Do you regret being a nurse

KnoxWarEagle · Dec 23, 2006

Jadegypsy...Have you thought of working an outpatient surgery center? I went from surgery to endoscopy. You can't beat not having to be "surgically" connected to a pager. The pay is less but the sanity is worth it.

Merry Christmas!

MsPiggy · Dec 23, 2006

I don't regret it, but no I would not do it again, for many of the same reasons already posted here. That said I have much pride in my work and in helping my patients.

-Ms.P

elizabeth321 · Dec 30, 2006

I love nursing now...there have been growing pains over the past 20 years...would I do it again?

No....I feel that I am in harms way, exposed to danger on many levels...would have liked to have skipped all the years of shift work etc

RYNOBLASTER30 · Jan 5, 2007

Of course. The health care system is taxing upon all of us. Especially those times when you get the comatose vent patient from the nursing home with a gazillion pressure sores. I get little satisfaction out of my job. People do get better, but there underlying health problems aren't magically gone. Thank God on my current travel assignment we don't get patients like that.

EnergeticRN · Jan 9, 2007

No. What I know as a nurse makes my life rich. I also work for myself at this point, and God bless all the nurses who can still work in clinical settings. (There is way too much pretense about miracle drugs and invasive care practices for my taste at this point.) I've chosen a path with a focus on prevention. We have MANY options. As nurses, we (generally) have the respect of the public, are seen as helpers, hard working and not all that well paid. We could improve conditions by offering more respect to co-workers, engage management, and the list goes on. Hope springs eternal.

mrsorrwhat? · Jan 9, 2007

I have worked in a few different fields, preschool teacher, factory, receptionist, fitness club owner, nursing has been the most frustrating, nail biting, tear jerking, exciting, rewarding paths I've taken. My life without helping people would seem wasted.

australianrn · Jan 9, 2007

Yes - i have regrets. But I am in my 40s, and I have no real drive to change directions.

arizonanurse · Jan 9, 2007

Most of the time, no. I like nursing 99% of the time. But some of the time, yes I do regret it. As a previous poster mentioned, I hate being the one that has to make sure everyone else does their job. If a patient is on a low-potassium diet and dietary brings them an orange juice with the lunch tray, do you think the doctor will yell at dietary? No sir, it is MY fault. If labs are to be drawn at an unusual time, I better be on the phone with lab fifteen minutes before to remind them or they will not be drawn, and then guess who's fault it is? Certainly not lab's. But on the flip side, I do enjoy handling multiple things at once, and I really enjoy the patient care. But yes, there are certainly days when I think I must have been insane to apply for nursing school. Just think, I could have chosen a career where I get to take pee breaks, where I never have to work weekends and holidays, and where I never have to get anyone else's body fluids on me. Makes me wonder sometimes if I was crazy...

Ophelia78 · Mar 24, 2007

I worked at a library all through college and was offered a job in our wonderful small department after graduating. i turned it down for work that "makes a difference". On my worst days I wish I had just stayed in the library. Most of the time I'm proud of my knowledge and skill. It's wonderful to hear a "God bless you for what you do" from a grateful patient or family member.

allantiques4me · Mar 24, 2007

Absolutely not.I love being a nurse!

mandirocker · Apr 2, 2007

I don't regret wanting to get into the profession, i may say otherwise when Nursing school hits in the fall but at the moment i am eaten up with it and cant imagine doing anything else.....I know it is going to be hard work but i want it....this past year with generals isn't challenging.....i want a challenge and i know i am going to eat my words but hehehe

hlfpnt, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2007

No & yes.

No, I don't regret it because I love what I do & waited many years to get here. Would I do it again...probably. I can't recall a time when I ever wanted to be anything else. I've found that my job (not the environment around me) is what I make of it. If I go in with a bad attitude, I will have a crappy day & vise versa. My rewards come from those few that let me know they appreciate what I do. A smile, hug or "thank you" just puts me on cloud 9! I also gain alot of satisfaction in seeing a very sick pt progress to going home & knowing my care helped.

However, I would have to say I'd stay neutral in somebody elses decision to do this.

Yes, I do regret it sometimes because of what I see around me. The politics, backbiting, lack of teamwork & respect among coworkers, brown nosing, money hungry, lawsuit happy, difficult relatives, lack of concern at the executive level, & the fact that health care is no longer about seeing people get better...it's the dollar signs that seem to count most. Under staffing to save a buck means I have to nurse the tasks & not the pt. This bothers me...some days I go home feeling like I really didn't give the best care I could have, there just wasn't enough time because the load was so heavy. This is also a very difficult field to be new in. Speaking only from my own experience, it's hard to learn in an environment where coworkers have a "sink or swim" attitude toward newbies. I think it's dangerous to put someone on the floor without adequate training...in the long run the pt is the one who pays for that. Learning to be a nurse has definately been one of the greatest challenges of my life!

All in all, though, I'm happy with my decision & proud to be what I am! :) For myself, I firmly believe God provided the way for me to be here...it's up to me to nurture it!