Confession time: Is nursing what you thought it would be?

[BabyLady]

Am I the only one that feels this way?

I won't bore anyone to death with all of the sacrifices that I had to make for school...the list is long and I am sure that there are many that had it way worse than me.

I am a NICU nurse and even though I have no complaints about my facility or management, I find myself not really looking forward to going to work.

I don't know why....being a NICU nurse was all I talked about...it just frustrates me that I worked this hard and I firmly believe in loving what you do...and so far I don't.

[Selene006, BSN, LPN]

I just completed my first year of nursing as an LPN on a sub/acute rehab unit in a long term care facility. I will finish my BSN in May of 2011. Lately I've been questioning why I hate going to work and why I have so much built-up anxiety before my shift starts. Nursing is not what I thought it was--there's alot of behind-the-scenes politics and nurse/patient ratio games that blow my mind. It's mentally and physically exhausting to go to work, much less to have to endure the school curriculum and responsibilities on top of it all. I certainly never thought I would feel so sad going to work every time, but the grass is always greener on the other side. Whether you have 30 patients or five patients, nursing is nursing...love it or hate it.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I graduate in a month and a half and I will literally be miserable if I have to do floor nursing... I cant STAND IT. So its ER or something outpatient for me. I don't wanna deal with patients for longer than 2-4 hours. I cant stand the constant whining and b*tching.

Humpty - have you ever been sick? I mean really sick - like those 'horrible' patients you can't stand? I would assume not.

And exactly why did you think that nursing was a career for you? Srsly - I really hope you can find a 'no touch' type of job ASAP. In the meantime, you should find some kevlar scrubs because if you are lucky enough to pass NCLEX & land a job, I guarantee that the real nurses you work with will not be amused by your attitude. Unbelievable

[dcgrrl, ASN, RN]

I graduate in a month and a half and I will literally be miserable if I have to do floor nursing... I cant STAND IT. So its ER or something outpatient for me. I don't wanna deal with patients for longer than 2-4 hours. I cant stand the constant whining and b*tching.

HumptyDumpty-

You're much further along in your RN program than me. But don't you still have to deal with patients for longer than 2-4 hours in an ER or on outpatient basis? Just curious.