Any nurses that love nursing and love their job??

Published

I start nursing school in the fall and have gotten a lot of negative feedback from nurses I work with who are really miserable as a nurse. Some are very encouraging, but most have told me to turn around now while I have the chance. Even the ones that say they like nursing usually only like it for the schedule flexibility and the money they make.

I am just wondering if there is anyone out there that absolutely loves nursing and loves their job? I don't plan on changing my path...I guess I am just looking for some positive reinforcement that I am making the right decision and that there are actually nurses out there than truly enjoy what they do. Thanks in advance!

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Yours has been an oft asked question, nets. I put in some key words in the search engine and got 10,000 hits.

Here is one of my replies from the many:

"...I love being a nurse, what the title stands for, what the work entails, and what satisfaction I get feeling like a contributing member of society.

I am by no means, a religious person. However, the basic principles behind Christianity are worth following. Doing techy things like working in surgery, or administrative things like being a nursing supervisor were great and I feel blessed to have been able to work in those areas. But when I stoop down to help a geriatric psych patient put on their footies, I think of how Jesus washed the feet of his Disciples. Here this great man (or whatever else you may believe), humbled himself. He made himself equal to them by making himself less than them, but in reality, he was above them.

That doesn't sound the way I wanted to convey about how I think and feel bout nursing, but maybe you can get the gist. We are servants to those with which we provide care, but we are esteemed professionals in a respected field. So, whether I was first scrub on a lumbar laminectomy with a second scrub, two surgeons, three back tables and a mayo stand, or wiping the butt of an incontinent geriatric psych patient, I was doing a job that I love: providing comfort and care to another human being.

And that's what I love about nursing..."

Good luck and the best to you in your endeavor, nets!

13
Up Vote Up Vote ×
14 minutes ago, Davey Do said:

Yours has been an oft asked question, nets. I put in some key words in the search engine and got 10,000 hits.

Here is one of my replies from the many:

"...I love being a nurse, what the title stands for, what the work entails, and what satisfaction I get feeling like a contributing member of society.

I am by no means, a religious person. However, the basic principles behind Christianity are worth following. Doing techy things like working in surgery, or administrative things like being a nursing supervisor were great and I feel blessed to have been able to work in those areas. But when I stoop down to help a geriatric psych patient put on their footies, I think of how Jesus washed the feet of his Disciples. Here this great man (or whatever else you may believe), humbled himself. He made himself equal to them by making himself less than them, but in reality, he was above them.

That doesn't sound the way I wanted to convey about how I think and feel bout nursing, but maybe you can get the gist. We are servants to those with which we provide care, but we are esteemed professionals in a respected field. So, whether I was first scrub on a lumbar laminectomy with a second scrub, two surgeons, three back tables and a mayo stand, or wiping the butt of an incontinent geriatric psych patient, I was doing a job that I love: providing comfort and care to another human being.

And that's what I love about nursing..."

Good luck and the best to you in your endeavor, nets!

Oh goodness..usually I try the search first, but did not do that this time for some reason. That was beautifully written. Thank you!

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

I love it! The flexibility is nice, but I love being able to help someone on the worst day of their life.

7
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

I love being a nurse! I’ve been a nurse for 12 years and I’m not bitter or burned out yet. Part of that has to do with the fact that I have good personal boundaries. And a really great job!

6
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I did not love (or even like) my first nursing job. I had to find the specialty where I felt I belonged to like it. My last 2 or 3 jobs over the past 15 years I can say I liked overall. I think we all have to find our niche.

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU, MICU, Burn ICU.

Love it. Life is hard, I don't expect work-life to be any form of escape from hardship -- especially when my chosen career is specifically taking care of those dealing with great hardship.

Here's something I think is key -- you need to be the sort of person who knows how to be satisfied in your life -- both personally and professionally. Much of this has to do with expectations and perspective (and boundaries!).

Honestly, if I didn't have my faith, family and friends (and boundaries!), I would probably be pretty traumatized by the work I do. People ask me, sometimes, why I do this work -- it's because I can, I am equipped, I like having a physical job that requires I use my brain. I like life-long learning. I like being a part of someone getting better, or someone dying well. I like doing things that few people in the world do. I like being a part of a team.

Not everyone should do this job, but if you are cut out for it, it's a great career!

Oh -- and part of my boundaries involve being choosy about who I will work for. Granted, sometimes that is a luxury that is earned over time -- with experience and developing a valuable skill set, but that investment in your practice is worth it on all accounts.

8
Up Vote Up Vote ×

"Love" is not a word I throw around much, so I will say that nursing has been a satisfying choice for me.

Nursing is not a binary all-or-nothing love or hate relationship. Most of us live on a spectrum somewhere in between the extremes.

It doesn't mean I don't have a bad day once in a while, or have never held a crappy job or had patients I failed.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for your question nets5010. I get the same impression you do from posts on Allnurses...nursing must suck.

I worked as an acute care floor nurse for 21 years, then moved to the wonderful world of out patient surgery for my last 17 years. I never worked full time. It was always 32 hours a week. I wonder if in my "old age" I just forgot how awful it was? Or for some reason was it easier to be a floor nurse in the l980's to 2000?

I loved nursing. Of course I was beyond terrified my first 1 - 2 year. That I do remember and it certainly isn't a fun feeling to have at your job! Once I got the hang of it, (maybe I have a terrible memory), I enjoyed it. The horribly busy nights I remember...but every shift wasn't like that....it was just one of those nights to remember and the feeling of relief when day shift showed up. Maybe proud of myself that I got through it and no patients were harmed. I always felt supported by my co-workers and management. Maybe I tasted bad...no nurse ever tried to eat me ? when I was young.

I learned to love the flexible hours. I realized how working weekends then being off, Monday, Tuesday allowed me to get all the stuff done that can't be done on weekends. I never missed a school play and went on every school field trip when my kids were in elementary school. I learned that Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc, do not have to be held on the official day....the day before or after works just as well, and better for many reasons.

And the pay is great!

6
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Neuroscience, Telemetry, Med/Surg.

Hello, I only have a few years of experience but I'd have to say that I thoroughly (for the most part) enjoy my job. Some days are rougher than most, but I'm absolutely grateful that I am able to do what I do everyday. Good luck!

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiology.

Where I work now I would say I enjoy it most of the time. Good management, great co-workers. Most of the patients are great to work with. Every now and then we have stretches where the floor is a mess. Id say the only negative about the job is dealing with upper management's BS.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Like most things in life, it isn't going to be black and white. The answer is yes, I love being a nurse. I love identifying as a nurse; I love functioning as a nurse; I love the community of nurses I get to be part of and I love who I have become in earning my way into this world of talented and passionate men and women.

There are things that make nursing uniquely difficult and those things have a lot to do with smelly stuff, messy stuff and bureaucratic stuff. It also has to do with fatigue, weariness, a sense of futility at times etc. Those things make it hard to like being a nurse.

I love my current nursing job. A lot. A whole, whole lot. It isn't all sunshine and roses, but it is a good schedule with good pay and a decent level of fulfillment.

The above poster who stated that if you are the kind of person who can cultivate contentment, you will be fine is exactly correct.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion