Help? I regret this career choice?

foxlover · Feb 13, 2015

I understand OP, as this is my 3rd career. Please remember to "love what you do, until you can do what you love!" I have been in marketing, education, software, construction, and healthcare. What I CAN tell you is that there is a reason why we get paid to work (obviously.) If it were "fun," it would be called "play" and we would all do it for free (I'm sure you knew that....) I can tell you are educated.

While I am fortunate to finally be fulfilling MY dream of being a nurse, I understand that it's not everyone's dream. I was panicky about just starting SCHOOL, much less getting to the actual job. I found things to be much different than the "horror stories" that I heard from everyone else.

I will say that anxiety meds can help ease panic (from experience), but they can't change your desire to get out of nursing. In all of my careers, I learned that you don't get to start in the must "luxurious" of positions. You have to earn your way up. You have to put in your dues.

Having been in education, being a school nurse is something that may truly meet your needs. You can use your degree, get time off, and you will still make decent money (not what a hospital nurse makes, but...) If you prefer wearing suits, etc., I would suggest pharmaceutical sales. However, you have to deal with doctors that are short on time, waiting in doctor office lobbies, etc., and you don't really get to "help people," if that's what you still wanted to do.

Don't worry about the haters. They're gonna hate. I always pray for guidance and direction, and always find the right path. Praying the same happens for you.

Banaltracht · Feb 13, 2015

Week-ends and holidays isn't just restricted to nursing. It also includes doctors, PT, OT, respiratory, x-ray, dietary...etc etc. It also includes numerous other professions.

My daughter in law is a 911 dispatcher and works weekends and holidays. My daughter is a barn manager at an equestrian center. She too works week-ends and holidays as do cops, firefighters, bartenders, waitress's, gas station attendants, EMT's, sales clerks. At least we get holiday pay. My sister in law and step mother, both teachers, spend hours of unpaid time working on lesson plans, paper grading and extracurricular activities. No job is perfect.

And, although some of us probably take an almost perverse pride in surviving some of the hardships (and enjoy the bragging rights)...nursing is not a 'sucky' job. There are moments in nursing that are genuinely life changing.

You worked hard to get through nursing school and spent a lot of money to do it, so give the profession a fair shake. Find a job, set a date and commit to a year. (It's not a life sentence and anybody can do a year.) Go into it with an open mind, an open heart and as an opportunity to learn new skills. If, at the end of a year you know that nursing is not for you, you will at least have that year on your resume, a better understanding of health care related professions and some contacts.

Guest575949 · Feb 13, 2015

I quite reading the responses on the second page because everyone seemed to be validating your absolutely crappy perceptions of nursing which is BS. I work 3 days a week, unless I want overtime (which is usually available if you want extra money). that means I have 4 (FOUR!!!) days off a week. How in the world is that not enough personal time for anyone? granted, those 3 days you work will probably be 12 hour days that can be challenging sometimes, and on those work days you may not feel like doing a whole lot after you get off, but you still have the MAJORITY of the week to yourself. More than most jobs. So that's the first load of BS.
Holidays and weekends varies depending on where you work. I work every 3rd weekend, which really isn't bad, and every other holiday, which isn't bad either. So yeah, every other year you may have to work on christmas day or whatever but is it really the end of the world?
Furthermore, sure, there are some unhappy, miserable nurses out there, but I guarantee you that the nursing job is only a fraction of their problems and for every one miserable, whiny nurse there are two good ones who enjoy their job. They just don't go shouting about it on the internet. There are bad places to work, like any industry, and if you get stuck in one then just start looking for other places to go while doing your best at that one.
You're freaking out about totally subjective stuff that you have control over. Don't dismiss the field until you've actually worked in it. Everyone's experience is different, and the unhappy ones are the most vocal which is why you hear that more than the many awesome things there are about nursing.

All of this^^ I love Nursing thus far! I work day-shift in a hospital; We get every other major holiday off (Ie. if you work Christmas, you're off Thanksgiving); I CHOOSE to work the smaller ones (President's Day, MLK Day, etc) because it's extra pay, so why not? Lol. I work every third weekend.

I am, however, looking forward to becoming an NP and doing what I really love. But, I have no horror stories. Short-staffed days can be exhausting, but I've experienced no bullying, I learn a ton every shift, and physicians/surgeons/etc have been nothing but nice to me. I've never had to miss a lunch, and I make time to pee (I refuse to get bladder issues/infections from my career choice haha). It hasn't sacrificed or diminished my patient care in any way. The environment you work in will largely determine this along with your own personal style.

I know my experience doesn't represent everyone else's, but don't knock it before you try it, is all I'm saying. You will always hear about the negative more frequently than the positive, it's human nature. Were your clinical experiences that horrible?

Guest575949 · Feb 13, 2015

It sucks for EVERYBODY at first but that's probably true for most jobs. Working sucks for 99% of the world....

Not true. All of my jobs in life have been wonderfully awesome. I'm young, nursing is my second career, and it has been GREAT to me thus far. Working (especially) does not, nor does it have to, suck for "everybody" at first :cat: .

