Any Experienced Nurses Love Their Job?

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Any experienced nurses loving their work?

I am a first semester Nursing student. The negative threads are really scary, and the positive threads really aren't all that much more encouraging. No wonder there's a nursing shortage!! God love those who are brave enough to enter this field!

So, do all nurses make serious errors, or operate under the constant fear of making a serious error? Are you constantly afraid your license will be revoked? Are you forced to work different shifts every week (ie, first days, then nights, suddenly weekends), or have to stay for hours after your shift has ended, and constantly called in on your days off? When the phone rings, are you fearful it's work calling to tell you that you've killed several patients on your last shift? Are the patients, visitors, and superiors typically mean and nasty?

When I started school, my concerns centered around learning a lot of complicated procedures and complicated meds and dosages... now as I browse the site, I'm worried about a whole bunch of other stuff!

Is it really that bad? I would like to get through Nursing school, find a nursing job with a regular schedule (doesn't matter if it's 1st, 2nd, 3rd) so my children can have a set and regular schedule, not be called in on my days off (maybe occasionally would be ok), and not make any errors (I am VERY detail oriented, so I wasn't initially concerned there). I want to enjoy my work (I don't mind working hard), and go home after my shift feeling like I've done something worthwhile that day. Am I being naive? Are there more negatives than positives? What do the experienced RN's think??

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any experienced nurses loving their work?

i am a first semester nursing student. the negative threads are really scary, and the positive threads really aren't all that much more encouraging. no wonder there's a nursing shortage!! god love those who are brave enough to enter this field!

so, do all nurses make serious errors, or operate under the constant fear of making a serious error? no. i am always very cautious and know that an error could happen at any time, but i wouldn't say i'm in "constant fear" of making an error. are you constantly afraid your license will be revoked? no. once again, i know that things can happen and do what i can to prevent errors, but practicing in "constant fear" would make me a less efficient nurse, not a more efficient one. are you forced to work different shifts every week (ie, first days, then nights, suddenly weekends), or have to stay for hours after your shift has ended, and constantly called in on your days off? um, no. i do not and will not work rotating shifts. some employers require rotating shifts, but i will not work for one of those employers. i also do not work where mandatory overtime is part of the job. i only go in on my day off if i choose to. when the phone rings, are you fearful it's work calling to tell you that you've killed several patients on your last shift? no - see above response about constant fear. are the patients, visitors, and superiors typically mean and nasty? some are jerks, some are not - much like the general population. people don't get nicer or meaner just because they are in a hospital - the jerks were jerks before they walked through the hospital doors. most nice people are also nice whether they are in the hospital or shopping at the grocery store.

when i started school, my concerns centered around learning a lot of complicated procedures and complicated meds and dosages... now as i browse the site, i'm worried about a whole bunch of other stuff!

is it really that bad? i would like to get through nursing school, find a nursing job with a regular schedule (doesn't matter if it's 1st, 2nd, 3rd) so my children can have a set and regular schedule, not be called in on my days off (maybe occasionally would be ok), and not make any errors (i am very detail oriented, so i wasn't initially concerned there). nobody never makes any errors, no matter how detail oriented they are. i want to enjoy my work (i don't mind working hard), and go home after my shift feeling like i've done something worthwhile that day. am i being naive? are there more negatives than positives? what do the experienced rn's think??

i think much of your career is what you make of it. you must set limits for yourself - the hospital is a business and does not look out for you. that is your responsibility. you must decide for yourself if you are willing to rotate shifts, work overtime, be on call, etc and make your employment decisions based on that. if you compromise, let the hospital "guilt" you into things, or allow yourself to be convinced that "this is how it is" and there are no better opportunities out there, you are more likely to be unhappy. however, if you are true to your own desires for your life and career, i think you could be happy as a nurse if it is truly what you want to do. hope that helps.

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Thank you. That DOES help. A lot of postings on the site about being fearful of errors, fearful of the phone ringing, hating the long hours and shift changes, worrying about your licence. I didn't expect nursing to be an easy job, but I can't see be a good nurse with so much pressure. It was starting to sound like an awful job to have.

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Specializes in Government.
I think much of your career is what you make of it. You MUST set limits for yourself - the hospital is a business and does not look out for you. That is your responsibility. You must decide for yourself if you are willing to rotate shifts, work overtime, be on call, etc and make your employment decisions based on that. If you compromise, let the hospital "guilt" you into things, or allow yourself to be convinced that "this is how it is" and there are no better opportunities out there, you are more likely to be unhappy. However, if you are true to your own desires for your life and career, I think you could be happy as a nurse if it is truly what you want to do. Hope that helps.

This is really really good advice. The nurses that I know who are happy in their careers (and I count myself in that group) were people who didn't allow the career to consume them. I loved hospital nursing but when it didn't work for me anymore, I found myself a new nursing specialty. When that organization cut pensions by 75%, I took a community health nursing job with a fabulous pension.

You will have to care for yourself. No one else will be able to make those decisions, even people close to you. I couldn't handle 12 hour shifts so I made changes. Other people love 12 hour shifts and it is a non-issue for them. I hated rotating shifts so I decided full time nights worked for me. Other people can't make it through one night but I did ten years.

Guilt should never be part of the equation. Also, don't go to work really sick. It will always be one of the worst shifts ever. I don't know why but it is true!

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

Eleven years of M/S, tele, and ICU. Just finished 3 years of ED. I love my job. 11am-11pm 3X week, I set my own schedule 95% of the time, with the exception of every 4th weekend. I enjoy my co-workers, have good, supportive management. Frequent calls for overtime, but none required. Great benefits, great pay-with OT and bonuses (I average 4 -12 hour shifts a week) I make about $110k/year. Small community hospital, on Philadelphia border.

