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 Oncology, Research.
Oh, I could so be a CSI!

:lol2:

It is always funny to hear about people that want to do forensics. The grass is always greener I guess. Forensics is also thankless and talk about less pay!

It is always funny to hear about people that want to do forensics. The grass is always greener I guess. Forensics is also thankless and talk about less pay!
But think of who you'd get to work with!

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Specializes in acute care.

I love this show...I always imagine myself being on a team of CSIs

I've said it many times, give me adequate staffing, the supplies to do my job, support in doing that job and I'm a happy camper.

.....I'm a new grad and I agree w/ this 100%!

My job on a med/surg floor is a bloody nightmare and I hate it, not because I hate nursing in and of itself but because management thinks cutting aids and nurses every shift to fit their "new staffing grid" is just fine and patient satisfaction should stay the same , because gee golly we're a team don't cha know and teams get the job done.

.......Are you kidding me there is only so much work one person can do in 8 hours!

This is my day....STRESS-CHOAS-STRESS-CHOAS-STRESS... all day long and that equals= a crazy woman! Yep, I feel like I'm going nuts at work and for awhile when I get home until the "choas" has detoxed out of me! Some people like alot of choas around them....but I'm not one of them!

Specializes in Operating Room.

I posted before that I would become a nurse again. I'm posting now because I've been thinking about this topic recently. It seems to me that you have to really know yourself, and know yourself well, before pursuing this field. Any job where it impacts so much of your life and personality(Police, firefighters, nurses, really anyone in the public service professions). I think Emmanuel really hit it on the head with her post-the sad thing is so many nurses start off enthusiastic and end up hating nursing because they get no support. I like the steady pay, don't get me wrong, but sometimes a "Good job" comment from your boss can lift you up. I'm fortunate to have a supervisor who tells you when she thinks you've gone above and beyond. I think feeling respected goes a long way towards job satisfaction. (Pay attention, nurse managers and administrators!)

Also, I'm one of those Generation X nurses:lol2:...supposedly, we feel little loyalty towards employers. I'm loyal, but I'm not a doormat. I have no problem leaving someplace I've worked for years if the environment becomes toxic or I get a better opportunity elsewhere..

above quote is why i thought she was unhappy, and I don't disagree with what you are saying. I also have been in nursing long enough to nurses just sit around c/o to other nurses, that is not going to help the situation. Nurses need to become more proactive, but that is another topic.

Yeah, they need to form a nationwide associaton, union, whatever you want to call it.

How much power nurses would have and how much change could occur if only that would happen.

Nurses could close the hospitals down. If every nurse in the nation were to strike and refuse to work for even 24 hours.

What power nurses could have.

If only.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Psych..
Yeah, they need to form a nationwide associaton, union, whatever you want to call it.

How much power nurses would have and how much change could occur if only that would happen.

Nurses could close the hospitals down. If every nurse in the nation were to strike and refuse to work for even 24 hours.

What power nurses could have.

If only.

I am from Alberta, Canada. When I worked there we had only one union, its called UNA. It was actually great to have one union. When UNA went to strike, they had to close down most of the hospitals in the province and also I think they had to re-locate some of the seriously ill patients to the hospitals in the nearest province like BC.

Here in the USA I think we should do the same. If we all belong to one union no hospital management will be able to break the laws.

All you guys saying no... what what you rather have been instead? Most other professions are also having problems nowadays (law, medicine, engineering, IT, any social science and high level teaching job, etc)

I'm not a nurse yet, but I just want to say that I really think that what had been mentioned about a national nurses union would be a beautiful idea... though I guess it would have to be voluntary. =\

I am a newly registered nurse in my country but i'm still reviewing for other exams. During my duties as a student nurse i saw that nursing is a very difficult job. But I felt that I really want to be a nurse even though it i difficult. The job is exciting and fulfilling.

1. Yes

2. It's up to you...

This is really depressing because I too have an MPH and working in the health insurance industry for years and swore I would not go back after staying home with my kids. Now I am enrolled to start a BSN program in the fall because I wanted something with versatility and where I could really impact people's lives. Don't burst my bubble yet!

Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, neuro,research.

in a word, yes.

i used to think that i would have done it alot sooner but had i gone right to nursing school out of high school i would not have had my terrible accident, not have a brain injury, not have looked out my hospital windows on the rehab floor(which had bars), and though, "if i could just walk outside in the sunshine, i would be truly happy." i certainly would have gone to nursing school before i met my violent exhusband, right? it is not that easy. all those experiences make me the nurse i am and the person i am so i cannot say that. i can say however, with certainty, that i am glad i am here now and there is nothing i would rather be or do. if i ever start to think,"oh no, i have to go to work tomorrow," then it is time to find another unit, department,hospital. how many people can say that? oh, i have a masters too-in education. it makes me well rounded. and it will do the same for you. post secondary education makes people see the world in broader terms.

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