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Discussion

Does anyone like nursing?

So.....I'm a second career nursing student who hopes to one day work in Cardiac care or perhaps hospice (this keeps changing every day). I officially start my first day of nursing school Jan. 11th at PHSC. Being so close to really doing this has made me feel a little apprehensive. It seems like everywhere I go on the internet nurses are complaining about how terrible doctors, nurses, and patients are. How they wish they'd never become nurses. They are so burnt out, etc. etc.

Am I making a mistake? Here's what I expect:

- some of my coworkers will be jerks

- shifts might be long, physically draining, and some days I might cry

- Doctors may think they are better than I am

- Patients my be mean, snide, demanding......and their families may be 1,000x's worse.

Here's what I hope:

-I'll make a few strong bonded relationships with people who will understand how my job is and we will support each other

-I will have an opportunity to go to work and feel like I am making a difference; that I am providing comfort, care and education to patients and families.

-I will remember I am not perfect, and I am serving people who may be at the lowest point in their lives.

-I will remember there are A%&holes in every line of work, and it's about how you deal with what you can control.

But mostly I hope I will love this career change I am making. I will have more up days than down days and when I crash into my bed after a super long shift I will drift off to sleep feeling satisfied.

Please. Someone. Anyone. Tell me how you LOVE nursing.

Thanks

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    • Admin

    One thing to keep in mind about online message boards for nurses: it's a place where we can vent to those who understand. When I get home this afternoon to a computer with a real keyboard, I have a big vent I need to get off my chest. That's why it seems like there's a lot of negativity here and elsewhere- human nature is to complain rather than compliment, and venting to those at home who aren't in the medical field doesn't go far because they just don't get it.

    So, do I like my job? Most days, and I love the team I work with. Today isn't a day I love my job, and there are actually a few of us struggling to hold it together after the events of this morning. But that doesn't mean I hate nursing; it means I'm a human with emotions who has a rough day every now and then.

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    You won't know until you try. Just go for it.

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    More people complain than sing praises. It's like that in every, single field of work. It's what you personally can make of your work and your day.

    You our need to remember that nursing is a job. Don't make it your whole identity. It will be one of many hats you wear throughout your day.

    The ones I see that become burned out even as students are the ones that don't keep it in perspective. They jump in all gung-ho and it truly ends up being more about them and how this job is supposed to make them feel in life and not about the patient or families. It shouldn't be about making you feel satisfied at the end of the day. I think a person should be happy in whatever career field they choose and the should enjoy their job, but don't expect it to give you this fulfilled, satisfying feeling at the end of the day. You will be disappointed.

    I think the most successful nurses and generally successful people in life are those who are happy and confident in themselves, therefore, they have lots to give to their patients and families. Because those people have lots of needs. Lots of them. They are scared and very vulnerable. They are needy. If the nurse is needy also and needs the patient to make them feel fulfilled, it isn't going to work.

    This is a job like any other job. There are going to be crabby coworkers, management that doesn't understand. Hospitals are businesses first and foremost. They are in it to make money. But on top of it, there are very sick people. So the stress level is quite high. Nurses are pulled in all different directions.

    Like I said, as long as you can keep it all in perspective, you should be fine. But don't expect this to radically change your life and all of the sudden you will be happy and fulfilled in life. Make sure you are happy in life before going into this.

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