Discouraged by Nurses who hate their job

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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So I am VERY excited about nursing, I will find out in two weeks if I am accepted into the RN Program. It really interests me and seems like something I will enjoy. The only thing that bothers me is EVERY nurse I have spoken to tells me they hate their job and if they could take it back they would have went into a different profession. They tell me not to do it. Has anyone else come across this also? It really does bother me, it's discouraging to hear people who have the job I am so anxious to have speak so negatively about it. :confused: I want to become and RN and eventually go back to school for my Bachelors or Masters, possibly become a Nurse Practitioner. Do any RN's here have any input on why you like or dislike your job? Thanks for any info!

Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

This site is for nurses as well as nursing students and those contemplating nursing as a career. This is why the owner of this site has created so many student forums. This is the pre-nursing forum. If you scroll to the top of the forum you will see that it says "Please use this forum to discuss issues and questions related to pre-nursing issues."

I suggest to you who have forgotten that you were once students, to refrain from reading the student forums if they bother you.

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Wow! There are some toxic posters on this forum. Yes, in case people haven't noticed, there is a wealth of great information here for us pre-nursing/nursing students. Thank you, allnurses.com, for all of the great information that you have provided me throughout my pre-reqs. Now that I am starting nursing school in the Fall, I am very thankful to have this great resource.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
this site is for nurses as well as nursing students and those contemplating nursing as a career. this is why the owner of this site has created so many student forums. this is the pre-nursing forum. if you scroll to the top of the forum you will see that it says "please use this forum to discuss issues and questions related to pre-nursing issues."

i suggest to you who have forgotten that you were once students, to refrain from reading the student forums if they bother you.

you're right -- i didn't realize i was on the pre-nursing forum. i haven't forgotten that i was once a student, nor have i forgotten what it was like to be a new grad, but i'm getting tired of people who haven't walked in our shoes hurling accusations such as "mean", "nasty" "burned out", etc. i overreacted and i apologize.

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sometimes people get asked why they want to be a nurse and get discouraged because the people doing the discouraging know you those people are not going to be good nurses.

I have seen people that want to be nurses for the wrong reason. It takes a special type of person to be a good nurse, and we need Good nurses. You have to be strong and compassionate.

Nursing is no joke, you deal with a lot of unpleasant people who are going to think you owe them the world and are not shy about it. you'll be cursed at by pt's, family members and doctors... can you take it along with the thank you's?

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Seems the majority opinion is most of us love the profession if not always the job. I've been a nurse in long term care for 15 years and love it. Do I have days, even weeks when I hate my job and threaten to quit? Of course! But I don't think it matters what career you are in there are going to be times you will hate your job. My advice, for what it's worth...don't let the negatives discourage you. When someone is frustrated or unhappy in their job they are likely to complain, and loudly, to anybody that will listen just to vent. That is a big reason why allnurses is so important to so many of us, we have a place to vent our frustration and anger in a safe [non job threatening!] environment. On the other hand, it's not as common to hear anybody talking about how much they love their job without prompting, but look around at posts on this forum and you will find plenty of that too. I hope you get into your program! Good luck!!

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Yep, I hear it every time I go into work (hospital) But then again, I was formerly in the business world working for a fortune 500 company. And that was definitely not for me. So this is at the other end of the spectrum, imo. So, something has to give, for me at least.

I think a lot of it has to do with attitude. There are just some nurses who are constantly behind from the moment they clock in and swearing and fuming from the get-go. And *shocker* they tend to be the nurses that are the crabby, pessimistic ones. It's just their personality with work, life, etc. Sad, really. Also, we have some nurses who are basically slaves to their job due mostly to financial reasons - loans, etc. If you are soley working to pay off debt and not saving for a vacation or a new car, then yes, I would be jaded and pissy too. As it stands now, we are almost debt free and will be in a position to retire, should we choose, in our 40s. That knowledge combined with an effective SSRI and a previous-career perspective, all have me plugging forward with a smile and some hope. ;-)

And remember, probably any job where there is extensive schooling or training, will have those people who are pessimistic or regretting. They exist everywhere, in all areas of life. Just don't think it's *only* nursing.

Wow that sounds so beautiful, what can I do to be in the same position as you when I'm your age. Please, please tell me the secret. I want to retire with my Fiance when I'm in my 40's also.

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you're right -- i didn't realize i was on the pre-nursing forum. i haven't forgotten that i was once a student, nor have i forgotten what it was like to be a new grad, but i'm getting tired of people who haven't walked in our shoes hurling accusations such as "mean", "nasty" "burned out", etc. i overreacted and i apologize.

how ironic a thread talking about discouraging nurses and voila we get one. this thead is particularly for positive feedback and you gave this person negative feedback. i think this website was not designed for nurses to discourage others. they were looking for positve input and all you can come up with is what you are tired of seeing in posts. well you know what if you are so tired of the post then how about staying in the nursing forums and leaving us pre-nursing students alone. we need positive not negativity.

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Specializes in Home Health.

Don't be discouraged. All of the nurses I know love being nurses. I love being a nurse, but it's easy to get discouraged and burned-out when you are constantly overworked and under-staffed and don't have time to do what you became a nurse to do, which is, hopefully, give quality, caring, unhurried patient care. I think that's where most of the complaining and negativity come in. Granted, there are those who went into it for the wrong reasons and end up disappointed, but I believe they are the exception, not the rule. Just choose your employer wisely. There are so many different types of nursing and not every job is for everyone. Do what you love and love what you do. You SHOULD be excited. Don't let anyone steal that away from you. :nurse:

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management.

