Would you become a nurse today if you could do it over again?

Nurses General Nursing

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Two career-advice questions (at end of this message)... Candid answers would be very welcome.

BACKGROUND: I am a first-year nursing student in an RN ADN program. I have a master's degree in public health and some years of work experience under my belt. I am doing well in my courses and don't find the book stuff terribly difficult, and find the things I'm learning really, really useful.

But... I am worried about the things I am hearing, from various sources (different Web site forums, published articles, the news, ex-nurses, etc.) about the real world of nursing - the horrible staffing levels, the frequent disrespect, the excessive charting, hospitals being advertised similar to hotels but really so understaffed that truly adequate patient care is impossible. In short, it's dawning on me that the nursing shortage is an ominous sign that few people, no matter how well-intentioned, want to be a nurse or continue to be one anymore, and for good reason.

So, my two questions:

1) If you had to do it over again, would you become a nurse, given today's nursing working conditions?

2) Would you recommend I just get a job using my MPH and prior work experience and not become an RN?

Specializes in Med-Surg, ED.

1. Yes yes yes!

2. Do what you feel your heart is telling you to do.

1) No, I wouldn't be a nurse again.

2) Yes, you should use your MPH.

NO! I would claim a street corner. Better benefits, protected by pimp (not so by hosp admins). Probably not as much exposure to as many diseases on a standing street corner.

:rotfl: I with you!

Specializes in CT ,ICU,CCU,Tele,ED,Hospice.

1) honestly yes i would .nursing came naturally to me and still does.the only other profession i thought of was a pediatrician but i decided it was n't worth the schooling work loans etc .i have mostly enjoyed nursing over the last 21 yrs but i have had good bad and ugly days .days i have said what are you doing and why?.but i think all jobs can be like that .i honestly can't think of anything else i'd rather do .i admit i am not as gungho now about it as i once was .i am no longer that "green" .i 'd be happier if i could just take care of my pts and have the staff and equipment to do it minus the politics of it .this career has certainly taken its tole on me physically with both back and neck injuries.but i'll still do it as long as i physically can .i am proud to be a nurse .

2)as for you only you really know if you want to be a nurse .i would think with your background you have seen what nurses do .nursing is stable and has lots of options ,can pay well. there are good places to work .you have to find your niche and what makes you happy .i moved around and changed jobs as i needed to to gain experience more money need for different place etc .

takecare

I'm totally disheartend by the responses so far. I've been out of school almost 6 months, orienting in the ER the entire time, and I LOVE IT.

I go to work never knowing what will come in the door. Every single day I go to work with the possiblity that I just might save someone's life today.

Granted, there is a world of nonsense to deal with most days. Somedays I'm tired, some days I just want the day to freaking end. It would be the same with ANY job.

Everytime someone thanks me for making them feel better though, I remember why I love doing what I do.

If I ever get as bitter as some of the previous posters, I'm leaving. Being a nurse is something you have to want, it isn't a job you can do and be angry about doing it every day. Just my opinion, of course, but I guarantee I'm not alone in feeling this way.

Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.

1. Yes, I love nursing, its hard at times but very rewarding for me. I teach patients how to understand their bodies and what is going on. I help patients make major health decisions. I might have chosen nursing earlier and would have gotten my masters degree. I finished nursing school with an associate degree when I was 35. The unit I work on has lots of new nurses, there is an overwhelming number of new nurses everywhere. Not everyone is going to make it or like it or even stay but there are lots of them.

2. I don't think you personally would have the same direct impact on patient education in public health that you would have as a bedside nurse and if you advance your career in research etc. But I may not fully understand what options you have with a public health degree.

Specializes in CMSRN.

1) yes, i am still new and love what i do. (med-surg) i do not like the charting but the nursing aspect i love.

2) yes, i would recommend nursing to anyone who seems interested but i would discourage it if it was for the wrong reason.

i too will probably come to a point where my job brings me down. but i promised myself that i would not continue if i no longer wanted to. i would like to go back to school and get a real estate license.

life is short and in recent years i have taken on the attitude that happiness means more to me than anything and i try not to allow anything to stress me out. (key word: try)

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

1. I would not do it again, knowing what I know, now.

2. I would probably think hard at it.

Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

Yes I would do it all over again. I am kind of surprised by the extreme negative posts. There are some many different areas of nursing to go into. Yes Med-surg is difficult and patients/families can be very demanding and PIA. SO for those that hate it so much transfer to a different unit, there are many nursing opportunities out there.

If you want to go in to Nursing then I think you should and not listen to the nay sayers. I think some of the posters are the same people that just complain about stuff but don't do anything constructive about. OK please no flaming it is what it is.

If I were suddenly 18 now, possessing all the knowledge of nursing I've gleaned over the years and trying to decide what to do with my life, no. Never.

But if I were to travel back in time, living under the same circumstances, I'd probably be forced to make the same decision. As a single mom with no support, this was the best route to take to ensure I could support myself and my kids. Yeah, money and relative job security were the major reasons I entered this field. But it has beat me down, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Management and teaching and the like hold no interest for me, so I will continue to work the bedside until I simply can't take it anymore.

And for those who are aghast at the thought of me becoming a nurse for the money--- until my grocery store and mortgage company accept pollyanna altruism in payment, I can pretty guarantee I will continue to work for the money.

Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.
If I were suddenly 18 now, possessing all the knowledge of nursing I've gleaned over the years and trying to decide what to do with my life, no. Never.

But if I were to travel back in time, living under the same circumstances, I'd probably be forced to make the same decision. As a single mom with no support, this was the best route to take to ensure I could support myself and my kids. Yeah, money and relative job security were the major reasons I entered this field. But it has beat me down, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Management and teaching and the like hold no interest for me, so I will continue to work the bedside until I simply can't take it anymore.

And for those who are aghast at the thought of me becoming a nurse for the money--- until my grocery store and mortgage company accept pollyanna altruism in payment, I can pretty guarantee I will continue to work for the money.

unfortantely that is why you are unhappy being a nurse. Management and education aren't the only choses out there. Also other types of floors, every floor is different. Good Luck

Specializes in mostly in the basement.

Well, sure, I suppose it IS possible that the "naysayers" are all just a big bunch of babies. I guess it's conceivable that nursing just HAPPENS to have an inordinate amount of people who have the same complaints r/t ratios, pay and acuity issues. I guess there are a number of schools that list as a pre-req: be a big whiner but not be interested in doing anything about it. Sure, it COULD happen.

Personally, I think any nurse who is lucky enough to have a good situation ought to revel in their good fortune rather than assume that their situation is by any means, the norm, and realize the world isn't about just them and their own experience. Peruse this site, if necessary.

BTW

1)No

2) Maybe. Only after a lot of shadowing. There are lots of options out there.

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