Do you enjoy being a nurse?

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2014

It can be very difficult. Thankfully, I work with a group of nurses and physicians that respect each other. When people start stepping on each other's toes, it's culturally acceptable to call them on it and nip it in the bud.

Same goes for patients. I recently had a run-in with a patient's spouse that amounted to a safety issue. I was fully backed by everyone from the doc to my fellow nurses to the secretaries at my front desk.

Make no mistake--nursing has its difficult days, but in my experience, if every day is hell, it's probably got something to do with the workplace. Perhaps it's the environment you're in, not the field as a whole?

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2014

Nursing has its pros/cons. For me the pros outweigh the cons. The fact that I work on my dream unit ( Postpartum) definitely helps. I actually look forward going to work, most days.

LPNalltheway · Mar 20, 2014

I agree with you Soldier nurse ! I am sure it depends on the environment we all work at.. I in my own case my job can be very stressful and sometimes makes me wounder if I could ever love nursing the way I thought I would..

generalRN2008 · Mar 20, 2014

It depends on the work environment

TU RN, DNP, CRNA · Mar 20, 2014

Yes stress is a sure way to remove enjoyment from your work. Others have addressed this on this site before, but nursing doesn't have to be a calling like so many seem to insist. You aren't being a bad nurse if your heart isn't in it, you're being a bad nurse if you're being a bad nurse. It's work just like anything you might do (i.e. contractor, secretary, pharmacist, accountant, whatever) for some preset amount of time in a given week. You do it to get money which you can put towards things that you need or make you happy. I realize that this perspective on nursing makes a lot of the old school nurses upset, but the environment of healthcare is changing for nurses. There are a LOT of people entering the profession, as well as a LOT being brewed in nursing school right now, who view this primarily as stable, good-paying work. Which it is sort of true, minus the stable part these days. And you know what? A LOT of people take the nursing path for these reasons and actually persist in the field. Family, expenses, loans, necessity, misdirection, no direction, and ambition bind us to it.

Shoot I don't love my job, but I do it well enough to keep it and do good by my managers, coworkers, and patients. I'm not ashamed to say that my favorite part about my job is the paycheck, even though I must say getting a "thank you" from a patient or coworkers is a close second. It's gotten better the longer I've been at it, but all in all, I long for a 8 hour a day, Monday to Friday schedule. I admit that nursing has brought out so many good qualities in me, but I'm not sure if/how these will ultimately benefit me with all the stress I endure at work. One day I'm going to realize I'm going gray or bald from all of it and I do not long for that day!

NurseKate16 · Mar 20, 2014

I can honestly and wholeheartedly say I love being a nurse. This is my second nursing job and third in the healthcare field ( I was a nursing assistant/unit secretary prior to graduating). I love being a nurse and knew once I became a nursing assistant during college that I was going into the right profession. My current job makes me very happy and I love the staff I work with, the patients, and learning every day. I know there are days we all get stressed, days doctors treat us poorly, or we are tired and overwhelmed. However, I feel that my job is rewarding, and interesting, and challenging. I wouldn't change it for the world:-)

RNBSNTX · Mar 20, 2014

Ever since I graduated from nursing school I have never really been happy with nursing. Ive tried different areas but I feel I made the wrong career choice and Im thinking of changing careers. Its scary to change careers since Ive been a nurse for 11 years but I think it will be worth it in the end.

tokebi · Mar 20, 2014

I haven't always enjoyed being a nurse. Now I do.

As mentioned already, the essential factors to enjoy your job are:

1. Working in an area of your interest

2. Supportive and cooperative working environment

3. Opportunity for growth

Maybe having a different attitude (change within yourself) will help. If that doesn't work, you should find a better environment.

1fastRN · Mar 20, 2014

Yes. And I would enjoy it so much more if we had decent staffing ratios.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2014

We can't always find a computer to use yet we are required to use them. Our chairs are worn out & uncomfortable. We have only a part-time secretary. The phones ring nonstop. There are wires everywhere, we trip over them often. It is roasting hot most of the time. We can't have a cold drink or hot drink or any food at our desk. Yet there is usually no time to take a meal break, let alone a rest break. We do have to take a potty break when nature demands. Otherwise, we'd be chained to the oar the whole shift.

Our aides take frequent breaks, they hate it when they are required to sit with patients more than 5 seconds. They know not only their own jobs, but the nurses' jobs and the doctors' jobs and the administrators' jobs. And they tell you so every day. Loudly. More than once. There is no time for nurses to spend with patients because we nurse the pyxis, the computer, the phones, and staff - like Housekeepers. Housekeepers leave bleach water unattended, soapy water unattended, and throwable furniture unattended. They grouse whenever they have to clean a bed. They won't take a shovel or even salt to icy walkways. The nurses grouse about their assignments. Many staff seem to come to work to play instead of work. This includes RN's. If they have to take the extra pt, they refuse, they call the Manager to complain, they have a conniption fit on the spot. I don't know how to divide 11 pts evenly between 2 nurses, even going by acuity, which we are not used to doing because our bosses staff by numbers only, not ever by acuity.

Our state has not agreed to Medicaid expansion, so we will be losing huge sums of money, billions, over the next few years. So there are very few jobs to be had right now. No shortage of ads, just no one is really hiring. No raises in the foreseeable future. Ten student nurses come here 3x/wk. Ten. Ten. Ten bodies to look out for, to climb over, to dodge, to exude body heat. Ten.

There is no relief in sight unless a rich uncle dies, or I win on "Jeopardy", or Jesus raptures us out.

amygarside · Mar 20, 2014

Though it greatly depends on the environment, your interests on nursing would also play a great role on how you enjoy it. Take time to ponder and think if you really like nursing that much. You can always have options.