How come people portray nursing so negatively on here?

Published

Specializes in Case Manager.

It seems like a majority of the threads are about how BAD nursing is and not how good it is. I'm currently a student and chose nursing for the following reasons.

-Job security

-Well compensated (to me at least; I have never made over $8.50 an hour)

-Flexibility

-The fact that your job actually makes a difference.

I don't get how a job you have to get a degree for can be so negatively portrayed. It can't be THAT bad, can it?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

People come here to vent. When things are going well, they don't feel the need to express themselves so much. They are happy doing other activities. This board is free therapy for many.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-surge, hospice, LTC, tele, rehab.

Yes, unfortunately it is that bad. At least being a hospital nurse is that bad. There may be other nursing jobs outside the hospital that are better though. I've only ever worked in the hospital. I am looking for different jobs at the moment. I was like you when I was a nursing student...excited, hopeful, thought I could make a positive difference. I was disillusioned quickly though. It's something you won't understand until you are a nurse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with the aptly named NurseFrustrated. I got tired of staff nurses making comments about "the real world," as a student nurse. But I was doe-eyed, hopeful, enthusiastic and a perfectionist as a student. We had the time to be, and hopefully the instructors to back us up. No time for disillusionment just yet. The truth is, when you set for yourself a very high standard of care and have a good work ethic, finding that you're never able to meet your own standards is very very depressing to say the least. Not to mention the backstabbing and cruelty from management, co-workers, doctors, patients, family... etc..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case Manager.
People come here to vent. When things are going well, they don't feel the need to express themselves so much. They are happy doing other activities. This board is free therapy for many.

This is understandable... but it seems like people use therapy A LOT on here!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiology, Hematology,.

Nursing is a job and people love to complain about their jobs. nursing is hard im often tired i do not live the "swt life". However, I enjoy what I do, as soon as I get really upset with my job it seems like i have a husband call the unit to thank me or a letter from a family member to let me know how much they appreciated everything i did for their mother. it is what you make it people seem to get such an experiance from a mission trip or giving their time at the nursing home or church but as soon as you get paid for it people start complaining. Nurses that complain all the time most likely would complain about any job that they had. ive done yard work, taught tennis and golf, been a waiter, bar tended and its the same everywhere. heck my dads a successful surgeon and complains about his job. stick to it and have a good attitude and yes you can make a difference. its more so the lifestyle that i think they are upset with. they work, go out and drink, sleep around, dont get married, get a couple STDs along the way, maybe take some diet pills which trash their hormones because they dont have the self restraint to not eat Mackers (Micky Ds) and or get some sort of physical fitness in the day. Id be upset with my life/job also.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

I find many new grads or students come to whine & complain.

-They were looking for the "brass ring" and thought nursing was just

drinking coffee and giving shots.

-They thought everyone was going to get 50.00/hr to start.

-That there is a shortage of nurses and jobs would fall in their laps.

The reality:

That this is a JOB. You have to work really, really HARD to be good.

Nursing school isn't easy either.

There is a reason experienced nurses are paid more and you have to pay your dues.

Oh, I know I'm just scratching the surface here but they are just a glimpse of what I read from those trying to make it. Nothing worthwhile comes easy. They just wish it

was different...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

It's a LOT harder than it seems when you're a student. I still love what I do, but I really had no idea what I was getting myself into.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Nursing is a job and people love to complain about their jobs. nursing is hard im often tired i do not live the "swt life". However, I enjoy what I do, as soon as I get really upset with my job it seems like i have a husband call the unit to thank me or a letter from a family member to let me know how much they appreciated everything i did for their mother. it is what you make it people seem to get such an experiance from a mission trip or giving their time at the nursing home or church but as soon as you get paid for it people start complaining. Nurses that complain all the time most likely would complain about any job that they had. ive done yard work, taught tennis and golf, been a waiter, bar tended and its the same everywhere. heck my dads a successful surgeon and complains about his job. stick to it and have a good attitude and yes you can make a difference. its more so the lifestyle that i think they are upset with. they work, go out and drink, sleep around, dont get married, get a couple STDs along the way, maybe take some diet pills which trash their hormones because they dont have the self restraint to not eat Mackers (Micky Ds) and or get some sort of physical fitness in the day. Id be upset with my life/job also.

I'll start with the word "complain" and go from there - I won't say we don't gripe, but a lot of the posts I see are not necessarily complaints, they're stories from disheartened nurses who wanted to get along with their co-workers, do right by their patients, and having staffing that allows for the care they intended to give.

The assumption that the "complaining" nurses would complain about any job is just asinine. On the contrary, much of what is bothersome to many nurses is that we aren't given the opportunity to do as great of a job as we wanted to do. There are various reasons for this, but the point remains - it's not the hatred of hard work that gets many of us down. Sure, we all know nurses who would rather sit in the dictation room and read a magazine or file their fingernails than answer a call bell, but those aren't the nurses you're reading "complaints" from on here: these are hard working, caring individuals who want to help and do the right thing, and can't stand that the often fall short because of circumstances beyond their control.

And your assertion that these nurses are all trampy, slovenly Big Mac toting couch potatoes who drown their sorrows in Bacardi is just plain offensive (not to mention absurd!) I'm sure I needn't defend that statement, as others will follow suit.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in TELEMETRY.
It seems like a majority of the threads are about how BAD nursing is and not how good it is. I'm currently a student and chose nursing for the following reasons.

-Job security

-Well compensated (to me at least; I have never made over $8.50 an hour)

-Flexibility

-The fact that your job actually makes a difference.

I don't get how a job you have to get a degree for can be so negatively portrayed. It can't be THAT bad, can it?

Well lets just say that you really do work for your money..... most days! it is not ALL negative but a lot of it is

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-surge, hospice, LTC, tele, rehab.
Nursing is a job and people love to complain about their jobs. Nurses that complain all the time most likely would complain about any job that they had. ive done yard work, taught tennis and golf, been a waiter, bar tended and its the same everywhere. heck my dads a successful surgeon and complains about his job. stick to it and have a good attitude and yes you can make a difference. its more so the lifestyle that i think they are upset with. they work, go out and drink, sleep around, dont get married, get a couple STDs along the way, maybe take some diet pills which trash their hormones because they dont have the self restraint to not eat Mackers (Micky Ds) and or get some sort of physical fitness in the day. Id be upset with my life/job also.

No, actually that's not true. I HAVE had jobs in the past that I've liked. I don't complain about every job. Maybe you work in a good unit. If so, good for you. The unit I am currently on is terrible. I have stuck with it for a year. I have tried good attitudes. That doesn't work in a toxic environment. Yes I am looking for another job as we speak. And no, I can't just quit. I have bills to pay. I don't know what the rest of your post is implying. That people who have terrible nursing jobs sleep around? Eat McDonald's all day? Are you kidding? Did I misunderstand? :confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

funny... you sound exactly like me BEFORE i entered nursing school... you even have the same reasons including the feeling like our job makes a difference..

In my honest and humble opinion, it all depends where you end up working that either makes or breaks you. You can either really love your job or really hate it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion