On another post someone wrote that many times they would like to leave nursing but don't know where else to go..I completely identify with that statement and wondered...are we, as nurses, pigeonholed by our degree? Many times nurses will try to work outside the healthcare sector only to find they are over qualified and underpaid..so many times nurse jobs hop in order to try to find something that they don't feel burned out, drowned in charting etc. The job hopping looks bad to a lot of employers I know but when we are caregivers at work, care givers at home, moms, sisters, brothers, daughters/sons...somewhere we lose us and our enthusiasm for nursing.
People tell me ALLLL the time how fortunate I am to have a degree in nursing with the way the economy is (really? well I read posts after posts of new and old nurses struggling to find any type of nursing job and waiting months on end) and that we can go anywhere to work (um...not everyone can just pack up and move..not so easy to sell a house, buy another one, rent, etc). I look at others I know with non-nursing degrees...for the most part they seem happier with their jobs, have longevity, etc. So I wonder, is the price of nursing, long term, worth what we end up - or many of us seem to end up as? Unhappy, complaining etc.
As proud as I was when I graduated years ago and as grateful as I am that I have a new job, knowing what I do now, I would not have gone into nursing, or if I did, I would have specialized or branched into education somehow.
or maybe it's just me and the the burnout personally and professional is limited to my own view.
Any of you out there that are still greatly enthused by nursing and your jobs, I ENVY YOU.
I don't think I've put a message on this one yet, but here's my story:
I went into nursing because I thought - and was told by people who were nurses - that there wasn't a better education to get. Teaching here doesn't pay much, and I was never intersted in anything where u work outside like engineering. I liked A&P, etc. And I had done carers work etc.
I busted my butt working whilst studying, and didn't get financial help from anyone whilst doing my last 6 week unpaid clinical. I gave up a lot to get my degree, friends dropped away (as I moved and was studying), a few relationships I had didn't survive.
I had to move to another state to get experience. After I moved back to my old state, I thought: this is it now, though I believe I am still learning the job - as we all do - I thought my stressful days were now over.
How completely and utterly wrong I was. The stress is unbelievable. I then thought maybe I won't work in hospitals for a while, I'll do nursing homes or low care jobs (Low care assignments thru agencies are hard to get though). But after working in a NH the other week, where I had mainly demanding staff, older 'I'm entitled' patients, and a run in with a very foul RN, I have now had enough.
If anyone is young here, I urge you strongly to get out of nursing. You should try & get experience in another degree first or another area first, or if you've nearly fin nursing, still get experience in another area.
Nursing will burn you out, and wear you out to the Nth degree. Friends stop calling you or inviting you out to events, (even the ones that are nurses who work days, or finish maybe at 6pm), they get tired of hearing you say 'I can't come to your birthday party cos I have to work'. Your feet, legs and hips will hurt or ache. You will probably end up with a bad back - I haven't - yet, but it's starting to ache more. Many of my friends who are nurses have suffered the loss of relationships with hubbies & children, cos they were always at work. You probly won't get to go to many of your kids b/day parties & other events - because you're at work. You will miss them growing up. You will more often than not have to stay back - and not get paid for it either. You are always thinking re work and worrying in case you left anything undone, or made a mistake.
Nursing is a soul destroying profession. I know people who are in jobs besides nursing & they are really happy. They work nice hours (they don't get the pay) and all go out for drinks with each other, many of them (actually 99% of them) don't have a degree. They always seem to have money, but I suppose live on credit cards like the rest of us. They wear nice office clothes, and don't have to wear closed footwear all the time - I HATE wearing closed shoes. They don't work in environments where it's hot all the time (the last NH I was in was SO INCREDIBLY HOT) and everyone complains about it. They are not always stressed (they probly don't know what stress is).
So that's my story up until now. Would I say nursing has been worth it? I have had some nice experiences, but on the balancing see saw of life, I would say those nice experiences are very few & far between.
My degree, though I have it now, has really not been worth it. But I don't know what else I would have gone into at the time. Nursing was the best choice at the time. I started studying law & switched to nursing, cos I read/heard too many evil stories re law. And nursing has not made me happy. Most people aren't happy in their jobs I suppose, but nursing has been really disappointing - and another bad aspect is that it ages you VERY quickly - something I regret.
I can only speak for myself, but nursing has not been worth it. It's hard, hot, disgusting, incredibly stressful, often dirty work, with long hours and with little thanks from anyone, plus the pay is not as good as it should be for what we are responsible for.
