Did you initially think you weren't going to like nursing

allnurses Guide · Nov 28, 2016

No, I actually started out thinking that I might do OK as

a nurse, and ended up really struggling throughout my

whole career. After 13 years I have finally found a place

where I feel comfortable, and finally feel like a "good"

nurse, and for that I am so, so, so thankful.

Corgilicious · Nov 28, 2016

No, I actually started out thinking that I might do OK as
a nurse, and ended up really struggling throughout my
whole career. After 13 years I have finally found a place
where I feel comfortable, and finally feel like a "good"
nurse, and for that I am so, so, so thankful.

thanks for your reply! I'm so glad you finally feel comfortable. I'm amazed that you went through 13 years of struggling!

If you don't mind me asking, why didn't you ever quit nursing since you were struggling for that long? And why were you struggling with?

allnurses Guide · Nov 28, 2016

Well, those are great questions. :) After I left home health for good

back in February of this year, and found myself unemployed except

for doing jobs here and there for a staffing agency... I did strongly

consider leaving nursing altogether. I guess however, that both

the pay of nursing, and the fact that I just simply could not see

myself leaving for good... those things have kept me from leaving

the profession.

I managed to land a job in a small community hospital, started

this past July. My husband was already working here in the

cafeteria. The nursing manager knew that his wife was looking

for a job... so I interviewed and got hired. I LOVE it here.

The staff is like family, the hospital is never TOO busy.... the

company is a great one to work for.

The unfortunate thing is... if the leaders of this small town

will not OK for a new hospital to be built soon.. like in the next

year or two... the company may shut us down. The company

will retain us, but I'll still be looking at a new place to work.

Corgilicious · Nov 28, 2016

Well, those are great questions. :) After I left home health for good
back in February of this year, and found myself unemployed except
for doing jobs here and there for a staffing agency... I did strongly
consider leaving nursing altogether. I guess however, that both
the pay of nursing, and the fact that I just simply could not see
myself leaving for good... those things have kept me from leaving
the profession.
I managed to land a job in a small community hospital, started
this past July. My husband was already working here in the
cafeteria. The nursing manager knew that his wife was looking
for a job... so I interviewed and got hired. I LOVE it here.
The staff is like family, the hospital is never TOO busy.... the
company is a great one to work for.
The unfortunate thing is... if the leaders of this small town
will not OK for a new hospital to be built soon.. like in the next
year or two... the company may shut us down. The company
will retain us, but I'll still be looking at a new place to work.

I see! Well, that's great that you found a good company. Hopefully, you'll be able to keep your job. Thanks again for sharing your experience! :) It gives me hope that I can find a comfortable place to work, even if I end up not liking nursing.

Edisonaidor · Nov 28, 2016

Not really. Final year bnsc student. i moved from a series of options from Dr. To Biochemist To Dr. To nurse. I think ill go for my phd. Or a Dnp. But i love nursing either way.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 28, 2016

I was pretty much sure that, while I always knew that I could do it, I would do bedside just as long as absolutely necessary for grad school and not a second more. My first year was very, very bad, and at one point I was seriously contemplating going back to research or up to and including field chart reviews or something along that line just to get out of those immencely evil people. Accidentally, I found an area of bedside nursing and a unit where I am thriving. Now it makes me a little sad that I probably will move on provider level rather soon and never again be called "IV witch"

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Nov 28, 2016

When I was a little girl, about 5 or 6, my parents told me to "get up, it's time to go to school". I wasn't given a choice in the matter. So I did that for the next 12 years. When I turned 18, my dad said it was time for me to go get my nursing education. I wasn't given a choice in the matter. So I did that, too, for the next 12 months. It wasn't a matter of liking it or not; nor a matter of being cut out for it or not. In my home back in those days, we did what we were told to do.

Skip ahead 24 years, the economy strongly suggested that I return for the ASN. As soon as I finished that (about 4 months into my new RN role), mandatory BSN trends were hitting, not at home, but very close to home. So, I casually began and finally completed that degree.

