does every rn out there hate their job? sonography/x-ray tech instead?

frenchtoastwaffles, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2015

I agree with someone else that said maybe your facility is just not a good experience. I know plenty of nurse grads that LOVE their jobs, no matter how over worked they sometimes feel. One of the perks of nursing is that your job is portable, you can work in different fields. It's flexible. Hate your job at an SNF? Maybe try your hand in hospice, mental health, travel nursing, maybe try the admin end or case management, discharge planning, school nurse, subacute or stepdown, change units, further your education and find a spot in a hospital. Hate the unit you land on? Transfer!

It sounds like you're just surrounded by unhappy people! If this is your dream, don't let the misery of those around you dictate your life choices. Make your dreams work for you.

Bailando · Jun 8, 2015

I agree with someone else that said maybe your facility is just not a good experience. I know plenty of nurse grads that LOVE their jobs, no matter how over worked they sometimes feel. One of the perks of nursing is that your job is portable, you can work in different fields. It's flexible. Hate your job at an SNF? Maybe try your hand in hospice, mental health, travel nursing, maybe try the admin end or case management, discharge planning, school nurse, subacute or stepdown, change units, further your education and find a spot in a hospital. Hate the unit you land on? Transfer!
It sounds like you're just surrounded by unhappy people! If this is your dream, don't let the misery of those around you dictate your life choices. Make your dreams work for you.

Since reading everyone's replies it does seem I work with super unhappy people. Those esp. Are the nurses.. I can't leave this job at least until 6 months or more because I need experience. That is what sucks about it. Yes, I love that you can work doing a lot of things now just stuck in one place. This is my dream and since working at this LTC. I have been questioning it, but because of the negative people. I think I am just going to continue to try for my rn. I am on the wait list and pray this is what's meant for me. I have always dreamt of being an rn. Thanks for your reply and Advice.

frenchtoastwaffles, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2015

Since reading everyone's replies it does seem I work with super unhappy people. Those esp. Are the nurses.. I can't leave this job at least until 6 months or more because I need experience. That is what sucks about it. Yes, I love that you can work doing a lot of things now just stuck in one place. This is my dream and since working at this LTC. I have been questioning it, but because of the negative people. I think I am just going to continue to try for my rn. I am on the wait list and pray this is what's meant for me. I have always dreamt of being an rn. Thanks for your reply and Advice.

If it's what you want, stick it out. It's a rewarding and flexible career and if hands on care isn't your bag, you could go on to become a nurse educator too! I'm sorry to hear that your job isn't the best, but LTC isn't what nursing across the board looks like. Stick out the job that you're in and we'll all hope that you make it into a program so you can learn first hand what YOU like. Who knows- maybe YOU will actually ENJOY working as a nurse in LTC!

Bailando · Jun 8, 2015

If it's what you want, stick it out. It's a rewarding and flexible career and if hands on care isn't your bag, you could go on to become a nurse educator too! I'm sorry to hear that your job isn't the best, but LTC isn't what nursing across the board looks like. Stick out the job that you're in and we'll all hope that you make it into a program so you can learn first hand what YOU like. Who knows- maybe YOU will actually ENJOY working as a nurse in LTC!

Yeah I'm learning LTC as a cna isn't great. You're right maybe one day as an Rn it will be. Thanks I am just Waiting to get in for now whenever I am called. I def do want to learn what I enjoy because I haven't had a chance to explore areas as a cna only in LTC and the unhappy people there. Thank you! I do love the patients. It's everything and everyone else that seems to be the trouble. Thanks for your reply

NEradtech · Jun 8, 2015

I'm a rad tech, starting an ADN program this August. I would highly discourage you from starting a rad tech or ultrasound program. I made the mistake of not doing enough research about the job market for rad techs. It is very very saturated. There's way too many schools pumping out grads. Where I am in Virginia, within an hour drive from both north and south, there are 5 rad tech programs! And hospitals do not need a lot of rad techs and ultrasound techs. They only need a handful to operate the medical imaging dept.

