I started an ADN nursing program over a year ago and graduate in May. I have the highest average in class, and I really seem to be doing well. However; I hate everything nursing, I really only started the program because I was bored, and now I feel to far invested to quite. I have to keep telling myself that this is a great job, but in reallity this job holds a lot of responsibility, "crappy responsibility." In addition I feel tremendous pressure from my family, my husband, and my husbands family to finish and work. It's not like I don't already have a BSN from another university, and my husband makes an excellent salary, I don't have to work. I keep hoping that all the pretentious people in class with their over enthusiastic "I love nursing" attitude will be non-existent in the workplace. This is me just venting, but if you have any productive advice or have felt this way I would love a response. However; if you are just wanting to tell me how terrible I am, please keep it to yourself.
After graduating from nursing school as a second career, I promptly went to an inner city hospital ER and got a rude awakening real, real quick. Being observant, I promptly made a quick decision to "create" a career path that wasn't all completely nursing. I found a legitimate home-based business plus work 2-3 shifts a week as a nurse. For me, it was about the balance because the profession is quite noble but the work environment is crappy. The nurses are overworked and therefore, over time, the demeanor of many of them is that of a junk yard dog - to put it mildly. Now, when I go to work, I am well rested, not in the political hub-bub AND can take a lot of the "icky" stuff that comes from the staff and families of patients. This is how I have handled this profession. Nursing school was very demanding and the profession, well, less than ideal but, I am proud of what I do. I am truly blessed that I have been given the foresight to develop my options instead of hemming myself into a full-time nursing job.
Specializes in psychiatric, UR analyst, fraud, DME,MedB.
After graduating from nursing school as a second career, I promptly went to an inner city hospital ER and got a rude awakening real, real quick. Being observant, I promptly made a quick decision to "create" a career path that wasn't all completely nursing. I found a legitimate home-based business plus work 2-3 shifts a week as a nurse. For me, it was about the balance because the profession is quite noble but the work environment is crappy. The nurses are overworked and therefore, over time, the demeanor of many of them is that of a junk yard dog - to put it mildly. Now, when I go to work, I am well rested, not in the political hub-bub AND can take a lot of the "icky" stuff that comes from the staff and families of patients. This is how I have handled this profession. Nursing school was very demanding and the profession, well, less than ideal but, I am proud of what I do. I am truly blessed that I have been given the foresight to develop my options instead of hemming myself into a full-time nursing job.
I hope my comment has helped someone.!:)
I love you all for what you do!
:wink2:Well said. You can change gear , but do not have to jump out of the car. there are a lot of alternatives out there aside from bedside nursing. And we can stop debating whether nursing has a calling or this can be just another business /job venture.....perceptions and filters will always be different, depending where you are coming from. If you come from a family where business is business , yes you might be able to do it to complete the job as per required. Some come from families and backgrounds where there is more required , aside from just finishing the job, there is that compassion that goes w/ the care....I am sure the total result between the two is quite different especially if you are looking @ it from the patients point of view ?
In response to your post, I say first of all.........finish nursing school and take your NCLEX. Once you have your RN then take time off to figure out what it is that you really want to do. Many years ago I was discouraged from going into nursing and because of this, I chose another career that was also in the health care field. I practiced for almost 18 years before I finally gave it up. I was miserable. You need to find something you are passionate about and truly enjoy, then it won't seem like work at all. One good thing about nursing, you are not limited by what you can do with your degree. There are so many opportunities available. I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck!
i am i the only one who is a little shocked here? i would not want someone who hated nursing to care for me, as they would likely do a poor job overall.
i love nursing. i am getting my rn now, but i worked as a cna for almost 8 years, and my mom is an rn. i know what nursing entails, the long shifts,the hectic hours, the nutty patients, you are lucky if you have time to use the bathroom during some shifts..
you can become a paralegal with a 2 year degree and make great money..
if you hate nursing you should not be a nurse, imo.
i agree with you. there are too many nurses out there already that hate their job. the patient's know it too. i've had patients that requested me as their nurse (many different patients, many times). i've had patients confide in me that other nurses were rude, uncaring and overall acted like they didn't want to be a nurse. it is a disgrace to the profession.
but, you know what? there are people like that in every profession. it just sucks for the patients that they have to be treated like this.
When an article from US News n Report hit yahoo detailing the top careers of 09, the comments for "Nursing" exploded with complaints about how they are overworked, under appreciated/paid, and bullied by doctors, administrators, and patients. It was pretty depressing until I read one that saying how you need a "heart of stone" and "skin of steel".
I agree with you. There are too many nurses out there already that HATE their job. The patient's know it too. I've had patients that requested me as their nurse (many different patients, many times). I've had patients confide in me that other nurses were rude, uncaring and overall acted like they didn't want to be a nurse. It is a disgrace to the profession.
