Did you ever have such a bad day, that you regretted becoming a nurse?

evilolive, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2009

I regret taking the nursing home job that I have now. If I could have seen what the job would have been like a year from when I started, I would have never even applied.

But no, in general I don't regret becoming a nurse. I sometimes wish I had normal 9-5 desk job though, so my life would be a tad easier (or so I think it would be)

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 28, 2009

As a new nurse I can remember a shift where I started crying around 10am, and things just kept getting more overwhelming from there. I doubted that I could ever be a decent nurse, but I still wanted to be one.

After about ten years I went to help out in the ER, had a shift from hell, and a LOL with a pressure of 70/0 for about an hour and still the ER doc ignored her and me. She was sitting up in a wheelchair and incredibly uncomfortable. I didn't have enough experience in that unit or enough personal crankiness to demand attention. I swore I'd never go back.

I tried working in the PICU and lasted a couple months. I was so stressed I couldn't remember med information from the time I looked it up until I walked over to the bedside to give it. I had nightmares, and made a ton of mistakes, but my preceptor was always at my side. I finally resigned because I just couldn't manage the worrying.

I still have shifts I hate. I want it to be physically possible to get everything done, and I want the tools at hand to do it all. That sometimes doesn't happen. Usually I can McGyver something together, and I've got enough confidence to call people and keep calling until the situation is resolved.

Regretted becoming a nurse- definitely! But only for one shift at a time(usually).

Knowing the stress to come, would I do it again- nope, I'd become a secretary. But then again I wouldn't go through puberty again either. Nursing is easier!

meluhn · Mar 28, 2009

I remember these days well (before I got into my new career); it sums up quite nicely how I used to feel most of the time.
The thing about nursing is that there isn't usually just normal, boring, routine days. You're either up or down, there's no nice, inbetween mundane days .... it can be quite exhausting at the end of the day, all those emotional highs and lows.
:smilecoffeecup:

Pray tell what is your new career so that I may start at it as well? I have been looking to get away from bedside nursing for a long time but there is just not that many options for me that are appealing.

Carolbknits · Mar 28, 2009

Emmalou,

I am curiuos, what is your new position you have started? thanks

Carol

Chaya, ASN, RN · Mar 28, 2009

Who hasn't? (What WAS I thinking?!!!) I just hang tight 'till it passes, as I know it will.

rph3664 · Mar 28, 2009

I regret taking the nursing home job that I have now. If I could have seen what the job would have been like a year from when I started, I would have never even applied.
But no, in general I don't regret becoming a nurse. I sometimes wish I had normal 9-5 desk job though, so my life would be a tad easier (or so I think it would be)

Have you ever worked a 9-5 desk job? I have, and it's not all it's cracked up to be.

As a pharmacist, I had one job that was such a horrible experience, after I was fired after 4 months (3 months and 27 days after I should have quit), I briefly considered surrendering my license. I honestly did not believe I could ever work as a pharmacist again.

Three weeks later, I had a terrific job that stayed terrific for three years. Then we got a new manager, and with Medicare Part D(isaster) looming on the horizon, I quit, not having another job to replace it but it didn't matter.

Not long afterwards, I was being interviewed and the HR guy asked me why I left Hospital X after 4 months. I hemmed and hawed and he said, "I have been told many times that Hospital X is a very difficult place to work at." So, it wasn't just me.

meluhn · Mar 28, 2009

Have you ever worked a 9-5 desk job? I have, and it's not all it's cracked up to be.

I am sorry to hear that because right now I am looking to get away from the bedside and I am applying all over so that I can. MDS coordinator--anything that will get me off the floor. I have to work tomorrow and am already having heart palpatations about it. I hate my job except for the people I work with.

rnmi2004 · Mar 28, 2009

I've had the occasional day that was so bad I needed to call in the next shift for my own mental health, but not so bad I regretted becoming a nurse. It would have to be that bad the majority of the time for me to have that level of regret. I like my job. :)

JB2007, ASN, RN · Mar 28, 2009

Do I regret being a nurse? I would have to say no, most of the time. However, I do regret being forced to be kind and polite to people that obviously do not deserve the effort. Whether it be management, co-worker, family member, or resident some people just takes away any joy that I could get out of my job.

emmalou* · Mar 28, 2009

To those of you who asked about my career transition:

I went back to university to do my masters degree in rehabilitation counselling (vocational counselling I think it's called in US?). I work as a rehabilitation consultant now assisting people with disability, injury and illness back to the workplace.

It's a job which utilises my nursing background and is challenging and interesting, but none of the stress associated with frontline healthcare. Mind you, all jobs can be stressful, and sometimes I have clients I worry about, and office politics can be annoying, but you can usually leave it at the end of the day.

I've never regretted nursing, but I feel this is the right career for me now. I still identify with being a nurse though (in my head at least).

Cheers