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.

When I was in school and first out of college, I did enjoy nursing and all it had to offer. As time went on, healthcare changed (as it understandably has done before and will continue to do) but the chagnes have not been positive - at least not from my view - nurses or those with a medical background were in leadership positions over the nursing/medical part but now, it's people with no medical background/education/training but with MBA's...interviews for jobs have become so labor intentive - online applications that take an hour or more, personality tests, first interview, second interview, shadowing, panel interview...it's too much and asks too much of those seeking employment to spend that much time, effort and money..it isn't - in my humble opinion- about a faciliity trying to find the best of the applicants...its more about someone with a business degree trying to show case something he/she learned in school or read about in the latest edition of Better Business Weekly...these changes have effected my attitude and commitment to nursing however, coupled with that is, for me, in the past 10 years I also cared for 3 terminally ill family members - at different times - one was especially difficult in that there were multiple and long, long hospitalizations before her death and with mental health issues on top of everything else she was going through it required a lot, and I mean a LOT of time and patience - so going to work to care for someone, then coming home, caring for someone, then all these demands causing marital issues (ultimately a divorce) all of these things completely changed me and my desire to be in nursing. Like others on here, this is not and never had been "my calling", I now prefer to be alone and find interacting with people more difficult - not that the people are difficult it's just I'm so..burnout and tired.

I tried a M-F clinic position..it paid well and was close to my house - I lasted 6 months. The constant office politics was something I had not experienced before and was not interested in participating in. Doing nothing but getting up and going to work became a drag and the job itself - very boring - little nursing. I made the decision to leave this position as of the end of Aug. I am returing, PRN, to a hospital that is about an hour from me - I plan to eventually go agency once I get my certifications and skills honed again.

As others have posted, I am glad/grateful for a job, for the flexibility of nursing but would I do this again..I don't think so and if I did, I would go onto an MSN, NP or something on a higher level.

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Specializes in ICU.

I hit the wall at 10 years, now I'm scrambling to escape. "Just change areas". If it were that easy.

I want out of healthcare completely. Am totally sick if it.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I do not enjoy being a floor nurse in any capacity. I do not believe that there is any unit I could work on that I would enjoy. Having said that I have found working in oncology that there is such a need for hospice care. While I do not want to be a hospice nurse I am going to graduate school now for my DNP. I would like to work in hospice when I am done and assist patients through their final days gracefully, with the dignity they deserve, and to the best of my ability without too much suffering. I have seen too much suffering in oncology:crying2:

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

I've been a nurse for 2 years now, long enough to see how things are. I did become a nurse because it was a "good" fit for me as far as what the job entails, etc, and because it was a more stable career than many others. Engineering is a good one to be in right now, as well, but I in no way have an engineering mind. Anyway, I digress...

I don't regret this career, though I do wish I had taken an alternate route. I wish I had just gone straight to PA school after college since it will take me much longer to become an NP since I decided to have nursing experience first, and now I'm at an age where it's either babies or going back to school lol. And, while career is important to me, it's not the most important thing, so I will go back to school at some other point after I start my family. Schooling is so flexible now that one can go back part-time in the future. I definitely will, though.

While this job really isn't that bad, and I do enjoy it, the rewarding aspects, etc, I don't see how anyone can be a bedside nurse for 30 years. Maybe in certain settings, but in the ICU where I work, one would need a hip, knee, and lumbar surgery if in it for any length of time, I would think. Very physical job.

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I have many times but now with my new position I am happy and dont wish it anymore. Find your niche maybe your current position isnt good for u.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I did regret it, about 1-2 years in. I was in a job I did not like, I didn't feel like I was getting anything out of it. I didn't feel like a 'real nurse' (because I was not working in the hospital). This was 16-17 years ago.

Now, I have no regrets. It was a rocky road for me, to get to where I wanted to be (teaching). But everything I have done along the way prepared me for the job I have now. Most importantly, the fact that I struggled along the way; as an educator, I do a lot of counseling (one of my students suggested a little 'therapist's couch' would fit nicely in my office ;) ). While I don't share every piece of my past with them, I am very realistic with them about what is to come in their future.

Posts like these make me wonder why people who feel this way from the very beginning stick with it. I know it's not easy to find a job in any field these days. But I'm wondering if some of you felt this while in school, and thought the feeling would magically disappear once you were really working as a nurse.

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Specializes in LTC.

Prof. In my case I loved my pre req classes. Nursing school was hard but it was great making a difference and caring for people. I also was working as a CNA which I liked too. I have tried 3 different specialties but still feel stressed. I just want to help people. I hate all the worry and anxiety.

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this job has SO much responsibility, SO much competition, and I feel like I'm always being judged on my competency and nursing skills. .

Interesting....I'm just a student so haven't seen much competition since we all got into the program. What are people competing over in LTC? Thanks

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Specializes in NICU, Nuclear Cardiology.

I have devoted most of my life to my nursing career. Have I had regrets? Sure I have, but would I do it again absolutely. I have defined myself by my nursing career of over 34 years. True the work is difficult and issues nurse must deal with are sometimes completely insane. We see a side of life good and bad that few handle. Nursing is not for everyone.

My greatest disappoint in my career was after a work related injury that almost sidelined my career permanently. I had to fight my way back to health and refine myself and my career path. I was insulted and denied the same type of treatment I would have been expected to provide one of my patients. I felt betrayed when the Director of Human Resource told me "Nurses are throw away people." Did this make me give up, No! It made me fight! For a profession I believe in where people should be valued.

I did acheive health and continued in my profession. I am there for the people I care for and those special moments make the brief period of disappointment inconsequential. There have been countless moments in my career that I treasure.

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I think another thing to note is that if you look at ANY career you find people who are dissatisfied and regret the choice they made.

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I don't regret this career. But sometimes I regret going in to work.

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I love the patients and doing nursing care, I hate that it has become a career of paperwork rather than patient care.

Would I do it again? No. I would volunteer as I love patients, especially LTC. But I feel that all the giving and caretaking just sucks the life out of me and that I don't have enough to give to myself or my family. I have been a nurse for 20 years in several different areas. I am so tired of the hours of paperwork where I could be giving excellent patient care - wouldn't it be nice to be able to visit with our patients and find out more about them, being able to assist with a holistic approach?

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