Does anyone enjoy nursing?

[jedimom09]

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum but I have been reading posts on this website for over a year now.

My question is does anyone enjoy nursing anymore? Some post are pretty negative about the career. I am 25 year old mother of two very young kids, 2 and 3 years old. I am going to school and recently decided to sign up to start LPN training in the summer. I wish to go all the way to get my ADN pretty much without a break inbetween. Somedays I am very hopeful that this will be a great career for me to get into but then I read a bunch of post about nursing and I start to question my career choice. I'm just wondering if its worth putting my family through the rigorious routine that I will have to follow once I start the LPN training. Any feedback, good or bad would be greatly apprectiated. Thank you.

[lamazeteacher]

Nursing isn't for everyone. It has many opportunities for those who seek challenge ,believe they can make a difference, and are somewhat obsessive compulsive.

It needs people with strong self discipline who take pride in providing optimum care, no matter what obstacles may appear, and who can prevail on tasks without being influenced by negativity.

When others are moody or ornery, you have to be able to give them space, but avoid "catching" that tendency. Represent the best you can be, get adequate rest, listen well to your patients, and avoid judging anyone or assuming a superior air. Let money motivate only your desire to be self sufficient.

Nurses can become codependent, as needing self gratification through assisting others is a "slippery slope". Go to a CODA meeting if you suspect that is happening to a greater extent than is realistic, for full enjoyment of life.

Bravery is another good characteristic for nursing, as we travel paths where others fear to go. We need the "courage of our convictions", the ability to recognize and remedy our errors, and compassion for others who do the same.

At the age of 71, with 50 years of cherished experience in this wonderful profession, I think I can say, "Then you'll be a Nurse, my child" (in the spirit that some author whose name I don't recall in this "senior moment" once wrote, "Then you'll be a man, my son").

[Madre-of-four]

jedimom09~

Boy,you called us out!! How true that now that more employers are critical of in person coworker rants of frustrations and many now writing employee rules against "venting" on social network sites about work... have we turned to anonymous social boards to "air our dirty laundry?!?" With that said, remember that with every story, there is two sides:

I applaud you for seeking higher education through LPN training!! With two young children, this is a career that can really allow you to provide a stable income for your family!! If your able to work through the vast amount of information given you in school and successfully pass NCLEX-LPN or -RN; you have a lifetime trade that when preformed safely (as not to get your license revoked) will provide you a job market for the rest of your life!! In this unstable economy, healthcare will be an industry that remains fairly consistent. You may have an employer who downsizes a little, but within the same town you may have 10+ other agencies employing LPN/RNs in home health, offices, health departments, hospitals, urgent cares, etc. Even in the worse case scenario, such as my town, where you have 5+ schools within 30mile radius graduating 100+ new nurses/each per year... you may see a saturated job market in those areas, but you look an hour away and see hospitals paying premiums for travelers, PRN, and per diem workers because they can't fill all their empty nursing positions.

So, whether we vent more than we should in different forums on here... nursing is a respectable, profitable, growing professional career!! It comes with a lot of responsibilities and stress at times, but is ultimately well worth the cons to receive the pros!!! Good luck and God's blessings!

[tbrownlow]

Nursing is a very stressful profession. Most nurses' release of stress is accomplished by "venting". And what better way than to vent with a bunch of fellow nurses. Most nurses, in my opinion, get into this profession because of the common need or want to help people. Unfortunately there are some nurses that just like making the money that nurses make, and sadly give the rest of us a bad name. I think you will find, as I have in my 13 years of experience that most nurses love their jobs and their patients. The nursing profession is one of the most rewarding jobs available. If you are a compassionate, devoted and attentive person, you need to go for it!!! It is well worth all of the schooling and the temporary life adjustment for the family.

[NatrLvrnMT]

I DO enjoy nursing. I enjoy working in long-term care where I can help make the last days of my patients a little happier. I love hugging them and showing love for them. If I came into enough money where I didn't have to work, I would still volunteer working in long-term care. :heartbeat

On the other hand, its the politics of nursing that I hate. Especially since I work for a government-run facility. There are too many bad regulations made by state regulators who have no idea what nursing (in the real world vs. books) is about. I hate having an administrator who is so controlling, making unreasonable demands on us nurses. They don't understand that acuity makes a BIG difference vs. 'numbers.'

I'm wondering if you see so many negative posts because some people 'vent' on here (and any other sites you've been to)? Nursing is not for everyone. I had a friend who went thru nursing school (luckily, only to be an Lpn) and on her first job, decided it just wasn't for her. I think I knew it was a good job for me because I used to help take care of my great-grandmother when I was a teen and enjoyed it. For those who don't have experience taking care of others (besides our children), it might be a risk. Maybe there is a Facebook site that is for nurses who share their experiences, good and bad; I believe in such a forum, more would post more positive and even funny experiences. I will try to look for such a site for you. Personally, I have co-workers as friends on Facebook, and we share things good and bad. But it would be that way in any occupation- there are good things and bad things about any job or career. I hope you don't get discouraged, especially reading posts just from this site. As a nurse of nearly 20 years, I understand the negative posts, but don't dwell on them, other than offering advice when I have it.

Ask yourself if you are interested in and/or excited about what you are learning in your nursing classes. (Math/formulas were not fun for me, but learning all the other things was interesting). Have you done clinicals yet? While you may well feel very nervous in clinicals, can you see yourself doing that kind of stuff on a daily basis? Do you have a natural inclination to learn about medical and nursing-type subjects?

