Does anyone hate their job as a nurse?

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My wife and I are going back to school for nursing. And my wife asked me if I read about anyone really hating their job as a nurse. I beileve we want to be bedside nurses of somesort, not sure what unit or the ER. I guess before she starts going back to school soon she wants to confirm she won't hate her job. She will be doing the BSN since she still has to work fulltime for the next 3 years , then quiting and going full time when more financially secure. We have a 12 year old son we adopted as well. After she is done I will quit and do the ADN in 3 years. After I get 5 years experiance we want to become travel nurses if son and parents are in good shape. So does anyone really hate their job or have any good advice for us? thank you!

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I love being a nurse. I have always wanted to help others. But there sure are days that makes you wonder. I had a horrible day today ...I vent...I feel better.....and I still love being a nurse. That is why this forum is sooooooo great.....we all understand and help each other...Don't know if that helps....

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Specializes in LTC, Med-SURG,STICU.

I hate to say this, but YES sometimes I HATE being a nurse. I hate the pt. or in my case res. loads that I am forced to take day in and day out. I hate being told if I don't like it there is the door. I hate backstabing co-workers that get other nurses fired by setting them up for failure or flat out lying about them. I hate management that ignore the real problems with there facility or if they do listen to you they throw it in your face that if you have time to complain you must not be that busy. The list could go on and on.

However, when I help to comfort someone when they are in emotional or physical pain and I know I made a difference it makes the negatives of my job seem easier to tolerate. When I able to save someones life or make someone's life better in someway that is what keeps me coming back irregardless of the B.S. that everyone seems determined to hand out daily.

Let me add that the paycheck also keeps me coming back for more too. Oh yea and the bill collectors that want that paycheck too.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

There are moments when I dislike being a nurse: understaffing and a shift leader who won't call in a sitter when you plead that your new admit is "insane!" and you end up spending most of your time in that room putting humpty dumpty's scattered shell back together; when you feel like a glorified maid bouncing from patient to patient too scared to say something about it, since a customer complaint these days=loss of job; not appreciated when you go the extra mile at work and even stay late to make sure your charting is complete (I'd rather be home, if overtime is something you think I'm after!); Disrespected by other professionals in the medical field, "He's only a nurse!" Getting very tired too early in the day; Picking up other's slack. Being SENT HOME early and having the money taken out of your hide!

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Specializes in School Nursing and Sports Medicine.

i love being a nurse! :) just like any other profession there are ups and downs. my advice is just follow just follow your heart's desire. it's hard to stay in profession that you don't feel passionate about.

i came across a very inspirational poem back in college from an r.n. named melodie chenevert. :)

being a nurse means...

you will never be bored.

you will always be frustrated.

you will be surrounded by challenges.

so much to do and so little time.

you will carry immense responsibility

and very little authority.

you will step into people's lives

and you will make a difference.

some will bless you.

some will curse you.

you will see people at their worst...

and at their best.

you will never cease to be amazed

at people's capacity for

love, courage, and endurance.

you will see life begin...and end.

you will experience resounding triumphs

and devastating failures.

you will cry a lot.

you will laugh a lot.

you will know what it is to be human

and to be humane.

copyright © melodie chenevert rn, mn, ma

good luck! :heartbeat

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My advice to you would be just keep reading the threads here. The good and the bad and the ugly is all in there.

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I wouldn't say I hate my job, but I'm not as pleased as punch as I expected I would be when I was not experienced and was enthusiastic to start. I had no idea what the reality would be and have definitely had my expectations brought down to earth. Mostly I am disappointed in the employment picture. I did not become a nurse to be unemployed most of the time and don't go out of my way to try to paint a prettier picture than not having a job really is.

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There are MANY days that will make you want to take your license, put it in a brown envelope and stamp "return to sender" on it and drop it in the mailbox.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

I hate to say it but there are a lot of nurses who hate their jobs, who are desperate to get out of bedside nursing, who are stuck in nursing and can't seem to find a way out.

I'm in a job now that I enjoy. Its low stress and actually pretty easy. I feel VERY lucky to work where I do.

Have you or your wife considered becoming a CNA first to get an idea what nursing is really like? I would highly recommend it. There is just no way to know whether you will hate or enjoy nursing unless you have some kind of hospital experience.

Good luck : )

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

I love being a nurse! Yes, there are days that are challenging, families complain, pt. is non-compliant, superiors don't understand why you ended up with o/t, etc. BUT--- when a pt smiles at you and tells you how much they appreciate you---well, all the negatives go away.

Someone else suggested being a CNA first to see if you even like the field. I think that is some good advise. Two of my classmates in nsg school have never practiced. They both finished school and passed the boards, but they didn't care much for clinicals and never even had the first job as a nurse. You have to follow your dreams.

Good luck!

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That is great advice, however we both make what the max CNA can earn and still struggle with bills.

I'm pretty sure I'm ready, she is very emotional and that what scares me about her. Since I carry the insurance, she has to go to school first. So hopefully on 5 to 6 years she will be done. In 3 years she will quit her job and go full time since we will be better off financially.

About us, she crys when someone elses crys, she has never seen me shed a tear. I have been told I have no emotions, which of course I do, I just control them. She won't let anybody "run" her over, but can be talked into things. If I say no, its no. She does read these, so I'm not hiding anything we don't know.

As far as the job a few things scare me, but nothing I can use to,

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Well if you see my last post youll know Im getting out of bedside nursing ASAP. I hate it more days than I love it.

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