if you hate nursing, what would you rather do instead?

dreamingofbeing · Apr 19, 2014

I really would love to do hotel/motel management and tourism. I have looked into the program and as much as I'd love to do it I really like getting a paycheck and not adding more debt to our lives. Maybe someday I can do what I love and not what I have to.

Dranger · Apr 19, 2014

I commissioned into the Army via ROTC and if I had to do it again I would have commissioned as a combat arms or aviation officer instead of nursing. There is a small window in your life when you can do those kind of jobs and it is closing for me. If I stayed in healthcare I would (plan to) go PA for sure. MD/DO is just too big of a pay cut for 8-10 years.

Cop would be interesting too but they do with similar crap we have to deal with....

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 19, 2014

I'm a nursing student here, but one of the things I like about nursing is that it CAN give you that time outside of work to explore your hobbies. I have every intention to pursue a writing career and travel the world. With nursing, it can be done easily.

martymoose, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2014

I'm a nursing student here, but one of the things I like about nursing is that it CAN give you that time outside of work to explore your hobbies. I have every intention to pursue a writing career and travel the world. With nursing, it can be done easily.

Sounds ambitious, but the reality will be that you will have NO CONTROL over your schedule, work all 3 shifts in same week,be denied vacation requests depite having plenty of time available to use. Being so exhausted from the work that you spend your time off recovering from shifts from you - know where, etc.

I suppose if you were a traveler and were able to bank your money to not work for a few weeks, that might work.

Racer15, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2014

I miss being a vet tech. I loved it but the pay was awful. I don't hate being a nurse and like the ER most days but the short staffing and heavy patient loads are taking a toll.

Racer15, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2014

Not so easily. Vacations are routinely denied in my department due to staffing. I spend one of my three days a week off (yeah, I have been regularly working 4 12's every week due to staffing) sleeping because I am so exhausted. I also rarely get lunch breaks anymore and regularly have to stay over. Add keeping my house clean, running errands...I don't have energy for much else. And I'm in my 20's for crying out loud.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 20, 2014

Sounds ambitious, but the reality will be that you will have NO CONTROL over your schedule, work all 3 shifts in same week,be denied vacation requests depite having plenty of time available to use. Being so exhausted from the work that you spend your time off recovering from shifts from you - know where, etc.
I suppose if you were a traveler and were able to bank your money to not work for a few weeks, that might work.

Again, there are a lot of options in nursing. One does not have to work full-time; a person could work PRN and have more flexibility in terms of scheduling. A person could volunteer to work abroad in poorer countries (I've seen nurses who do work full-time at my hospital do this) for a bit, or work as a travel nurse.

From my personal experience, I know plenty of nurses who do work full-time AND have plenty of time (after four free days), to start their own side businesses, pick up a second job, etc. Imagine what one could do working part-time or PRN (if he or she can afford it of course). I know a nursing couples who will work crazy hours for a short time and spend weeks mountain climbing, etc.

I don't think nurses truly realize just how blessed they are to have four days free per week. Having to work five days a week, however, leaves little to no room for much else.

edmia, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2014

Great question! I don't hate nursing, I hate documentation and the often encountered hostile working environments in nursing. The low pay and disrespect.

Ideally, I would rewind the clock and go to med school like I planned 20+ years ago. I would specialize in emergency medicine. Sidetracked completely due to immaturity and life stuff.

Now, I just hate to work for someone else and have them dictate my time. I need a paycheck but am actively pursuing per diem type work.

The lottery win would be amazing. I would become a perpetual student as soon as I returned from my year-long trip around the world.

TU RN, DNP, CRNA · Apr 20, 2014

Again, there are a lot of options in nursing. One does not have to work full-time; a person could work PRN and have more flexibility in terms of scheduling. A person could volunteer to work abroad in poorer countries (I've seen nurses who do work full-time at my hospital do this) for a bit, or work as a travel nurse.
From my personal experience, I know plenty of nurses who do work full-time AND have plenty of time (after four free days), to start their own side businesses, pick up a second job, etc. Imagine what one could do working part-time or PRN (if he or she can afford it of course). I know a nursing couples who will work crazy hours for a short time and spend weeks mountain climbing, etc.
I don't think nurses truly realize just how blessed they are to have four days free per week. Having to work five days a week, however, leaves little to no room for much else.

Your expectations of the "free time" of most nurses are too high. Sorry to say it but you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Sure, if you work part-time or PRN (working 1 or 2 12-hour shifts a week), this may be possible - but full time? Nah. Not for a new grad at least.

What happens when you (as a new grad) are hired on night shift 1900-0730 and you're not scheduled three in a row? Is that middle day going to be spent pursuing your interests or small business at 2300 through the rest of the night? Or say you are scheduled 3 days in a row, so you have a nice break in between. Any nurse will tell you they aren't springing to action on that 4th day.

I don't mean to be nasty, just reintroducing reality to a nursing fantasy that isn't too dissimilar from my own not long ago. "Expectation is the root of all heartache."

martymoose, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2014

Again, there are a lot of options in nursing. One does not have to work full-time; a person could work PRN and have more flexibility in terms of scheduling. A person could volunteer to work abroad in poorer countries (I've seen nurses who do work full-time at my hospital do this) for a bit, or work as a travel nurse.

Most of us who work full time do so because we HAVE to. Insurance, putting food on the table for the family, roof over head, taxes, utility bills, car payments, car insurance.

Maybe it's regional. Where I work, you don't have much choice in your hours. They always say" you can request, but nothing is guaranteed" One coworker had to eat her airline tickets due to not getting all her vacation time( was approved for a week, but had to work a day right smack in the middle of it)

I've noticed you have very little choice if FT, but if you are PD, you are only guaranteed 2 days ( which are w/e days) per month. Great if you have a spouse that works, no insurance /mtg to pay for. Great for mad money. I think I'd not hate the job so much if I could only work 2 days!!

So, you are lucky if you don't HAVE to work full time..........

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Apr 21, 2014

I don't hate nursing, but I have a creative side as well - songwriting. I am in the best state to do it - California. Or traveling. I always figure if i get my nursing, i can travel to the less fortunate...I enjoy meeting new patients and being a patient advocate. Everything else, I can do without.

0.adamantite · Apr 21, 2014

I don't hate nursing, but I'd love to do something creative as a career if I was set for money. Like quilt or sculpt, jewerly making, or do arts and crafts. I would also love to be a professional organizer!