Does nursing really suck that badly?

Nurses Professionalism

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I know this discussion has likely been hashed and re-hashed several times. However, I wanted to discuss not only my concerns but my specific situation.

Here is some background information on me:

I recently graduated with a non-nursing bachelors degree. For the past two years, I have had my heart set on entering an ABSN program. But, I wanted to finish my bachelors first as I felt since I was almost done, I could apply for a one year accelerated program and essentially not "waste" my almost completed degree. I am taking A&P2 and Nutrition this semester and Chemistry and Microbiology in the fall with hopes of applying for two ABSN programs in my area.

Here are my concerns:

I read so many negative things on here about nursing. Whether it is someone complaining about their boss, a high patient to nurse ratio, backstabbing co-workers, patients who treat you like a slave, managment that doesn't get it, concerns about losing nursing license, etc etc. I understand that NO job will ever be perfect. I understand that people come here to vent. I am not judging the nurses who complain on here because everyone needs an outlet to release stress.

My fear is that I will get into a career that I hate. My fear is that I will be chewed up and spit out. I am already at a cynical point in life where I see employers in general as crapping all over good employees and rewarding the bad ones. I am at a point where I am so tired of my government internship that I will do ANYTHING to get away from it. I love the idea of helping people. I love science. I've thus far enjoyed the academic pursuit of nursing. Additionally, I consider myself to be a compassionate, loving person. I can take a lot of things in stride but I have my limits. Is entering the nursing field really that scary? Are hospitals really that toxic? Are co-workers really a reincarnation of that evil witch and her possee from junior high?

I could really use some advice from some of you RNs who are already "there" and have been in the trenches.

-Signed-

Someone who wants to help others and wants to be a nurse but is terrified of the future

Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.
Truth is all areas of nursing suck. It is practically a useless degree. My advice move on. NP isn't the solution either, but probably much better than running around like a monkey and more pay but more responsibility.

What makes me weary about this whole nursing field is the quick degrees and accelerated programs institutions have. The value of even the bachelors degree is a joke. I cannot believe I have a BS in Nursing. I just did not want to quit. At least I proved to myself I finished an I am not a quitter so I am using many of the sciences courses to transition over to a whole different career. Technically time not really wasted.

But nursing for the rest of your life, no way, either you will hurt your body, go insane, or burned out or a combination of the listed items.

Quick degrees are not a career. No offense but nursing is not a profession. The BS degree should literally be a 6 month certificate. It was stupid and silly.

My god, you're jaded.

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My god, you're jaded.

Jaded is all you got out of that? :dead:

All those years and still just not getting it.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
No, of course I do not think all nurses could be evil. That would be ludicrous of me to think so. I do know some RNs and have asked them lots of questions. In fact, I'll be shadowing my mother's RN friend who works in women's health.

Perhaps I should have been more clear in my post. I wanted to hear from people's personal experience. I mean, there has to be a reason why I hear the things I hear and read the things I read. I see all of these horror stories on here. Sure, I see a lot of good things too. Is this just the tendency of people to talk more about the bad than they do the good?

It saddens me that you see my words as an idealized impression of nursing. It saddens me that "wanting to help people" automatically seems to denote that people like me just don't get it. Believe me, I totally get that it takes a lot more to be a nurse than to just have compassion. Problem is, I want to "get more than what I currently get". I do not work in healthcare and I haven't in the past.

Please do not take my words as being defensive or ugly. I am merely trying to get some answers here but at the same time do not want to be misunderstood.

Hi,

Let me start out by saying that Nursing has been very good to me! I became a nurse when I was 39 years old and have never regretted it. I have rarely experienced any real problems with management and co-workers. Sure there and mean nasty people who gossip and may even try to undermine your efforts but those people are everywhere from the PTA, to min wage jobs to corporate America. The trick is not to get yourself entangled in hospital politics and gossip. Also don't reveal every aspect of your private life to your co-workers. Gossip spreads like wildfire in hospital's so it is best not to participate in it or listen to it. Simply walk away when it is happening. Patients are people too and there will be wonderful sweet one and a fair number of orificeholes. You can often win over the nastiest patient with firm boundaries and a warm smile. Sickness and pain often bring out the worst in people and a nurse has to understand that.

You have to have very realistic expectations about what a career in nursing is all about. Nurses are people and some wil be rude and mean while others will be pleasant to work with. Hospital's are businesses and although they are in the businesses of caring for sick people, but they still have a bottom line. Even those that are theoretically non-profit still have to cover their overhead costs which include nursing salaries.

As another poster said nursing like any career is what you make of it. There are many areas out side the acute hospital where nurses can work so do your research and shadow some nurses if you can to see what you want to do.

Peace and Namaste

Hppy

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Okay, here's some real truth. If you want to be a nurse because it's a steady job with decent pay and benefits, then maybe you'll hate it. It was never an easy job. I started as a volunteer at age 14. I loved learning, but what sold me was feeling like I could help someone. Poop and mucus are your job. I'll never forget the patient I saw as a student who was the same age as me and the same height, but I weighed 135 lb. and she weighed 90 lb. She was dying of pancreatitis. Deserted by her mother and raised by an alcoholic father, she'd been drinking since she was 12 or 14. It was shock. This is real life. You've got to love your patients where they are. Be judgemental and you'll be angry all the time. I come to work for my patients. I celebrate small steps forward. I feel great when my patients get better and go home. My job has been solace when my personal life sucked. I've been in charge, but took no joy in managing. I work in the NICU. I am nationally certified. I still love my job. Do what you love. Overlook the ********. You're going to deal with it no matter what you do. Good luck!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Okay, here's some real truth. If you want to be a nurse because it's a steady job with decent pay and benefits, then maybe you'll hate it. It was never an easy job. I started as a volunteer at age 14. I loved learning, but what sold me was feeling like I could help someone. Poop and mucus are your job. I'll never forget the patient I saw as a student who was the same age as me and the same height, but I weighed 135 lb. and she weighed 90 lb. She was dying of pancreatitis. Deserted by her mother and raised by an alcoholic father, she'd been drinking since she was 12 or 14. It was shock. This is real life. You've got to love your patients where they are. Be judgemental and you'll be angry all the time. I come to work for my patients. I celebrate small steps forward. I feel great when my patients get better and go home. My job has been solace when my personal life sucked. I've been in charge, but took no joy in managing. I work in the NICU. I am nationally certified. I still love my job. Do what you love. Overlook the ********. You're going to deal with it no matter what you do. Good luck!

I'm happy for you that you love your job. And I agree with most of your post. But if you want to be a nurse because it's a steady job with decent pay and benefits, maybe you'll love it. I did.

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Do not be a nurse. No!! Big mistake. Its the most abusived, regulated job in the world. Very easy to get in trouble. Walk away before you start. You will be sorry if you dont.

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I am a nurse of 4 years. I decided to totally leave the profession and its the best thing i have ever done.

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i could start by saying "oh follow your dreams, be prepared to work really hard and it will be great". But I am not goung to. Bullying /incivility exists very much in nursing. It starts in nursing school. I had never experienced such unprofessionalism in my life. I also had a bachelors degree in a different field. I used to hold nurses in high esteem. I dont anymore. The way I have been treated in,nursing school and on the job opened my eyes pretty big. I would highly recommend working as a CNA in either a,nursing home or hospital before commiting to full time nursing school. PS your caring heart will be ignored.

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