RN's are you happy with your career, why or why not?

[anjoku13]

I've seen so many posts about nurses hating their jobs, and this is kind of scaring me from the career, but I still want to go through with it. But are you happy with your choice to become an RN why or why not?

[silveryscrape]

It took me more than 5 years to learn to love nursing, because I felt so incompetent and stressed out. Now I dislike the barriers to good care that I push against every day: Staffing, bad planning and processes, leaders who don't remember what it's like to actually deliver the care. But I love what I do and I love my patients and their families, even the jerky ones, because they are who they are and the fun part for me is figuring out how to give them what they need even when they're struggling so hard against that. Mainly what kept me going for those first 5 years or so was the feeling that I was building a knowledge base, and quitting would invalidate all the hard times I went through. I do feel lucky to have made it to this point, though. The deck is so stacked against good nursing care, in so many ways. You have to learn to tolerate mistakes and bad outcomes *that could have been prevented* and that can be so, so hard.

[Rocketskates]

I work on a telemetry/med-surge unit. I've been working as a nurse for over 7 months, all in this setting, and I'm very happy. I just hate the fact that I have to return for my BSN and one of my professors is telling us that according to a recent IOM report, even a BSN won't be good enough someday. I already have a BA in Spanish, the BSN is essentially my third time through the college mill...why can't they just smash my BA and Associates in Nursing together and call it a day? The only courses in the BSN program I find as relevant to improving patient outcomes is Pharmacology and Pathophysiology which I am interested in taking without having to pursue a BSN.

[jena5111, ASN, RN]

Agree that the pressure to pursue "higher education" in nursing when one already has a bachelor's degree can feel ridiculous. Like...my documentation is on point because of the degrees I already have. My reasoning skills are on point because of the same.

I have a BA in English along with my associates in nursing. But I'm starting an RN-MSN bridge on 12/01 so I can open more doors for this second career I started three years ago. Agree that I would want to learn additional patho and pharm on my own without a specific degree plan.

[Accolay]

already have a BA in Spanish, the BSN is essentially my third time through the college mill...why can't they just smash my BA and Associates in Nursing together and call it a day?

Because one of these things is not like the other. Once you do the work for the BS you'll know. You'll know!!!

"Accolay's Deep Thoughts" or "Well, you asked."

To answer the OP- I've had a lot of jobs. Some of them were really crummy, some were ok, but none of them paid very well. I get paid the best as a nurse. :)

And here I'll generalize: I don't think a lot of the kids these days did any work before they started nursing. Like real work. Like horrible, day in and day out crappy low pay, soul-crushing working for the man work and did that job for as long as was required. The work hiring economy is different now- you're not looked down as much by a potential hirer for quitting a job as you were 15 years ago- there's more of an easy out now.They didn't have to learn to deal with stupid stuff "mind over matter" to get ahead.

There are many people these days who think that they are supposed to have things given to them. They graduated high school and college, so now they deserve to have the best job and the highest pay without having to start at the bottom and work their way up.

Those that enter nursing as a second career think they are going from that soul-crushing job to something more fulfilling, but somehow forget that they'll be cleaning up poop.

I've done those jobs and as it turns out, cleaning up poop isn't that bad for my hourly rate. I think a lot of the complainers haven't experienced the true wonder of working a full 40 hour week, looking at a paycheck and thinking "what the hell?" Too much Facebook warps a persons reality. The grass has always had a touch of brown.

And no, money isn't the end game, but once you get to a certain age, you may think differenty about the future and what you'd like to create for yourself. A nursing paycheck goes pretty far these days if you're smart with your funds. And you can go anywhere. And you can do many different jobs in the field. And your pay will usually increase. It's a true career, but many get bogged down with existential crises.

[Everline]

I am proud and happy to be a nurse. However, I questioned my career choice nearly every day of my first year of nursing. To say I was miserable was an understatement. But something kept me hanging on. And I can honestly say I am happy with my career now and where it may go in the future. That doesn't mean I love every aspect of my job. For instance, I dislike the severe understaffing that has existed at my job for the last few months. It has really stressed me out. But it's temporary and will soon be over. In general, I love my job and my co-workers. I'm in a specialty I love. And I finally feel like it was worth it to go through the hell of nursing school.

