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Its kinda of scary reading a lot of the posts on here. It seems as if, so many nurses are not satisfied with their careers. So many people are so tired, aggrevated or stressed. This is so discouraging because, nursing has been a dream that I have felt for so long now. Im currently in my second semester and so far loving it, but is that all going to change once I graduate? Does everyone hate it, is any one happy??? PLEASE SHARE SOME POSITIVE STORIES IF THERE ARE ANY?????
This is another rewarding area of nursing...being present for a patient and family when, after all is said and done, there is nothing more that's curative to do or say.I have been working with Hospice for almost a year. It is the most rewarding job I've ever had.
I have followed chronic patients in the ICU and have gotten very close with families. I strongly advocate for the well-being of both, and when the time comes, it's truely a profound priviledge to help a patient have a good death with the right family support and involvement from all the healthcare diciplines.
I'm beginning to look into Home Hospice care as well as a part time thing. I think it would be an incredible balance to my critical care experience.
I love my present job, in a managed care company in the Quality department. I worked in hospitals for 20 years, 4 in Home Health, now I have a 9-5 job, and it's great. I still use my brain reviewing charts, doing audits which gets me out of the office, and I work per diem in Home Health every other Saturday, so I can still do hands on.
I was seriously burned out before this move, and hating nursing. Never say never, but I do hope I never have to return to the hospital. I think I am more disgusted with healthcare in general today, the whole doing more with less, it is beyond challenging, it seems almost impossible.
Thru all the good and bad I LOVE my job. Nursing is not what I do but, who I am.
It is becoming more and more clear to me that nursing is who (and what) I am, also. I earned my license in 1960, and have spent most of those years in OB--L/D, postpartum, well baby and nicu, p/o gyn. I really thought it was time that I get out of nursing, so I tried telephone triage first (not enough patient contact for me) then I did insurance exams for a while. Although I met some really interesting people, I soon got bored. I did phle botomy for a company that went to LTC facilities and drew routine labs. I just felt bad for these folks. They all seemed so lonely. I took a refresher course and did LTC for a while. I loved the residents, but some of the families were impossible to deal with. I tried medical billing. Boring, even though I was doing follow up and appeals. (I could contact the GED wanna-be at the insurance office and explain how that proceedure is done, and why they have to pay for it) That was kinda fun , but not for long. I most recently have been "retired" Talk about boring. My bones cry out to be the nurse, again, and I will be doing this soon. I'm thinking PRN in a small local hospital OB dept. They are always looking and I want to fill that hole.
Yes, I love being a nurse, and many people (some who don't even know I'm a nurse) come to me for advice on all sorts of medical problems.
Don't let the negative statements here get to you. We all have bad days, and posting here is one way to get the gripes out without hurting anyone. Remember, even a Princess has bad days!
:chuckle
I used to love my job. Now its just a job, the work itself is not bad (MDS), but we're going thru a management meltdown and there have been too many changes too fast, some of them stupid. I thought I'd found someplace that valued and respected its employees but now I don't know about that. Hopefully things will settle down soon........but if not, there are other places to go.
Like another poster on this thread, I do not "love" my job. I have come to the conclusion that it isn't necessary for me to love any job. I do like my job, and since I HAVE to work, I do just fine at it. I can honestly say that there isn't any other area I'd rather work in, in nursing. My life is separate from my job; and I've also decided that this is OK too, for me. I can't really think of anything else I'd rather do, except win the Powerball and not have to work at any job, for pay.
Nursing definitely does allow for many choices, more than most professions. You can do as much or as little patient care as you want; I know several nurses who have earned their JD and are using both their nursing and law educations. So, overall, some of us can and want to do it, and it's not a good fit for others. If you want to do it, you will find a niche that fits you, and hopefully, either love or like your own job well enough to do it productively.
Do I hate my job? Yes! Do I love my job? Yes! I hate: always being short-staffed, never having the amount of time I would like to have to sit down with my patients and talk with them, edcuate them, and listen to them, putting up with some really mean doctors (some, not all), and the whole 'business' side of healthcare (a necessary evil)....I LOVE spending time with my patients, teaching them things that will improve their quality of life, feeling like I am truly doing something that makes a small but good difference in the world. Not a lot of people can say that about their job.
No matter where you work, there are going to be things you love, and things you hate. Just balance the two and if there are more things to hate than there are things you love, get another job! One of the best things about being a nurse is the choices that you have as far as jobs...you can work in an office, school, hospital, nursing home, research lab, free clinic, psych facility, teach, etc...the choices are endless!! Good luck!
Kacy
ddc101
78 Posts
I do love nursing..:kiss But currently I am not happy in my new assignment.I am though about to be reassigned.So I could be happy faced again really soon.
Thats the neat thing about nursing.If you don't like one specialty you can be trained for another.