does anyone regret becoming a nurse?

Otessa, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2008

Hello everyone, hope you are all doing ok and thank you brian for you wonderful website. I am a senoir in high school and will be going to nursing school after i graduate:nurse:. My question is, does anyone regret becoming a nurse? If so, why do you regret this decision.

I only regret being an RN since I became a mom. It was great being single and then newly married working every 3rd weekend and holiday and 3 12 hour shifts per week including nights. With kids this is a nightmare for childcare when husband travels out of town including weekends and holidays.

Switched to a non-bedside nursing position after over 13 years of being a nurse. No nights, weekends, or holidays anymore. Much more appropriate for my family.:redbeathe

Theresa

hcmanp, NP · Mar 1, 2008

My only regret is not doing it sooner - this was a second career for me.

You will never want for a job, and nursing has literally hundreds of options, not just working in the hospitals. (Cherry Ames, you rock!)

robinbird · Mar 1, 2008

I work on a cardiac stepdown unit. There are times when I cry because I'm getting a new patient at shift change, am treating a patient with chest pain, and another with uncontrolled a-fib, all at the same time. There are times when I can feel my blood pressure is through the roof when I'm pushing meds during a code as I watch the respiratory therapist intubate a new patient we should never have gotten in the first place (should have gone to the ICU). There are times I see the same patient over and over (frequent flyer) because he refused to follow his fluid restrictions and diet...

But then there is the patient whose life you saved because you recognized the signs that she was going into pumonary edema and you shut off her IV fluids ordered by a gung-ho resident and got an order for lasix. And a few hours later she is breathing easier, her HR is normal and she is smiling...And, the patient with a new diagosis of a potetnially lethal heart arrythmia who you've taught about his condition and his medication. When his 3 year old son visited you put the pulse ox on his finger because you want to make him feel better about his dad being in the hospital. And, after he's discharged you happen to see the Dad and little boy at Walmart and the boy runs up and hugs your leg...

Then you know that this is the career you were meant for. A career where you have to occasionally wade through the c*** to get to the good stuff. Where every once in a while you really do make a difference...No, I don't regret becoming a nurse. Good luck to you.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2008

On a bad night, yes. On a good night, definitely not!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 1, 2008

Well said, robinbird!

I don't regret for a single minute becoming a nurse. I've questioned my sanity on more than one occasion, but never have I seriously thought "Gee, I shoulda gone to law school".

Yes, even knowing what I know now, I'd still choose to be a nurse.

mscsrjhm · Mar 1, 2008

I frequently regret it, and discouraged my daughters from a nursing career. However, if getting into nursing, select a specialty.

There are many good places to work, but they are becoming few and far between, so that specialty will serve you well. Once you find a good work environment, think twice before leaving. $$ may be good, but the grass is not always greener. Remember, if it looks too good to be true.....(you will find that alot in nursing). If administration could, they would strap a vacuum cleaner to our kester as we run down the hall to save $ on housekeeping.

The money is good, and you will always have a job.

Good luck.

Susan9608 · Mar 1, 2008

I regret it almost daily. But I still do it. I don't know if that makes me crazy or a glutton for punishment or if I secretly enjoy it more than I think I do, or some combination of the 3.

emsboss · Mar 1, 2008

Very simple answer, CC999,...HE!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ERbunny · Mar 1, 2008

At least once a shift..LOL....After 40 years, I had better like it or I would have been nuts to stay with it........The reasons of course are altruistic, mostly..You will never worry if your work has value. Job security is of course a big plus, too. We have weathered some tough times when friends in other fields, with "cushy" jobs and great benefits were laid off. The flexible hours of working nights meant that I never missed a child's activity at school, or a field trip, something that losing a little sleep was well worth. If I wasn't a nurse, my husband would not have gone into respiratory therapy, and that job got us around the world travel. But mostly the rewards are intangible and sometimes unexpected. Just an example. A few nights ago I had a pt whose dog had bitten a chunk out of her upper lip. She deals with the public in her job and was terrified of what her appearance would be. The plastic surgeon did a great job on her, and it was terrific to be able to show her in the mirror how she looked, and be able to tell her it would be even better with time. I got a nice hug out of that , and it made dealing with some of the drunks and sourpusses a lot easier..Best wishes in your career.

dreamingofbeing · Mar 1, 2008

Honestly, I do regret it. I wish I would have known what it was truly like before spending all my time and money on nursing school. When I figured out it wasn't what I truly wanted to do it was to late as I was about to graduate and I have a small child so more money and more school was out of the question. I will eventually go back to school to persue my true dream but until my children are older I will continue to do my job and take the good with the bad.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2008

My only regret was not going to nursing school right after high school. No I chose to get married and have lots of babies, then go to nursing school. Anyways..I am encouraging my children to go into nursing, even my sons.

I love the flexibility in scheduling, the impact I have on others lives. The pay is good, and I am first hand witness to miracles every day. The pride I feel in doing a good job, and the constant learning. No two days are ever the same. My list is endless.

I love being a nurse.

Congrats on pursuing such a noble profession.

FYI, finish school before you have babies...