I work at a hospital doing clerical duties, admissions, etc. I'd say half of the nurses can't stand their jobs and the other half absolutely love what they do! The ones that can't stand it obviously went into the healthcare field blind. It's an extremely demanding job but if you really want to do it. DON'T EVER LET ANYONE STOP YOU OR QUESTION what you want in life. GO FOR IT!!! If it's not for you, it's not for you.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Thanks again to everyone for all the encouragement and honesty. It is good to hear some positive things. I realize that there will be people who hate their job in every profession but I had to get some input from other nurses after the first 10 or so I had asked about nursing told me to RUN! lol

They weren't all nurses from the same hospital or wherever. This has been over the past year, I was at the hair salon and a lady came in for an appointment, we started talking and after she told me she was a nurse I took the opportunity to ask her about her job and how she likes it and if she would recommend nursing, etc...same scenario with the other nurses. Ran into one at a friend's birthday party, at work, etc....all of them had terribly negative things to say about it....so it was really awesome to hear some positive things on this forum.

Now all I can do is go for it and find out for myself if nursing is for me or not. I'm really hoping it is my "niche" :)

Thanks so much everyone! :)

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I have been in the nursing field for nearly 20 years. I remember when my mom suggested I become a nurse and I told her I was "way too dumb to be a nurse". I had barely made it to high school graduation. But the seed was planted. It took me six years to clean up my GPA, get my pre-reqs and gather my courage to try. Somehow I took to nursing like a duck takes to water (something I've heard from many nurses). Now I am preparing to go for my masters. I adore nursing. Yes, there have been times I was so fed up with all the different things that have already been said that I "tried" to quit. I just couldn't stay away. To me, being paid to be a nurse is a "perk" (one that is quite neccessary, sadly). My true "payment" is knowing I was needed and that I made a difference. To my patients, to my co-workers, to the families. They all have needs (small and large) and if I tell myself that their day (night) was "better" because I was there (even if it was just that I got them well positioned in bed and comfortable!) then I made a difference. I love seeing the light of understanding come across the face of a patient when I explain why they need to check their blood sugar or why the PT/INR is neccessary for Coumadin and Heparin protocols.

Nurses are really just professional mothers; what other job requires you to worry about if someone pooped, how much, what consistancy and what color? Did your patient listen to the doctor and can they repeat it back? Don't you "protect" your patients like they were your children?

If you do this job for a paycheck, you'll NEVER make it. I don't think this nursing shortage will be over anytime soon because too many people go into nursing for a good paycheck. Let's face it; no one could EVER pay a nurse what they are worth; not with money alone.

Saying nursing is a "calling" is still the best way to put it. You can't define why you love it or why you put up with all the SH#T (both literal and figurative), but that's why it's a calling.

Some people dream all their life of being parents. Others have it happen by accident and discover it's the manna of their existance.

And some who become parents never should have been and are miserable and raise their children in misery.

Nursing and nurses aren't any different.

To all you students; keep your chin up and don't let anyone tell you not to be a nurse anymore than you'd let someone tell you not to be a mother.

"He who loves what he does will never 'work' a day in his life"--Confuscious

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I have been in the nursing field for nearly 20 years. I remember when my mom suggested I become a nurse and I told her I was "way too dumb to be a nurse". I had barely made it to high school graduation. But the seed was planted. It took me six years to clean up my GPA, get my pre-reqs and gather my courage to try. Somehow I took to nursing like a duck takes to water (something I've heard from many nurses). Now I am preparing to go for my masters. I adore nursing. Yes, there have been times I was so fed up with all the different things that have already been said that I "tried" to quit. I just couldn't stay away. To me, being paid to be a nurse is a "perk" (one that is quite neccessary, sadly). My true "payment" is knowing I was needed and that I made a difference. To my patients, to my co-workers, to the families. They all have needs (small and large) and if I tell myself that their day (night) was "better" because I was there (even if it was just that I got them well positioned in bed and comfortable!) then I made a difference. I love seeing the light of understanding come across the face of a patient when I explain why they need to check their blood sugar or why the PT/INR is neccessary for Coumadin and Heparin protocols.

Nurses are really just professional mothers; what other job requires you to worry about if someone pooped, how much, what consistancy and what color? Did your patient listen to the doctor and can they repeat it back? Don't you "protect" your patients like they were your children?

If you do this job for a paycheck, you'll NEVER make it. I don't think this nursing shortage will be over anytime soon because too many people go into nursing for a good paycheck. Let's face it; no one could EVER pay a nurse what they are worth; not with money alone.

Saying nursing is a "calling" is still the best way to put it. You can't define why you love it or why you put up with all the SH#T (both literal and figurative), but that's why it's a calling.

Some people dream all their life of being parents. Others have it happen by accident and discover it's the manna of their existance.

And some who become parents never should have been and are miserable and raise their children in misery.

Nursing and nurses aren't any different.

To all you students; keep your chin up and don't let anyone tell you not to be a nurse anymore than you'd let someone tell you not to be a mother.

"He who loves what he does will never 'work' a day in his life"--Confuscious

WOW Very well said and also very touching! You are what good nurses are all about! Thank you!:yeah:

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