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

I refuse to operate as a human being anywhere in my life in constant fear. That is how I operate as a Nurse as well. Some nurses do there entire jobs to avoid being hauled to court...that is an absurd way to live.

Also, my nursing career has certainly had its ups and downs. But one of the VERY best things about nursing is that you can change practically as often as you want until you find the best possible fit for yourself. I would STRONGLY suggest it. There is also a "honeymoon" period, I believe, for most nurses, and then reality sets in and then a gradual new appreciation slowly develops for what we do each day. I know that was true for me. There was a time period where I really dreaded going to work, but I have changed my focus on connecting with my patients and with the NICE people at work and that has really been helpful. I try to concentrate on what I LOVE about nursing and to forget about those things that I don't.

Nursing is so embroiled in being human that it contains all the joy and pain we all experience. I think it can be equated to life itself. Sometimes I really love it and other times, not so much.... It is humanity at it worst and best, and not just from our patients, the Doctors and our coworkers can be the most taxing at times!!!

So go forward proudly, but informed, you will love AND hate it...just like life itself...but is it worth it???? Absolutely!!!!

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Specializes in Psych, ER, some med/surg.
I refuse to operate as a human being anywhere in my life in constant fear. That is how I operate as a Nurse as well. Some nurses do there entire jobs to avoid being hauled to court...that is an absurd way to live.

Also, my nursing career has certainly had its ups and downs. But one of the VERY best things about nursing is that you can change practically as often as you want until you find the best possible fit for yourself. I would STRONGLY suggest it. There is also a "honeymoon" period, I believe, for most nurses, and then reality sets in and then a gradual new appreciation slowly develops for what we do each day. I know that was true for me. There was a time period where I really dreaded going to work, but I have changed my focus on connecting with my patients and with the NICE people at work and that has really been helpful. I try to concentrate on what I LOVE about nursing and to forget about those things that I don't.

Nursing is so embroiled in being human that it contains all the joy and pain we all experience. I think it can be equated to life itself. Sometimes I really love it and other times, not so much.... It is humanity at it worst and best, and not just from our patients, the Doctors and our coworkers can be the most taxing at times!!!

So go forward proudly, but informed, you will love AND hate it...just like life itself...but is it worth it???? Absolutely!!!!

Wow! Very well said.

Having spent only about 5 years total in nursing.......I will not specifically comment, but I will say that the above post is exactly how I feel about L/E. I believe that both careers are very differant, but at the same time very similar. They are people service oriented. You always have to deal with people, personalities, attitudes, biases etc, etc..... Having a positive outlook and attitude yourself (and I don't mean "HAPPY, HAPPY - SMILEY, SMILEY) will carry you through a long and satisfying career. Fear of being "dragged into court"? HA! Take a number. Anyone can sue you for anything! Protect yourself with insurance, an employer's/union's legal plan AND MOST IMPORTANTLY do your job right, morally, legally and to the best of your abilities. All that in place........you'll be just fine.

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any experienced nurses loving their work? yes.

so, do all nurses make serious errors, or operate under the constant fear of making a serious error? constant fear? no. but i try to be careful, and practice the '5 rights'. everyone makes mistakes. if you are under constant fear of making a serious error, you'll be paralyzed.

are you constantly afraid your license will be revoked? no.

are you forced to work different shifts every week (ie, first days, then nights, suddenly weekends), or have to stay for hours after your shift has ended, and constantly called in on your days off? no, i'm hired for nights, every other weekend. yes, they frequently call to come in on days off--- that's why god gave us answering machines and caller id, and i learned early on how to say "no" ;)

when the phone rings, are you fearful it's work calling to tell you that you've killed several patients on your last shift? good heavens, no.

are the patients, visitors, and superiors typically mean and nasty? i rarely have any trouble with patients; visitors can be a pain at times. i got along well with my supervisors (even my insane manager lol).

when i started school, my concerns centered around learning a lot of complicated procedures and complicated meds and dosages... now as i browse the site, i'm worried about a whole bunch of other stuff! calm down. you'll learn to deal with it all ;)

is it really that bad? i would like to get through nursing school, find a nursing job with a regular schedule (doesn't matter if it's 1st, 2nd, 3rd) so my children can have a set and regular schedule, not be called in on my days off (maybe occasionally would be ok), and not make any errors (i am very detail oriented, so i wasn't initially concerned there). i want to enjoy my work (i don't mind working hard), and go home after my shift feeling like i've done something worthwhile that day. am i being naive? are there more negatives than positives? what do the experienced rn's think?? again, calm down. it isn't a walk in the park, but i can't imagine doing anything else. keep in mind that many of the posts here are simply a safe way to vent our frustrations to those who know what we're going through. somewhere between the horror stories and the pie-in-the-sky-rose-colored-glasses perspective, you'll find reality.

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Specializes in OB, NP, Nurse Educator.

I love my job and I have been a nurse 22 years. I loved working in the nursery and labor hall. I never get tired of seeing babies being born. I love teaching. I look forward to going to work every day!

Do I have crappy days? Sure. But the good ones far out weigh the bad ones. And I think that you can say that about any job - McDonalds, Walmart, Lawyers - whatever.

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Specializes in Oncology, Cardiac.

Thanks to all who posted here. I'm bookmarking this thread because I know going back to it every so often will help me keep a level head about nursing (and maybe even life in general)!

;)

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