[zoidberg, BSN, RN]

I work hard, but not that hard, for very lucrative compensation. My wife is staying home with our toddlers and we pay the mortgage and still go to disney world every year. Yeah, i work some overtime, but i also only work 3 days a lot of weeks. I work at a great hospital where i have every opportunity to learn new skills and grow. I get raises just for showing up. And yes, sometimes i get a thank you for something like end of like care, getting an IV on that person who got stuck 10 times, treating the "druggie" like a human and not an annoyance, whatever it may be, that gives me a little perspective and emotional umph to keep going. So yes, nursing is a rewarding career that pays well, is flexible, and allows you to make a difference by showing your patients some kindness while showing them your nursing skills.

[Justlikeyou, BSN]

Becoming an RN is prob one of the best decisions I've made in life. Like any career, it has ups and downs.

What i love: Patient interaction (nothing like being able to establish a rapport within minutes of meeting a stranger), co-workers, it is challenging, 3 days a week which means I can travel quite often, you can change specialities, can relocate anywhere- there is a need and lots of opportunities!

What i don't love: Staffing issues- being short makes for a stressful shift and compromises patient safety, pay isn't all that great for all the responsibilities one has (at least in UT), difficult and rude patients- usually because they are in a vulnerable position and generally not a personal thing.

[Oldmahubbard]

I didn't mind nursing, but I had some very bad employers and some horrible coworkers. Eventually I realized that I had to get out, and I got my NP, which took 5 years part time.

That was the best thing I ever did. Completely different role, and so much more respect.

[City-Girl]

Love it most days!

[CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN]

The old saying "hate the sin, but love the sinner" kinda sums up my feelings about nursing. Love the career, hate what a bad job environment can do.

[Thought, BSN, RN]

My coworkers are great; we're like a family and help each other out. We don't let each other sink. My charge nurses and manager are absolutely fantastic and go out of their way to help everyone. As a nurse, I'm there for a patient during one of the scariest moments of his or her life. It's a huge responsibility having someone entrust his or her life in your hands that can be off-putting to some, but it's also rewarding. My patients and family members won't remember the operating room team, but we make a huge difference in people's lives.

The biggest issue for us is staffing. We might have 65 surgical cases on the board, but will never turn a surgeon's requests down to add on more cases...despite not having the staff for it. The operating room is full of strong personalities. Sometimes we work with new surgeons who don't know what they want (i.e. asking for everything plus the kitchen sink), so you're constantly running. Having multiple people in the room yelling for you to get them things can be draining. However, I can't imagine myself in a different area.

[River&MountainRN, ADN, RN]

I'm firmly in the middle. When I'm at my best and focused on mindfulness, I realize that any situation is what you make of it.

I make a great living for someone with only an Associate's degree. I'm able to afford a mortgage by myself in a safe, decent area in this region; I'm able to afford weekend getaways; and I'm able to afford my 2018 Subaru lease. In comparison, the local PD is hiring officers and requires that candidates have their Bachelor's degree...and they will face a lot more risk for the same as I'm making. It really puts things in perspective. At least I'm not getting shot at most days. Even ten years ago it was a different story for this area---most officers just had to worry about handling MVAs, traffic stops, etc, but now the disparity between the "haves" and the "have nots" and the addiction epidemics have taken over the area. There's a lot more risk and a lot more crime now.

I genuinely enjoy making a difference in people's lives, but hate the politics and disrespect that I've come across in nursing. However, I have to wonder whether this is just a regional thing. I hear others on this site talk about how wonderful their coworkers and bosses are across the county. Also, I didn't notice this much disdain for nurses (from supervisors to coworkers to patients) in the areas I did my clinicals or where I worked as a CNA. I'm finding that the entitlement, lack of respect for anyone else, and refusal to take responsibility for one's actions isn't isolated to the healthcare settings here, it's just part of this region...

...which leads me to another great thing about nursing: portability. I can take my nursing degree/credentials just about anywhere (with proper research ahead of time to make sure I won't be locked out due to my lack of BSN).

So, I'm not giving up on nursing just yet. I'll be moving to an area that has a lot more to offer all around, and nursing will be my key to getting there. So it can't all be bad!