Do you think doing this job alone has aged you? I know other things age you as well, but I'm talking re nursing specifically.
I was looking at my now calloused feet, dry hands, unfit, fat body (yes it's my fault entirely, I admit that) - and nearly white and very dry hair. My joints are starting to audibly creak, my back and the arches of my feet are starting to ache and throb after long shifts, and all my eating patterns have been affected. Being on call has ruined my digestion (I take medication for reflux and indigestion now, no H Pylori, waiting for bloods to come back), have a totally messed up sleeping pattern and have very little social life (due to being on call, or being called out at short notice). I can't seem to relax much anymore, I get taxed more than I make, especially when I work my butt off, I have no money left over for anything, and seem to have an underlying constant headache. I'm tired all the time (had the bloods done nothing abnormal as yet), don't have any energy it seems to do the other things I enjoy, and have lost interest in this life as a nurse. I don't feel inspired by it anymore at all, and I think it takes a dastardly toll on your body (couldn't think of another word but dastardly just then!)
God only knows how people do this fulltime as they get older and raise families, and keep it altogether, I take my hat and my shorts and my t-shirt off to you all!
I would honestly say doing nursing has aged me ten years more in the past 2 years I have been a RN.
Do you think nursing alone ages you, and what do you do to combat it? How has it aged you do you think? Do you really think it is worth doing as a job in terms of the stress it puts you under?
I am wondering why I do this. I only make 18/hour as a RN after 2 plus years in the field. I can hardly make my bills. I have put on 45 pounds in 2 years of nursing. I do not eat bad. IT is just that I do not eat with my family. I cook great meals for them but I work night shift 7 - 7 but sometimes do not get out until after 9:30 am. We have so many needy patients. Tech jobs are getting cut so we also have to take all the little ladies to the bathroom during heavy med passess. I will be getting out in about a year. I refuse to live my life this way. I think I am also getting some kind of auto immune disease as my body itches and I have neuropathic pain all over. I don't get it!
Good for you! 18/hr? That is very little for a RN and certainly not worth the stress. I also noticed that since I started nursing school, I occasionally started getting a rash between my breasts ( about 3x a year). I handle it with Cortizone, and it stops. I just wonder if that's a response of my body to the stress nursing job provides.
Specializes in drug seekers and the incurably insane..
I have arthritis in my hands....I'm only 28!! However, nursing may not have anything to do with it. I try to take care of myself first. I would be of no use to anyone all broken down.
It's so weird some of you posters say you get itchy since doing nursing! I get very itchy and I think it's from being exposed to all the different people and their skin ailments, washing hands all the time, etc but I get itchy all over. I thought it was just a heat rash as we're in a drought right now, and the hospital I work in gets hot.
I tried doing dayshift - did not suit me at all, I was too tired after work to do anything, and I can't go to bed early plus the money isn't as good. So I do afternoon (2nd shift) mostly and nights when they need me. I don't mind nights too much.
I did have much stress last year, a 19 year relationship breaking up, we are still friends, but it's not the same now. My friend's nephew hung himself in the shed, my other gf got cervical cancer and it was the anniversary near Xmas of my friend who died 6 months after being Dx breast cancer - she was due to retire just b4 she died. Also I had to move away from family for work, and even though they visit, it is still hard, though I think the break has been good for me. That is the economy though today isn't it? So I think it all just got to me.
Gotta go get results of more blood tests. The doctor did say my thyroid was low, but only just borderline, not enough to go on medication. Everything else was normal.
I was studying but got so down and behind with bills, I quit that this semester which I think helps with stress. I do miss studying but maybe it was time for a break. As they say, something has gotta give.
I know any job is still stressful, but I have worked in hospitals for 25 years in differing jobs, and nursing has been the most stressful and ageing for me.
And to the poster who only makes $18 p/h - where do you live, the US? I wouldn't get out of bed for $18 p/h - how do you survive?
To the poster with arthritis - so sorry 4 u. I get pains in some of my finger joints at times but my bloods were normal. Guess everything just wears out doesn't it.
