For experienced nurses, can you honestly encourage anyone to enter nursing?

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  1. For experienced nurses, can you honestly encourage anyone to enter nursing?

    • 67
      no
    • 77
      yes
    • 13
      undecided

157 members have participated

For experienced nurses, can you honestly and with 100% conviction encourage someone to become a nurse?

I said "No," but it is a qualified no. I would not encourage or try to talk someone into nursing, but if that is the choice they have made I will support them.

My youngest daughter went into nursing by her own choice and I supported her decision as best I could, but would never have urged her to choose nursing. She loves what she does, but I see the discouragement and frustration she feels with the politics and problems.

After almost 30 years, sometimes I only see the problems and no easy solutions, but then a parent will express such gratitude for the little bit of teaching I have done to help them care for a sick child and I know that is what I love about nursing--helping other people!

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Although my experience is limited (3 years), I'm going to share my little story. Out of high school, I was a line cook, and then a restaurant manager. Talked to a friend who was going to nursing school, thought I'd give it a shot. I never had a calling for nursing. Halfway through school, I knew I would not be at the bedside, and most likely not be nursing within 5 to 8 years.

My first job was on a busy Tele unit, worked there for a year. I thought the people who worked must be crazy for staying there (although there is still a high turnover rate). Next, I worked in a per diem situation, floating to different floors, including rehab. I have a great deal of respect for the folks who work there, as it is not my place. During this time, I took computer programming courses, only to find out that programming bores me to death.

Next job, CCU=) I love critical care. From there, CVICU=)=) Still working in CVICU now. I love fresh hearts, even the really sick fresh hearts on what we call "jet fuel" (many pressors/inotropes), IABP's and such. We see very few VADs however.

I don't mind my job now, but I won't stay there forever. One day, my wife and I will have kids, and this Daddy ain't gonna be working on the birthdays, or holidays, or missing the soccer games/scout meetings/PTA etc.

Nursing is just another job to me. However, I work hard at it to do the best job that I can, to deliver the best care that I can while I am doing it. But the 3.5% raise isn't going to cut it for me. The staffing cuts isn't going to cut it either. Neither is some rankled doc crucifying everyone around him when something goes wrong. Money, time, schedule and the fear of litigation (fear of losing your license and having no means of support) don't fly for me.

For now, I take advantage of my opportunities. I plan on doing the travel nurse thing, so that we can see the country, and make a little bit of cash while we do it. What other job can you work weekend nights and make a full time salary while you return to school full time!

But I would not advise anyone to enter nursing if they have motives such as I, and put their families and their selves ahead of their jobs.

Even when I am no longer a nurse, I will support legislation to make things better for nursing. I salute all of you who have found your calling, and make your patients lives better for it.

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I would recommend nursing to anyone expressing an interest, if I felt they really wanted to go in that direction. I do not like to hear " I became a nurse to make money..." A good nurse is someone who wants to be a nurse, who cares for and respects clients and will be an advocate for them. Even when they are telling you to get the hell out of their room..... lol

There are so many differnet fields of nursing these days I feel your bound to find a particular field you love. I will probably get slack for this but I don't think nurse wages are that bad, sure beats McDonalds. Working the holidays is probably the real draw back that might prevent me from recommnding someone go into nursing. I love it and wouldnt think of doing anything else. Vicki RN:D

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Specializes in medical/telemetry/IR.

Yes I would .

Its been good for me and my family.

Kids have never really been in day care. My schedule has been flexible. I've been able to work part-time.

If I was working a regular job I would never have met "Sugar Stick" or all the others.

Plus I don't have to wear panty hose and uncomfortable dress shoes to work. I don't have to sit in a cubical all day.

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Wild,

Thanks for the info. Nursing is a second career for me. When I went back to school I wanted to quarantee myself a job when I got out of school and then later change over to research.

Anyone have any good research job leads or hints for someone who lives in southern New Hampshire?

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For Victoreia-

I balked on Nursing 10-15 years ago because I felt I didn't have the "vocation" to clean up vomit and excrement. 15 years went by and I was still broke. When I went into school finally to persue nursing, I had ideals and the vocation surfaced on its own. Having started working as a Nurse, I realize that business is business unfortunately even for nurses, and my ideals are blown to hell daily -- so that "vocation" stuff, although still prevalent as a whisper in my caring ear, I still admit I did it for the money. And so far the money has been nice for having lived on pennies for so long. I am glad that there are forces demanding more for nurses because we deserve it.

Make a CEO clean up c-diff diarrhea and see how much money he/ she would expect. Six figures wouldn't cut it.

