does anyone regret becoming a nurse?

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Hello everyone, hope you are all doing ok and thank you brian for you wonderful website. I am a senoir in high school and will be going to nursing school after i graduate:nurse:. My question is, does anyone regret becoming a nurse? If so, why do you regret this decision.

Specializes in Psych, EMS.

Not one bit. I don't like nursing at all..but I did the Accelerated BSN knowing it wouuld be a temporary and practical move for me. I have not been disappointed..I have the $28.75/hr I was seeking, job security (in my area), and second bachelor's degree..after only a year of school and sacrifice. I won't be doing this for long, though.

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Specializes in medical with other stuff chucked in!.

i don't regret becoming a nurse, but i have a love/hate relationship with the "job" itself - it is not for the faint hearted!. You will see the very best and the very worst of human nature, nursing is an emotional rollercoaster and you have to be tough to survive with your sanity. it's true that in your career as a nurse you will likely get hit, bitten, screamed at, intimidated and bullied by your patients and/or patient families, hell i was even sexually assaulted by a patient once - there is no respect for nurses, and when the **** hits the fan it's always the nurses that are to blame. Nursing is mentally and physically exhausting at times. managers and pointless bureaucracy make caring for the patient almost impossible, but they keep loading it all on more and more. i came into nursing to look after patients, not spend 3/4 of my shift on pointless repetitive paperwork! you will come across the most disgusting things you could even imagine - just check out some of the threads on here! lol.

BUT! i love the fact that i am making a difference; i have actually helped to save many lives throughout my career; and for those that are near the end of their life i feel privileged to have been able to care for them and their families - it's very humbling. It's great to nurse someone back to health, to know that your actions and expertise have contributed to their recovery.

Nurses have to be tough, but never cold hearted - the essence of nursing is compassion and empathy.

my advice is to read the various replies on here, and take a look at the threads on the site and make up your own mind. Good luck with whatever you decide to do

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I went into nursing with good intentions but I worry about what will happen when I graduate. I feel like I'm being set up to fail within the first year. Recall the music video for Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall", the part with the schoolchildren on the conveyor belt going towards the meat grinder. Staffing ratios are unsafe, there's not enough help, too much documentation, and too many extra duties. While I don't want to flee from the bedside so soon, I know I need to get away soon enough for further education. Otherwise I will end up like the schoolchildren in the Pink Floyd video.

All in all, you're just another brick in the wall...

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Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.

I've been having a more difficult time promoting the nursing profession since the RN program has become a 4-year BScN. Take a look at those allied health professionals we work with - OT, PT, RT, social work, dietician - rewarding careers with direct patient involvement, stemmed from university degrees within similar time frames but without the smut work and bull crap associated with nursing.

My RN mother deterred me from nursing years ago and had my teenage daughter shown an interest, I very likely would have done the same thing. Sad, but true.

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Specializes in acute care.

Regret it? No, I can't say I regret it. I'm just not satisfied with where I am right now and would be much more satisfied if I were practicing in my specialty of choice.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I noticed a post about disappointment in pay. Have you tried moving to other parts of the country? The northeast and west coast, although it's a tighter job market, tends to pay better. That being said, nursing is not investment banking... I know someone's parents who tried to push her into nursing because of the job security and the good pay (in my world, starting out at $45,000/year is good pay), but she decided to take a risk and major in English which is her passion. I'm glad she did. If you don't have some type of idealism going into the job, however that might be affected by your disappointment in the "reality" of the job, you will probably not enjoy your career. In other words, don't do it for the money.

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No. Do regret not getting bsn. Was just GLAD to be out of school but should have sucked up and done it anyway. Only thing is you have to watch and not get in too much debt. Good luck.

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my regret? should have gotten my RN instead of my LPN. but everything happens for a reason

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Specializes in Emergency, Nursing Management, Auditing.

Daily. Only thing keeping me in it is the great pay and dependability. Completely dislike the actual job.

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I've been having a more difficult time promoting the nursing profession since the RN program has become a 4-year BScN. Take a look at those allied health professionals we work with - OT, PT, RT, social work, dietician - rewarding careers with direct patient involvement, stemmed from university degrees within similar time frames but without the smut work and bull crap associated with nursing.

My RN mother deterred me from nursing years ago and had my teenage daughter shown an interest, I very likely would have done the same thing. Sad, but true.

The reality is Nursing in Canada sucks. Sure, we're well paid and unionized. From what I read here, as an LPN in Canada I make more than many US RNs (and our $$ are very close to par).

We have BScNs, the old diploma/hospital trained RNs, the Reg. Psych. Nurses (in Western Canada) and the Practical Nurses. In the public eyes we are all the same.

Cold, over paid, and female dogs (rhymes with witches). They only ever appreciate us when we are looking after their elderly that they don't want at home, or in very rare cases when they've been model acute care patients who are a joy to look after.

I've been hit, punched, nipped, grabbed, and verbally assaulted. Grant it, most of happened in LTC (where Mum would NEVER hurt a nurse she RESPECTS them). But the gangbangers are priceless. One of my friends who is in the police could not believe that one of my patients didn't have a constable outside the door. He'd arrested him three previous times (he was picking me up from work and saw said patient in the hall) and basically couldn't understand why the hospital let him be alone with staff.

Would I do it over again--No. Like another poster said, there are lots of jobs in healthcare that pay just as well with similar amounts of education.

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I also regret becoming an LPN, should have went right away for RN. So many more opportunities, and much more respect.

If I knew then, what I know now though, that healthcare is primarily just run like a business (instead of doing the very best thing by the patients) I would have become an auto mechanic! (serious)

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Specializes in NICU,Mother-Baby,L&D.
Regrets.... I"ve had a few!!!! if you a smart enough to get into nursing school, you are a bright individual. PLEASE go to your counselor, parents, whomever, and explore other career options. There are many opportunities for smart women other than nursing. I desperately wish i would have put my great mind and efforts into ANYTHING else but nursing.#1....it is a female profession, therefore, the pay and benefits are are NOT comparable to a male dominated field.#2.... You will work like a DOG and not be appreciated by anyone, except a few patients.#3.. Please stay n this site and find out the TRUTH about nursing.

Run..run.. my little dear,,, AWAY from nursing.;)

Wow you must have had some horrible experiences. Maybe its time for you to hang up your hat

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