a good way to judge the market is to do a simple job search. Type in rad tech or ultrasound jobs and your area. I guaranteed that there will only be a handful of listings and they will require experience or dual trained in catscan or MRI. If you do this for nursing, chances are there will be more than double/triple the postings.

and yes, rad tech or ultrasound is less stressful than nursing.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

Bailando · Jun 8, 2015

I'm a rad tech, starting an ADN program this August. I would highly discourage you from starting a rad tech or ultrasound program. I made the mistake of not doing enough research about the job market for rad techs. It is very very saturated. There's way too many schools pumping out grads. Where I am in Virginia, within an hour drive from both north and south, there are 5 rad tech programs! And hospitals do not need a lot of rad techs and ultrasound techs. They only need a handful to operate the medical imaging dept.
a good way to judge the market is to do a simple job search. Type in rad tech or ultrasound jobs and your area. I guaranteed that there will only be a handful of listings and they will require experience or dual trained in catscan or MRI. If you do this for nursing, chances are there will be more than double/triple the postings.
and yes, rad tech or ultrasound is less stressful than nursing.
Let me know if you have any more questions!

How long did you work as a rad tech? Are you switching because you can't get a job? I keep hearing mixed things about the job market. Thanks for your advice. There def aren't many openings for sonography or rad tech that I've seen either. I just liked that it was less stressful and you work one on one. I don't want to struggle to find a job though. I just hope I can make it through the program whenever I get in and pass the nlcex. The rate of people passing nursing school isn't great so that is frightening. Thanks for your advice and for replying.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jun 8, 2015

I don't ask for help, but I need some feedback badly from people. I have always wanted to be an RN my ENTIRE life. I am a newer cna at a LTC facility. I HATE it! I love working with the patients for the most part, but everything else is sooo tiring and frustrating. It is the same thing other people complain about wayyyy understaffed and crappy crappy pay for the work.No one is ever happy and families become too much when they chew my butt for something that is not in my control, like the food. I am always super nice, patient and kind to everyone regardless of how I am treated. I have met many, many RN's and they all say they HATE HATE their job. I haven't found one nurse yet who says they love their job. They also say that nursing school doesn't teach you what is needed in the real world and they forgot basically everything they learned. Do places train you once you're an RN or are you supposed to remember everything from nursing school? I have been so confused and stressed to the max because I am on a waitlist for the RN program and now I am regretting and questioning my path. I want to stay in the medical field for sure. I don't handle stress well and I have anxiety all the time. Yes, I have tried meds and all nothing works. I was looking in to medical diagnostic sonography or x-ray tech. I worry though because with the sonography I read physics is involved and math already isn't my best subject. I FEEL a sonographer would be a great job or x-ray tech, but I need feedback. Are they as stressful and hard as being an RN would be?? I AM SOOOOOOOOO LOST. I have been so upset, crying and stressed because I feel so lost. I don't know who to talk to. I just need feedback from people who know what this is like or anyone who knows or is an rn, sonographer or x-ray tech. PLEASE PLEASE someone help!!!! Please keep rude comments to yourself I already have enough to deal with.

You've asked a number of different questions here, and the way you're asking may be perceived as rude by some. Rudeness is in the eye of the beholder. You say you're ALWAYS "super nice, patient and kind", but that's not what's coming across in your post. And the "please keep rude comments to yourself" is somewhat offputting. But I'll try to help.

First, I don't hate my job. I've had a couple of jobs that I really hated, but over all, I've enjoyed the last forty years as a bedside nurse. Staffing . . . it can be plush or it can be awful. You just do the best you can. I don't know anyone in any job who doesn't complain about poor staffing. Nursing is no different.

People are more likely to come on AN to complain than they are to brag about their great jobs or careers.