LOL

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I have been a nurse for 20 years and have had many times where I questioned my choice. I have been a hospital administrator, physician group administrator, nurse manager,clinical spec. etc. When all is said and done, is there any other profession that would have allowed me such variety and mobility. Glad to be one, but the pay stinks. John

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when encouraging others regarding the nursing profession i am honest and describe what the field has to offer. there are many opportunities available for nurses today besides bedside nursing. yes, there are many reasons for not going into nursing and i feel the other responses have identified these, but if they have the compassion and desire to help the sick while making an honest living then yes, i encourage them to follow through with their desire. but, i also encourage then to look ahead to other opportunities, especially if this is a young adult. i too am frustrated with the "system" but want to believe that together we can come full circle and make nursing the profession it should be. :p :p

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If the answer is no, we're all in trouble. The future of Nursing lies not only in our seasoned Nurses, but in our Nurses to be. We all know what the problems are and we're very good at airing our dirty laundry. We know that no matter how many resources and perks are provided, the Nursing shortage will continue until and unless the working conditions are improved. It's time now to take action and get involved. We all need to take an active role to find solutions and promote the Profession. In Solidarity!

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I have had many rewards & many disappointments in nursing, having worked in pediatrics, PICU, NIC & school age, Hospice & now as a contract Nsg for the military. The starting pay for an RN in my area is $14.00 hr & as a contract Nsg I make $18.00 hr. My problem is more of the care that is being provided to patients.We see patients in a 15 min slot & are to treat Patients who have HTN,diabetes,hyperlipidemia, ect, most with 7-9 diagnosis in 15 min, & starting next month our clinic is starting walk in no appointment needed & we are expected to see at least 6 an hour of these types of patients. We are expected to give up quality for quanity now. Being a Nsg I find this very difficult. Most of the nurses I work with are frustrated with this losing situtation. The other day I had a patient come in not feeling well, having not been seen in over a year with a glucose of 453, it is real hard to start some one on insulin & teach him how to check his blood & give insulin injections & for the doctor to see him in 15 min. I love my patients, even the difficult ones, but I feel any one wanting to become a nurse needs to see the real side of nursing. The insurances companies & the hospital administrators & the nurses that go that extra mile & those that don't. I'm still looking for that perfect nursing job & who am I to tell someone not to be a nurse.

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It's sad to say, but nursing isn't what it used to be like say 20 years ago when you could give the care, you could spend time with the pt. Now it's like we are almost forced to NOT give the care and we just don't have the time to spend with the pt and that is what frustrates most of us today. Too may regulations to adhere to, too much paper work to be done just to please the powers that be and we just can't please the pt. You have to worry about CYA way much more than you used to because it's practically demanded of you to do so. I NEVER feel satisfied like I used to when my day is done at work no matter how hard I try. My need to take care of the infirmed is not fullfilled anymore because I'm so busy fullfilling the needs of JCAHO! It's sickening. I still love my vets to death literally and in my heart I know that I could be doing so much more than filling out silly paperwork, but the SOB's won't let me. I hate when I have to cut someone off because I just don't have the time to talk and it breaks my heart to do so. To me this isn't what nursing is all about. Therefore, I would discourage anyone who wants to be a bedside nurse because they just won't get the satisfaction like we used to get out of our jobs. BUT, I would encourage them to go into other fields of nursing like teaching, community care, out patient clinics, there is so much more than bedside nursing. So I voted yes...

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Specializes in CV-ICU.

YES! I can encourage someone to enter nursing even in these days of nursing shortages. BUT (and here's the kicker) they have to WANT to do it. Nursing is no longer "one of the only 2 or 3 fields that women can enter" but rather a very dynamic, changing field that is ready to blast wide open into a full blown profession and we are the ones who can design it to be what it can and should be.

Find an area that you LOVE, and the rest will fall in place. I make an acceptable salary now ($60,000 working 3/4 time -after 33 years), but I do work hard and I do love what I do. I also am involved in my nursing organizations (MNA and AACN) and find this to be quite stimulating both personally and professionally; I am certified in my specialty (CV-ICU, I'm a CCRN); and I have a varied network of nursing colleagues and friends who keep me informed of what is happening outside my little corner of the profession. And, yes, I HAVE a life outside of nursing also. I have been involved in my kids lives and have even served as Pres. of the PTA, den mother for Scouts, volunteered in my church, and have even taken dance classes through the years (before I fell off a ladder cleaning gutters and ruined both knees). My hubby has MS, both kids are ADHD, and we had kids in day care for only 2 weeks because my schedule allowed me to work opposite my husband. Nursing has been good to me; but I've also CONTRIBUTED some of my talents to it and not just expected it to give to me all of the perks.

I think that makes all of the difference in the world. And it is necessary to spark that kind of interest and excitement in those that are interested in this field.

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