But, you know what? There are people like that in every profession. It just sucks for the patients that they have to be treated like this.
Well, I agree with what you said in general, however the OP was/is almost through nursing school. Since there are so many different areas in nursing or in which her nursing background can be used, it would be crazy for her to drop out. She might be a fantastic pharm rep or she could turn out to be a very good case manager. There are loads of situations which don't require hands on care. It is a bit late in her schooling for dropping out to be a good choice. She needs to take her boards and then decide where she will try to find her fit, if at all. Just because she doesn't have to work today, don't mean she won't in the future. I don't think it is to her discredit that she is discussing the fact that she hates nursing. There are loads of things that I would change about it if I could, but over all I love it! That is me however. I don't think I could have cut it in my early twenties.
Well, I agree with what you said in general, however the OP was/is almost through nursing school. Since there are so many different areas in nursing or in which her nursing background can be used, it would be crazy for her to drop out. She might be a fantastic pharm rep or she could turn out to be a very good case manager. There are loads of situations which don't require hands on care. It is a bit late in her schooling for dropping out to be a good choice. She needs to take her boards and then decide where she will try to find her fit, if at all. Just because she doesn't have to work today, don't mean she won't in the future. I don't think it is to her discredit that she is discussing the fact that she hates nursing. There are loads of things that I would change about it if I could, but over all I love it! That is me however. I don't think I could have cut it in my early twenties.
Mahage
I am far from disagreeing with you, I think what I was trying to say yesterday when I wrote the post, is that I feel for the patients that are affected by nurses who don't want to be a nurse. These nurses on this thread say that they don't treat the patient's badly, and I take them for their word. But, there are just way too many nurses that project out their spitefulness and animosity towards patients. I have been told by patients how this affects them. It is not fair to the patients at all.
I agree with you. There are too many nurses out there already that HATE their job. The patient's know it too. I've had patients that requested me as their nurse (many different patients, many times). I've had patients confide in me that other nurses were rude, uncaring and overall acted like they didn't want to be a nurse. It is a disgrace to the profession.
But, you know what? There are people like that in every profession. It just sucks for the patients that they have to be treated like this.
But I don't think that means the OP would be a rude nurse - there are plenty of really good nurses out there who hate what they do precisely because they are good. Because they care, and yet they know they can't give adequate nursing care because of high patient load, too much charting, etc. The fact that someone hates nursing does not mean she is a bad nurse, or a rude one.
But I don't think that means the OP would be a rude nurse - there are plenty of really good nurses out there who hate what they do precisely because they are good. Because they care, and yet they know they can't give adequate nursing care because of high patient load, too much charting, etc. The fact that someone hates nursing does not mean she is a bad nurse, or a rude one.
Right. And I explained this in the post just before yours.
I say go with your gut. If you hate something and can not make it work you should let it go. I understand your time and effort would be wasted but to be totally honest you only have one life and I for sure would not want to go about in such a miserable state. I also think that nursing is a field that takes utmost devotion and if your heart is not there it will show in your patient care. I do not think you a horrible person just someone finding your way. I would hate to see all your hard work get thrown out the door so may I recommend talking with others to see if your degree may be applied toward and area of interest that may be more satisfying. Good luck with your life journey.
Specializes in psychiatric, UR analyst, fraud, DME,MedB.
When an article from US News n Report hit yahoo detailing the top careers of 09, the comments for "Nursing" exploded with complaints about how they are overworked, under appreciated/paid, and bullied by doctors, administrators, and patients. It was pretty depressing until I read one that saying how you need a "heart of stone" and "skin of steel".
:(That might be true, that you need to be something, but a heart of stone and a skin of steel is like working as a robot? Nursing is a very 'touchy" profession....and you physicaly have very close proxitimites w/ your patients, so a heart of stone and skin of steel, tells me of a burned out person? I guess we have to know the balance , whatever that is, and the hospital or clinic or any busy health facility should also get involved in this w/ their nurses and employees?
SHNow
2 Posts
After graduating from nursing school as a second career, I promptly went to an inner city hospital ER and got a rude awakening real, real quick. Being observant, I promptly made a quick decision to "create" a career path that wasn't all completely nursing. I found a legitimate home-based business plus work 2-3 shifts a week as a nurse. For me, it was about the balance because the profession is quite noble but the work environment is crappy. The nurses are overworked and therefore, over time, the demeanor of many of them is that of a junk yard dog - to put it mildly. Now, when I go to work, I am well rested, not in the political hub-bub AND can take a lot of the "icky" stuff that comes from the staff and families of patients. This is how I have handled this profession. Nursing school was very demanding and the profession, well, less than ideal but, I am proud of what I do. I am truly blessed that I have been given the foresight to develop my options instead of hemming myself into a full-time nursing job.
I hope my comment has helped someone.!:)
I love you all for what you do!