it is depressing and dissapointing

[tryingtobecome]

I am planning in going into nursing school in about a year or so. But I am having my doubts. I keep reading these threads about how hard it is to be a nurse. I keep reading all these stories about how much back stabbing there is amongst co workers. Also about how management let so many things slide by. How there is no support in the job. There is so much things I have been reading that make me wonder is this the right thing to do. I don't want to go into a career in which I am going to be unhappy in, I see that being one big issue for the nurses here. I am so confused on what to do. Please tell me that most places are decent ones to work in. Is nursing really that bad? Please help me so I can finally make my desicion. Thanks to all

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

All jobs have the potential to suck.

[nightmare, RN]

TTB if you want to become a nurse then let nothing or nobody stop you! Yes it's hard,yes there are rude and unhelpful people out there.Tell me a job that doesn't have them!!Nursing is the best job in the world if that is where you want to be.

[nursecass]

:scrying:Please don't let the feedback on these forums discourage you from entering nursing. If this is something you are interested in, you should go for it.

Understand that these forums are for nurses to vent frustrations. Every job has issues both big and small to deal with, and nursing is no different. But the great part about nursing is that there is such a wonderful support network out there for us. (Allnurses is a great example of this! )

The thing to know about nursing is that even with all of the issues that come up, the difficulties we face, the seemingly difficult work environments, when it all comes down to it we all love nursing here. That is why we continue in this great field. We love what we do, and that's why we stick with it through the good and the bad.

Yes there are things that need to be worked on and changed, but establishing problems and finding that they are nation-wide issues is the first step to bettering nursing. And of course I cannot speak to this fully being a baby nurse of 1 year, but it seems that nursing has improved exponentially in the last 20 years-just imagine what will come in the next 20!

Go with your gut in this decision, but remember that if nursing really were ALL terrible, there would be no one left doing it. Obviously some of us work in great areas and love our jobs, and I hope that whatever you decide that you are able to say that to someone some day. Good luck!

[cherrysky]

Every single complaint you read on this forum holds true for every single profession. Maybe the intensity is upped a little in nursing because you have so many women stressed out and forced to work together, but I don't think it is really any different from any other job or career path.

[Jules A, MSN]

What they said! :)

I was very careful in picking my team and not that I love every single person but for the most part it is a pleasure to know and work with them. I love my pts. and feel like I am doing some good most days. The money is nice and scheduling flexibility is excellent. No complaints here and when the time comes that I'm not happy I will change jobs and if necessary careers. Simple as that.

[accessqueen]

Probably the nurses that have it the worst are the ones with few choices. If you work in a one hospital town, and can't leave, you might be stuck in a lousy position. But the most fantastic thing about nursing is the amount of choices you DO have. I've been nursing for 27 years. Been an ICU nurse, ER nurse, Home Health nurse and a Traveling Nurse. Loved, loved, loved each one of my jobs. I've nursed in Florida, Arizona, California and New Mexico. If you can, put yourself in a position where you are able to take advantage of these types of opportunities.

[Itshamrtym]

Getting your license and being a nurse can be hard... But, you can do it. If it were that hard we wouldn't have any nurses. If this is what you want to do, then go for it. We need nurses in a bad way. All jobs have their downfalls. For the most part from what I have seen most people on this planet are WONDERFUL!!!! I just love my patients, my co-workers and MOST of my bosses.... So GO for it!!!! I feel honored and proud to be a nurse, and you will too. Good luck to you.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Please take what you read with a grain of salt. We all like to have a safe place to vent and sometimes rant. Doesn't mean that the bad days outnumber the good by any means. I've been a nurse since 1992 and have practiced in several states, different levels of licensure, different specialities and there are good and bad.

That said, I went into nursing when I was 34 so had some life experience and work experience under my belt too: in the military I ran into some absolutely great people and some not so great people. This is the way it is anywhere.

Please come join us in the wonderful profession of nursing!

[CHATSDALE]

tough but not impossible

if it were easy then you would have slack incompetent nurses

if it were too hard too many good nurses would go into other fields

what ever you decide will be the right move

[Black Jade, BSN, RN]

Hi Trying,

I think you should focus more on your goal than the what if's. What was the reason that drew you into nursing in the first place? It's true, you may have a lot of backstabbing, unsupporting co-workers but that happens everywhere. There is no guarantee that you may be happy in another profession either. The beauty of nursing is that there are many specialties. You can work in a hospital where you hopefully work as a team or you can go into something like case management and work independently. As my nurse manager told me, "It's all about the patients." Unless of course, you are one of those people who go into nursing for the $$$, then that's a different story.

[rnmomtobe2010]

Everyone's experience is different...Some say it's hard...some have to study their butts off...some don't...some take it seriously...some do enough to get by...