Am I alone in liking being a nurse?

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I come here for support and sharing and I like being able to see how everyone else is living their lives as nurses.

But I can't help but wonder...am I the only nurse who is happy with her job and glad she chose to be a nurse?

I have always liked what I do. I have worked in a variety of different settings, from ICU/ER, transplantation, research, outpatient care, management and now telenursing. I haven't always found everything in my job to be wonderful but when it wasn't I either worked to find a solution to the problems or I moved on...there are too many different areas of nursing to choose from to have one person or one institution ruin me, my career or my happiness.

I feel like I make good money, I have always been able to find a job to match my family's needs and I have worked a lot of different schedules...8 hour days, 12 hour nights, 4-10 hour days, weekend option-32/40, 3-10 hour days Q week, and even some varieties of these combinations... yes, I have been a nurse for a long time.

I hate that we are our own worst enemy. We don't seem to encourage the young to seek nursing as a career, instead we disparage it and demean it and in the process show our own selves such disrespect that I can understand why people do not want to seek nursing as a career.

So my question to all of you is: How can we become more positive toward our career choice and how can we begin to reflect a positive message that would make others want to join us?

...Or am I really the only one around who is glad to be a nurse?

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I like being a nurse!! However, I am a new grad and just started work in October so there's LOTS of time for that to change. I can't see myself as a bedside nurse forever; eventually I would like to become a CRNA. If I become unhappy in a job, I hope that I will leave before I become burnout.

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I love my career, my hospital, MOST of my co-workers, and my patients. Of course, like everyone else, I get frustrated at times. I like to go to this BB at those times. I personally would encourage anyone who understands what nursing is and still wants to be a part of it to join us. In fact, I talk to high school students about the realities of nursing. Being honest allows students to see that this is a challenging and rewarding career. I have had a few tell me that they are considering nursing after hearing me speak, and I've had others tell me that they are no longer interested once they hear about some of the problems (and what it takes to try and rectify these problems). I think helping people make an INFORMED decision about becoming a nurse is the best way to help our profession gain comitted individuals.

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Specializes in med/surg.

Hiya Shotzie! The answer is no - you are not alone. Don't you believe it!

I've been a nurse going on 10 yrs and I've also moved around a few times Med/Surg, Pulmonary, Neuro, Mgmt, Insurance, Quality, Agency, Travel, and now I'm back at the bedside again and loving it. Not every day is a bed of roses, but every day I get to help, to care, and know that I've given my patients the care they need and in some cases the care they expect / deserve. There are millions of nurses working in the world, too many for everyone to hate/dislike what they do. Unfortunately it is still human nature and very easy for people to focus on the negative things in their lives.

I went back to the bedside because that's where I belong - helping the patient who is scared and overcome by all the changes of being sick and in the hospital. Teaching them what to expect, how to help themselves, and reassuring them that even small improvements are signs of returning health while encouraging them to takes steps towards recovery.

Please don't ever feel that you're alone.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I like what I do but like emerald, won't be at the beside forever that I can help it. Unlike her, I have no interest in becoming a CRNA...

I was lucky to realize my dream of being an OB/GYN nurse right out of school 6 years ago. But I sense time to move on will be in the next couple years.....depends on what my kids are up to then (I homeschool them now)...

I want to be a community health nurse/educator or be in some teaching capacity.

who knows, I will try to let things happen as they should and when that little voice that told me to enter nursing, tells me to move on, I will try to be wise enough to do so.

I do not want to be burnt out either.

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I love being a nurse, and can't see myself doing any other thing for a living. It is so much more than a"job" it is a way of life almost. I won't work certain areas yet due to horrible staffing (despite our new and unabided by California ratios), but I long to get into med-surg/tele if and when I see a REAL change in staffing. I think med-surg nurses ROCK! They know so much and have superb organizational skills. For now though, I remain in a ratio mandated area (PACU) and will not leave until I see change.

I love educating my patients, and having them improve by something I say or do. I enjoy the reponsibility that comes with challenging the physician when needed to advocate for the patient. The hospital poilitics, this I hate. HMO's, I hate, and poeple who abuse the system and take from others makes me crazed.

Nope, you are NOT alone in your feelings.

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I soooo admire nurses that can work at the bedside for 20 years, we need more nurses like them!! My preceptor at my new job has been an ICU nurse for 15 years at the same hospital, I have no idea how she does it. She still likes her job and isn't burnt out, I admire her so much for that. Since I am a new nurse, I would really like some tips on how to stay fresh/enjoy my job/not get burnt out. Do any of you experienced nurses have any suggestions for me? My job is so stressful and I wonder if I could do my job for more then a few years and keep the same positive attitude.

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Originally posted by EmeraldNYL

I soooo admire nurses that can work at the bedside for 20 years, we need more nurses like them!! My preceptor at my new job has been an ICU nurse for 15 years at the same hospital, I have no idea how she does it. She still likes her job and isn't burnt out, I admire her so much for that. Since I am a new nurse, I would really like some tips on how to stay fresh/enjoy my job/not get burnt out. Do any of you experienced nurses have any suggestions for me? My job is so stressful and I wonder if I could do my job for more then a few years and keep the same positive attitude.

I'm not a nurse (yet) but I have been stressed out with other jobs and you have to TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF when you are NOT at work - NO MATTER WHAT. I started doing this after I became physically sick from too much stress and it REALLY HELPS. Find your "watering hole".

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Keep your home life sacred.

When NOT at work, forget it, much as possible. Try NOT to take it home with you. If something bothers you, "debrief" with friends or family, leaving names out of it. Or debrief with your coworkers. I have had a couple really rough times where this saved my sanity and life. THEN LET IT GO.

Focus on what is important. For me, family is number one, at the heart of my life, my soul. My work is very important but not most important.

Have a hobby, or lots of hobbies that have nothing whatever to do with nursing.

Never neglect your spiritual self. Whatever that means to you, never, ever let that go. It will save you in times of crisis and/or pain related to your job and your life in general. It will keep you REAL.

Don't overwork yourself, in the quest to learn it all as fast as you can. Me, I love being a perdiem nurse. I don't get overworked and work when I want to. This certainly helps me.

Stay on the cutting edge of your speciality. if you can afford the money and time, go to seminars and educational offerings when possible. the ones they offer in places like Hawaii or other exotic locations are the ones I wish I could attend...

Keep your priorities straight, in life and work. this is the key to NOT burning out.

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Most of us enjoy being nurses or we wouldn't be nurses. What we DON't like (and this has been covered many times here) is the situation, the politics, lack of support.

I am as positive as I can be in my place of work...in fact this is something my coworkers/bosses like about me they say. I am as pleasant to my coworkers as I can possibly be...it helps us all tolerate the workplace. My coworkers feel the same...I work with a great group and it makes or break the job for me after 27 yrs.

But that doesn't include having blinders on. We have to have a safe place to vent. We can't do much of it at work or at home where our families don't understand. Some things need changing and we need to address this.

As far as making things better, if enough nurses would stick together that will happen and I hope to see this in my area someday. :cool:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Basically what mattsmom said holds true for me too.

I'm kind of in a bad space right now with management, working overtime, and being short staffed, etc, so I've come here and vented a lot.

Don't take that as I don't like being a nurse. I actually love being a nurse. I'm not able to be the nurse I need to be right now and it's frustrating.

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SmilingBluEyes-very good advice!:)

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