Does anyone ever regret going into the nursing profession?

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2003

I regret going into nursing, only because of the working conditions and nurse to pt ratios. I guess it would be more accurate to say I regret the current state of nursing.

I have been reading "What Color is Your Prachute" and "Career Alternatives for Nurses". I applied at two veterinary clinics for vet tech jobs, but got no response.

LTC and med/surg have really worn me down.

I am starting in a new area of nursing tomorrow, chronic dialysis. I'm hoping it will be a refreshing change. If not, I'm going back to school to change my career. I still want to be involved in the medical field though, but in some other capacity.

sphinx, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2003

Despite some rough times, I don't regret it. I really can't think of anything else I want to do. Of course, right now I am doing a job which is not very "nursey". A nurse doesn't have to hold this position but it helps, as we can take MD verbal orders, and talk to pt's who call in, before we page their nurse, or just send someone right out. But I do a lot of paperwork stuff. My first week, I thought, "I went to nursing school, and I am marvelled over the fact that our copier staples things together!", haha!!!! I also still get paid a nurses wages, so no complaints there. I don't want to lose any skills though, so I imagine once I get over my stress of field work, I might go out on the occasiona visit, just so I stay "well oiled", hehe!

Teshiee · Feb 2, 2003

Honestly, I don't regret it I really wish the conditions were better. The good thing about nursing it is vast and there is a lot to do. You have to find a niche and work with it. I found having 10pts is not going to happen for me so I chose an area where the patient ratio is far less. You may find yourself doing different aspects of nursing before you change careers. :-)

Darlene K. · Feb 2, 2003

No regrets!

Stargazer · Feb 2, 2003

Not at all. It's what I always wanted to do, and it's given me many opportunities that I don't think any other single profession could've. Many of those opportunities have been non-hospital positions, away from bedside nursing. It sounds to me like you're getting burned out with your specific job or institution or even field, but the great thing about nursing is that there are almost countless other fields, jobs, settings in which you can work. Like Teshiee, I'd urge you to explore the multitude of other options out there before giving up on nursing altogether.

K O'Malley · Feb 2, 2003

It was the right choice for me at the time, as there just weren't many opportunities for women in the working world in the late 1960's. If I were an intellegent young person today however I honestly think I would go into another field. The knowledge and skills required of nurses should require a much greater degree of respect and better pay scales instead of the ridiculous top out that is so common in nursing. My husband has never topped out on his job and his salary has soared way past mine.

JNJ · Feb 2, 2003

Thanks for asking, Navynurse. I echo the responses already received. Thirty years and still working by choice. A few regrets, but mainly about staying too long in bad situations.

But K O'Malley has an extra point - I started in nursing at 23 because there were few options having left school at 16 in the UK and looking for something that would give me career pathways and keep me reasonably well if I did not marry! (Excuse that, it was the thinking in the 60/70s).

I still say that I have got more out of nursing than I ever put in (and I put in 100% most days.) I've changed my nursing situation every few years, either the country of practice, the type of practice or the employer. That has helped me thru the bad times. I went back to school during that thirty years several times, the last in 87-92 for a Masters (and an uncompleted Ph.D). That helped too, but if I had my time over, I'd get that education earlier and put it to better use.

Twice I taught for a few years which added perspective. I'd have traveled even more than I did do - nursing is one of the few occupations that travel well. I always kept a broad practice base so I could get a job easily. In retrospect I think I'd have preferred to be more specialized/cutting edge technology.

And I'd have got a serious business degree and worked out a method so that patients could not be sick on holidays or weekends - or at least so the MDs would not do elective surgery on these days.

I'm happier now than I've ever been at work, but I'm independent again, choosing my clients and hours. Thru it all I have not met many people with as many marvelous days/down in the pit days/or options as I have always had. In summary, no regrets about nursing.

Hope this helps you think about where you are.

ziggyRn · Feb 3, 2003

JJ. I sent you a PM :)

LaurieCRNP2002, MSN, RN, APRN · Feb 3, 2003

Navynurse

I do not regret my career choice. I recently completed my master's and am trying to get an NP position. Back when I started my program, my thought going into it was that I enjoyed nursing enough to stay in it but didn't want to be a bedside nurse the rest of my life (patient acuity was worsening, along with workloads). So I enrolled in an NP program and am looking forward to starting this new phase of my career :) As others have said, nursing offers so many opportunities, so if you are truly unhappy with what you are doing, hopefully you can find your niche somewhere. Good luck to you :)

Laurie

Newly minted MSN

sjoe · Feb 3, 2003

Yep. If I knew then what I know now, I would have simply purchased a few selected nursing textbooks and read them, to learn what I wanted to know.

There is a forum called "would you recommend nursing as a career" where additional thoughts on this matter are offered.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Feb 3, 2003

I've regretted a couple of the jobs I've had as a nurse, but NEVER have I been sorry I went into nursing. There are other things I enjoy doing that dovetail nicely with it, and these in turn enhance my nursing career. Of course, I had to get totally burned out and then kicked to the curb to realize this, but hey.....it's all good.