I cannot say enough how I have NO horror story. I am a new grad in the hospital setting. I worked nights at first but am on days now. My manager is lovely, most of my co-workers are fantastic, and my patients give me life

javadown2, BSN · Feb 13, 2015

Sounds like this person is "trolling" in my opinion. There are other avenues of work in Nursing. Clinics, nursing homes, outpatient surgical centers, opthmologists offices..etc. if your so negative your outlook won't improve, live is what you put into it...including being a nurse.

whitestripes · Feb 14, 2015

My guess is you didn't pay for your BSN yourself. If you had, you'd have more pride and more drive to follow through with your decision. The sad thing is you took the spot from someone who would probably give anything to get the chance to be a nurse. There are plenty of people out there fighting just to get into school!

jebrooks · Feb 14, 2015

Hi, I'm sorry you had to get so many rude responses mixed in with the positive responses to your dilemma. I too have graduated from nursing school, LPN for me though, and passed the NCLEX but I needed a job before I passed my boards and I am in human services. Although I have a typical M-F 8-4 ideal schedule, what I do and my inclination to support/help people and just the nature of my job working with people with disabilities in an open-ended time frame, as there is always more help that is required, I end up working many weekends, nights, and Holidays. I often have no time to take a lunch break or even use the bathroom. I do this to myself, as it is not a requirement, but my clients are throughout a large geographical area and I must travel. I find myself at times completely stressed out and short on time. Somehow though, I manage to be a calm, diligent worker with my clients. I think it is more about learning how to have good boundaries and taking control of when I need to do things despite wanting to please others, I have needs too... It is getting better. I guess I wanted to let you know that a typical 9-5 might not end up truly being those hours. I know the first year of nursing will inevitably be difficult, and if I end up going that route I expect it, but truthfully am hesitant. I know it has taken me a whole year to get comfortable in my current position and finally feel confident. You have a lot invested in your education and I am sure you will be able to use it in one way or another. Many positions simply require a Bachelors Degree with no field specifications. The computer technology industry is one that is in high demand and the entry level salaries are very decent in that field. There are also many nursing support roles in offices (I didn't read all the comments so you probably know this) and often times a person's education level is considered when negotiating salary. You may feel lost right now, but everything will come together and you will be well on your way to success even if you leave nursing behind. It is good that you have realized these things now and not after you have invested more into the career, and if you do end up trying nursing, good luck! It might not be anything like you imagined?!

DoeRN · Feb 14, 2015

I work 7:30-4:00 Monday-Friday and I actually miss having days off during the week. I totally don't miss floor nursing though. But do some research there are other options besides 12 hour shifts. I did home health for a while and though I did have to work some weekends it was every 3rd and I usually finished with my last patient around 2:00 so I had plenty of time to meet friends after work.

rnbabyzoo · Feb 14, 2015

I worked as an RN in a clinic for a couple of years it was 8-5 M-F all holidays off. I used all my nursing skills including starting IV and applying splints. I now work 5a-130p M-F all holidays off at a same day surgery. I love my job and work as an RN. I make hospital wages. Think about other alternatives before quitting

Guest707336 · Feb 17, 2015

The federal government has a lot of nursing positions that are Mon - Fri...7a-4p...a lot of regular work hours. Try the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, for example.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Feb 18, 2015

Yes, I've passed my NCLEX. If you read the paragraph you would have seen that I unfortunately came to this realization AFTER nursing school.

Okay, I was actually taking the time to read through all the posts before giving my advice as I have worked as a nurse for over 15 years and know darn well that there are more opportunities than just a hospital if you don't like the schedule but your replies to people who are honestly trying to help you are just plain rude so I won't even bother informing you of all the other things you can do with your degree and your license. Like a previous poster said, this field doesn't need to add another rotten apple to the batch. Please don't subject an innocent patient to your attitude as they are the ones who will suffer (and yes, most of the opportunities that I was going to tell you about usually want a year or two hands on experience). You are entering a career with preconceived notions of what nursing is about and the chip that you are caring around on your shoulder is clearly evident in this forum so I would find it hard for a prospective employer not to see it as well (as you haven't been able to secure a position yet. Either that or you are being to selective with your first opportunity). Even hospital positions are not every weekend or every hospital. The staff rotate and take turns. Most are 12 hour shifts but they also include 3-4 days off a week. As for a social life, sweetheart you must be young because once you are older you will realize that there are more things important in life than having every weekend and holiday off. One of the great things that I noticed about this field is that if I want I can work only weekends! For those nurses that have young children at home its one of the best fields out there because of the flexibility that a 9-5 M-F job does not offer. I didn't have to allow a daycare center or extended family member help raise my child as my husband worked M-F and I had the ability to work long hours on the weekend while he had much needed daddy daughter bonding. But like I said before, don't subject any patients to your attitude. As for subjecting other nurses, we will eat you alive coming into the field fresh out of school thinking you are better than us.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Feb 18, 2015

Why so?

Um, you can't figure that one out? Obviously your BSN didn't require an interpersonal communications class. Maybe you can take it as an elective when you pursue your next degree.