On the other hand, before I became a nurse, I was working as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) and it was the extra money I would be earning (as a single parent) that got me to take the step into nursing. Maybe more money is what caught your attention at first, being a mother of two. I had two young children when I entered nursing school as well. But I had my mother nearby who helped with babysitting and keeping the children with family members. Eventually, my children did attend daycare and it was a good experience for them to be around other children and to learn proper behavior for kindergarten.

My oldest daughter is attending college with a 2 year old and a 4 year old and they are thriving in daycare and the evenings are for Mommy and Sons time. Only you can make the decision as to whether it will be best for you and your children if you attend nursing school, but many, many of us have done it and our children are fine and our relationships with our children are as good as with mothers working outside the home in any other career.

Hope things start becoming clearer in your mind soon! Take care!

~Donna in Montana

[sistershell]

I think a lot of people get burned out very quickly in this setting because the stakes are so high. I currently work at a place that has very good nursing support and people still complain. I'm not sure what the answer is. I think any job is what you make it. The nursing program is rigorous, but is very rewarding. I suggest you get your LPN and go straight into an RN program. Not many companies hire LPNs anymore. Of course, it all depends on what your plan is after you get your degree. Good luck. It can be done, even with young children.

[macspuds]

Does anyone enjoy Nursing? That is one of the largest questions that I have seen in a while.

Nursing is a way of life and is one of those careers that isn't a career.You learn to live it each day and enjoy the ride.

The folks that you meet and work with are among the very best.

God looks into your heart and sends the ones that He feels that you can help.It is not a hard thing for it seems to come naturally.The ones that you can help become a part of your inward family. Each night that I go home I feel so grateful for the ride.

You can wrap your arms around the ones that you are fortunate enough to be able to care for and if you miss one it will bring tears to your eyes, but you hope that there is always a tomorrow.

Nursing becomes a way of life and the dearest blessing that God can give you.

Yes, I think that everyone enjoys Nursing on most days. If you dwell on the sad parts and not the best parts then you probably need to look for something else to do. If the positives out weigh the negatives then you will know the answer.

macspuds

[Poohla03]

Yes....I believe it is what you try to get out of it. Yes, the money is great. Not the reason to enjoy it. There are days I hate it. When you are able to assess a patient and understand whats going on, anticipate Dr orders and able to educate the patient and the family on the disease process gives you such a great feeling. What really makes my job great is the people I work with. They can make or break job satisfaction.

The great thing about nursing though is the opportunities available. If you get tired of one thing, move on to something else. There are even opportunities to move out of the clinical side and more into management which is where my passion is. I would recommend a few years on a medical floor to get a base of diseases and illness. Gain knowledge and skills, then find something your passionate about. Nursing has so many great opportunities and you cant say that about Taco Bell or even an Attorney.

Paula

[pwp1289]

I am ready to retire after almost 46 years in nursing---the work is hard but the benefits of knowing you helped someone and there will be times that you will actually save someones life--that make it all worthwhile--physically , i just can't do it anymore but I can't imagine what other career would have given me so much joy and pleasure and satisfaction------GO FOR IT !!!!

[hoddjh9876]

I'm 57 yrs old and decided to become a LPN and if I can do it so can you. At a time when I should be retiring I find this job a hoot. Of coorifice I work in long term care at a nursing home. Those old folks can tell you more about life than we'll ever see. Don't let anyone tell you its not a good job because it is. The money is good and yeah there are some bad days but for the most part....wouldn't you want someone like yourself to take care of you when you end up in a nursing home? I see alot on noncompasionate people in this business, but it only takes one who really really cares to make the difference. I'd like to think that any enjoyment they recieve on my shift is one that they can count on when I'm there. I love these guys and wouldn't trade my job for anything.

[gjerstp]

I am a nursing instructor who went back to school for an MSN, taking the nursing curriculum in 11 months first, then the Masters program. I worked on a medical cardiac unit full time for several years, then "casual status" after I started teaching nursing. I had been an intermediate EMT for some years before I went back to school, so I had learned that I really liked taking care of patients. That turned into love with the added knowledge and power of being a nurse. Almost every day I had an assignment of patients with whom I became fast friends. I was able every day to make someone feel less alone, less scared, more knowledgeable about their condition. At the same time I could carry out the assistive procedures and tasks that allowed these sick people to get better.

As an instructor I have had clinical students on many units at several different hospitals, and I can say that - assuming you like the work itself - if you find a job on a unit with friendly, helpful, communicative coworkers, and the staffing is fair, and the pay is good, you can truly love your job. Becoming an LPN will limit your job opportunities, but that can be remedied later with more education. I used to be late for work in my old life (data processing, systems analyst) even when I lived 10 muinutes from away. Now I'm always happy to get up, even at 4:30 AM! and go to work and see what challenges I find with students and their patients on the clinical units.

[benr98]

I am sorry to say that I have not read most of the posts in this link as I am on a short break from studying for and exam for tomorrow. I am a CNA and have just today received my letter of acceptance to the BSN program at ETSU. I am so excited. Right now I work in the pediatrics department at a local hospital and I love it. Out of all the RN's I work with they are all great. They are more than willing to help when I have questions or anything else. There is only one employee that I could really do without and I am hoping he finds the job he is looking for soon, he is that one bad egg. I have also assisted in the PICU and NICU and honestly I do not mind any of them. I have talked with others from other parts of the hospital and from what I hear I am staying right where I am at. I have all ready talked to my boss about staying after I graduate and she said she would be happy if I stayed in pediatrics. I guess the biggest problem I hear of is the bad eggs in different departments and it seems there are more of them in other parts of the hospital than there are in my department.

[kgh31386, BSN, MSN, RN]

Do I enjoy it? Sure do. Are there bad nights? Sure are. Will I keep doing it? Sure will.