Is it really that bad?

[mslinzyann]

I've seen a lot of people on this website who really don't seem to enjoy nursing. I think nursing is a lot of work, in terms of both education and actual workload, and I'm beginning to worry that maybe I don't want to do this anymore.

I was planning on becoming an RN and then after a few years going into a Pediatric NP program or doing Nurse Midwife. I really only want to work in Pediatric nursing, but I was really excited about this career path and working in a job that is so intensely focused on helping people. The thing is, so many people on this site say they don't have time to eat or even use the bathroom during their shifts- that is ridiculous. I personally need to eat regularly to keep my blood sugar up or I get dizzy and sick to my stomach- sometimes I even pass out. I realize that patient care is our top priority, and I expect to work my ass off, but quite frankly, I expect to be able to pee if I need to and eat lunch. I am also concerned about the hours, as I am just not interested in working the night shift if it can be avoided, and not for a long time. I don't want to seem like a snob, but I need a job where I can break to eat and work regular hours, because I have problems with regulating my sleep and...I'm starting to wonder if this is the career for me.

Any advice would be appreciated. :)

[EmerNurse, BSN, RN]

Regarding venting... remember it's very very easy to say "wow great shift!" to your coworkers, your boss, anyone who's at the nurses' station.

But we really CAN'T get the tough times off of our chest at the nurses' station. That really isn't the place to vent - not if we want to have a prevailing decent attitude at work. Places like Allnurses give us a venue for getting all those "down side" emotions out in a safe environment with others who understand and who've been there.

So don't be surprised that you may hear more of the bad on these boards, than the good. No one minds when you vent the good at work - venting the rough times is another story.

You can pretty much bet if we all truly HATED nursing, we wouldn't be doing it. Since we are, you can also bet that we love nursing, just sometimes hate the situations into which we fall.

[BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Don't let our "venting" run you off,..if you really want to be a nurse, if you really do enjoy caring for people,..you will adjust,....if you want something bad enough don't you usually find a way to make it work?? We like to voice our frustrations here because we know we have a captive audience that can feel our pain,....just putting this stuff into words is enough to make many of us feel better,....itis very rare that I can't take a lunch if I really want one,...I pee when I need to pee,...sometimes I may get busy and "forget" how bad I need to pee for quite some time but I've never wet my scrubs!!!! Hang in there,..you have a huge amount of options in Nursing,...if you want it,..you'll find what fits for you!

Best of Luck!

[RN mom of 2]

I think any career path you choose will have it's pros and cons. I do think generally speaking, nursing is one of those careers (like teaching) that is undervalued and unappreciated in our world. I was one of those people who wanted to become a nurse for all the right reasons. I wanted to help people and nurture them back to recovery. I never thought about the paycheck, because for me it felt like a calling.

During school I realized how much responsibility a nurse has, and the compensation didn't seem worth it to me. I also realized there is little time to really get to know your patients and therefore, little time for nurturing. This was very upsetting to me. There were a couple of times I felt like quiting, but I kept it up, and now I'm glad I did. If I had known what it was going to be like before I started, I may have chosen another path. I really think you need to experience it for yourself to see if it's right for you. As some others have mentioned, it is a very diverse field, and you can always try different departments until you find your niche. Many nurses absolutely love what they do, because they have found the right path.

The great thing about nursing is you can pick up and move someplace and find a job easily. Also, if you have a family, or want to start one you can work per diem and still have time for your family. It is a very flexible career to have. I think you should try and follow your own heart as much as possible. It's great to see what other people think and learn from their experiences, but your situation is unique to you and your life.

Best of luck on your career path. :)

[TazziRN, RN]

I work in the ER, over 18 years. I work 12-hour shifts. It is not uncommon to work with no meal breaks and taking a bathroom break only when the dam in in danger of bursting, but that is what I choose to do. No matter how busy it gets, I could insist on a break. After all, the house supe relieves in ICU, OB, and Med Surg for breaks, so if I insisted on it, she would have to relieve me too. We have one nurse who is breastfeeding and one who will deliver soon and is planning on breastfeeding. No matter what's going on, I make sure my teammate has the time to pump. I would never work for a facility that insists I can't take my break if I really need one.