Nursing school is just the beginning of your nursing education. If you're not learning through you're entire career, you're not doing it right. Textbook learning is also just the start -- there's clinical as well. If book learning isn't your thing, nursing may not be your thing. Over the past forty years there have been a lot of changes in theory and practice. I've had to keep up. You will have to as well. If you're good with that, nursing is a wonderful, interesting and challenging career. You'll never be bored. (If you are, you're not doing it right.)

When you start your first nursing job, there is so much to learn about being a nurse that wasn't taught in nursing school. So no, nursing didn't teach everything you need to know. That would be impossible.

I don't remember anything that I learned about OB, psych or peds nursing -- I've been in oncology, hematology, CCU, MICU and SICU. So you will have to learn about your specialty. And if you change specialties, you'll be hitting the books again to learn about your new specialty.

Anxiety and stress go hand in hand with the first few years of nursing. If you don't handle them well, now is the time to learn to handle them. Or perhaps nursing isn't for you.

My sister-in-law is a mammographer -- she loves her job. She became an X-ray tech because it required less education than nursing. However, she has to keep up with changes in her field as well, so learning is constant.

Bailando · Jun 8, 2015

You've asked a number of different questions here, and the way you're asking may be perceived as rude by some. Rudeness is in the eye of the beholder. You say you're ALWAYS "super nice, patient and kind", but that's not what's coming across in your post. And the "please keep rude comments to yourself" is somewhat offputting. But I'll try to help.
First, I don't hate my job. I've had a couple of jobs that I really hated, but over all, I've enjoyed the last forty years as a bedside nurse. Staffing . . . it can be plush or it can be awful. You just do the best you can. I don't know anyone in any job who doesn't complain about poor staffing. Nursing is no different.
People are more likely to come on AN to complain than they are to brag about their great jobs or careers.
Nursing school is just the beginning of your nursing education. If you're not learning through you're entire career, you're not doing it right. Textbook learning is also just the start -- there's clinical as well. If book learning isn't your thing, nursing may not be your thing. Over the past forty years there have been a lot of changes in theory and practice. I've had to keep up. You will have to as well. If you're good with that, nursing is a wonderful, interesting and challenging career. You'll never be bored. (If you are, you're not doing it right.)
When you start your first nursing job, there is so much to learn about being a nurse that wasn't taught in nursing school. So no, nursing didn't teach everything you need to know. That would be impossible.
I don't remember anything that I learned about OB, psych or peds nursing -- I've been in oncology, hematology, CCU, MICU and SICU. So you will have to learn about your specialty. And if you change specialties, you'll be hitting the books again to learn about your new specialty.
Anxiety and stress go hand in hand with the first few years of nursing. If you don't handle them well, now is the time to learn to handle them. Or perhaps nursing isn't for you.
My sister-in-law is a mammographer -- she loves her job. She became an X-ray tech because it required less education than nursing. However, she has to keep up with changes in her field as well, so learning is constant.

I don't see how I was being rude? I simply asked a question if all rns hate their job. I wasn't accusing, simply asking. I wanted feedback on people's experience etc. I don't know how it is coming across to you, but yes I am always nice. That is just the type of person that I am in the workplace. Idk how by me writing my post as I did that it didn't come across that way? I am extremely nice to esp. my patients. As I mentioned previously I have been reading lots of forums on this site and people just seem to comment stupid and unnecessary comments. This is supposed to be a place where people can help one another etc not the other way around. People come on here to look for advice such as I did. There seem to be a lot of "trolls" as they are called on here. I came here to get advice and guidance. I wanted to hear peoples stories and such. If you are put off by the way I presented myself well that is on you. People like to be rude just because they can on here and that was all I was saying. I am already dealing with enough and didn't want some idiot stating stupid crap like I have read sooo many times on the forum. I was never trying to offend anyone or come off as being rude.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jun 8, 2015

