How do you feel about being a nurse?

Skippingtowork · Mar 15, 2017

I def recommend moving out of the us. NZ, Australia, U.K. Are all very similar for nursing. You are respected and have authority, 8 hour shifts, breaks, 4-5 patients max.
Plus in NZ or Aus you don't have to worry about terrorist attacks or people shoting or any of that horrible stuff that happens in the us. Much safer here. Oh and people don't tip here, that is the craziest system I've ever heard of. Don't get why I should pay someone for doing there job. That's what an employer is for.
No desire to go to America seems like ***** up place and so much drama.

Many nurses prefer 3 12 hour shifts to 5 8 hours shifts. You can take a mini vacation every week. Also, what are you talking about tipping? Nurses don't get tipped here. It is against the law Are you referring to restaurants? Did you say there were no terrorist attacks in the UK? We're busy over here, but we we get the news 24/7. As for your last comment, I think maybe you should have deleted that before clicking "post comment." Having grown up outside the U.S. I think that nurses here have extraordinary opportunites to advance in their profession. Yes, beuaracracy and politics get in the way, but still they excell. That's just the American way!

malamud69, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2017

Pretty darn good! ðŸ‘

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2017

It's a love-hate thing.

Proud-embarrassed.

Should have won the lottery instead or become an MD or other high earner with more prestige,but Nursing has kept food on the table and a roof over our heads.

Family (parents, GP's) very proud of me.

I've had some horrible coworkers, some great ones. Some jobs I've loved, others I didn't care for so much.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2017

I def recommend moving out of the us. NZ, Australia, U.K. Are all very similar for nursing. You are respected and have authority, 8 hour shifts, breaks, 4-5 patients max.
Plus in NZ or Aus you don't have to worry about terrorist attacks or people shoting or any of that horrible stuff that happens in the us. Much safer here. Oh and people don't tip here, that is the craziest system I've ever heard of. Don't get why I should pay someone for doing there job. That's what an employer is for.
No desire to go to America seems like ******** up place and so much drama.

It was America who saved your kingdom during WW2.

Thank God almighty that you haven't had any terrorist attacks yet. May you never.

Tips? Nurses are not allowed to take tips. I agree with you about tips. Employers should pay workers enough that patrons wouldn't have to tip. But nurses don't get tips.

While we have our problems, America is a beautiful place with lots of wonderful sights and activities

and plenty of good people. We'd love for you to come meet us and learn about us and our wonderful

country, just as many of us want to visit the UK, NZ, Australia, and Canada.

EDNURSE20, BSN · Mar 16, 2017

Yeah I meant in restaurants. Just another way for employers to take advantage of workers.

no I meant no terrorist attacks in NZ. Such a safe place to live. I never have to worry about being shot or sued or anything like that.

And in nz there is amazing job progression. We are a small country with a dr shortage, that keeps opening up new opportunities for nurses. Plus post grad study is funded to allow people to progress.

And no only 4 shifts a week. Plenty of time off. Plus on the days you do work you still have plenty of time to do other things too. Instead of just at work and sleep.

Maybe yo should of read my comment properly. Instead of being a typical person from the us, thinking you country is the best.

EDNURSE20, BSN · Mar 16, 2017

It was America who saved your kingdom during WW2.
Thank God almighty that you haven't had any terrorist attacks yet. May you never.
Tips? Nurses are not allowed to take tips. I agree with you about tips. Employers should pay workers enough that patrons wouldn't have to tip. But nurses don't get tips.
While we have our problems, America is a beautiful place with lots of wonderful sights and activities
and plenty of good people. We'd love for you to come meet us and learn about us and our wonderful
country, just as many of us want to visit the UK, NZ, Australia, and Canada.

Yeah i never meant nurses get tips. Would not be ethical.

And I agree America does have plenty of good things to do. And would be a great place to gon holiday.

But out after hearing all the stories on here/YouTube it completely put me off ever working there. Hospital are treated like a business and nurses are unfairly treated. Oh plus work place bullying seems to happen to everyone.

Nurses here are respected and treat well by everyone. Not at all a thankless/embrassing job. But we all have degrees and Start post grad study as soon as we start are first nursing job, so maybe that helps? No I'm not meaning anything negative about adns and nurse education in America. Just trying to say nurses seem to be treated better here. And I like how safe our country is.

TeeRNMEDSURGBC · Mar 16, 2017

on clue...because nobody wants to hire a new grad

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Mar 16, 2017

Simply, do you enjoy being a nurse? Does it make you happy? Or do you regret it? Do you have any very specific regrets related to being a nurse?

Enjoy? Sometimes, sometimes not, and mostly I have no particular feeling about it at all. It's just my job and it adequately serves its purpose... to keep my family and me sheltered, clothed, fed, educated, and entertained.

Does it make me happy? On occasion I am made happier as a direct consequence of my job but generally, the happiness is a secondary consequence enabled by the funds that I'm able to secure by providing a service to my customers.

Do I regret it? Not in the slightest.