My friends keep saying 'Just exercise b4 work' but I'm too tired and don't seem to have the time - I'm always running around having to do something else. Also I get too sore at work later if I exercise - I have to do it on days off and then have a day to recover! I remember when I exercise 5-6 x a week, no joke. Gyms here are expensive too so I don't go much, also I find just walking boring. I do do pilates and yoga, which helps.
This all got me thinking that I won't be in nursing much longer. It has got to the point where my body is telling me to choose a career that will either damage or kill me early, or to get out.
I'm going back to my writing and artwork, and have many transferable skills for other, better jobs though they may not pay as much. I will do a big job hunt today, my goal for the day!
Thanks for the replies, it helps to know I am not the only one!
Specializes in Quality Nurse Specialist, Health Coach.
I definitely think it does. I think the main reason is stress. I'm finally in a better situation at work now, so I'm hoping the aging process slows some! In the last couple of months I've noticed some little wrinkles between my eyebrows. Not liking that at all! I'll take recommendations for some of those wrinkle creams!
I definitely think it does. I think the main reason is stress. I'm finally in a better situation at work now, so I'm hoping the aging process slows some! In the last couple of months I've noticed some little wrinkles between my eyebrows. Not liking that at all! I'll take recommendations for some of those wrinkle creams!
Yes I'd like some recommendations for some good wrinkle creams too!!
We used to mix up egg white & put that on our faces (can't remember if we mixed it with anything else), and that used to smooth and tighten the skin. My grandma used to use it. She also used to put evening primrose oil on her face, though don't know if u can get that in a cream or what.
Do you mix egg white with the wrinkle cream? I like to try it.
My skin changed so much since the nursing school and working in the hospital. used to have normal to oily skin, now it is very dry. I now have to use very dry skin moisterizer it sounds like unprofitable business,,,, work hard, stressed - make $$$ - spend $$$ on anti aging cream/ revitalizers or ect - skin hydrated - work - ....
I just got off from a lo---ng 12 hr shift. ... applied extra cream on my precious, one and only face....
I'm NOT the picture of health... but after many years of night shift I've restarted taking a multi vitamin and a B complex and I feel better. I don't have health problems that would interfer with that.
I have already had two knee surgeries and need a knee replacement... have a back that spasms in a blink... fight eating healthy (small weight gain like 5 lbs, but I"m feeling it) and I swear I go through daylight withdrawl. Put me in a tanning bed for 5 minutes and I'm perky again. Overall I feel 15 years older than I am.
15 years of nights and 16 of nursing.... my engineering husband, my same age has not a single complaint.
I love doing what I do, but yes nursing has aged me. I had LCPD as a kid, had multiple surgeries on my hip. After being a nurse for just 6 years, my hip started hurting really really bad. I went to an Ortho Dr who told me that I have the hip of an 80 year old!! I need a hip replacement, but he wants to put it off b/c of the work that I do. I just take rx Motrin before each shift, and pray that I will be able do the walking that my job has.
I'm NOT the picture of health... but after many years of night shift I've restarted taking a multi vitamin and a B complex and I feel better. I don't have health problems that would interfer with that.
I have already had two knee surgeries and need a knee replacement... have a back that spasms in a blink... fight eating healthy (small weight gain like 5 lbs, but I"m feeling it) and I swear I go through daylight withdrawl. Put me in a tanning bed for 5 minutes and I'm perky again. Overall I feel 15 years older than I am.
15 years of nights and 16 of nursing.... my engineering husband, my same age has not a single complaint.
Zookeeper, tell your hubby to email me his secrets of having no health complaints. Maybe I should go into engineering!
I'm finally in a better situation at work now, so I'm hoping the aging process slows some! In the last couple of months I've noticed some little wrinkles between my eyebrows. Not liking that at all!
I'll take recommendations for some of those wrinkle creams!
it sounds like unprofitable business,,,, work hard, stressed - make $$$ - spend $$$ on anti aging cream/ revitalizers or ect - skin hydrated - work - .... 
neatnurse30
166 Posts
Good for you! 18/hr? That is very little for a RN and certainly not worth the stress. I also noticed that since I started nursing school, I occasionally started getting a rash between my breasts ( about 3x a year). I handle it with Cortizone, and it stops. I just wonder if that's a response of my body to the stress nursing job provides.