Does anyone enjoy being a nurse???

kakamegamama · Mar 7, 2011

Yes. As to least stressful areas--I think each area has its own stressors/stresses. A lot has to do with you--how you cope when stressed and how you let others influence you. I've noticed a trend on this site towards negativity too. However, I've also seen some really incredible responses by nurses who obviously love what they do. Like anything else, sometimes negativity overrides positive. If you really want to be a nurse--go for it. I would do it all over again, and I think there are probably others who would as well. It's YOUR decision to have a good attitude, or a bad one. No one can make you have either. It's YOUR decision to be committed to study and learn and to care for people to the best of your ability. No one else can do that for you. I wish you the best, and I think you will find the outcome worth your investment in time, effort, and sleepless nights, or less sleep nights, as the case may be.

mumarada, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2011

Why not volunteer in a hospital? Or even work as a nurse's aide before you apply. You can see firsthand what exactly nurses do and if it's for you

Butterfly0328 · Mar 7, 2011

Thank you so much.. Now I can breath a little easier...This will be my second career and one I have wanted all my life. When I go into a hospital I find myself so excited to the prospect of actually working as a RN one day. When I had my two children I envied the L&D nurses. I want this so badly!! I know it is so hard for new grads to get jobs, but believe it or not, that is not my biggest concern. I will keep on keeping on and keep the faith.. Thanks for replying.

DoubleJRN · Mar 7, 2011

I LOVE being a nurse!! Of course my comments come from my personal experiences, so it may not be the same for everyone. Being an RN with a BSN gives me so many opportunites. As I type this, I am sitting in my home in my comfy clothes, listening to music that I love because I work full-time from home doing utilization management for an insurance company. (Dont' frown, I've done my work for the day. LOL) I also work as a clinical instructor for a local proprietary college. I purposely pursued my degree to give me the flexibility to do other things outside of direct patient care. But I don't dislike that either. I worked home care for several years and get excited everytime I see wound vac supplies. Lol. I know that at any given time, I can go get a job or assignment through an agency to do the type of work that I want. If you've always wanted to be a nurse, I think you will be just fine. I find that when I find myself really stressed by a job that I chose and previously enjoyed, it's because something is out of balance in another part of my life. I wish you luck and much happiness in your career. :yeah:

Butterfly0328 · Mar 7, 2011

Why not volunteer in a hospital? Or even work as a nurse's aide before you apply. You can see firsthand what exactly nurses do and if it's for you

That is a great idea. I guess I must find the time to do this. I work full time as well as my classes. How do I go about doing this? I didn't know they would allow just anyone on the floor as an observer. I will call some local hospitals to inquire. Thanks for the idea.

PatMac10,RN, RN · Mar 7, 2011

Like you said many both nurses and nursing students come here to vent. I work in a hospital as a CNA and see the venting up close and personal (and have to do some myself as well, although not online) and for some odd reason I still want to be a nurse. Hmm! guess I'm just weird like that! Lolz!!! Nursing hasn't run me away yet. Each nursing student or potential nursing student must make their nursing career and experience what they want it to be. I firmly believe that. Being a CNA at a hospital that is understaffed (as many are) and on high census (maximum amount of patients in the hospital) get tough and very frustrating sometimes because I may have 17 to 23 patients (a whole side of a floor) by myself because of the lack of staff. After the constant calls from patients while getting my 20 sets of vital signs, a few nurses not willing to answer a call bell when I have three patients on bed pans, I still like what I do. I honestly come home from work and feel more excited about becoming a nurse.

Butterfly0328 · Mar 7, 2011

I LOVE being a nurse!! Of course my comments come from my personal experiences, so it may not be the same for everyone. Being an RN with a BSN gives me so many opportunites. As I type this, I am sitting in my home in my comfy clothes, listening to music that I love because I work full-time from home doing utilization management for an insurance company. (Dont' frown, I've done my work for the day. LOL) I also work as a clinical instructor for a local proprietary college. I purposely pursued my degree to give me the flexibility to do other things outside of direct patient care. But I don't dislike that either. I worked home care for several years and get excited everytime I see wound vac supplies. Lol. I know that at any given time, I can go get a job or assignment through an agency to do the type of work that I want. If you've always wanted to be a nurse, I think you will be just fine. I find that when I find myself really stressed by a job that I chose and previously enjoyed, it's because something is out of balance in another part of my life. I wish you luck and much happiness in your career.

That sound incredible. I also have fibromyalgia and that is what has held me back for so many years.. I listened to family members tell me there is no way I can do nursing because it is too physically demanding. I am not in that bad of shape. I work full time, go to school as well as take care of my disabled partner and several animals. I would like to maybe do some bedside nursing in L&D or PP, and then have thought about doing something like you are doing or maybe legal nurse consulting. Thanks for your post. It's truly refreshing.:)

Butterfly0328 · Mar 7, 2011

Like you said many both nurses and nursing students come here to vent. I work in a hospital as a CNA and see the venting up close and personal (and have to do some myself as well, although not online) and for some odd reason I still want to be a nurse. Hmm! guess I'm just weird like that! Lolz!!! Nursing hasn't run me away yet. Each nursing student or potential nursing student must make their nursing career and experience what they want it to be. I firmly believe that. Being a CNA at a hospital that is understaffed (as many are) and on high census (maximum amount of patients in the hospital) get tough and very frustrating sometimes because I may have 17 to 23 patients (a whole side of a floor) by myself because of the lack of staff. After the constant calls from patients while getting my 20 sets of vital signs, a few nurses not willing to answer a call bell when I have three patients on bed pans, I still like what I do. I honestly come home from work and feel more excited about becoming a nurse.

I am very impressed with your level of maturity at only 18 years old. I only wish I had followed the path you are taking when I was your age. It is very nice to hear that despite the pressure, you are still excited to become an RN...Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post. :)

texkid, RN · Mar 7, 2011

I am a long time nurse assistant, 1st-year RN. I started out in the MedSurg unit and I am loving it! However, it depends on the person. In the 6 months working the unit, I have seen a HUGE turnover rate of both experienced and new grads. I am in a high paced unit. But I love the craziness, the complex and diverse cases, and I love the people I work with. If there is one I would change, it would be the darn "politics". I do hope to finish out the year and move up to ICU.

Whether or not you should do it is totally up to you. But whatever you do in life, whether it be nursing or some other profession, you must have one thing gushing thru your veins, and thats PASSION!! Without it, it doesn't matter how much you make or how many hours you work, you're never going to be happy.

V-Neck T-Shirt · Mar 7, 2011

Yes! I'm happy to have a job that is flexible and allows me to take care of people. For now, I work on a fast-paced med/surg unit. It's great, but I can see myself trying post-partum for a change of pace at some point.

MouseMichelle · Mar 7, 2011

Oh I love being a nurse, yeah I have many gripes and I moan and groan a lot but my gripes have to do mainly with management and nurses/coworkers who don't do what they need to do.

It's a job that will never bore you.

It's a job that you'll laugh about, cry about, make fun of, and most of all love.

That's how I see it.