Do I have any specific regrets? That I didn't become a nurse 20 years sooner than I did.

Skippingtowork · Mar 16, 2017

Yeah I meant in restaurants. Just another way for employers to take advantage of workers.
no I meant no terrorist attacks in NZ. Such a safe place to live. I never have to worry about being shot or sued or anything like that.
And in nz there is amazing job progression. We are a small country with a dr shortage, that keeps opening up new opportunities for nurses. Plus post grad study is funded to allow people to progress.
And no only 4 shifts a week. Plenty of time off. Plus on the days you do work you still have plenty of time to do other things too. Instead of just at work and sleep.
Maybe yo should of read my comment properly. Instead of being a typical person from the us, thinking you country is the best.

You need to read your post properly before accusing someone of not reading it properly. We are talking about nursing and you're talking about tips. You mentioned 8-hour shifts, which translates to 5-day week here if working full-time. Many people not interested in that. You recommended moving to NZ, Australia or the UK, but now only NZ is safe (????). And do you know how many posters on this site who are living in the U.S. but are not American, with some recent arrivals?

EDNURSE20, BSN · Mar 17, 2017

You need to read your post properly before accusing someone of not reading it properly. We are talking about nursing and you're talking about tips. You mentioned 8-hour shifts, which translates to 5-day week here if working full-time. Many people not interested in that. You recommended moving to NZ, Australia or the UK, but now only NZ is safe (????). And do you know how many posters on this site who are living in the U.S. but are not American, with some recent arrivals?

Nope 4 shifts a week is consider full time for nurses here and pays more than enough 50k plus penal rates for new grads that increases each year. 70k-80k is a typical salary with a few years experience. Ofcourse goes much higher with different roles and post grad study. But 4 shifts 8 hours is standard.

I said the uk, Aus and NZ are all similar for nursing. I only mentioned the safety of NZ because that's what I know firsthand. And is a huge benefit in my opinion considering all the bad news you hear from America everyday.

This site and most places are focused on American nursing, very few from NZ. Just sharing my experience. Nursing is a great job in new Zealand and very different to America.

This question asked if I like being a nurse and I gave my opinion. I then replied to someone also stating that NZ is also I good place to live too. Like people being paid enough to live regardless of what they do and not needing to tip people, or free healthcare, or safety which America does not have. If you don't agree then good for you. But there is no need to argue over it. You not going to change my opinion and I'm not going to change yours.

PennNurse · Mar 18, 2017

I honestly love it. My patient's make my day and if I can make them feel just a little better then they did before I went into the room, I consider that an achievement.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2017

Been an LPN for decades. This has been a survival job. Raised kids and kept a house, but unable to progress due to health issues (shift work exacerbated migraines, caused other health issues). Earning a four year degree was easy in comparison to the hurdles of going from LPN to RN - never did cross those hurdles. Still an LPN, still getting treated like an overpaid CNA, still can't leave as pay is just high enough to be above minimum wages. Hurdles to pursuing RN included scheduling for clinicals vs need to work availability (bills keep coming), the insane prerequisite to redo A & P courses after less than a decade of completion of college level work and continued practice. Still keep training new RN's who either lack spatial intelligence or truly cannot disconnect from tech long enough to be plugged into real life. After decades as an LPN, even with a life science BA, earning $2/hr more than 20 years ago. Still finding myself needing to 'dumb down' to meet current job expectations. People who have worked with me, including RN's, are dumbfounded that I am still working the LPN license. I can't even begin to imagine a retirement - yet my cohorts are able to choose that luxury either by proximity to partner or long term planning. I am now forced to either find a way to reinvent myself and create a new career after age 60 as (finally) the kids are grown & on their own, I left my ex after giving him most of our assets - but I am free. Poor, with a new mortgage, but free.
So, do I like being a nurse?
Yes, I love being a nurse. I like helping people. I like being proficient at planning their care and being able to improv when the plans fall off track - and still reach goals. I like the knowing of the differences between flesh and bone and spirit. I have been privileged to be in the presence of many intimate and powerful moments that only a nurse would have access to witness. It is in that world I remain strong and capable and useful and valued.
On the other hand, when I leave that world to try on new job descriptions in the corporate world, I become like roadkill. I have never been able to explain to their satisfaction why I continue to work as an LPN even though I have all this experience and education. There is surely something I am not revealing, something dark and onerous, perhaps I am just a waste of time. Plus I am now old and time has not been kind. Nursing is a great career - but only if you are an RN with a plan.

You're really not that old, although I do understand that you are weary.

You might be able to test out of A & P.

Are you sure your bosses wouldn't have worked with you to help you get your clinicals done?

In other words, not to be unkind, but I think you are focusing on the difficulties of obtaining your RN degree, rather than on doing what you need to do to get it done. Don't give in any longer to feeling sorry for yourself or feeling overwhelmed. Or feel what you feel, but get moving on that RN degree anyway.

You are definitely a waste of time. Just shift your focus a little. Good luck and best wishes. You should look into LPN -to- NP path, too.