Factor in life, and the fact that I had the career/job that allowed me to be able to role with the punches, I never really had a chance to think about whether or not I'd be successful as a nurse...or if it was even something I wanted to do. Looking back, I simply hit the floor running at 5 or 6 years old, and haven't stopped yet.

If I had a chance to reset my life, I would have left nursing at that point in time when the majority of facilities had moved away from the mandatory white-uniforms-hair-off-the-shoulders-no-visible-tattoos-etc., era. Whether it's appropriate or not, people do judge a book by its cover and we, as a profession, had more respect simply by the clothes (uniform) we wore, than we do now. Back then, believe it or not, I was never asked for a roll of toilet paper, or trash bags, or to empty the trash can. One kind soul not too long ago told me that he refused to allow his nurses to touch the trash can, gloves or not, because he was from the "old school".

Now, everybody in scrubs is thought to be a nurse...so much so, that we now have to wear these huge tags/labels with RN, LPN, or CNA on them just so we can stand out from the crowd. Yes, we're colored-coded. But even that is ineffective because there are now so many colors within one healthcare facility that it confuses everyone...even us because at my job, nursing can wear three different colors and any combination of those three. Because of this flexibility, there are some who toss in a fourth, fifth, or sixth color and nothing is said. This makes it hard for the patients to know who to ask for what, and contributes to them asking nurses for non-nursing things. You'd be surprised at how something as seemingly-unimportant as the colors we wear can add to the workload of a nurse.

If you pay attention, those nurses with leadership roles typically don a white labcoat over business attire when entering patient care areas. Pay attention to the difference in a layperson's attitude before and after the white jacket....even if the face of the person wearing the jacket is the same. Now, today, those in all white are "just" student nurses, and the one actual nurse at our facility who has 38 years in the profession is thought to be a new grad because she wears an all-white dress, support hose, nursing cap, and polished white shoes.

It is my stance that not all-things-nursing should have been changed. My long answer to your simple question...and I'm not an old hag who's having a problem with new-age concepts. If you actually knew me, you'd be quite surprised;)

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2016

I thought I might enjoy nursing. I figured it was a career that would bestow upon me a deeper sense of meaningful purpose.

After 10+ years, I have figured out that I detest direct patient care and hands-on procedural skills. I dislike interacting with patients and their familes. However, I enjoy the paperwork and documentation aspects, so I now work in a role that has me removed from the provision of direct care. I plan to ride this pleasant wave for as long as possible.

cocoa_puff · Nov 29, 2016

I started out liking nursing...now I don't (at least not what I'm doing now).

I dislike clocking in knowing I will be experiencing hell for 12+ hours, patient/family interaction, rushing around, no breaks, constant stress, having to coordinate EVERYTHING while also passing meds, prepping for surgery, answering call lights, getting diet ginger ales and turkey sandwiches, and having so much responsibility with very little power. Did I mention having to deal with FAMILY MEMBERS!!!

I do like charting, writing nursing notes, figuring out problems, collaborating with other healthcare providers, getting my paycheck, and clocking out.

Corgilicious · Nov 29, 2016

I started out liking nursing...now I don't (at least not what I'm doing now).
I dislike clocking in knowing I will be experiencing hell for 12+ hours, patient/family interaction, rushing around, no breaks, constant stress, having to coordinate EVERYTHING while also passing meds, prepping for surgery, answering call lights, getting diet ginger ales and turkey sandwiches, and having so much responsibility with very little power. Did I mention having to deal with FAMILY MEMBERS!!!
I do like charting, writing nursing notes, figuring out problems, collaborating with other healthcare providers, getting my paycheck, and clocking out.

I'm sorry to hear that. Do you plan on looking for a new job outside of the hospital setting?

cocoa_puff · Nov 29, 2016

I'm sorry to hear that. Do you plan on looking for a new job outside of the hospital setting?

Yes, currently looking. I'm also considering doing something other than nursing, but we will see.