Scared Pre-Nursing Student: Is Nursing as Bad as I Hear?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello to all the nurses out there ---

I am a pre-nursing student (BSN) and I am very excited about the prospect of nursing. So far, I have a 4.0 GPA (in my pre-req's) and I have decided that women's health will be my focus. I am a feminist and an avid supporter of women's rights in healthcare. I would also like to educate young women (preferably minorities and low-income families) about sexual health and ultimately be a PP, L&D or a LAc RN. Discovering this dream has given me NEW LIFE and restored my passion for healthcare. However, after visiting allnurses.com, I am becoming a little worried. It seems like no nurses love their job. All I read about are arrogant doctors, backstabbing co-workers, high-exposure rates, mean and violent patients, abuse, staff bullying, harrassment, burnout, dissatisfaction, anxiety, sleeplessness and regret for ever entering the nursing profession at all.

Over the past 5 years as a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, I have worked with nurses, psychologists, PH.d's, MD's, counselors, and psychiatry professors in the clinic, graduate school, ICU and general hospital setting. Over all, I have found all of them to be informative, nurturing and easy to work with (although usually absent-minded for one reason or another). I have never disliked any of the physicians I have assisted and they all give me good references and encouragement moving forward. I am very shocked... and honestly, a little terrified by some of the things I read here. I want to be a nurse educator and assist the less fortunate (teen-girls, single moms, orphaned babies etc.) but it gets quite confusing when there are people who act as though $25.00-$50.00/hr. salaries aren't enough to compensate for the "hell" they deal with on the day to day.

I would like to go far with my RN, incorporating my personal talents for writing, teaching and speaking. Articles, seminars... I am ready for the challenge. I want to bring "me" to nursing, not just work a 9am-5pm. I don't know if any of these nurses who complain have goals to go along side their RN or if they are just bedside nurses who are in it more for the money. There are so many facets of nursing (legal, hospital, teaching, psychiatric, executive, administrative, school, traveling etc.). There must be some where they can find a decent position. As far as the internet is concerned, nursing seems to get a very, very, very, very bad rap!

Is the bad rap legitimate? Would you recommend nursing? What's good about nursing? Is nursing the right profession for someone with my goal sets? And, for a new grad, would you recommend the clinic or hospital environment?

Thank you,

Ivy Bee. :heartbeat

Specializes in LTC.

Personally i believe that nursing is the worlds most rewarding career. Nursing is a lot like life itself. It is challenging, and at times very sad and difficult. But then in an instant, it is beautiful again. a lot of people would describe it as being a "roller coaster", i don't like roller coasters so i call nursing an "adventure." I doubt you will regret nursing, you seem to be in it for all the right reasons. :)

Personally i believe that nursing is the worlds most rewarding career. Nursing is a lot like life itself. It is challenging, and at times very sad and difficult. But then in an instant, it is beautiful again. a lot of people would describe it as being a "roller coaster", i don't like roller coasters so i call nursing an "adventure." I doubt you will regret nursing, you seem to be in it for all the right reasons. :)

Thank you so much. I appreciate the encouragement. I need it. Sometimes the, "I hate nursing" stuff I read/hear really rattles me.

Specializes in LTC.

Nursing is fun, and it has its ups and downs just like eeeeeverything else. The thing that happens to nurses is that they spend so much time caring for others that they forget to nurture themselves. Remember to separate work from home, but always be a nurse at heart. Always stand up for yourself, know when to say 'no', etc. see its just like life? :)

"Scared Pre-Nursing Student: Is Nursing as Bad as I Hear?"

Yes.

Specializes in cardiology/oncology/MICU.

Nothing in my life has been as rewarding as nursing. I spent several years working jobs that meant nothing. Beyond the obvious benefits( pay, portability, security, etc), few things are as great as saving a life or even helping someone do something that they cannot do for themselves :)

Nothing in my life has been as rewarding as nursing. I spent several years working jobs that meant nothing. Beyond the obvious benefits( pay, portability, security, etc), few things are as great as saving a life or even helping someone do something that they cannot do for themselves :)

Wow... ok. That is very encouraging. So far, working in the corporate office environment (not medical office, but general office) is unfulfilling for me on many levels. Everybody is a "robot". Nobody has or even wants to have a feeling about anything. Nobody is interested in helping anybody do anything. Nobody is willing to stand up for anything. It's all about, "me me me". It's disgusting. I really believe that alot of these "Oh, I hate my job" nurses are hospital nurses. I can imagine that would be stressful. Why not just gain the year or two of experience and move on? I don't get that.

I wonder if a lot of these nurses are ADN nurses with limited options. Why not just move on?

Ivy Bee :heartbeat

Specializes in LTC, Med-Surg, IMCU/Tele, HH/CM.

I admit that I might be one of the people who sometimes says "I hate my job" but I would never trade being a nurse for anything.

I am an RN in a hospital. I have an associate degree. Like you I have goals, but life has given me lemons and so it's just taking more time then planned to reach those goals. Does having an ADN vs a BSN make me un-educated or mean I don't have goals? No.

Nurses tend to come to this website to vent emotions they can't express elsewhere. Who else understands what you go through as a nurse? One day, no matter what field of nursing you end up in, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Good luck on your journey.

Specializes in cardiology/oncology/MICU.

Well I think those ae good questions, and probably you are right. I am a hospital nurse and I dont feel that way :) I worked on the floor for a year and a half and now have been working in MICU since then. I love it. I have encountered those bitter old crows everywhere especially when I was a CNA and floated. They have been burned out for years, but bright new happy nurses can change the perception of the old battle axe stereotype! Thats where you come in!

Well I think those ae good questions, and probably you are right. I am a hospital nurse and I dont feel that way :) I worked on the floor for a year and a half and now have been working in MICU since then. I love it. I have encountered those bitter old crows everywhere especially when I was a CNA and floated. They have been burned out for years, but bright new happy nurses can change the perception of the old battle axe stereotype! Thats where you come in!

LOL @ 'bitter old crows'. LOL! I encountered one of those as well when I was working in Admissions Services. The hospital actually moved this woman from her actual floor to a cubicle (she was an administrative nurse) in the very BACK of Admissions Services because she was too "difficult and impossible" on her own floor (so said her NM). This was the solution to her stank attitude which, if this didn't work, she would be immediately fired (so I heard).

I had gotten my hair done, and I must say, I looked "marvelous". (LOL) My hair had really grown out and I was getting a lot of compliments from the ladies at work, not "the battle-axe" though. Well, after a week I washed, shampooed and put my hair in an up-do. Well, Ms. "Battle-Axe" came right up to my desk, (I was 24, she was about 45) and said to me, "I guess we can't keep our hair done every week can we?" LOL! I cackled right along with her and said, "No, obviously, WE can't!" (as this ladies hair ALWAYS looked um... strange) LOL! She stopped laughing and gave me the stiffest look, and she walked away from my desk! LOL! I'll never forget that lady! What a witch! LOL! 2 weeks later she was fired! Some people are just nasty for no reason.

Ivy Bee :heartbeat

I know all about "lemons". Were it not for those, maybe I would have a graduation date at 22 years old instead of 32 years old. Life is what happens while we are making plans I guess. :~)

Specializes in cardiology/oncology/MICU.

Well I will say that as a man in nursing, aka murse, I do not have to put up with the territorial catty nature of women no offense:) It is tough but just keep a positive outlook and you will get through whatever comes your way

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