If you love being a nurse, and have good things to say,give some hope to the newbies!

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Hello everyone! I have been lurking around this site for a while now. I am not a nurse, but hoping to go into nursing school next year. I am sure there are other threads like this one out there, but I just wondered if the people who love their career might take a minute to post something positive. I have been reading sooo many posts on here lately where people hate nursing all together. They want to get out of the field and quickly!! Whether it be because of stress, staffing issues, problems with management, working conditions etc, etc, just so many people are complaining about "nursing" in general. ( I realize this board is an excellent place for venting, so I completely understand the posts :) Every post I read like this, makes perfect sense, though. I seem to always sympathize with the people who don't like it, because, well....who would in their situation?? I am not naive, and I certainly understand that it can be a tough career. I realize that one needs to consider these things before pursuing a career in nursing, however, I know there has to be another side to this. I believe that you will find people who complain about their career, anywhere. Maybe it is not the same stress level as nursing, but I am sure if there were a "venting board" for teachers, lawyers, doctors, police officers, etc....they would all have something to complain about. It is life. I do not believe there is a perfect job out there! I realize that bedside nursing from what I understand, is very difficult for some. but I think there have to be other areas that you can be employed in, and still enjoy your job if Bedside nursing isn't for you. Right? It seems to me that it is certainly a process. Maybe a very long process, but that it is possible to love your job as a nurse (somewhere), you just have to find whats right for you.. Anyway, as I read so many of the recent posts about how bad nursing is, it began to scare the heck out of me and I was questioning my decision to go back to school. And I saw many other people who were planning on nursing school say the same thing. SO, if you have something bad to say about nursing, do not post it here. please:) But if you had a good start to your career, or left a crappy job and found a better one that you love, found your niche, or just love your career in nursing, tell us about it!!!! Anything positive! Give us some hope that we will find our way and be ok! I just know there are people out there who have a good story to tell:)

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Specializes in ICU.

As many bad things there are that come with nursing, for me there are just as many good things. Being able to take care of people who can't take care of themselves, that is why I went into nursing. I can't imagine anything more rewarding. You have the opportunity to comfort patients when they're scared, sick, hurting, and dying. You have the opportunity to comfort family members when their loved one is sick or dying. You see situations, illnesses, surgeries, that change the course of a person's life forever. You get to be with some of these patients and families every step of the way.

I have worked in 2 specialties that I absolutely LOVE. There is so much to learn every day, and it can be just fascinating. I've had the chance to observe neurosurgery, transplants, and countless procedures. I love it! I love being challenged every day and having the ability to make someone feel better, even if just temporarily.

Yes, there are downsides to the job, but if the benefits don't outweigh those downsides for someone, then that person has no business being in nursing. For me, I focus on the aspects that I love about it, and I am much more happy than a lot of the people who post on these boards!

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Thanks so much for responding! I agree,there have to be downfalls to everything, but if you can find just as many benefits...it is worth it. Glad you love your job!

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Specializes in LTC.

Don't count on AN to validate your decision of becoming a nurse. We have our good days along with our bad. We come here to vent. Unfortunately the vent threads out number the " I love being a nurse" threads.

With that said: I love being a nurse period. I honestly and wholeheartedly love to take care of others.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.

What people need to realize first and foremost is that this is a public internet message board.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

As much as I come to post and vent and let it all out here, I really do love what I do. For every ******* patient you get that makes you second guess your career choice, you get that one that stands out to you and will remind you why you do what you do.

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Hey, I am firm in my decision of being a nurse! And like I said, I totally realize that everyone has bad days and needs to vent. I have no problem with that at all! I think All nurses is a wonderful place to come to do just that, as well as receive support and advice. It is just nice to hear some good things once in a while too, and that is the only reason for this post :) Just wanted a reminder of why I want to be a nurse so badly, that's all! Thanks for posting, have a good day!!

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

I will chime in and say that I love my job 40% of the time, like it 55% of the time, and dislike it 5% of the time. I'm comfortable that I'm in the right specialty area for me.

Nursing does change you in ways that you don't expect. You will see, hear and do things that are completely outside of your life experience so far. Whether or not you think of that as a positive thing is highly dependent on your perspective.

Good luck to you. :)

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I like being a nurse because something interesting is always happening, I like the continuing education that goes on, and I like being around smart people. Nursing is definitely NOT boring

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She was extremely anxious all the time. She was always on her call light. She was A&O x 3 (mostly). Grimaced a lot whenever you lightly touched her as if you're a source of pain. I tried my best to kill her with kindness. She was a very nice lady but OMG get your finger off that call light for 5 min!!!!!!!

I rounded on her, did the 3 Ps, ...... and asked her if she could do me a favor. She looked at me like I'd asked her if I could murder her family with a chain saw while she watched. I asked her if she would give me a smile.

Her face lit up like Times Square as she smiled. I smiled back and told her she was cute. She giggled. She was ADORABLE in that moment and I fell in love.

Don't get me wrong, she's still annoying at times but I just ask her for another smile and fall in love all over again.

Nursing rocks! I rock!! That lady rocks (when she smiles)!!! We all rock in touch-your-heart humanity!!!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg - Internal Medicine.

i would like to say...i love being a nurse and wouldn't trade it for the world! yes, there are days and perhaps a string of them that are insanely bad, i take time to reflect on my night and what i could do to make it better. reflection is a good way to calm yourself down on the drive home after a rough day or night! i also invested in a small meditation book called "the promise of a new day" by karen casey and martha vanceburg. it's nice to have around when you need a snippet of hope, especially after a long, hard shift. it's not for everyone, but i find it to be helpful to have a small little one paragraph reflection and then i can reflect from there.

this one's for the newbies, or anyone wanting a little extra hope for the day or week. best wishes on a successful future.

march 16th - "within our dreams and aspirations we find out opportunities." - sue ebaugh

[color=#a52a2a]our dreams invite us to broaden our horizons to reach beyond our present goals. they are much more than whims. they are probably much more than whims. they are probably calling us to those opportunities for which our talents have been readied. most of us need this encouragement to attempt new ventures. we've each been invited to this present moment by design. our lives are joined like the titles of a mosaic; none of us contributes the whole of the picture but each of us is necessary for its completion. more importantly, the depth, the richness of the picture in its entirety, is enhanced by our fulfilled dreams. with joy and excitement we can anticipate our frequent aspirations, recognizing them as the guideposts offering directions for our daily travels.

today i will welcome my dreams. they indicate tomorrow's successful ventures.

from the promise of a new day by karen casey and martha vanceburg.

best wishes to everyone, and may you find peace in knowing that as a nurse - you are wonderful and make a difference every day, even if it's not constantly said to you!!

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I'm starting nursing school in the fall and right now I'm currently a CNA. I love it. Obviously there are aspects of the job that aren't fabulous but I love my residents and I love taking good care of them.

I'm also very thankful to even be employed in these hard times.

For all the nurses who hate nursing, just find a new career. I really don't see the problem. Some claim that it's too difficult a job but that's one thing that appeals to me. I get to learn something new everyday.

Remember: nursing is special for a reason. Not everyone can do it.

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