If you could do it all over again, would you choose nursing as your career?

Nurses General Nursing

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Talking to alot of the nurses in my hospital, if they knew then what the know now, they would not be nurses. I was a bit suprised to hear this. Anybody else feel this way?

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

Simple answer. NO!

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilites,.

No way!

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Specializes in Urology, ENT.
No. If I had known that my professional integrity would be impacted by know-nothing bean counters and that I would be abused and blamed; instead of respected and consulted, I would have become a hotel desk clerk.

I guess it would depend on where you become a hotel desk clerk; I got just as much verbal abuse as other people who complain on this site over total misunderstandings, seemingly trivial things ("Excuse me, but my diet coke wasn't in the room!" "I'm sorry sir, I'll have one sent up right now." "Do you know who I am?! I'm a silver member!" *...great, you haven't gotten up to gold and you're complaining already?*), and people not knowing the area. I don't know if nursing will make me despise people, but I started becoming almost misanthropic. Although, some people are probably already misanthropic after a few years in nursing x.x; (understandable though; both parents come home rather ticked off).

The perks were kinda nice; $39 for a room usually around $300+? I miss that. The PO-ed guests and crappy work? No. :D

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Yes. :up:

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I'm fairly new to nursing (it's a second degree, chosen because I have interest in medicine and I can support my family) and I like it. I know I won't last at bedside forever though, and I plan to continue on to a graduate degree. Honestly though, if I could support my family working retail or hospitality I would do that. I loved those jobs (and their perks) the very best of anything I've done.

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I feel the same way. I wouldn't do it again. I'm stressed out, overworked, underpaid and unappreciated. This is also why I don't encourage anyone to go into Nursing.

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The part time hours and ability to work different shifts were a perk

when I was raising a family.Too bad health care became more about

keeping the "customer" happy than healthy.:madface:

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No way.

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Specializes in Orthopaedic Nursing; Geriatrics.

It makes me sad to read some of the responses here. I am in my 38th year of nursing. I have NEVER regretted it! Yes, I have been belittled, berrated, puked on, pooped on, yelled at by patients and obnoxious doctors and family. You name it - it's happened! But the next day when I wake up to go to work, I am still happy to be a nurse. I wish all of us could feel the same way. (and no, I am not high on xanax!) I just know that our profession is one of the best and we have so much to be proud of. WE know how much we contribute to our patients! That is all that really matters to me! I have to admit that I've also been very fortunate that I've never been without a job. I see many of the nurses on here who can't find jobs and that's very sad. I have always felt secure in the job market, my pay is OK, and the personal rewards always keep me satisfied.

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I would probably just go to PA school or stick it out through med school.

My thoughts exactly.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I like being a nurse, but if I could do it all over again, I would choose to be a pharmacist.

If I am 5 years younger, I would start studying for it too... :nurse:

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Specializes in ICU Telemetry Med/Surg.

Positively Yes Though it can be a hard job the rewards outweigh the demands

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