what can nurses do besides "nurse"?

[Candidnt]

I'm looking to take a year or two away from clinical nursing. Back when I was an LPN I found options were far and few, so when I took time off then, I ended up in a convenience store (with a huge pay cut, might I add). After becoming an RN, having spent a year and a half in home health, then getting a crappy critical care class and working a lousy job (and now since I'm considered an experienced nurse, I can't get a class elsewhere), I'm ready to get out, at least for a little bit. What else can you do with a BSN? Any ideas?

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

Hello everyone;

is nursing that bad? I am getting ready to start my nursing program and am scared out of my wits by all the posting I've read. I have run various businesses before and am very independant. I am also a good team player when I work in a team environment. I have read lots of posting that send the vibe that nursing is not the place to be. Please someone respond with an opinion. I love the medical fiels and wanted to move into Nursing because it would allow me to help others? is this like a bad choice?

I think the majority of nurses agee, nursing isn't that bad overall. True enough that after awhile one can get sick and tired of the stress and problems that come with the job. The good thing is, with the knowlege you have, you can look for something other than clinical nursing when that gets to you and make a decent living at it. The diversity of what you can do with a nusing degree makes it worthwhile, IMO.

[AKAKatydid]

On one hand ... this is a bulletin board where nurse come to vent ... where nurses with some sort of question or problem come to get suggestions ... etc. People without some sort of problem rarely post simply to say how happy the are. So, you have to understand that you are seeing a somewhat slanted view of the profession here. Take that into consideration.

On the other hand ... There are very real reasons for there being an international nursing shortage. Nursing is hard work and much of that work is not very glamorous or very much appreciated. As a predominantly female profession, it has generally been oppressed (and sometimes abused) by other professionals. And, to paraphrase another person who often posts here, "Nursing school doesn't cure you of your personality flaws." Nursing has its share of people who aren't so nice -- just like every other line of work.

Personally, I really like my current job and the people I work with. But that has not always been the case. My 28-year career has had it ups and downs -- just like it probably would have if I had chosen another profession.

Nursing can be a great profession if it is the type of work that you want to do and you have the strength, flexibility, etc. to make it work for you. However, it has it's share of problems and you need to be prepared to deal with such problems if you are going to make a success of it.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

llg

Excellent post, llg. You hit the nail right on the head!

[gizelda196]

I have been wondering that very same thing lately. I was thinking of going back to waiting tables ,but I now have a "Nurses attitude" and will probaly get fired very quikly and frequently. So just what can a burned out ICU RN do?