If you are young and thinking of doing nursing my serious advice to you is: do not pursue nursing until you are older and can handle it. Get qualified at something else you can fall back on as you get older.
I don't think I've put a message on this one yet, but here's my story:
I went into nursing because I thought - and was told by people who were nurses - that there wasn't a better education to get. Teaching here doesn't pay much, and I was never intersted in anything where u work outside like engineering. I liked A&P, etc. And I had done carers work etc.
I busted my butt working whilst studying, and didn't get financial help from anyone whilst doing my last 6 week unpaid clinical. I gave up a lot to get my degree, friends dropped away (as I moved and was studying), a few relationships I had didn't survive.
I had to move to another state to get experience. After I moved back to my old state, I thought: this is it now, though I believe I am still learning the job - as we all do - I thought my stressful days were now over.
How completely and utterly wrong I was. The stress is unbelievable. I then thought maybe I won't work in hospitals for a while, I'll do nursing homes or low care jobs (Low care assignments thru agencies are hard to get though). But after working in a NH the other week, where I had mainly demanding staff, older 'I'm entitled' patients, and a run in with a very foul RN, I have now had enough.
If anyone is young here, I urge you strongly to get out of nursing. You should try & get experience in another degree first or another area first, or if you've nearly fin nursing, still get experience in another area.
Nursing will burn you out, and wear you out to the Nth degree. Friends stop calling you or inviting you out to events, (even the ones that are nurses who work days, or finish maybe at 6pm), they get tired of hearing you say 'I can't come to your birthday party cos I have to work'. Your feet, legs and hips will hurt or ache. You will probably end up with a bad back - I haven't - yet, but it's starting to ache more. Many of my friends who are nurses have suffered the loss of relationships with hubbies & children, cos they were always at work. You probly won't get to go to many of your kids b/day parties & other events - because you're at work. You will miss them growing up. You will more often than not have to stay back - and not get paid for it either. You are always thinking re work and worrying in case you left anything undone, or made a mistake.
Nursing is a soul destroying profession. I know people who are in jobs besides nursing & they are really happy. They work nice hours (they don't get the pay) and all go out for drinks with each other, many of them (actually 99% of them) don't have a degree. They always seem to have money, but I suppose live on credit cards like the rest of us. They wear nice office clothes, and don't have to wear closed footwear all the time - I HATE wearing closed shoes. They don't work in environments where it's hot all the time (the last NH I was in was SO INCREDIBLY HOT) and everyone complains about it. They are not always stressed (they probly don't know what stress is).
So that's my story up until now. Would I say nursing has been worth it? I have had some nice experiences, but on the balancing see saw of life, I would say those nice experiences are very few & far between.
My degree, though I have it now, has really not been worth it. But I don't know what else I would have gone into at the time. Nursing was the best choice at the time. I started studying law & switched to nursing, cos I read/heard too many evil stories re law. And nursing has not made me happy. Most people aren't happy in their jobs I suppose, but nursing has been really disappointing - and another bad aspect is that it ages you VERY quickly - something I regret.
I can only speak for myself, but nursing has not been worth it. It's hard, hot, disgusting, incredibly stressful, often dirty work, with long hours and with little thanks from anyone, plus the pay is not as good as it should be for what we are responsible for.
If you are young and thinking of doing nursing my serious advice to you is: do not pursue nursing until you are older and can handle it. Get qualified at something else you can fall back on as you get older.
I wold love to know what other jobs you have held before you started nursing. I say this because It sounds like this is your first career type job. I have discovered those that are most dissatisfied with their nursing career are those that have never worked in a fast food kitchen for min wage, worked outside in the cold or rain for a dollar over minimum wage, that have never worked a job that paid so little they could not afford the medical insurance offered, or worked jobs where they were so nasty and sweaty after work they had to go home and shower before they could go someplace after work.
