I have a question. Right now, I am in another career, but I am miserable and I hate it. I have always wanted to be a nurse, so I think that I want to quit my job to go to nursing school.
But after reading some of ya'll posts, I am really starting to question that decision. My question is this: Would you recommend this career to someone new? I know that you are in your first year, and that it is probably more tough in that year, but I am in my first year of my career (I also just graduated in May), and I would NEVER recommend it to anyone. I would tell them to run the other direction as fast as they could.
I want to make sure that I am not about to jump out of the the pan and into the fire. I do not want to make a big career change if it is going to be to something else that makes me miserable.
Please be COMPLETELY honest with me. Don't tell me what you think I want to hear. I just want to know, if you had the chance to make your career decision all over again, would you go into nursing? I thought that you guys would be the best ones to ask, because you are experiencing it right now for the first time, which is the closest to where I would be soon.
My aunt has been a nurse for 30 years, and I was talking to her about it. She was telling me alot of the ups and downs about it. She suggested that I get a job as a nurse's aid before I go into nursing school, because she said that it could give me some idea of whether it is an environment that I want to work in. Do ya'll think that is a good idea?
Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for all of your advice. Good luck in eveything you are doing.
Hey, I am a relatively new grad, and have been working in a neonatal ICU for about 5 months now. There are nights i want to scream and run out, nights where I never get a meal or bathroom break, nights where every time I go to sit down and chart, a crisis occurs. Then there are the things that make it all worth it; seeing the 25 week preemie you saved many times from death's door go home with his parents, having a parent tell you they can sleep knowing you are caring for their little one, even just sitting down and teaching a preemie to bottle feed for the first time. I never thought I'd do nursing, let alone NICU nursing, but I know that it's what I'm meant to do. Nursing is really what you make of it. Maybe it's just because I'm a guy, but I don't let people order me around. I am a part of a healthcare TEAM, and no less important than any doctor. My patient's life is in MY hands while the doctor is home eating dinner. You are also instrumental in planning your patient's care and being an advocate. The doctor is not always right, believe it or not. Luckily, I have the advantage of working with three neonatologists who value the input of their nurses. The money's not bad, the hours are long, the work on some floors can be difficult, but the rewards come in personal satisfaction in a job done well, not in money or recognition. Doctors often get all the recognition, while nurses do 99% of the work. You get the grateful appreciation of your patients and their families, and that's more than enough for me.
BTW, As a nurse you need to stand up for yourself as well as your patients. Don't let doctors, nurses, dietary & housekeeping make you compromise your job as a nurse, or make you feel like you are worthless. STAND UP FOR YOURSELF!!
Follow your heart ! :) YOU know what is best for you !
I am wondering why everyone says nursing is so low pay ... In TX the nurses make around 40,000+ , IMO thats pretty good -- better than a teacher or cop or social worker . Just wondering if i am missing something.
I have a question. Right now, I am in another career, but I am miserable and I hate it. I have always wanted to be a nurse, so I think that I want to quit my job to go to nursing school.
But after reading some of ya'll posts, I am really starting to question that decision. My question is this: Would you recommend this career to someone new? I know that you are in your first year, and that it is probably more tough in that year, but I am in my first year of my career (I also just graduated in May), and I would NEVER recommend it to anyone. I would tell them to run the other direction as fast as they could.
I want to make sure that I am not about to jump out of the the pan and into the fire. I do not want to make a big career change if it is going to be to something else that makes me miserable.
Please be COMPLETELY honest with me. Don't tell me what you think I want to hear. I just want to know, if you had the chance to make your career decision all over again, would you go into nursing? I thought that you guys would be the best ones to ask, because you are experiencing it right now for the first time, which is the closest to where I would be soon.
My aunt has been a nurse for 30 years, and I was talking to her about it. She was telling me alot of the ups and downs about it. She suggested that I get a job as a nurse's aid before I go into nursing school, because she said that it could give me some idea of whether it is an environment that I want to work in. Do ya'll think that is a good idea?
Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for all of your advice. Good luck in eveything you are doing.
ABSOLUETLY. I would choose nursing again and again. I graduated with my BA in psych and soc in 2004 and couldnt find a job anywhere!! The only jobs in my field that I qualifed for were office jobs with bad pay. I took one anyway....I will share some insight of why I chose nursing.
1. I love the flexible schedules...you can work 3 12's or 5 8's...there are so many options and you arent stuck to that 9-5 every day! It is so hard to get things done during the week when you are trapped in an office. Secondly I like the variation...I get bored really easy so I like that I could swap shifts or have the option of working AM/PM/or nights...
2. OVertime is easy to get at most places...hey if you need xtra money all you have to is ask!
3.You can go anywhere and be a nurse. There are hospitals in every single city/state and you can rest assured that no matter where you go you will be needed
4. It wont be hard to find or get a job.
5. You know your job isnt going anywhere...we will always need nurses...its not like hospitals will ever all shut down!
6.The pay is decent and if you ever want to go on, adv practice nurses make a great salary also there are many ways to advance in nursing...management for example..
7. If you get bored or realize you dont like the nursing job you have at the moment there are 1000's of different kinds of nursing jobs you can get...some dont even involve bedside nursing! I even know ppl who are going into nursing law! How cool is that?!?
8.Most hospitals have tuition reimbursement programs so going back to school could be a great possilbility.