I don't see how I was being rude? I simply asked a question if all rns hate their job. I wasn't accusing, simply asking. I wanted feedback on people's experience etc. I don't know how it is coming across to you, but yes I am always nice. That is just the type of person that I am in the workplace. Idk how by me writing my post as I did that it didn't come across that way? I am extremely nice to esp. my patients. As I mentioned previously I have been reading lots of forums on this site and people just seem to comment stupid and unnecessary comments. This is supposed to be a place where people can help one another etc not the other way around. People come on here to look for advice such as I did. There seem to be a lot of "trolls" as they are called on here. I came here to get advice and guidance. I wanted to hear peoples stories and such. If you are put off by the way I presented myself well that is on you. People like to be rude just because they can on here and that was all I was saying. I am already dealing with enough and didn't want some idiot stating stupid crap like I have read sooo many times on the forum. I was never trying to offend anyone or come off as being rude.

I took the type to type out responses to your many questions and to reassure you that not every nurse hates their job. And this is all you respond to?

Bailando · Jun 8, 2015

I took the type to type out responses to your many questions and to reassure you that not every nurse hates their job. And this is all you respond to?

I was annoyed, but I thought I said I appreciate your response I thought I said it. I didn't I read so thanks for replying and answering some questions.

NursesRmofun, ASN, RN · Jun 8, 2015

OP, I think that there are a lot of nurses that don't like their job or hate it, but there are a lot of nurses that love their job too. Also, there is a difference between loving your job but hating certain aspects of it. I love my job but hate that I have to work with people that are in it for the wrong reasons....or that some Admins. or DON's don't care enough to even try to fix the real problems. But, then again, I see both sides. The DON's may care but may be steered into thinking more about other things rather than actually improving care because that would be *expensive...meaning more workers to lighten the patient loads, more expensive supplies or equipment, etc.

browneyes3000 · Jun 8, 2015

Not all RNs hate their job. Nursing field has a wide range of career opportunities IF you have at least 1-2 years of acute care experience. I have a love/hate relationship with my job.

On a good day:

All patients are happy. Medications are available. I am able to chart in a timely manner. I have time to sit down to listen to the patients and be a wonderful caring nurse. It made my day when the patient's family member said "oh you are his nurse today? I can go home to get some rest now because I know he is in good hands." or "I hope I have you as my nurse again before I get discharged".

I remember walking into a patient's room and I could not breathe because it smelled so bad. The patient was incontinent, but he was clean. I just could not understand why his room smelled so bad. I did not want to go into his room, but then I thought to myself "I just came in the room for a short period of time and I could not stand it, what about the poor patient who has to stay in this room all day?".

I took out all of his dirty linens, all of the trash, and used bleach wipes to clean his room up. I was there when he needed me the most.

The patient and I had one of the most meaningful conversations in my life. He was not going to make it, and he was totally aware of his health problems. I did not know he was a doctor until the end of shift. I will never forget his watery eyes from tearing when I said good bye. Taking care of him reminds me of why I want to become a nurse. It is an amazing experience that only nurses would understand.

You will always learn something new and every day is different as a nurse.

On a bad day:

No tech. Answer phone and call lights all day. Medications are not available and you have to call pharmacy 10 times to get it. Tube station is down and you have to take everything to the lab by yourself. All of your patients need your attention at the same time. The patients are 3 times bigger than you and they are incontinent. You are trying your best to clean the patient up while the patient is cursing you. No matter how hard you try, it is never enough. All patients deserve equal attention and care from the nurse, but sometimes it is impossible when there is a significant change in a patient's condition or health status. You will spend a lot of time taking care of the unstable patient while "ignoring" your other stable patients. You are not allowed to say you are busy and you are not allowed to say "H*LL NO" when patient or patient's family members ask for "ice, coke, food voucher for visitors, ice cream, salt/pepper, coffee, a fan, etc." (Note: You have been working all day without eating, drinking, or using the restroom.) You will be so good at multitasking.

The list goes on. The RN is the key communication between patients, doctors, PT, social workers, kitchen staff, and others. All team members are equally important. Sometimes I feel frustrated with the situation, but never at the person.

In conclusion, I wish you the best of luck in your career choice. People can give you their opinions, but only you know what career suits your personality.