Do you guys really hate nursing this much?

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I am a prenursing student looking to finish up and start applying to schools this January. I already have a degree. I've been doing sales support for about 8 years - so it's a pretty stressful position in itself. However, I think I was searching in to PICU nursing and came across this website, and well, I know that people are more likely to write about the bad then the good, but wow. Is it really like this in your opinions? I've posted the original post, but the comments just go on and on.

http://www.aboutmyjob.com/1492/nursing-shortage-the-reason-is-simplepicu-nurse/

I graduated from nursing school in 1979 and easily got my first job in a teaching hospital in acute care pediatrics. I was young and stupid and didn't put 2 and 2 together that while I hated nursing school and all the "BS" I would also hate nursing. I have not worked since 1990 because I was literally killed emotionally, spiritually and physically by this career.

If anyone wants to know why there is a nursing shortage it's really pretty easy, NO ONE WANTS TO DO IT!!! The real clincher is you work with other miserable people and wonder all along if others are hating it as much as you. (A good indication is when you start a new job and your preceptor keeps saying things like, "I hate this job.")

I worked in the PICU and also did transport and trauma. Have you ever asked someone in another profession if they ever feel guilty that someone is going to die because they dared to stuff a half a sandwich down after not eating or drinking until they felt like they were going to pass out, or do they have to ask someone to watch "their work" so they can go to the bathroom, or are they so tired after staying up for days that they are hallucinating, and this while lives are at stake.

Another thing that destroyed me was when my patients died and instead of getting a break or even a pat on the back I just got another patient. This is outside the range of being normal. I think nurses suffer terribly and from things like PTSD. We work in carnage!!! This is not normal. Things are not going to change and we are all looking at being "cared for" in some scummy hole by jaded caretakers.

Yes we are jaded for the reasons I just wrote. Think of how a "normal" person reacts to just going to a funeral, try doing it on a daily basis and having to act like it's the most normal thing in the world. Death and dying are a part of life but so is the sympathy and understanding that usually goes along with it. It's not normal to live your life in the greiving process and try to act like this is life.

Anyone who is in nursing school right now and/or mired in debt and doesn't think there is anyway out think again. There is always another path. Don't throw your life away like I did. I ended up getting a large settlement from a medical malpractice suit after becoming suicidal and being abused by a doctor. Now I am facing having to work again and the prospect of anything that has to do with nursing is nightmarish.

I am in a legal nurse consulting program and just reading the message board with all the pukey nursing enthusiasm (yes we that hate nursing know what I am referring to) I thought, "I have to have some commissuration", so I typed "nurses hating nursing" into my search engine and came onto this site. I hate to discourage people into nursing but I will give my honest opinion when asked and finally I have found some validation for my own feelings after so many years of total anguish. Maybe some of you can relate to this, it is almost a sin in some circles to say you hate something as sacred as nursing. You may think hate is a strong word but I wish I could think of something stronger, like HATE TO THE MILLIONTH POWER!!!

Don't get me wrong I was a superb nurse, but I absolutley despised every second working as a nurse. Now I live a life being so damaged by this profession. If you hate nursing like this do not feel like you are alone, there is at least myself and I am not a crummy person. In fact I am a Christian and very loving and smart (Summa Cum Laude graduate) sensitive and talented (and like I've read no I am not obese, unattractive, nor do I live on coffee and junk food). Please do not wait until you are 53 years old like I am to decide on a career move. Love yourself as much as we have loved our patients and get out while you can. Take it from me it is NEVER too late.

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Specializes in med-surg,ortho,oncology,teaching.

I didn't grow up wanting to be a nurse, in fact I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. Due to my parents I ended up in nursing. I don't love nursing and I am not doing bedside nursing now. However I have worked many areas in my 30+ nursing years. I don't hate nursing but I don't love it either. The days can be long, the work very had, the patients difficult to take care of, and the families can be terrors. I have had wonderful patients, families, and co workers. I would go back to work on the floor if I needed to but I love the job I have now which includes teaching so it is perfect for me.I learned a long time ago to appreciate how my patients and families members cared about me. There are those who will always hate nursing and to them I say go find something else to do instead of wasting your time with all that stress. Life is way to short.

I believe if it is what you really want to do go for it. Just make sure it is what you want to do.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, WCC.

Some people are just not cut out to be a nurse. I happen to love it very much and would not want to do anything else.

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Specializes in Emergency, Occupational, Primary.

Lame. There are plenty of people who love nursing. This person was obviously never cut out for it.

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

Looking at all the other pre-nursing students, I think there a TON of people getting into nursing without much understanding what it involves. In fact I THINK MOST PRENURSING STUDENTS HAVE VERY LITTLE IDEA WHAT NURSING IS.

I didn't realize I wanted to be in the medical field until I was 22. I didn't think that I wanted to be a nurse until I'd been in healthcare for 4 years! Now, I'm 28 and I'll be starting a BSN program in 4 months. This site helped confirm that nursing is what I want to do.

No field is for everyone, and even those who it is for can burn out if they find misfortune in employment or management of their life.

I really really do think that people should do their homework better before they get into the field. I hear so many of my peers who cannot give a more detailed reason as to why they want to be a nurse other than "I want to help people" or "I want to make good money" or "I want a guaranteed job." I think some of them are in for a shock.

Anyway, that's my opinion as a soon to be nursing student, for what little it is worth.

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I always wanted to be a nurse and finally got there at age 42. I love nursing and have never regreted it. It is a hard job and a miserable job if it isn't something you want to do. But I feel like I make a difference.

Sounds like the above posted either wasn't made for nursing, didn't realize what it was about or got burnt out.

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This is a very emotionally distraught person. I worked PICU for 9yrs and loved it. Yes, it can be very devastating emotionally, but the benfits far outweigh the cons.

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Specializes in hospice, corrections.

To those who think the original poster is "not cut out for nursing" SHAME ON YOU. I precepted on a floor where the nurses had a reputation for "eating their young". Luckily, my preceptor was wonderful and when I was around the other nurses I just kept my mouth shut. We are in a caring profession, but most of the time nurses will not take care of each other. There are all kinds of excuses, blaming management, blaming "it's how it has always been done", stating that if we stand up for ourselves, we will get fired. Yes, nurses are overworked, yes we work long hours - sometimes dangerously so, but, if we do not take care of ourselves - we have no one to blame but us. I will not work anywhere that I cannot take a bathroom break. I will stand up for myself and tell someone when they cross the line. Why do we blame the nurse for hating their profession and not how the profession is run? It is like telling a rape victim that they must have done something to warrant the attack. Why don't we treasure the new nurses for their knowledge and enthusiasm instead of beating them down? I feel bad for those who are in professions that they hate, whether is be nursing or plumbing.

Sorry for ranting. Take this for what is is.:twocents:

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Specializes in Psych.

So what you're saying is you had a bad experience, and got into a field you didn't quite understand, so you blame the entire nursing profession? I worked in retail for many years and disliked it, so I found a new profession, but I don't look down in disdain at those that enjoy it. I love being a nurse, though there are things I dislike, but each morning I wake up and go to work. Nursing is a huge field with 100's of specialities and subsects, so its very possible you fell into one you didn't like.

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Specializes in icu/er.

can't speak for anyone else, but there have been days that were so bad that i would had rather painted fences for a living than to spend another 12hr shift in the icu.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, WCC.

I don't need a "shame on you" for speaking MY opinion. Everyone is entitled to that.

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I dont hate nursing I just hate some aspects of it like for instance nasty co-workers/preceptors,bosses,long hours and huge amount of responsibility the job entitles...remember nursing career is as much rewarding as is challenging.

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