9. The field of nursing is changing everyday for the better...NP's are gaining more autonomy...did you know some NP's can have their own practice? I just found this out...may not be new but its news to me:)
10.I like having all the knowledge that nurses posess..I love it when people ask me health questions (even though I dont know alot of the answers yet!) it makes me feel good!
some Cons..
1. Nursing school is hard and its tons of work.
2. Being on your feet all day usually stinks..get some good shoes
3. Burn out..but that happens in any profession.
4. Lots of responsibility...I worry about that all the time...
I think your aunts idea is a good one..being a CNA really helps you out in NS too. NS has tons of different options...so far ive explored...
Surgery
ICU
PEds
Family NP
CRNA
Occupational nursing
Rehab nursing
Travel nursing
School health nursing
cardiac
oncology
neuro ICU
neonatal
So far im just kinda of taking it all in....shadow some different nurses..its a real eye opener!
ABSOLUETLY. I would choose nursing again and again. I graduated with my BA in psych and soc in 2004 and couldnt find a job anywhere!! The only jobs in my field that I qualifed for were office jobs with bad pay. I took one anyway....I will share some insight of why I chose nursing.
Um....don't mean to be a party pooper here, but are you even a nurse yet?
It's wonderful to see your enthusiasm but you might be a bit more realistic after a few years under your belt.
Okay, I was hugely excited about nursing school, then after finishing my first year and taking a job as an LPN on a med/surg floor while finishing my RN level, I started thinking, "What on earth have I gotten myself into?!" I was seriously considering quitting school and just getting a job at a video store or something like that...:) Then I started our psych nursing rotation and am excited again about nursing. During school you just have to do what you have to do in all of the different areas, then once you get out you find the area that makes you happiest and jump in with both feet! That's the beauty of nursing...there are tons of different areas to work in and almost everyone can find something that fits.
I don't let people order me around. I am a part of a healthcare TEAM, and no less important than any doctor. My patient's life is in MY hands while the doctor is home eating dinner. You are also instrumental in planning your patient's care and being an advocate. The doctor is not always right, believe it or not. Luckily, I have the advantage of working with three neonatologists who value the input of their nurses. The money's not bad, the hours are long, the work on some floors can be difficult, but the rewards come in personal satisfaction in a job done well, not in money or recognition. Doctors often get all the recognition, while nurses do 99% of the work. You get the grateful appreciation of your patients and their families, and that's more than enough for me.
BTW, As a nurse you need to stand up for yourself as well as your patients. Don't let doctors, nurses, dietary & housekeeping make you compromise your job as a nurse, or make you feel like you are worthless. STAND UP FOR YOURSELF!!
This is exactly right! I'm a female and would never let someone "order me around". I am part of a team and I'm treated as such. I have not been treated disrespected yet and I plan on keeping it this way.
I think you should post this question in the general nursing forum. New grads are excited about their new career- they havn't been trough the ringer yet.
I think you'd get a much more accurate view of nursing if you ask the seasoned nurses.
As a nurse of 12 years, nursing does have it's goods points but overall, it's really rough and sometimes miserable. Would I do it all again?
Specializes in Peds, outpatient, ICU, ophthalmology.
First of all most of the people that are complaining about the job have valid points....nursing is NOT easy work! However there are so many rewards AND so many different areas that you can go into. For example, I knew hospital nursing was NOT for me, but you basically have to get your start somewhere. So, six months into it I found a great job in an ambulatory care surgery center doing pre/post op and I work four ten hour days, home by 4:30, great benefits, and no weekends or holidays...I am sure this will not be the last change I make. There are so many different areas that you can always find a place for you.
Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.
It's a rough road becoming a nurse but it's a road that's worth travelling. If tomorrow I decide that nursing is not for me, I'll never regret that I answered the question, "what if??". Remember that there are many options in nursing and not all nursing is at the bedside after the first couple of years. It takes 3 years to become an expert nurse. There is legal nurse consulting, infomatics, research, administration, teaching, etc. Continuing education is the key.
SteveNNP, MSN, NP
1 Article; 2,512 Posts
Hey, I am a relatively new grad, and have been working in a neonatal ICU for about 5 months now. There are nights i want to scream and run out, nights where I never get a meal or bathroom break, nights where every time I go to sit down and chart, a crisis occurs. Then there are the things that make it all worth it; seeing the 25 week preemie you saved many times from death's door go home with his parents, having a parent tell you they can sleep knowing you are caring for their little one, even just sitting down and teaching a preemie to bottle feed for the first time. I never thought I'd do nursing, let alone NICU nursing, but I know that it's what I'm meant to do. Nursing is really what you make of it. Maybe it's just because I'm a guy, but I don't let people order me around. I am a part of a healthcare TEAM, and no less important than any doctor. My patient's life is in MY hands while the doctor is home eating dinner. You are also instrumental in planning your patient's care and being an advocate. The doctor is not always right, believe it or not. Luckily, I have the advantage of working with three neonatologists who value the input of their nurses. The money's not bad, the hours are long, the work on some floors can be difficult, but the rewards come in personal satisfaction in a job done well, not in money or recognition. Doctors often get all the recognition, while nurses do 99% of the work. You get the grateful appreciation of your patients and their families, and that's more than enough for me.
BTW, As a nurse you need to stand up for yourself as well as your patients. Don't let doctors, nurses, dietary & housekeeping make you compromise your job as a nurse, or make you feel like you are worthless. STAND UP FOR YOURSELF!!