is nursing fun for you?

lala_rn09 · May 7, 2010

it can be so stressful and frustrating sometimes :uhoh3: .. but its those 5 min (sometimes less) conversations i get with my patients.. and the laughs and heartfelt talks and moments you can have with them and their families :redpinkhe... it doesnt always happen, but when it does it gives me an incredible feeling and reminds me why i love being a nurse :0) those times can be so fun, and they over power the hard times! :nurse: enjoy, im a new grad RN and its tough but just remember its such a blessing to be involved the way we are!

RNperdiem, RN · May 7, 2010

In some ways, being a new nurse is like being a new parent.

After a honeymoon period, there is a letdown where morale sags. I have been in that low morale period, and luckily it is temporary.

Be kind to yourself.

Take care of yourself outside work, and I hope you feel better soon.

brownbook · May 7, 2010

How long have you been working in your position? It is VERY hard, no denying. Take care of your mental and physical health. Check out other job possibilities. It may not happen soon but there are many different kind of jobs and places to work. You might find a better fit somewhere else. Don't give up.

Kim, HHRN · May 7, 2010

I know what you are talking about. I HATED my position in the beginning and I was SO hard on myself. It took me FOREVER and then some just to pass meds. I don't think anyone was as slow as I was in the beginning, seriously.

I'm a recent grad and this is my first week going solo, my speed has increase 10 fold, literally, and I LOVE it because I feel I am in control of taking care of my patients. Now I look at it like, I don't have to go to work....I get to go to work. I love visiting, serving, and caring for my patients. I didn't feel that way to begin with, though. The thought of taking care of 5 patients all on my own was just way too overwhelming to even fathom.

Just a couple of questions to ask yourself......

Are you expecting too much out of yourself to begin with? Take one day at a time and you will be going full speed before you know it. Don't compare yourself to anyone else. We all learn at our own speed. It doesn't mean we don't measure up if we are slower, we just process things differently.

Is the facility where you are working expecting too much from their nurses? If so, maybe you need to move somewhere where they don't expect you to be running a marathon. If the patient load is too heavy, it would make it hard for even the most seasoned nurse to work at some facilities.

Just some ideas.....hope it helps, and good luck! Hang in there, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

ItsTheDude · May 8, 2010

nursing is a job, how many people think their job is fun? there's a reason they pay you and it isn't to have fun, it's to do a job.

i say this, b/c too many newbie nurses seem to think they have to have fun being a nurse or something is wrong with them and they become disillusioned with nursing.

with that said, nursing does have it's enjoyable moments.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 8, 2010

nursing is a job, how many people think their job is fun? there's a reason they pay you and it isn't to have fun, it's to do a job.
i say this, b/c too many newbie nurses seem to think they have to have fun being a nurse or something is wrong with them and they become disillusioned with nursing.
with that said, nursing does have it's enjoyable moments.

I have had many jobs that maybe the work wasn't exciting or anything, but I had a lot of fun at work and had great co workers and so because of that I enjoyed going to work. Shoot the funnest job I had was when I was a teen and worked at McDonalds. lol

To the OP, maybe it's time to find another area of nursing, maybe where you are at right now isn't giving you that oomph you are needing. You don't have to love your job but you should be somewhere you aren't coming home hating it all the time either. Have you thought about going for your RN so you have more flexibility.

llg, PhD, RN · May 8, 2010

nursing is a job, how many people think their job is fun? there's a reason they pay you and it isn't to have fun, it's to do a job.
i say this, b/c too many newbie nurses seem to think they have to have fun being a nurse or something is wrong with them and they become disillusioned with nursing.
with that said, nursing does have it's enjoyable moments.

I agree. If it were really fun, we would do it for free.

However ... I do believe we can find fulfillment in work and we can work to create a happy work environment. That takes time and effort. It doesn't come automatically with the territory.

mustlovepoodles, RN · May 8, 2010

nursing is a job, how many people think their job is fun? there's a reason they pay you and it isn't to have fun, it's to do a job.
i say this, b/c too many newbie nurses seem to think they have to have fun being a nurse or something is wrong with them and they become disillusioned with nursing.
with that said, nursing does have it's enjoyable moments.

I totally agree. I don't think I've ever heard a coal miner comment on how much fun their job is. Its a JOB. I mean, it's great if its fun, but I daresay about 90% of employed Americans would not classify their jobs as FUN. Work is work. Work allows you to make enough money so you can have fun. Fun is what you have when you're NOT at work. :coollook:

That said, yes, some days I have fun. I"m a school nurse in a little elementary school. My days are slow and predictable, usually. There's some down time. I love talking with the kids--they really do say the darndest things! But mostly I'm there to do the job of keeping everyone safe and healthy for 6hrs a day. When I want to have some real fun I take my camper up to the lake for the weekend.

november17, ASN, RN · May 8, 2010

My favorite part of nursing is the donuts and coffee cake we get during those inservices / staff meetings.

makes needs known · May 8, 2010

You get treats at inservices?!!!! Wow that's great.

LethaChristina · May 8, 2010

Oh, my dear! Don't try to evaluate how you like nursing until you have some experience under your belt... and feel competent at what you are doing... it really makes a very big difference in own's attitutude! Being a rank beginner is simply one of the most anxiety-provoking things about nursing--when lives/well-being of other humans is at stake (the reason there is so much need to "vent" on this website... it is serious business!) We, who make "vents" or "rants" or whatever do need to use a little caution for those who are still being "formed"... we don't want to give entirely the wrong impression or discourage our colleagues. When you "vent" you might also label it as that... I do the same thing--but not so much anymore in writing--more over-the-phone to my most trusted friends (I have learned the hard way about informal displays of emotion--believe me, they can be dangerous to our well-being!) Also notable are the huge numbers of posts all over the internet in the same vein... people right now feel very vulnerable and helpless about so much! I'm just not so sure after experiences of last summer if pure "venting" in such a public manner is helpful to anyone... especially the amount of disparaging of one another we do. Someone may think this website "anonymous", but believe me, no computer is "anonymous": unless it is unplugged and on the shelf. 'nuff said!