I may be wrong but it seems like you did not investigate the nursing field very well before you jumped in with both feet. Maybe after talking to those nurses you were expecting the job to be all rainbows and unicorns. You talk about missing your kids growing up? How does that happen when most of the nurses I work with and know work 3 12 hours shifts a week including one weekend every 4-6 weeks. Before I started nursing school I worked for a major railroad as a conductor. Try having a job where you are on-call 24/7 365 days a year. You never know when you will be called to come in to work, but when you get the call you have 90 mins to report in. If you go anyplace with your family you take two vehicles. That way if you get called to work you can leave. My first summer consisted of working 12 hours, being off 10, work another 12 hours, be off 10, etc. We did this for over 2 months without a day off. When you go to work you take a train to another city and you stay in a flea bag hotel. After 10 hours there you bring another train back to your home terminal then go home. From the time you sign off (clock out) you can be called back to work in 10 hours. I have missed birthdays, my oldest son's HS graduation, every holiday at least three times, I have had to leave just as the family sat down to eat Thanksgiving dinner. I have also had to leave home about 3am on Christmas morning when my kids were little. Missed seeing them open their presents and such.
I make less money now but now I work where it is heated, air conditioned, and dry. If I need a day off for a special occasion I can trade with a co-worker. I am in my bed every night. My kids know approx. when I will be home everyday. They also know when I leave to go to work. After my time in the military and my service with the railroad this is by far the most family friendly job I have ever had. Maybe because I have actually worked crap jobs for low pay, and had jobs that worked you like a rented mule everyday.
I found myself trapped by my nursing education and nursing employment. I was asked directly during interviews why I wasn't working in nursing, after all, everyone knew that nurses are never unemployed. It didn't matter what I said, they never hired me. I did not get employment until I finally was offered a job in healthcare. Been back in nursing ever since. When I don't work in nursing, I just don't work. I know that I am stuck.
When I don't work in nursing, I just don't work. I know that I am stuck.
I hear you... I have no idea where my nursing career is going to lead me but at this age and stage of life, I have no other viable options.
I, too, am stuck... and plan to make the best of it -- though I'm fearful of being set aside in my 50's in favor of someone in their 30's... I imagine that I will not be permitted to work nearly as long as I really need to... tough to say what will come after that...
I am seriously considering downsizing from an apartment to a rented room and cutting my spartan existence even more, as if I enjoy anything now as it is. I work for CNA wages and waste money driving too far to earn that. Since it is home health, job today, who knows about tomorrow or the next three months? Need medical, dental care, can afford neither. Can't pay steep debts. Worry every night about the next pay check. Look forward to the day that it is me that decides I won't be working. I just want to resign and kiss the working world good-bye. When you can't buy medical care or a place to live, what good is it to try to work? Not what I signed up for when I signed up for nursing.
I originally started out in college pre-med, got accepted to nursing school, got burnt out before I started it, and ended up changing majors and graduating with a B.A. double majoring in Sociology and Criminal Justice. I worked at the corporate HQ for a transportation company and hated office work. I went back to nursing school and here I am, an RN. I wouldn't trade my job for anything. I love what I do. Will I still say that in five years? I hope so. I'm only 24, I've got plenty of time to get burnt out.
However, I don't see myself ever hating nursing. Going back to become an RN was the best decision I ever made.
I feel trapped. Too old. Not enough experience. Flimsy little short term jobs after graduation (summer camp, flu shot clinics). Volunteering. It's been 2.5 years and no nursing job. Too qualified for many other jobs I'd be happy to do.
oh, caliotter...i am so sorry...wish i could help...:hug:
as for me, i've never once regretted being a nurse, because it has taken me to many interesting places where i've learned things i can use later and i have met sooo many cool people.
post anesthesia, open heart icu, med/surg icu, neurosurg icu
burns unit ( not long, i can't stand it...)
faculty for as, bs, lpn-to-as/rn, grad school, clin specialist, researcher, writer
cpr instructor, transport nursing, transplants, mobile icu/ems
26 years in and I can honestly say I wouldn't change a thing. This is what I'm good at. I've tried various types of nursing and I can not sit behind a desk in an office (at 47 years old). I'm a 3 year-diploma grad asked to be a supervisor by my DON. And I still believe that sick people are "patients" that it is my job to advocate for them and the staff.
My plan is to get my BSN by age 50 even though I think at this point continuing education is what serves a bedside nurse the best.
Call me a fool but I'll be walking the halls with my walker when there is no one left who wants to work in a hospital.
I am seriously considering downsizing from an apartment to a rented room and cutting my spartan existence even more, as if I enjoy anything now as it is. I work for CNA wages and waste money driving too far to earn that. Since it is home health, job today, who knows about tomorrow or the next three months? Need medical, dental care, can afford neither. Can't pay steep debts. Worry every night about the next pay check. Look forward to the day that it is me that decides I won't be working. I just want to resign and kiss the working world good-bye. When you can't buy medical care or a place to live, what good is it to try to work? Not what I signed up for when I signed up for nursing.
