid my dues, so to speak, and feel that I now have enough knowledge and life experience to be effective in another position.

I hope for everyone who responds with anything less than a Yes, that they will find a way to become impassioned again. With all the different types of positions for RNs - there has to be one position out there that can make you feel excited again. With all of your education and experience, no one here should allow themselves to remain in a rut or continue to feel burned out. You don't have to give up your day job, take something per diem in a totally different environment. You may find you like it, or you may find new appreciation for where you work.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Not in a million years, nope, never.

Its really REALLY sad to me that so many of us feel this way....

If I could go back, I would not have done anything related to the health care field.

I would rather be

1. Stay at home mom (and NOT have to worry about bills)

2. A good paying job that I could perform strictly from home so that I could do what I really love (refer to #1)

3. A non-stressful office type job

*** I know three RNs who work from home and make good money. Close to what they made in the hospital. One works for a large health system on the nurse call line. They set her up with a computer hooked up to their intranet. I have been to her house and seen her talk to people via a head set and make appointments for them while breast feeding her baby while wearing a robe. The other two work for insurance companies. One does case managment and the other works on their nurse call line giving advice. He has company approved advice for many different ailments people call with. He just types what they are asking him about into his company computer and up comes the pre-approved advice. When in doubt he recomends the urgent care or ER. It's super easy. He spends lots of time out in the garden with a head set. Both of the insurance nurses can be located anywhere with fast & realiable internet connection. They can work from Starbucks if they want. One of them manages to work while out doing erands via his smart phone. They all report very flexable working hours.

All of them were experienced acute care nurses and they did have to spend a year or two working from an office before they could work at home.

Just something to think about.

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