does anyone regret this career?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

just curious.

I regret it every single day. I had good intentions when I started, and I wasn't idealistic either. But it is a FAR worse job than I imagined. I feel like the life has been beaten out of me.

I consider myself a good nurse, and I do give it my all for patients when I'm at work. But I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this.

Just wanted to know if I was alone. My family and friends don't seem to understand.

I regret the inside abuse, and the fact that too many don't want to face or discuss it. How can it possibly be dealt with unless people face it. Seems like it has to be an "in-your-face" and overt kind of abuse in order for it to even begin to be addressed.

Interesting isn't it, all the denial that goes on, even on this site.

When the state nursing associations are addressing it and including it in their publications then I guess it does exist, doesn't it?

No matter how much some people like to deny it.

YUP. Major denial. No worries though, b/c advancing nurse's education will solve everything. (eyeroll)

I am for education, but the overriding mentalities are missing the priorities in the bigger scheme of things.

I am jumping through oops in order to move out of the "profession." Nothing and nowhere is perfect, but things aren't getting better--only worse. If it wasn't so sad, it would be laughable.

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I've only been a graduate for 18 months and have spent 16 months on a busy medical surgical floor, two months on a busy acute psychiatric floor. I will be perfectly honest, even if I'm embarrassed to admit it. There are aspects of nursing that I like, and aspects of nursing that I am good at-I have only encountered a couple of "troll nurses"- you all know what I mean. I work well with different personalities, am organized, hard working, and competent. I have positive recommendations from staff and management alike. However, I am not the "amazing leading nurse" on the floor- I am not the nurse that seems to handle all unpredictable situations with grace, and intense knowledge. I am good at drawing blood, I am only fair at putting in IVs. I do make minor administrative mistakes and I do not always know the order to perform in those out of control situations we encounter more days than not- but I do my best to work at my max capacity, and have always gotten through ok. I enjoy working with most of my coworkers, and they enjoy working with me, so that must mean something. I also enjoy nursing a majority of my patients, and strongly dislike nursing a minority of my patients. I am still a good, average nurse, but I don't always feel confident in my capacity to be a great nurse. I don't know how I feel about that.

I have a like/don't like thing going on with nursing. There are so, so, so many things wrong with our health care system-nothing new there. Nurses are not respected by anyone- at best, a few may think warmly of the few occasions a nurse has an opportunity to shine in this overworked, undervalued system. This takes a huge toll on a person very quickly- leading to depression, burnout, or a decision to internalize this and warp it into a sense of pride at adopting an enduring attitude. Nurses' work is not valued by anyone- we know that goverment is all too happy to grab any opportunity to turn an RN position into a cheaper labour position. There is a surplus of work but few offered positions or security- competition is intense, even for basic permanent positions that, as others have mentioned, are not worth the effort, nor the picky qualifications expected. At this rate, it could take 25+ years to move into a community or non-acute position- something nursing school does not prepare its students for. "If you don't like acute bedside nursing, there are so many wonderful opportunities in other areas of nursing"- does not presently apply to nursing. I consider myself fortunate to have achieved full time temporary since graduating, but my luck may run out next spring.

Abuse. Physical, psychological, from patients, families, some staff (very few, thankfully), administrative, management. It exists everywhere in life and work, but nursing is unique in that the extent of abuse we are expected to endure is phenomenal and without any real support system. Non-nurses, professional and personal, do not understand the day by day toll nurses endure- it's like being a police officer, social worker, security, teacher, mediator, all in one-but without the security/legal protection of a disciplinary profession- we have fine, fine, lines as to what we are allowed to stand up to and how we do it. I don't honestly know that I can make a career out of learning to be abused. Even for the money.

Physically, the demands on my mind and body are proving to be near breaking point. I did not realize how a poor shift schedule can take over your entire life and affect your relationships with the people you care about. I did not realize how the day/night shift wrecks havoc on your metabolism, your sleep schedule, your libido, your concentration, your mood, your motivation in your non-work lifestyle. I don't think I want to live struggling to keep the rest of my life on a respirator. I am willing to explore part time options to see if I can find a balance that works for me, but I feel I was very naive before starting nursing school about what it would be like to be 24/7, 365 days a year, without the luxury of a routine scheduled position.

As it stands, I have debt and a life to build, and so I will stay and work it off. But I don't know if I want to make this a long term part of my life. I really don't.

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I regret going into nursing...not quite what I thought it would be. With the change in politics and this nonsense value-based healthcare, etc.

Im actually debating switching to a new career. Something I wont get sued for doing my job for, something I wont go to jail for if I mess up, etc...

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I regret going into nursing...not quite what I thought it would be. With the change in politics and this nonsense value-based healthcare, etc.

Im actually debating switching to a new career. Something I wont get sued for doing my job for, something I wont go to jail for if I mess up, etc...

Currently a pre-nursing student. I've read every post on this page. I keep hearing the possibility of being sued/going to jail. Can a nurse elaborate a bit more on that? Or direct me to a thread?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Currently a pre-nursing student. I've read every post on this page. I keep hearing the possibility of being sued/going to jail. Can a nurse elaborate a bit more on that? Or direct me to a thread?

Thanks!

Click on the links below if you have time on your hands . . .

Lawsuits Against a Nurse | Medical Malpractice

American Nurse Today

Understanding Negligence

Hospital, nurse sued in ?alarm fatigue? death - Boston.com

Malpractice Insurance: Myths That Harm Nurses

Nurse sued for defamatory Facebook post during industrial dispute. ยป

Lawsuit filed against Kalamazoo County Jail nurses in death of inmate | MLive.com

Nurse Sued For "Too Many Sticks" How Many Attempts Is Too Many?

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No. But I was careful before I even went to nursing school. I did a lot of volunteer work in the health field and I did work as a home care aide and took a cna course, because I wanted to make sure. I also was very careful which job I picked. I don't do 12 hours, I do afternoons so I can sleep in, and I have very supportive supervisors.

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How did you get the job in Saudi Arabia? What was it like and how was the pay? Thank you

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