Sorry to hear that caliotter. I want to get out too, but can't at the mo - just moved (had to, didn't have a choice) & hoping the work will pick up after Xmas. I will have to get extensions on my one bill (thank God I only have the one at the mo). If things don't pick up in a few months, I will be forced to go live back home for a bit, then will head up to another state for work - yet again.
I'm setting up my own business, trying to get other jobs, not necessarily in nursing. I feel as if I've given so much of my soul to nursing, I look at all my other (limited) friends now, and they are all happy, building houses, etc and I am still struggling in debt. I thought after all the stress I went thru with study, I would be happy - or at least partially happy - by now. But happiness is not to be for me, I don't think. I've given nearly 27 years of my life to the health field, and it really hasn't been worth it, I must say.
Can you get someone to share just for the Xmas period, to see how it all goes maybe? There might be some nursing students who want accommodation for summer study - I always look on the local boards for ads from people (though u have to be careful of course).
Can you visit your local unemployment office to ask for help? I'm even thinking of going to the Salvos and asking for help over Xmas
carolmaccas66, BSN, RN
2,212 Posts
I don't think I've put a message on this one yet, but here's my story:
I went into nursing because I thought - and was told by people who were nurses - that there wasn't a better education to get. Teaching here doesn't pay much, and I was never intersted in anything where u work outside like engineering. I liked A&P, etc. And I had done carers work etc.
I busted my butt working whilst studying, and didn't get financial help from anyone whilst doing my last 6 week unpaid clinical. I gave up a lot to get my degree, friends dropped away (as I moved and was studying), a few relationships I had didn't survive.
I had to move to another state to get experience. After I moved back to my old state, I thought: this is it now, though I believe I am still learning the job - as we all do - I thought my stressful days were now over.
How completely and utterly wrong I was. The stress is unbelievable. I then thought maybe I won't work in hospitals for a while, I'll do nursing homes or low care jobs (Low care assignments thru agencies are hard to get though). But after working in a NH the other week, where I had mainly demanding staff, older 'I'm entitled' patients, and a run in with a very foul RN, I have now had enough.
If anyone is young here, I urge you strongly to get out of nursing. You should try & get experience in another degree first or another area first, or if you've nearly fin nursing, still get experience in another area.
Nursing will burn you out, and wear you out to the Nth degree. Friends stop calling you or inviting you out to events, (even the ones that are nurses who work days, or finish maybe at 6pm), they get tired of hearing you say 'I can't come to your birthday party cos I have to work'. Your feet, legs and hips will hurt or ache. You will probably end up with a bad back - I haven't - yet, but it's starting to ache more. Many of my friends who are nurses have suffered the loss of relationships with hubbies & children, cos they were always at work. You probly won't get to go to many of your kids b/day parties & other events - because you're at work. You will miss them growing up. You will more often than not have to stay back - and not get paid for it either. You are always thinking re work and worrying in case you left anything undone, or made a mistake.
Nursing is a soul destroying profession. I know people who are in jobs besides nursing & they are really happy. They work nice hours (they don't get the pay) and all go out for drinks with each other, many of them (actually 99% of them) don't have a degree. They always seem to have money, but I suppose live on credit cards like the rest of us. They wear nice office clothes, and don't have to wear closed footwear all the time - I HATE wearing closed shoes. They don't work in environments where it's hot all the time (the last NH I was in was SO INCREDIBLY HOT) and everyone complains about it. They are not always stressed (they probly don't know what stress is).
So that's my story up until now. Would I say nursing has been worth it? I have had some nice experiences, but on the balancing see saw of life, I would say those nice experiences are very few & far between.
My degree, though I have it now, has really not been worth it. But I don't know what else I would have gone into at the time. Nursing was the best choice at the time. I started studying law & switched to nursing, cos I read/heard too many evil stories re law. And nursing has not made me happy. Most people aren't happy in their jobs I suppose, but nursing has been really disappointing - and another bad aspect is that it ages you VERY quickly - something I regret.
I can only speak for myself, but nursing has not been worth it. It's hard, hot, disgusting, incredibly stressful, often dirty work, with long hours and with little thanks from anyone, plus the pay is not as good as it should be for what we are responsible for.
If you are young and thinking of doing nursing my serious advice to you is: do not pursue nursing until you are older and can handle it. Get qualified at something else you can fall back on as you get older.