Do you now wish that you chose another career?

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Why?? Do you find yourself burned out most of the days ?? How much energy do you have left once you go home to your family? Why do you decide to remain a Nurse??

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

i love nursing; even when it is hard and gritty and you are at your wits end at shift change.

sometimes it feels like being in the trenches of a battlefield clenching ones teeth letting the enemy have it! the enemy i speak of is letting the stress of nursing degrade your dignity to self or others.

these are the diverse reasons why i will remain a nurse:

1. the beautiful kind and sweet ways my patients and family show their appreciation of me and my unique style of nursing.

2. a nurse cares and an md cures bacon. when you discover your talent of communicating your patient's needs to his md and following up with good care and keep the communication up with your patients you can't help but be liked from both ends of the healthcare spectrum.

3. if you work three 12 hour shifts a week you can spend the other days building up your stamina for another go around. my friends who work 9 to 5 five days a week are very envious of my free time@!

4. great coworkers who have a sense of humor and love nursing too!

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

i love being a nurse. i love the stability of the career itself. the many options that are available to us and the flexibilty of my schedule. i work days only but i can choose how i want to work them, 12's or 8's. i have days off that most mon-fri jobs don't have. i DO NOT bring my job home, and even though i am in the ED i like the fast pace and the in and out of our patient flow. i didn't always feel this way. my first year as a nurse was overwhelming, but now i know i made a good career choice. sometimes i have so many days off in a row that i forget i work full time. this career allows me to be a mom without feeling guilty about working too much. i plan to probably stay in this postion for a while as long as works for my family and then when i am ready i will move on.

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Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.

Yes, I wish I had of used nursing as a backup, but striven for something else. Nursing is fun, but after almost 25 years it doesn't pay as much as other occupations I had considered.

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I must say that after my registration at the nursing council of NZ, I really thougth that I choose the wrong career, I origanally from South Africa register as a enrolled nurse with 16 years of experience 5-6 years in theathre as aneasthetic nurse, and the other 10 years working in diffrent wards, now the nursing council register my as assitant nurse, what happen to all my experience? I know they don't register or enrolled any more enrolled nurses that is what they said but what if you are one, must you just step down and what about the 2 years of training. I was a assistant nurse from 1991 until 2000 when I felt like I want to spread my wings and be of more asset to my co-workers (register nurses) and help where I can to make her duty's a bit ligter. I must say that it help me a lot after my study I felt more confident and know that I was a great asset to my register nurses. I didn't felt bounded to just care, I could do the dressings, give injections, write nursing care progresses, and help where every I know I could under the supervision of the register nurse.

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Specializes in NICU.

To be frank, I might have gone to cardiovascular perfusion school. I had no idea such a thing existed, though, until I started nursing. So even if I go that route (which I'm seriously considering) I never could have done so unless I was a nurse. Round and round and round we go...

And hopefully my nursing background and skills will make me a better perfusionist, so there's that, too.

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Specializes in SICU, MICU, CICU, NeuroICU.

My wife is a nurse and when she comes home she's pooped and doesn't do anything. I hope I am not like that when I graduate.

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Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

It's a hard question to answer. I have wished that I had become a teacher quite often, I feel that I would love the profession. But, who knows? Maybe if I had choosen that career I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I think I would, and then wondered about nursing? You know, like the grass is always greener.

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Why?? Do you find yourself burned out most of the days ?? How much energy do you have left once you go home to your family? Why do you decide to remain a Nurse??

I had zero energy left when I did floor nursing, and I'd agonize over the messy house and things not being done because I was too tired and depressed.

I'm getting to where I can't stand working as a nurse. I don't like the job and the stress gets to me. I'd give anything to find an "alone" job that paid decently (it ain't medical transcription, BTW).

But in the bigger scheme of things I can't say it was a waste of time to become a nurse. My life has been enriched, even though the enrichment wasn't always pleasant, because of it.

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I'll be honest, at times I do. After nearly 25 years of bedside nursing--- night shift, no less--- I'm really feeling the wear and tear, mentally as well as physically. I was a single mom, and this career allowed me to raise my kids on my own. I know that it's evil to admit this, but the pay and security of the job was the main reason I chose nursing. Money tends to be rather important when you don't have any ;)

But again, all these years have worn me to the bone. I know there are other areas I could work with an RN behind my name, but they don't have the same pull for me. As much as I hate people (not people-people, but - ya know - people), as much as I despise Press Ganey and the "customer service"/ 5-star-hotel mentality that has metastasized to so many hospitals, as much as I want to scream at the ridiculous amount of redundant paperwork required for even the most insignificant task... when it's just me and the patient, I'm a happy camper.

All I need or want from administration is adequate staffing based on acuity, the supplies I need to do my job, backup and support when confronted with an increasingly irrational and demanding public, then please just get out of my face so I can take care of my patients.

Yeah. I know. Dream on...

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Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

I loved taking care of patients when I was younger but after 30 yrs I am glad I am not in it any more. I still miss patients. But the politics and familes have gotten unbearable for the last 7-8 yrs. It felt like everyone was out for you and families always wanting to sue, Bosses covering their own fannies and hanging you out to flap in the breeze. If I knew then what I know now I wouldn't have done it.

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

Never no not once!! Have I ever felt like walking away from nursing.

To me, apart from the valuable experience gained after 30 yrs, it is the small things that warm my heart and make me realize this IS ME.

I wanted to be a nurse so badly that Mum had bought me my own little uniform when I was knee high to a grass hopper.

I operated on my brother's Teddy numerous times hahahahaha even sewed it with black wool.

Those patients eyes that look at you pleading.

Those smiles that warm you to your core.

Those tears that you wipe away.

Those unspoken words that are said with a grip of their hands.

The hugs from broken families after their loved one has died.

The thank you's.

The grumpy ol' men that you slowly 'wear' down until they actually smile.

Those times you sit silently when a loved one dies.

More than not it is those unspoken times that have the biggest impact.

The wonderful staff I work with that REALLY do care about you.

They go the extra mile when you are working hard, feeling poorly or need a helping hand.

They are like my extended family without them I am unable to exist in our little office.

The 'please take care and stay safe' when we leave for our patient rounds warm my heart.

The professional curteousy I receive from 'my' MD's when I have a concern or would like to change a treatment for a patient.

The appreciative phone calls I get from the HHA with concerns they have over our patients.

The way we all work together like a well oiled machine.

No I cannot see me doing anything else than I am right now in this time of my long and wonderful career. :)

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